Replaced my TJ with same... back on the NG

Greetings all,

I have been away from this newsgroup for a couple years as other interests
(motorcycling) took me in other directions. I recently replaced my 97 TJ SE
(an early one... came off the production line Mar'96) with exactly the same
model (my friends say I am a glutton for punishment): a 05 TJ SE... like
before, with half doors, year-round soft top, but a great new colour (I used
to have white): electric lime green. Some people love the colour and others
ask me, with derision in their voice, if I paid extra for that.

Yes the 4-cyl SE is a bit of a pig on the highway but, personally, I think
Wranglers of all types get unsafe at high speeds anyhow and other than
anaemic highway acceleration, I was totally happy with my 97 SE... it got
through the Jeep Jamboree just fine. I didn't realize it, but it looks like
a whole different engine in there than what was in the 97... looks like a
lot more "empty space" in the engine compartment. Having the 6th gear is
really great for highway cruising. It seemed to go through a tank of gas a
lot slower on a recent trip up to the Bruce Peninsula but I am wondering if
perhaps it has a larger tank than the 97 (?).

Somehow, the stock stereo in the 05 sounds even crappier than the stock
stereo in the 97... how do they manage to do that? It came with the centre
console (without subwoofer). Is there anyway to add any "ooomph" to that
thing? I'm not looking for high quality, near perfect sound because,
frankly, in a soft top it's a waste 'cuz you can't hear much anyhow.

Didn't ask for them, but it came outfitted with cloth seats and alloy wheels
which is nice. Except that now my rear wheel bike rack doesn't fit because
the centre hole isn't big enough... I think I will have to get a used steel
rim and tire. My other complaint is that the whole rear seat mechanism is so
damn complicated and takes up more space than in the 97.

But, overall, I'm enjoying it a lot... more comfortable, more reliable and
nice to be able to see out of the plastic windows again (for a few years,
anyhow). Also, looking forward to being back on the newsgroup. I am pleased
to see that some of the same names are still around and that people are
still bowing in praise (justifiably) to Mike Romain ;-)

Cheers,
Neil Baldwin
Burlington, ON, Canada

Oh, forgot to mention, it came with a locking gas cap conveniently keyed to
the ignition key. I thought Mike Romain would appreciate that.

Neil

Welcome back Neil.. I'm pretty new here myself. When I got my 98 TJ, I
was so happy to see that this NG is even more active than my old usenet
home, RAMVA (rec.autos.makers.vw.aircooled) ..

-Dave

welcome back and the motor is different now 2.4 instead of 2.5 )


"Neil Baldwin" > wrote in message
...
> Greetings all,
>
> I have been away from this newsgroup for a couple years as other interests
> (motorcycling) took me in other directions. I recently replaced my 97 TJ
SE
> (an early one... came off the production line Mar'96) with exactly the
same
> model (my friends say I am a glutton for punishment): a 05 TJ SE... like
> before, with half doors, year-round soft top, but a great new colour (I
used
> to have white): electric lime green. Some people love the colour and
others
> ask me, with derision in their voice, if I paid extra for that.
>
> Yes the 4-cyl SE is a bit of a pig on the highway but, personally, I think
> Wranglers of all types get unsafe at high speeds anyhow and other than
> anaemic highway acceleration, I was totally happy with my 97 SE... it got
> through the Jeep Jamboree just fine. I didn't realize it, but it looks
like
> a whole different engine in there than what was in the 97... looks like a
> lot more "empty space" in the engine compartment. Having the 6th gear is
> really great for highway cruising. It seemed to go through a tank of gas a
> lot slower on a recent trip up to the Bruce Peninsula but I am wondering
if
> perhaps it has a larger tank than the 97 (?).
>
> Somehow, the stock stereo in the 05 sounds even crappier than the stock
> stereo in the 97... how do they manage to do that? It came with the centre
> console (without subwoofer). Is there anyway to add any "ooomph" to that
> thing? I'm not looking for high quality, near perfect sound because,
> frankly, in a soft top it's a waste 'cuz you can't hear much anyhow.
>
> Didn't ask for them, but it came outfitted with cloth seats and alloy
wheels
> which is nice. Except that now my rear wheel bike rack doesn't fit because
> the centre hole isn't big enough... I think I will have to get a used
steel
> rim and tire. My other complaint is that the whole rear seat mechanism is
so
> damn complicated and takes up more space than in the 97.
>
> But, overall, I'm enjoying it a lot... more comfortable, more reliable and
> nice to be able to see out of the plastic windows again (for a few years,
> anyhow). Also, looking forward to being back on the newsgroup. I am
pleased
> to see that some of the same names are still around and that people are
> still bowing in praise (justifiably) to Mike Romain ;-)
>
> Cheers,
> Neil Baldwin
> Burlington, ON, Canada
>
>

Welcome back Neil. Maybe we will catch you on a trail some day. That
funky green should be easy to spot. ;-)

I do like the idea of a cap with a real key in it for sure!

Mike
86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's

Neil Baldwin wrote:
>
> Oh, forgot to mention, it came with a locking gas cap conveniently keyed to
> the ignition key. I thought Mike Romain would appreciate that.
>
> Neil