The Jeep beat me.

[Manhattan]

I fought it long enough. I replaced the 360, the radiator, the starter, the alternator, rebuilt the carb, replaced the springs, shocks, tires, breaks, headliner, fixed the lights, seats, armrest, fixed the windows, replaced the distributor, the coil, the plugs, the wires, the belts, every hose...

Saturday, with my wife and 10 month old daughter in the Wag', it died on the highway - 1/2 mile from the Holland Tunnel entering New York City. Dead on the side of the road.

For a while I thought I could keep replacing parts and eventually have a new Jeep. I will not live that long or have that much money to rebuild a Jeep part by part - on the side of the road.

The Wagoneer is for Sale.
'88 Grand Wagoneer, all options 126k. "Everything" under hood replaced 5k ago, new 31s, 3" springs at 4 corners, custom roof rack. $5,000

[Skye]

Well, my question would be: What will you get next?

I agree that replacing parts sucks if you have to do it month after month after month. I guess it's better than paying $400 every month for 5 years for a new vehicle though... maybe.

What are you looking at next? Do you think it is the age of the vehicle or the make?

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83 Wagoneer.... um... thats all:)

[Manhattan]

Get this... a 2001 Volvo Wagon - Turbo, leather, AC, CD; quiet, fast, smooth, safe, reliable, good gas mileage (okay it's expensive)

and

Another CJ.

I am having a hard time with my toy being my only mode of transportation. I liked it when the CJ grenaded a t-case and I still had a nice way to get to work, dinner, home...

[Narnian]

I learned years ago that the only way to operate is to always have at least two vehicles. A friend of mine bought a brand new Range Rover ($45K?). He had it in the shop 140 days his first year. I had a sports car and a 4x4 that were both ten years old. Together, they spent a total of 32 days in the shop that same year. But I was never without a ride, because they never broke down at the same time. I also ended up spending a lot less $ than he did.

Don't give up on your Waggy if there is any way to avoid it. I gave up my Chief 8 years ago for similar reasons. I've regretted it more and more every passing year, until I finally went and bought my Laredo a week and a half ago. The GMC Jimmy has been nice, but it's just not in the same class.

[Brenton]

Having a $400 car payment, and putting $400 dollars a month in repairs are not the same thing. Since when you have the car payment, you are likely paying on something reliable that gets you to work everyday. When it's gotta go offline, and that means no ride to work - it gets more difficult to accept each month. Been there more than once - in fact gave up a primo (I mean primo) Chevy Vega for that reason. I kick myself around the block over it now, but then - now I have an S-10 that gets me to work everyday - and the money to contend with a restoration (hence my Gladiator).
Sorry to hear it, but I understand. If the wife isn't screaming bloody murder about it at this point - consider yourself a lucky man, and get while the gettin's good.
I have an opinion about any automobile made in the 80's (in response to the proposition about age of the vehicle). It has more to do with era. The auto makers (not just Jeep) were struggling to make a quality product. I personally won't own a vehicle made in the 80's - any make, any model. My opinion of the Jeeps in those years are very low. Gotta remember that was the era when AMC was going bye - bye, and Chrysler was *struggling*. Lee Iacoaca sound familiar? He pulled them out, but more with dazzle than product quality. Any one recall the K cars? How many of those are still on the road. Don't get me wrong here - the entire industry was reeling from Jap Crap that was outlasting stuff we'd been making for years. I'm a proud American, but it was a dark era for the Automotive industry.
Now don't get me started about American quality in the 90's and the new century. We make 'em just as good as the foreign manufacturers, and they ride SOOOOOO much nicer.

Don't give up the fight if it can be avoided. It may end up being a decision you regret, and I *know* I personally hate making those. Because I happen to agree. If you replace enough parts, it is like having a new vehicle. The problem is, everythings gotta be replaced first.

Brenton