Question on early TJs...

[Joopin]

I am currently looking for a Wrangler for my brother and I have come across a 97 TJ with a 5spd and 4 cyl. they are asking $2950. This seems a little cheap for how new it is... my brother also heard that a guy he works with had a TJ with tons of problems... the guy said when he buys his next jeep it will be a YJ. Are all early TJs like this? Was Jeep "working the bugs out" for the first couple years? I havn't called on it yet, I just found it tonight... any input would help.

Oh I also found a 98 for 4300 bucks 4.0 with a 5spd... the only thing is it has a wrecked front drivers side fender... Gonna call on both tomorrow, but it would be nice to have a heads up!
Joop

 

[Sully]

Both of those are cheap.The 98 sounds like the better deal.Just repair or find a new fender.

 

[odjeep]

My brother has a 97' with the 2.5 and 5spd and hasn't had any problems yet. Then again there are lemons everywhere.

od

 

[Green97TJ]

The only thing ive had to do to my 97 other than maintence is put a new power steering pump on it. But ive only had it a little over a year, and have no clue what the last guy had to do.

For whats its worth, theres my experience

Nathan

 

[Bounty__Hunter]

I usually recommend staying away from the first model year or the first year of a redesign, but I haven't seen a large amount of problems with the '97. You should be fine considering it's inspected well.

 

[Joopin]

Thanks guys, now we just have to decide on which one to buy, my brother is a cheap skate so he will probably want the 97 but hes gonna get the 4 cyl... He says he doesn't care which engine as long as its a manual transmission. Thanks again.
Joop

 

[judge09]

I would recommend against the 4cyl. I had a '00 4 cyl TJ and really didnt like it. After drive a 6cyl. I really had wished I went with the larger engine.

 

[Joopin]

Yeah I want him to get a 4.0 too. I never drove one but I would pay extra for the power increase.
Keep it comin guys, I'm gonna give my bro a link to this page so he can read all this.

 

[nkdskls1978]

those are some cheap prices .. hope they turn out ..Check the radiator top seal .. most leak on top where the plastic meets the metal ... thats about $170.... so far no real complaints with mine except for the 4cyl ... I hate that motor...