NOOOB

[Greenfish]

Hey Guys!

Just joined last week. I dont have a FSJ just yet but would like to buy a late 80's early 90's GW.

I'm trying to convince the wifey that they are beautiful trucks and would make an excellent family mover. She doesnt think they are safe enough.

I'd like to get a nice one that I can drive every day. Although I dont have a FSJ I am versed in the way of mother Mopar. I do own a 70 Cuda and have had other Mopars in the past.

anyhow.. just saying hi, and hope to learn some things before I buy something.

thanks
Joe
Baltimore

[jeeping1974]

I would trust a FSJ to allow me to walk away in an accident over many of the newer vehicles of today.

[draglink]

I have 3 kids (4,6, and 9) and we take the GW everywhere, wife and family love it. I feel very safe and completely confident with it. Im all about big safe vehicles- wifes DD is 2001 4x4 Excursion

[710 Burner]

First of all, the proprieties and all...
Welcome to IFSJA.
Now for starting your education....
Don't get hung up on the Mopar thing. What you are considering is crossing over to the dark side... AMC. Happy shopping and take your time to find one that fits you.

[FSJ Guy]

Uh oh. Here we go on safety again. :D

For safety, I don't think you can beat a newer (2000+) vehicle. Between the safety cage, air bags and crumple zones, a similarly sized newer vehicle will be safer, IMHO.

Is the Wagoneer a death trap? I don't think so.

Unless you hit a fixed object (tree, bridge, etc) at more than 40 mph, get t-boned or roll multiple times, I think the FSJ is a reasonably safe vehicle.

As far as t he Mopar thing, there's more standard GM parts in most FSJ's than "Mopar" parts. Remember, the 360 motor in FSJ's is an AMC motor. Not Mopar, not Ford, not Chevy.

And as mentioned before, WELCOME!!!

[Greenfish]

Thanks for the welcome guys. I just called about a GW in CO but just missed it. It was sold.

Any particular year I should stay away from. Or lean more towards? I want to get as new a GW as possible 89-90-91 but if the right GW comes along i'm not set on anything. Were there any years that are knows as "troubled" more than others? I assume AMC pretty much used the same parts across the board.

on the Mopar reference, I know AMC and Chrysler are different. Most Mopar guys consider AMCs Mopars.

[shakari]

Here's another welcome..... this one from a sunny but cold South Africa!

[710 Burner]

Depends on what you want to do with it. If you are just going to be using it as a family truckster, you will probably want one of the late model units. They are good for that.

[skinnyD]

Welcome from Maine!

[davidrodriguez6769]

Once you get the wife to ride in a GW she will realize that it is a safe and extremely comfortable ride,the GW is a luxury vehicle in all the right places,the only thing better than riding in one is driving one. Just be sure you put her in one that has the suspension in tact. And welcome to the "DARK SIDE" :bluelaugh:

[BBB]

Welcome from the East Coast! As far as what model to get, I'd just go with personal preference and condition. I've had an '84 GW and a '78 wagoneer. The '84 was "nicer" as far as options go since it had leather, power seats and windows, etc, but the '78 is in much better condition and feels a lot more solid to drive. Plus I don't have to worry about the electrical gremlins that usually kept all my windows and locks from functioning at the same time. I'd be flexible on the year as long as the frame and body are relatively rust-free.

[SEdmonds]

I've been driving our Wag around because ...
1. son isn't legal yet and it's his car.
2. we need to use up the tank of gas that's in it.
3. Husband doesn't want to drive it (yet).
It's the car I learned to drive in, and I'm familiar with it - and it's fun as heck....and hubby, sitting in the back seat is starting to get antsy to drive it. FSJ's are just plain FUN. I bet your wife will get the bug once she starts to ride in it, and your kids will think it's da bomb.

[fulsizjeep]

Welcome from SW Colorado! Be prepared to have more than one in your yard or garage once you get one. :cool: Just like Lay's potayba chips. ;)

[Rich88]

Owning an FSJ is like owning an old wooden boat: Always something to do on it, and its never really done.

Best advice I can offer is when looking to buy, make sure you bring a flashlight and wear clothes worthy of crawling under it. If you see major chucks of rust around the body chassis mounts and major rustage in, on and around the rear frame, then decline....unless you have a garage & cutting, grinding and welding equipment and like to spend time away from the family.

[elij10travis]

well for mopar they are far from 360 mopar and 360 amc 2 totally differnt ideas yes one better than the other. 360 mopar is great for sports cars has higher hp but 360 amc has lots of torque and hp that can be unleashed. not say that neither motors wernt put in a sports car ie (gremlin) etc. and i have a a 93 jeep grand cherokee 5.2 318 has very high miles i think 250 thousand and the body is rotted but never had an engiine problem and rides better than my chevy blazer my blazer rides like an amc comanche but i also have a 1980 jeep j10 360 5.9 wow there is a defference id still rather drive my j10 than the cherokee any day. but fsj's are fun and its a disease you have to deal with by spending on them your wife might get mad or jealous or both but fsj's are fun and you can never go wrong with it and as for safety id hate to be the person that get into an accident with one t bone or rear end youll prolly be able to drive it away. and the other will ahve to be crushed.

o ya i do think all 2000+ cars are the safest take a look at the smart car does that seem safe now looks like a go kart with a sheet metal body. jsut waiting for something bad to happen

[grandwag89]

Welcome from KY, as far as the models go, IMO anything past 85 was getting over most of the gremlins and were the nicer models. FSJ's are known for their safety, only serious injury/death I ever heard of in one was a result of my brother's drunken teenage friends mixed with a pumped up Cherokee. Yes, the engine is AMC and from my own personal experience with proper upkeep are just as reliable as anything on the market today and plenty powerful for a family vehicle. The final run (89-91) had a couple extra goodies like overhead temp/compass console and tailgate wiper. They are very reasonably safe vehicles that can be a lot of fun, good luck on your hunt!

[woodfar]

WOW. Your wife has DD's. You lucky dog.

[jeeper54]

I bought my wife her first G.W. about 12 years ago. She liked my 81 Cherokee Larado WT. My brother put his 85 on the side of the house because it wouldn't start. Bought it, towed it to a shop I trusted (I was working 65 hr. week) and she got the bug. We've had several others and a few XJs but she loves the G.W.s and she feels very safe in them. Of course a slight lift and bigger tires and a performance muffler and...etc. Be warned. BTW; Welcome from the valley of the inferno. Great people with a lot of know how and experience to share on this site. KEEP US POSTED!

[GallionSW]

you can get 3 point restraints for the rear seat if that makes a difference.

[jaber]

Welcome to the land of empty pockets and unfinished projects...:D

I got my wife into a GW in 03 and she does not like to drive in trafic in anything else. Granted a 4" lift and fuel injection helped make my point....:D

[hkjensli]

A GW is as safe as you get, my family owe our lives to ours. Hit a grown pine roof first going 45 mph, all of us escaped major injuries. The GW's roof and body structure held up where other cars would have pancaked around the tree! Check out the pics at the bottom of this page! http://www.angelfire.com/fl4/norwegianwoodie/

[Eugene 1]

Welcome