2004 Jeep TJ Rocky Mountain Edition 4.0 inline 6

Summary:

5mph thrill ride

Faults:

Nothing I can't attribute to using the Jeep off road.

Water pump (mud)... still shouldn't have gone, but who knows?

U joints, all kinds, many many times (mud).

Bent steering... not sure of the cause.. a stump maybe.

Starter (mud).

Throw out bearing (mud).

Broken front axle U joint (rocks).

Broken rear yoke (rocks).

Stay away from mud... Considering the parts broken, everything else still holds up great, the thing is a tank.

General Comments:

The TJ is an absolute blast of vehicle to own, that is if you're the type of person who can enjoy it. It is slow, and tall on the road, it feels like you are driving a cube. But it is amazingly fun to drive, from the flat windshield to the gearbox it screams authentic, functional and fun. Doors off and top down is a pretty crazy the first time, and nothing but fun.

That said... Chrysler is subpar in my opinion, and lots of little things in the interior are cheapo feeling.. lots of rattles and sounds, and these are typical of Wranglers (offroad use or not). Would never buy a Chrysler product again, except for another Jeep Wrangler.

Offroad is where I have learned to love the TJ. After "wheelin" it for 3 years (heavily) through mud, rocks, mountains, and rivers, it continues to impress me. The strangest feeling is slogging your way through rocker deep mud holes, up hills with massive inclines with ledges and obstacles to boot, never going faster than 6 mph. Then just poppin it into 2 high and hitting the highway to go home never missing a beat. It's a 5mph thrill ride.

It's more fun than a sports car (to me) simply because you can use it to its full potential offroad on the weekend, and drive it to work the next day; there is nothing like it. It's cheaper than tracking a car, and a little goes a long way with Jeep; parts are cheap and they are simple vehicles. Enjoyed them stock or heavily modified.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 13th October, 2011

2004 Jeep TJ Columbia Edition 4.0 Inline Six

Summary:

Very robust, reliable offroad machine!

Faults:

Replaced all 4 ball joints at the dealer for $800, at 80000km's.

Replaced front brakes at 80000 done myself for $160 in parts.

Broke front sway bar links while offroading replaced for $100.

Rad blew out while overheating while offroading due to the radiator being plugged up with mud; not really the vehicle's fault.

General Comments:

Overall I really like this vehicle. So far I have been driving it very hard offroad every weekend and have not had any serious problems yet.

The things I don't like about the vehicle are: the fuel economy is terrible, the Jeep handles not so well on the road, the ride is extremely harsh, and my friends complain about the back seat being too cramped.

The things I love about the vehicle are being able to remove the roof and doors and cruise around town, the coolness factor of the jeep, and the unlimited list of aftermarket parts available to customize your Jeep, and the amazing offroad capability even in stock form.

Although this is a great and reliable vehicle, I would not recommend buying one unless you plan to take it offroad fairly regularly, as this is where the Jeep really feels at home.

So far I love my Jeep and plan to keep it for a long time. I would definitely buy another Jeep in the future.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 27th July, 2009

2004 Jeep TJ Sport 4.0L I-6

Summary:

Best vehicle I've bought yet!

Faults:

The soft top is suffering a lot of wear for it's age, but it is used quite often.

Temperature control knob broke, easy fix.

General Comments:

Absolutely fantastic vehicle. It might be slow, loud and handle poorly on the road, but it's still a blast to drive and amazing off road.

Nothing beats driving around with the top and doors off.

Comfortable for two, not a lot of room in the back.

Wish it had a little more power on the highway...

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 3rd March, 2008