Old school vs new school

[DylanM]

Meh, I like 'em all. Each has its own strengths and weaknesses, things that are better or worse, and honestly it's a fool's errand to try to convince others to agree with one's own opinions. That said, I do drive the '00 TJ SE (yes, it's even a four banger) that I bought brand new off the lot over twenty-four years ago more than anything else I own.

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[CampThree]

I had a 2000 TJ Sahara which was white until I had it painted in 3 color desert camouflage carc paint. I appreciate simplicity as I still have my original owner 1993 Silverado but the 2022 Mojave beats the TJ hands down.

 

[Jteakus]

Drove my '98 TJ today. It is light years ahead of the CJ I started in and I still like it a lot. It also has the factory windshield with no cracks. Can't say the same about the JL......

 

[Stuntman Mike]

Did a 175 miles round trip with my TJ yesterday.

Not as comfortable as the JT but because of the Recaro seat upgrade still ok.

Problem is just that it gets so dirty ...

 

[Russ2023]

20 years difference between the old reliable ‘03 TJ and the JT. Frankly I don’t get even trying to compare the two as they share pretty much nothing in design or tech and to me anyway, for two completely different purposes.

Like ‘em both but if one of them had to go……well, someone’s going to get a pretty nice truck.

 

[rr11]

While I admit my JT is light years ahead of the TJ I will point out the TJ clutch is a superior design. Got over 110K on it, with my wife driving it daly in rush hour traffic.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

While I admit my JT is light years ahead of the TJ I will point out the TJ clutch is a superior design. Got over 110K on it, with my wife driving it daly in rush hour traffic.

The clutch in my 64 Rambler was a superior design.

 

[Artsifrtsi]

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.

We have both as well, and both were purchased new by us. My TJ is a '05 X with the 6 speed. 140k miles and still a very strong runner, the ONLY real issue we've had is with the transmission popping out of reverse... fixed that 12 years ago. We just lifted it to run 33's this past fall, and looking forward to enjoying offroad even more now... (actually I'm driving it more now that the JT)...

 

[PuddleJumper]

Let's just say I'm a fan of 2004 TJ Rubicon's

I had a 2007 JKU and a 2013 JKU, they are both gone, HOWEVER, my 2004 TJR is still with me

The JKU's were great as Daily drivers, however, no where near as fun as driving the 2004 Rubicon.

My 2004 TJ Rubicon was bought new (by me) in Nov 2003, so I have more than a little experience with it.

oh lord that pricing. Give it back economy! i wanna know what cheap enthusiast cars and gas is like. Most of my generation can't touch car culture. people wanting 5k plus just for civic shells. I know too many kids who would love to build out a car. And they quite simply can't afford any solid platform. back when i was even younger, we'd all go to cars and coffee. It would kinda sting when all these middle age dudes told us they picked up there build as daily beater off of ebay or something for 500 bucks, and spent 3 years and maybe 10k to make it what is the end product standing in front of us. and it has 10-15 years of age on it now and the guy wants 40k plus for it. I remember how shocking it was at 17 realizing i would have to scrape together 8-12k somehow just to get a truly solid daily. And just to get to see 26k for a brand new rubicon when i was 4yr years old. man, 20 years to late and a dollar short lol.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

oh lord that pricing. Give it back economy! i wanna know what cheap enthusiast cars and gas is like. Most of my generation can't touch car culture. people wanting 5k plus just for civic shells. I know too many kids who would love to build out a car. And they quite simply can't afford any solid platform. back when i was even younger, we'd all go to cars and coffee. It would kinda sting when all these middle age dudes told us they picked up there build as daily beater off of ebay or something for 500 bucks, and spent 3 years and maybe 10k to make it what is the end product standing in front of us. and it has 10-15 years of age on it now and the guy wants 40k plus for it. I remember how shocking it was at 17 realizing i would have to scrape together 8-12k somehow just to get a truly solid daily. And just to get to see 26k for a brand new rubicon when i was 4yr years old. man, 20 years to late and a dollar short lol.

Better put it in perspective. I ran across pay check records my parents had kept - less than a buck an hour.
Single income households then. I struggled to save $150 for my first car.
Later, with a wife and both of us working, it was a struggle and we ended up cashing in all of our CDs to buy a car in 1984.
The numbers have changed, but the impact - not so much.
Now we all insist on a cell phone for every individual in a family, even if they are only 5 years old. Computers everywhere, a TV in every room............we eat out many times more often than our parents did (at least in many cases). We consume like crazy, excesses everywhere, multiple vehicles.
Those "old timers" had little else than that thing they picked up cheap and fixed up.
I paid $500 for my SX4. It cost me a bit over a grand to get it here.
I probably have something over 25 in it total. You know there's no way in hell I'd ever get that out of it. Took a good 10+ years to do it all (and still not done!)
You never really know the full story behind a person, their finances, their cars, whatever.
I do recall my parents going from one used car to another, as they could save up 50 bucks here and there. I recall the old Plymouth coup my father drove - with window caulking sealing the rear window leaks. He finally worked up to a better car - 63 Rambler he probably picked up for 100 bucks - and that was a struggle to get that money.
I worked multiple jobs while going to school to pay for my cars, gas and insurance.
So really, how has anything changed?

 

[PuddleJumper]

Better put it in perspective. I ran across pay check records my parents had kept - less than a buck an hour.
Single income households then. I struggled to save $150 for my first car.
Later, with a wife and both of us working, it was a struggle and we ended up cashing in all of our CDs to buy a car in 1984.
The numbers have changed, but the impact - not so much.
Now we all insist on a cell phone for every individual in a family, even if they are only 5 years old. Computers everywhere, a TV in every room............we eat out many times more often than our parents did (at least in many cases). We consume like crazy, excesses everywhere, multiple vehicles.
Those "old timers" had little else than that thing they picked up cheap and fixed up.
I paid $500 for my SX4. It cost me a bit over a grand to get it here.
I probably have something over 25 in it total. You know there's no way in hell I'd ever get that out of it. Took a good 10+ years to do it all (and still not done!)
You never really know the full story behind a person, their finances, their cars, whatever.
I do recall my parents going from one used car to another, as they could save up 50 bucks here and there. I recall the old Plymouth coup my father drove - with window caulking sealing the rear window leaks. He finally worked up to a better car - 63 Rambler he probably picked up for 100 bucks - and that was a struggle to get that money.
I worked multiple jobs while going to school to pay for my cars, gas and insurance.
So really, how has anything changed?

thats fair. there's always poor folk. My dad grew up in upper middle class and his dad bought him his first car. My dad never did just as well but had 13 of us. so no handouts lol. all my friends in 2-3 children families did tho. I and quite a few of my friends grew up falling out of the class we were born into, wether due to excessive family members, lost jobs, divorce, etc. My grandfather grew up on cotton farm in Mississippi with no indoor plumping, or anything for that matter. He still managed to pay his way through college working one full time job and joined the airforce as an officer. Ain't no way i could swing a college degree today without a loan and i work 2 jobs. I don't pay for digital subscriptions of any type except for Jscan and my phone bill ain't to bad. And i don't finance phones and i run em as many years as possible. I would say we have more conveniences available to us out of the gate then previous generations. But alot of em are pointless and I don't want em. I just want a nice car, and a piece of property. Things that use to reasonable for any working man back in the day. Not so much anymore. I know i'll be able to get a house next year or close too. But i"m an exception to the rule, not a standard. Not trying to say any other generation didn't know how easy they had it. But lets say i was 24 in 2004 and followed the same career path i did now. good solid full time job, and a successful side job and no debt. I'd have that TJ cash and a house already.

 

[Artsifrtsi]

oh lord that pricing. Give it back economy! i wanna know what cheap enthusiast cars and gas is like. Most of my generation can't touch car culture. people wanting 5k plus just for civic shells. I know too many kids who would love to build out a car. And they quite simply can't afford any solid platform. back when i was even younger, we'd all go to cars and coffee. It would kinda sting when all these middle age dudes told us they picked up there build as daily beater off of ebay or something for 500 bucks, and spent 3 years and maybe 10k to make it what is the end product standing in front of us. and it has 10-15 years of age on it now and the guy wants 40k plus for it. I remember how shocking it was at 17 realizing i would have to scrape together 8-12k somehow just to get a truly solid daily. And just to get to see 26k for a brand new rubicon when i was 4yr years old. man, 20 years to late and a dollar short lol.

Another way to look at it, is at inflation... that $26,000 in 2004 dollars is equal to $42,900 in today's dollar...

 

[PuddleJumper]

Another way to look at it, is at inflation... that $26,000 in 2004 dollars is equal to $42,900 in today's dollar...

i could've bought that cash if i was my age in 2004 tho. not fair comparison but ya know.

 

[Rubicon Runnin' Bob]

oh lord that pricing. Give it back economy!
And just to get to see 26k for a brand new rubicon when i was 4yr years old. man, 20 years to late and a dollar short lol.

Here you go, what I actually paid.....

 

[PuddleJumper]

Here you go, what I actually paid.....

tbh adjusting for inflation. Thats about a new 2 door willys. but its automatically cooler so still unfair ?

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