2005 Jeep Wrangler X review from North America

The transmission is the thing I have experienced the most problems. I believe there is a technical service bulletin on it. It's tough to shift to second sometimes and usually requires vigor to shift to reverse. The clutch is smooth, but shifting from gear to gear can be troublesome, especially in lower gears.

One of the windows on my soft top tore while I was trying to zip it back on. The top can be difficult to put up and down at times.

The Jeep isn't the fastest vehicle out there, but its 4.0 liter engine gets the job done. It is sluggish off the line, but this might be because of my 33 inch tires.

It isn't the best highway vehicle either. The RPMs reach 2500 at 70 miles per hour in 6th gear, which kills MPGs. Also, the high speeds cause a great deal of wind noise, especially with the soft top.

For those who like luxury cars, the Wrangler is not for you. It doesn't have power windows, locks, mirrors or anything like that. A/C and a CD player is about as luxury as it gets in a Wrangler.

Wranglers are very customizable to fit your needs and tastes. Aftermarket/replacement parts are plentiful and relatively inexpensive. No two Wranglers are the same.

So why buy a Jeep? I like it because of its off road capabilities, its removable top and just the way it looks. I love driving around town with the top down and the doors off. There is really nothing like it. But people like me are a special breed. Jeeps definitely are not for everyone.