1978 Jeep CJ5 review from North America
"Fun, with four wheel drive"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
The 232 In-line 6 cyl. motor went bad at 65,000 miles. I replaced it with the AMC 360 V-8, and it was a great choice.
Transmission has been replaced 3 times (see above for the reason, not designed for the power).
General comments?
The CJ5 is a blast to own. They may not handle like a sports car, but they were never designed to. Plus lets see a car or even a pick-up go where this thing can go.
With a bit of work, they can go on forever. Mine is now 25 years old, and it still is very dependable for everyday driving. It is also able to take me DEEP into the woods on the week-ends.
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| A Jeep legend: CJ-5's forever! |
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| This is what a SUV was meant to be!! |
| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | Yes |
| Year of manufacture | 1978 |
| First year of ownership | 1982 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2003 |
| Engine and transmission | AMC 360 Manual |
| Performance marks | 9 / 10 |
| Reliability marks | 7 / 10 |
| Comfort marks | 5 / 10 |
| Dealer Service marks | |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 6 / 10 |
| Overall marks (average of all marks) | |
| Distance when acquired | 38000 miles |
| Most recent distance | 96000 miles |
| Previous car | AMC 1978 Mercury Monarch |
| Date of Entry | 20th March, 2003 |