1997 Jeep TJ SE review from North America

Not comfortable... Oh wait it's a Jeep and I am a man about it.

U-joints in the front axle gave out after 11 years and 135,000 miles of torture.

Thermostat went bad (open all the time) after 12 years.

I broke the drag link kissing tree stumps.

Blew a radiator hose in the middle of the woods after 125k miles or so.

Ignition coil is in a stupid place, replaced with a stronger Accel coil and moved to the top of the firewall away from water and mud!

Besides that, nothing, GREAT JEEP... OK CJ's are way better!

It is a Jeep. Jeeps are generally not comfortable or roomy because they are a bare bones vehicle. I suggest before even fathoming owning a Jeep, you have some basic mechanical knowledge, and if you do wheel it, keep up with the PM!

I love it, I have had it since '04, and besides a few minor things, it has been mechanically sound for a high mileage vehicle.

I recently took the head and oil pan off for a 150,000 mile inspection and gasket PM, and saw the near new condition of the crankshaft, push rods, rockers, and even cylinder hones. MIND YOU, THIS JEEP HAS BEEN THROUGH HELL FOR OVER 30,000 MILES AND TWO ROUGH OWNERS!!

As for oil changes, every 3,000 and it will run forever!

Not fast, but it is a Jeep. If I wanted a fast car, I would have bought a GTO!

Driving a Jeep, especially when one adds larger tires, can be a challenge, but that is a part of the Jeep experience. You must let the Jeep drive itself, you are simply controlling it. You cannot force the Jeep to do anything it doesn't want to do, that's when you get roll overs and serious damage. Keep you head up and eyes on the trail and you will do just fine. Driving this vehicle is a very rewarding experience!

The other great thing about the Jeep is the lack of complicated parts. If you have a half-inch socket set and plenty of SAE and metric sockets, you can rest at ease so long as you know your end of the wrench. Any Jeep that is not one of the rugged minivans requires a keen operator that is hard to find anymore. You need to learn each noise and listen intently to anything out of the ordinary, this will in the end save you money.

A Jeep is a great vehicle. Not to insult DC but this is the last of the greats. A TJ is not for everybody, just as the CJ's and YJ's before it. They are rough riding, and no two are exactly the same, which attracts roughneck, adventure seeking, free spirited and mechanically inclined people to grasp the wheel and go where the big growling tires take you. If this sounds like you, then the Jeep is for you, if not, try a JK or a Grand Cherokee. CJ, YJ and CJ drivers are a breed apart, so don't be surprised when you don't like it after driving Cadillacs and Hondas your whole life.