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Edited on Mon Mar-14-11 09:10 PM by happyslug
The Exhaust system needs completely rebuilt (I have patch it over the years), the engine broke off its engine Mounts, it needs four new tires (the brakes I have not looked at in two years, but brakes on the Jeep last 50,000 plus miles so not a big concern, but close to replacement time, the brakes passed last year, but I have my question for this year), and the front spring leaf broke off. These need to be repaired to pass inspection, my mechanic estimates about $800-1000 dollars.
In addition the windshield washer container is leaking and needs replaced, the driver's door is sometimes closing (It closes if you use the inside door release, but not the outside door release), the radio has NOT worked in years, the Glove box needs replaced (Both were damaged when the Jeep was last stolen), something is wrong with the front end (May be the spring, but I had to replace the connection between the driver's wheel and the front end a few years ago, it was holding together but clearly broken) and the front windshield frame is rusting. The Driver's side seat needs replaced (I am rough on seats). The Clutch was last changed at about 150,000 miles so while I have NOT felt any slipping, 100,000 miles on a clutch is a long time when it comes to a five speed manual transmission.
On the plus side, the engine and transmission work like a top, as does the four wheel drive (Which I used at various times this past winter).
Hay, it was a 1995 Jeep Wrangler, no one expects a smooth ride out of it (The 1995, while built by Chrysler had been designed by AMC before Chrysler took over AMC), it was a four wheel drive vehicle designed to go almost anywhere AND to be rebuilt to go places it was never designed to go. The carpet needs replaced and, while no holes at the present time, you can see the increase in rust over the last two to three years. It never did better then 22 mpg (most most trips it 20 mpg) but what do you expect from a Vehicle with all of the Aerodynamics of an open box.
I had to get rid of it last week (It is sitting in my mechanic Garage, he will get rid of it for me), the cost to repair exceeded its value and sooner or later you have to say enough is enough. I have a 1997 Dodge Dakota to drive, worse fuel economy but no car payments. The Dodge is in good shape, runs like a top (The Dodge has one bad side, no "feel for the road" like you had with the Wrangler, the Dodge has something called "Springs").
As to the bubble, it is mostly large Pickups and small cars. Large Pickup, mostly for the Construction, Farmers and other people who need a truck to move things (Mostly 3/4 ton trucks NOT 1/2 ton trucks), the difference is 3/4 ton truck has a truck undercarriage, while the 1/2 has a automobile type undercarriage, bodies on both tend to be the same but the key is the undercarriage (and thus a smoother ride with a 1/2 ton then a 3/4 ton, but you can haul more and it will last longer if you use a 3/4 ton). Most of the buyers of large Pickups are buying them having deferred replacing older vehicles over the last five years and sooner or later you have to replace them (Just like I am getting rid of Wrangler).
The other "big" segment people are buying are small fuel efficient cars. The Mid-size, Full-Size Cars and SUVs are not selling, it is the Compact and smaller cars (Thus you see ads for Buick, Cadillac. Mercury and other mid size and full size car models for they are NOT selling, but you see a lot less ads for Fords and Chevrolet do to ability to market smaller cars (GM, even before its bankruptcy was repositioning itself into two main segments, Chevrolet for the smaller car market, Buick and Cadillac for people who wanted larger cars, thus today Chevrolet does NOT need to advertise as much as Buick and Cadillac.
The present "Boom" in auto sales is more a "dead cat" bounce then a real boom (i.e as even a dead cat will bounce upward after being dropped from a large building i.e. the bounce is misleading it is a bounce as the market hits rock bottom). As to cars people have deferred buying a new car for years (Car sales since 2005 has been terrible) but Americans still need cars to go to and from work and you can only patch a car for so long till it has to be replaced. Thus, like the large Pickup market, this is more a market driven by people who has deferred replacing their cars that need replaced then any real new demand. I purchased my Jeep Wrangler new in January 1996 and used it till February 2011. I thus do not want a new car, I need a new car. Thus I am in the same market as most people buying a new car, out of necessity not want. That is NOT the grounds for a real boom in car sales, but only a slow return to normal car sales levels (and car sales are NOT even at the level of 2005, so this is NOT that much of a boom).
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