H. Miller

I was doing some spring cleaning today and spent some time on the Grand Cherokee giving it some much needed wax. Usually, my time is spent on the 911 but I realized how much I also enjoy my two Jeeps: Wrangler and Grand Cherokee. What great four wheelers they are (not to take anything away from the C4S). The Wrangler is awesome with the top off (since I don't have a Cab in the 911 style).
Both cars are fun and practical and the Wrangler can teach you a lot about balance - it sways front to rear a whole bunch when you gas it brake it.
Anyway, just thought I'd see how many Jeep lovers there were out there.

satchy

I too love my Jeep. It's the car I drive when I'm not driving my TT. I love it not for the performance, which of course can't compare, but for the security it gives me when the weather is bad. The feeling of love is similar, even though the cars/trucks are different as night and day. I'm convinced my second car will always be a Jeep. It's the perfect complement to the 911. Whatever the weather conditions I'm confident I'm in one of the best vehicles engineered for those conditions.

George Helser

Miller 98C4S,

I have spent my driving career seeking cars with low unsprung mass and superlative handling.

My frequent driver is a Mercedes 300E. The 993 is my favorite to drive when I can park it without risk of dings or to go racing.

I bought a Jeep Cherokee two months ago because I got tired of ripping up the Benz from hauling lumber and needed a car I would not care about when parking at the airport. I have had a blast driving the Jeep off road in Tonto National Forest. However, I do NOT like the Jeep on road. On the way to the national forest I have to drive on washboard which is an eye opener on unsprung mass. The Jeep is dangerous as it is almost out of control at the speed limit because the HIGH unsprung mass (solid iron axles front & rear) has the tires barely loaded. On the freeway, I am comfortable & safe 20 miles over the speed limit in either of my cars from Stuttgart. In the Jeep, I feel reckless at 10 miles over the speed limit. Yes, the 4 liter “low output” engine has tremendous acceleration but the high CG and high unsprung mass is not fun for me on the road.

Regards,
George
In sunny Arizona

mags993tt

My car for day to day getting around is a Wrangler and I love it to death even though the car mags usually slate it. It is perfect for getting around London, very relaxing to drive, totally reliable, relatively cheap to run (EXCEPT FOR PETROL - but I don't do that many miles) and no worries about where I park it. I used to have the square headlight model and like that but the new model is far superior on the road.

Someone succeeded in writing their vauxhall nova off on the front of the Wrangler while it was parked outside my front door...damage to the Wrangler - nothing I couldn't wash off the next day...so very safe in that respect but I certainly wouldn't want to do any violent lane changing manouvres at 80mph on the motorway...you need to respect its physics and it won't let you down.

M

Mr Michael B

WAY off topic, but that's okay...

I have two Jeeps next to the 993. My wife is in a late model Grand Cherokee (her second one - I took her to the Benz dealer & the Jeep dealer... She wanted another Grand Cherokee, go figure), and I have the little known Comanche Pickup for "bad" days for myself (my 4th Jeep).

They do the job well, just like a Porsche.

esb97targa

I have had my '90 Wrangler Laredo since '92...if everything goes as planned this will be a family heirloom, to be passed on frome generation to generation. It is like an extension of my body, and although it does'nt handle quite as my P-Car, it is the same colors, Blue ext. Tan int. <img src="graemlins/burnout.gif" border="0" alt="[burnout]" />

P.S. George...I have taken many road trips, in the Jeep and 80 mph is not a problem...as long as the road is straight.

condo bob

had two jeeps,junk junk. drive a durango 5.9 with flow masters,k&n filter & chip & kick but! even towing a donzi. jeeps to wiggley pulling a boat over the sierras.

Jim Richards

I have a Jeep Cherokee Country 4X4. It's a piece of junk but still provides some utility. It's had plently of problems over the past 8 years and I'll never buy another. Radiator, water pump, exhaust manifold, transfer case (twice), leaks oil like a sieve, driver's door hinge broke off, power steering pump, catalytic converter, and on and on, seemingly without end. <img src="graemlins/soapbox.gif" border="0" alt="[soapbox]" />

Regards,

Jim
1995 Black 993

Ray Calvo

Sorry; only good Jeep is a dead Jeep.

Been in Grand Cherokee on a long drive; nice except for the nosebleed feel due to height and the swaying feeling you get like a lookout in the crow's nest of a Clipper ship whenever the dang thing corners at speeds approaching the speed limit.

Been in a Wrangler about 10 years ago; haven't been in anything so junky/primitive since my father's Austin Healey 100-4 when I was a rug rat.

My Audi A4 Avant Quattro give me all the security I need in bad weather, and I can still have a blast driving it like a sports car in decent weather. If it can't handle conditions, then everybody shouldn't be on the road.

Dave P

I am so sorry that I must reply on this off topic to defend the honor of all that is JEEP. To me JEEP is almost as holy of a brand as PORSCHE.

I have two Wranglers, (a 92 YJ and a 99TJ). Both have 4" lifts, lockers and numerous upgrades. The YJ has 35" Goodyear MTRs and the TJ has 33" BFG MTs. The YJ has Detroit lockers, the TJ has ARB air lockers. The TJ has a Dana 44 rear end and the YJ has Currie High Pinion Ford 9" axles front and rear. The TJ has 4.10 gearing and the YJ has 4.56 gearing. As you can see these are highly modified Wranglers.

Now, as my wife will tell me, modifying a $20K Jeep is quite a bit different from modifying a $90K Porsche, but the personalization, satisfaction and performance gains are very similar.

A Jeep is the ultimate off road vehicle. A Porsche is the ultimate on road/track sports car. I love both brands dearly! <img src="graemlins/bigok.gif" border="0" alt="[thumbsup]" />

H. Miller

People seeking Jeeps usually seek utility and 4 wheeling not "unsprung mass". A Jeep of any kind should not be compared to a 911 or any other sports car. Jeeps are probably the best off road 4x4 made as well as great utility vehicles. Weekends here in Colorado are spent in DE events or off-road in the Jeep.
By the way, I have owned 3 Jeeps all with the 4.0 litre engines and none of them have been high maintenance. All have been very reliable and cost of ownership has been low.
PS: the subject line for this post says Jeep lovers, not Jeep haters but it's a free country so thanks for the feedback.

Mike in Chi

I've got a '96 Jeep Grand Cherokee that just turned 100,000 basically trouble-free miles.

I find it great for getting through the snow, and with much better cargo capacity/volume than some of the 4wd estates/stationwagons/avants/whatevers.

Barney

I have owned a 2.5 L Wrangler, 4.0 L Wrangler, Cherokee, and a 1969 CJ5. So yes I did love Jeeps. However, now I cannot really appreciate the car's roadholding behavior (despite the coil springs of the current Wrangler), but still love it's practicality, as long as you don't have to drive long distances. It's a car with which you can have a lot of fun, especially without top, doors, and windscreen down. I have participated in off-road adventures in Belgium, and in Colorado (near Telluride including Big Bear Pass ?), which were great experiences.

TYPE911

Barney~
The pass you are referring to is called
Black Bear pass. It is a class 5 (1-5 scale),
Jeep road that runs from Red Mountain Pass on Hwy 550 to Telluride, CO. It is so narrow with tight switchbacks, you can only go 1 way to Telluride and Jeeps or FJ40's are about the only thing that can negotiate this pass.
Although I have a friend who drove it once in her longbed extended-cab Chev. truck !
I think Jeeps are best suited off-road.

You can always take the long way around on the pavement to Telluride in your 911, works great !
<img src="graemlins/drink.gif" border="0" alt="[cherrsagai]" />

Rob O'Meara

1997 Jeep Grand Cherokee. Nice juxtaposition to the 993tt. Very reliable, drives terribly, but tugs at the heart strings nevertheless. But I'm cookie about all cars...