Choosing a first vehicle, Ranger vs Samurai vs .....

[Kirbot]

Thanks for all the help/suggestions.
I never realized Bronco IIs are so small, I'm still doing some research but thats what I'm really leaning toward now.

I'm thinking I'll go with no or very little lift, will the Bronco IIs also fit 31" tires either stock or just by cutting the fenders?

I won't be driving for another year (17 in Nj) so I should have plenty of time to work on something, but I would still rather not lift it or atleast not much.

I guess getting some a year ahead of time is a bit excessive but, it will give me plenty of time to do some work on it, and get a feal for driving it on my parent's property.
Although I do already know how to drive a manual, thats what my parent's jeep is, and I've been driving that (on private property of course!) since I had to sit on my dad's lap and steer, since I couldn't reach the pedals!

I do like the Rangers, and I'll still be considering them, but the extra seats and smaller size of the Bronco II does seem really nice.

Original_Ranger84
You said "Definately don't get your buddies truck"
and that after sitting for two years it probably won't start.
Well, he said he "starts it up now and then" so would you still avoid it?

Whatever I decide, the next thing I have to do is get some money together.
I guess I'll get one of my metal lathes sold soon.

Thanks again

 

[derekj]

I had 31's on my B2 with an add a leaf in the back and a 2" coil spacer in the front. Or a 3" body lift would do. If you do buy a RBV don't get an auto! The A4LD is an awful tranny.

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

The A4LD is an awful tranny.

x2, especially the earlier ones.
Richard

 

[Original_Ranger84]

Thanks for all the help/suggestions.
I never realized Bronco IIs are so small, I'm still doing some research but thats what I'm really leaning toward now.

I'm thinking I'll go with no or very little lift, will the Bronco IIs also fit 31" tires either stock or just by cutting the fenders?

I won't be driving for another year (17 in Nj) so I should have plenty of time to work on something, but I would still rather not lift it or atleast not much.

I guess getting some a year ahead of time is a bit excessive but, it will give me plenty of time to do some work on it, and get a feal for driving it on my parent's property.
Although I do already know how to drive a manual, thats what my parent's jeep is, and I've been driving that (on private property of course!) since I had to sit on my dad's lap and steer, since I couldn't reach the pedals!

I do like the Rangers, and I'll still be considering them, but the extra seats and smaller size of the Bronco II does seem really nice.

Original_Ranger84
You said "Definately don't get your buddies truck"
and that after sitting for two years it probably won't start.
Well, he said he "starts it up now and then" so would you still avoid it?

Whatever I decide, the next thing I have to do is get some money together.
I guess I'll get one of my metal lathes sold soon.

Thanks again

Well As for your buddies truck just as a rule of thumb from my experience
atleast, kids don't go that easy on vehicles and the truck is no exception. Many of my friends bought vehicles off of other friends and tossed the vehicle a few months later. But if you think it runs good and he can start it up and drive it just fine then I would check it out, Also depends on where you live too... Some places have emissions where you have to maintain factory equipment and the 2.8L is the worst engine to have for emissions... I removed literally like 20 lbs of wiring and vacuum tubing from my truck when I did a duraspark conversion.

Theres nothing like a Regular cab long bed truck, My 84 is like that and it is the most useful truck, but I got my Extended cab truck and let me tell you, ITS NICE not to have to throw stuff in the bed (granted a tool box would have fixed that problem anyways).

Also even if you like the older years I might Suggest getting a 90's and up... Then you have the option of the 4.0L motor or even the 3.0L which alot of people don't really like alot cause its under powered feel but I can pull off 25 MPG's with it and still haul a bunch of stuff.

I had 31's on my B2 with an add a leaf in the back and a 2" coil spacer in the front. Or a 3" body lift would do. If you do buy a RBV don't get an auto! The A4LD is an awful tranny.

With a 3" body lift you can just barely fit 33's and 31's fit no problem, and you can probably squeeze 31's with no lift just fine as well.

As for the A4LD... Yes it is a bad transmission, but you can easily remedy the problem by putting on a large tranny cooler... The main reason it fails is because it get too hot, be it towing, larger tires, running high speeds without actually going far, or hard trails while not moving fast enough...

 

[darkspork]

It depends on your priorities. I'd factor in gas mileage.

If you want a 4x4 off road vehicle go for the Samurai. It should yield the best fuel economy.

Between the Ranger and Cherokee it's really your call. I'd go with the Ranger with the 2.9L V6 and a 5 speed (or a 4cyl, 5 speed). The Cherokee with the 4.0L would be a good choice as well. With a 6 cyl you aren't going to get good gas mileage. The Bronco II would probably be a good choice if you can find a 2.9. It just depends on what you want. If you want to be able to drive all your friends around get the Jeep, otherwise the Ranger is a good choice too.

If it were me at 16 or 17 I'd go for the Samurai based on cost to run alone. Gas isn't going to get a whole lot cheaper. When I was in high school I drove thirsty vehicles and spent almost every dollar I earned on gas (I had a 1974 Chevrolet Nova 4.1L and a 1992 Chevrolet S-10 4.3L)

I'm not that much older than you but I work full time and my Ranger is thirsty (16-17mpg mostly driving around town, 22mpg at most on highway and it drops significantly if I use 4wd, so I normally don't).