It's weird to me that so many say that on this and the JL forum, while driving a rig that costs 2-5x what you could pick up a mint low mileage TJ for? Saying you'd pick the TJ when you not only didn't you spent way more to pick the JT/JL over it is delusional. Every person on these forums could be driving a TJ if they really thought it was better and they'd save a bunch of money doing so.
I have both and I don't consider myself delusional. Hands down the TJ is my favorite Jeep in our home. Is the JT more comfortable, quiet and spacious...absolutely. The tech in the JT shows what 20 years of refinement can bring to the table. The TJ however is just so simple and effective. It is literally point and shoot. The 4.0 with the manual tranny are just fun. Its a breeze to work on and just makes me smile every time I get behind the wheel. The JT brings a smile every time as well but the TJ is just special. I don't plan on letting either one go and 20 years from now I'm sure the JT will elicit the same nostalgic feelings as the TJ.
I didn’t buy TJ because I have 3 ZJs. This truck serves a different purpose so regardless wether a Tacoma, Frontier, etc would have ended up with a truck. It’s not delusional, if everyone says that then are we all delusional….or do we know it’s better. Mhmmmm
I agree 100%. I absolutely love the JT. Being a truck, it is loaded down, heavy, and still performs. It is definitely more comfortable with the AEV lift. I can carry way more than I really need for a camping trip. But, it doesn't make me smile the way my little old TJ does. That thing is just, IMO, the very definition of Jeep. Just new enough to have some electronics to be more reliable and powerful than the original flat fender, but old enough to not have all the crazy electronics of modern vehicles that make them difficult to work on. Now that I have the addition of the LJ, it will be my 'old man' Jeep until I'm at the point of not going on any dirt roads at all. Clean, no rust, EASY to work on (pending issues with parts availability). It still keeps the driver engaged, very capable, zero hesitancy or nervousness of a potential breakdown and those implications. But my honest favorite part about it is it is just big enough for my own needs, but significantly smaller than everything else. I do like the modern Jeeps. Their tech is pretty awesome. The front and rear cameras being my favorite aspect. But the narrowness of the TJ/LJ is just fantastic. Sure it's not that great doing 80 on the interstate comparatively, but I don't really like going that fast anyway and would prefer to be on a backroads enjoying the scenery at 35-40. Not to mention my little TJ, thus far, has been by far the most reliable vehicle I have ever owned.
Yeah I have a feeling that guy really has no clue what he's talking about. I just enjoyed the vehicles side by side, and to see his unscientific comparisons. I mean he didn't even air down, and the tires on the TJ were street tires compared to MTs on the JL. But still it was cool to see them following mostly the same line - it's a more objective comparison than I have seen others do. Isn't it funny though how most of these YouTubers who are making all sorts of cash on 'off road' vehicle videos more often than not dont know a lick about said vehicle they are driving?
Im not really sure what he was comparing prices to, but a mint 06 TJ rubicon is probably in the 18-22K range and a mint LJ rubicon is easily in the 30K range. They are practically collectors items now. I'm not talking about just a ready to run vehicle though, I'm talking about an all stock, or mostly stock, not heavily modified, ZERO rust, zero body damaged vehicle. To find those, and expect them to be under 25K is to be high. I see them all day long on a few TJ/LJ FB forums and frequently look up sale listings. Most of the sub 20K TJR/LJR options are rusted out pretty bad, or heavily modified
That is the high spot for the truck for sure is its ride, quiet, far better suspension for towing, bed room, plus built in capability to hit the bush if needed. The 3.6 is better engine to drive down a highway with because 4.0s suck at that. Mine is bone ass stock and will stay that way. Once the BG MTs that came with it die I’ll step back to mild manner AT. The only thing I have that’s better is a 1998 5.9L Limited Grand Cherokee, but I never drive it, it stays under a car cover because they made less that 15K of the Grands with a 360 and only made them in ‘98 and I’m paranoid it will get hit and it is in excellent condition. The TJ itself as vehicle I could care less about, not a Wrangler cat and never have been. It’s the simplicities of it, no off the wall electronics, no touch screen BS, and a 4.0 which lives to off road. It has nothing that the new, more refined and “improved” Wranglers have. That engine alone is gold. If I were to pull the trigger on a Wranlger today bet your ass it would be TJ
Man I’m with you, I made it to front camera thing and was done……I mean I pretty much done over the sway bars but pushed on until the front camera.
Having both proves you actually believe that. My point was for the dozens that chose the other platform but say "I'd pick the TJ". They are kidding themselves as they did not. In 25 years we've owned over a dozen Jeeps, the only ones still in the driveway are my wife's 2022 JLUR on 39s and my 2023 JTM on 37s. Sure the TJ was more simple, but the JLUR is way better on road and yet somehow still better in the rocks. The JT is so much more stable at speed is embarrassing. I'll run the same washes that felt sketchy in the tj above 35mph at 80mph in this thing. If underpowered, uncomfortable, and simple feels better to you I can't argue that, but those that claim to prefer the TJ but don't own 1 are in fact delusional.
But $30k is still far less than a new JL or JT. If anyone on here actually preferred the TJ or LJ they'd own at least 1 in my opinion. It's like saying you prefer glocks over 1911's but you own a Wilson Combat 1911 and 0 glocks. The price difference and what you actually own and use tell the story.
