1980 Jeep Wagoneer review from North America
"One of, if not the, best full-size trucks ever made!"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
Factory locking hubs went bad, replaced them with Warn hubs.
Leaky transmission cooler lines.
Badly rebuilt original carburetor, replaced with a new 2150 Motorcraft 2bbl.
Tailgate window arms were rusted.
General comments?
We had bought this Wagoneer as a replacement for my wife's '77 Chevy Blazer since she always loved Full-size-Jeeps.
These trucks are very distinctive on the outside, and more than adequate in the interior for space and comfort.
The handling of such a large truck is surprisingly easy, and has excellent visibility in an almost unbroken 360 degrees.
Gas efficiency is a respectable 14mpg highway, 10-12mpg city. Again, this is a very large truck, and the AMC 360 does very well at moving the Wagoneer's bulk around.
A few drawbacks of this particular model Wagoneer is that its bench-seats are uncomfortable over long-distance trips, and it is hard to park in narrow spaces. However, the Wagoneer has a good turning radius, and can be parked with ease after practicing...
The negative marks are easily offset by the safety of these vehicles. They stand up very well in accidents, and offer a good amount of protection for the occupants. These trucks are constructed very sturdily, and can withstand a lot of abuse.
On top of all this, the four-wheel drive capability of the Wagoneer is excellent, and can easily be made better.
Recommended reviews
| Jeep may have problems, but over all there cars are excellent |
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| I miss it, but I would never buy another jeep |
| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | Yes |
| Year of manufacture | 1980 |
| First year of ownership | 2002 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2003 |
| Engine and transmission | 360cid / 5.9L V8 Automatic |
| Performance marks | 9 / 10 |
| Reliability marks | 9 / 10 |
| Comfort marks | 8 / 10 |
| Dealer Service marks | |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 7 / 10 |
| Overall marks (average of all marks) | |
| Distance when acquired | 108000 miles |
| Most recent distance | 113000 miles |
| Previous car | Oldsmobile 98 |
| Date of Entry | 18th March, 2003 |