1997 Jeep Wrangler SE review from North America
"An American icon at an econobox price"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
Left turn signal no longer self-cancels.
Poorly grounded ECU (electronic control unit) left me stranded once.
Catalyst in catalytic converter vibrated loose while driving off-road.
General comments?
Convertible in summer, 4x4 in winter.
Hose-able interior is great if you have dogs.
Throw away the back seat - if you need to carry passengers then maybe this is not the vehicle for you.
Ride quality is vastly improved from early generation Wrangler and is actually better off-road due to increased wheel travel.
Heater provides plenty of heat for Oregon winters, but might not be sufficient for extremely cold climates.
4 cylinder provides plenty of zip around town, but performs poorly at highway speeds.
Excessive fuel consumption (14 to 16 miles per gallon average) due to antiquated engine design.
Soft top is time-consuming to put up and down. How fast can you pitch a tent?
If Toyota still made the old FJ-40 style Landcruiser, I'd be driving one. Presently, however, the Jeep Wrangler is the only vehicle of its kind.
At ~$15,000, it's the only real off-road-able vehicle in its class.
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| Keep the top off and use it for a dumpster |
|
| The most fun on 4 wheels... most of the time! |
| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | Don't Know |
| Year of manufacture | 1997 |
| First year of ownership | 1997 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2001 |
| Engine and transmission | 4 Cylinder Manual |
| Performance marks | 3 / 10 |
| Reliability marks | 4 / 10 |
| Comfort marks | 5 / 10 |
| Dealer Service marks | 5 / 10 |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 5 / 10 |
| Overall marks (average of all marks) | |
| Distance when acquired | 25 miles |
| Most recent distance | 32000 miles |
| Previous car | Toyota 4x4 |
| Date of Entry | 30th June, 2001 |