Mileage - How high is too high?

[WILDHOBO]

Ha, that was the car I took my driving exam in. I learned to drive in our 70/80s ranch pickups but took the test in my sister's tiny LeMans.

Personally, I probably would be dead if my parents let me get the Bronco II or other high CoG 4x4s I wanted as a teenager the way I drove + Montana highways. Instead I got an '88 Dodge Shadow and off-roaded it hard through shocks, engine mounts, and an oil pan/engine and borrowed a ranch truck for the worse stuff but survived my teenage driving years. I was an immortal teenage idiot though, my youngest nephew, I gave him a used 4x4 because I knew he drove like a grandpa.

For myself I'd double check used JKs for the price/mileage. I see some in my area in the low $20k with sub 100K miles. For a family member I'd double check the safety features JK vs JL. At over 100K I'd really look at how clean all the fluids are to guess at it's condition, get a mechanic check too.

Agreed. I took my test in the Pontiac as well.

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[Guardian682]

My 2020 Gladiator with the 3.6l is still running strong at 199k miles, the only failure on the engine so far was the oil filter housing two weeks ago, and that was probably my fault for over tightening the oil filter cap.

As long as as you take care of them I don't see the 3.6l having a catastrophic failure anytime soon.

 

[WILDHOBO]

My 2020 Gladiator with the 3.6l is still running strong at 199k miles, the only failure on the engine so far was the oil filter housing two weeks ago, and that was probably my fault for over tightening the oil filter cap.

As long as as you take care of them I don't see the 3.6l having a catastrophic failure anytime soon.

Love that. Since my plan is to keep it until I’m no more.

 

[Vincent]

My 2020 Gladiator with the 3.6l is still running strong at 199k miles, the only failure on the engine so far was the oil filter housing two weeks ago, and that was probably my fault for over tightening the oil filter cap.

As long as as you take care of them I don't see the 3.6l having a catastrophic failure anytime soon.

I’m right behind ya w/my 2020 @ 176,000!

 

[TheSolarWizard]

Id look for a JT sport for a young driver. The longer the wheelbase the more stable it is

 

[Minty JL]

Ha, that was the car I took my driving exam in. I learned to drive in our 70/80s ranch pickups but took the test in my sister's tiny LeMans.

Personally, I probably would be dead if my parents let me get the Bronco II or other high CoG 4x4s I wanted as a teenager the way I drove + Montana highways. Instead I got an '88 Dodge Shadow and off-roaded it hard through shocks, engine mounts, and an oil pan/engine and borrowed a ranch truck for the worse stuff but survived my teenage driving years. I was an immortal teenage idiot though, my youngest nephew, I gave him a used 4x4 because I knew he drove like a grandpa.

For myself I'd double check used JKs for the price/mileage. I see some in my area in the low $20k with sub 100K miles. For a family member I'd double check the safety features JK vs JL. At over 100K I'd really look at how clean all the fluids are to guess at it's condition, get a mechanic check too.

I bought a 88 Bronco II when I was in highschool to be my winter ski bus. Rolled that fucker over ...... honestly was not my fault......but shit happens. My buddy rolled his over the following week. Christmas vacation '97 was a rough one........but the ski conditions were great

 

[Blade1668]

In Alabama 90% of the Jeeps are pavement princess. Crazy street miles, that's most places actually. That including my JT and really my 05 LJ. It's been covered by many people already so I won't rehash the prior commitments. If it's still stock rims and tires (in size/ type) and no "rash" on rims that's a good sign, look at wear on pedals and floor. When I bought my 90XJ it had almost 100k on it. The vehicle was pampered, dealership serviced for almost everything and probably never in 4 WD. Trust your judgment if it doesn't seem right it's probably not. The problems are not as common as it seems via the internet. BTW my 2020 JT has over half the mileage already

 

[HYRYSC]

One thing to remember is that there are well over 10 million pentastar 3.6 liter engines out there. It is an award winning engine. There are some bad eggs in that batch but not as many as it probably seems. Most of these are driven by people who are not car folks. They just get in, drive it, service it when a light comes on and keep on trucking.

My next door neighbor has a Ram that has the same engine. He is an electrical contractor and runs many, many miles sometimes pulling heavy loads for hundreds of miles. He is not a car guy. Chatting with him he told me that he runs it until the computer tells him to change the oil and then he does. I looked at it yesterday and he has over 175,000 miles on it and it is still running strong.

I know our tendency is to try to make things better, but just left alone, our engines should have no issue pushing past 200,000 miles.

 

[Zachanadandy]

I would pass on a 2018.

I would look for a 1990-92 YJ Sahara. Durable interior, 4.0L EFI is bullet proof and it still has the cool factor of a antique Jeep.

And the sketchy handling of a super short wheel base on leaf springs, perfect for a new driver...

 

[ColoradoCantu]

You may want to consider purchasing one with a warranty if possible. I went thru this same dilemma last Oct, the prices had finally started to drop for the used market, even better now, especially if you're willing to travel. I wanted used because I knew I would be upgrading bumpers, suspension, wheels, speakers etc for an overlanding build. Found a 21 Mojave with 57K for 39K in Colorado. It passed the eye test and car fax report but I decided to purchase the extended warranty for 3K and its already paid for itself, so if your gonna buy a used Jeep with high mileage, I recommend buying from a dealer that offers a warranty. I've had to replace lifters for 3 cams (engine was making a knocking noise, 3 more to go), driver door handle (keyless entry stopped working and it stop locking and unlocking) and all four doors made a loud clicking noise when opening, that was fixed. All covered by either factory or extended purchased warranty. I went with clearshift.com, its a no haggle shop, price is the price and they even found me a better rate.

 

[KevinC]

And the sketchy handling of a super short wheel base on leaf springs, perfect for a new driver...

Whatever Captain Hall Monitor. Some of us grew up without safety features. We didn't die.

 

[Zachanadandy]

Whatever Captain Hall Monitor. Some of us grew up without safety features. We didn't die.

I've done plenty of dumb shit that I wouldn't remotely condone my child doing. A good parent wants better for thier child and will try to help them avoid the mistakes we made, but you do you.

 

[Rusty PW]

Agreed. I took my test in the Pontiac as well.

I took my driving test in my brother's 1970 Dodge 440 6 Pack SuperBee. My brother is 11 years older than me. I got to drive all of his cool cars.

When my daughter turned 16 and got her license. She wanted a car. Told her she has to have a job first. She replied back, need car for job. This went on for about a week. I got her a car. A 1990 Dodge Shadow. Paid $2,500. If she killed it. I wasn't out much. It was safe and reliable. Told her, I got you the car. Now you have to pay for your insurance. She gave me $100 a month from her pay check, which I put into a saving account. She drove that Shadow all through high school. She took care of it. Never wrecked it. For graduation, she needed a newer car. So I got her a Pontiac Grand Am. She used for college. And she wrecked twice. The same right front bender both times. After college, she traded it in and got her first Jeep.

 

[Rusty PW]

I've done plenty of dumb shit that I wouldn't remotely condone my child doing. A good parent wants better for thier child and will try to help them avoid the mistakes we made, but you do you.

I never told my daughter what I did when I was young for fear that she would try it.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Whatever Captain Hall Monitor. Some of us grew up without safety features. We didn't die.

Like no seat or shoulder belts?
I figure - learn early, then you won't be surprised in the future and screaming at dad - no one told me about these things......

Yeah, we want better, but I always figured - learn the hard stuff instead of learning easy then being shocked later when you get into that IH Scout.

At 14 I bought my first car - parents said I needed to pay for it, insurance, gas, upkeep and so on.
I was able to drive almost anything by the time I was 16-18. Came in handy later.

I wanted my kids safe, but I also wanted them to be able to handle whatever came their way, all sorts of cars and so on.

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