ADVICE TIME! HOORAY!

"liquid_popcorn" (liquid-popcorn)
08/28/2013 at 08:42 • Filed to: advice

James Dean in a 356 for your troubles.

Here's the deal. I just got a GTI; my other car is a 1996 cherokee sport, 4.0L, 5speed. Decent condition, all damage minus the clutch slave cylinder (fixing next week) is cosmetic.

My wife is suddenly missing her automatic transmission now that we don't have one. I am thinking of selling the jeep and purchasing something else for her. I can't finance because I just got a new car, so it has to be something for less than 4-5,000.

I may just try to convince her to stay with manuals, as I love both of our cars now and they're both excellent in their own way - I am just researching solid options (nothing too boring, please) in case I can't convince her.

Right now, because of her difficulties in driving manual, I am driving the GTI and taking her to work. I'd like to move past this phase as quickly as possible.

HALP.

DISCUSSION (19)

TheBloody, Oppositelock lives on in our shitposts. > liquid_popcorn
08/28/2013 at 08:46

How much wrenching are you willing to do?

Party-vi > liquid_popcorn
08/28/2013 at 08:46

Does she have any other requirements? Gas mileage, interior space, AWD/4WD, etc?

liquid_popcorn > Party-vi
08/28/2013 at 08:50

Nope; just something that isn't boring as fuck. Our previous car was a 2010 focus se...so nothing that dull, please. I can do labor if it's a work in progress, but major overhauls/constant fixing shit would probably be good to avoid for now. So no Alfas.

liquid_popcorn > TheBloody, Oppositelock lives on in our shitposts.
08/28/2013 at 08:51

A lot; I have more enthusiasm than skill. I can learn anything, but I don't have any specialized tools, and currently have no garage. I can't afford lots of new parts, and I need it to run reliably-ish monday through friday. I can fix stuff/work on it over the weekend.

TheBloody, Oppositelock lives on in our shitposts. > liquid_popcorn
08/28/2013 at 08:55

Okay I was going to suggest an 03/04 Discovery but normally around the price you're looking at they have bad/or soon to be bad head gaskets so that's out. You'd not loose cargo room, they're auto's and super comfy to drive.

Maybe trawl municipal auctions and see if they aren't selling off their fleet Cherokees (which are normally auto).

Party-vi > liquid_popcorn
08/28/2013 at 08:57

Kinja'd!!!

Unfortunately for $5k you're probably going to get something boring if you want reliability. Then again, for around that price you should be able to find any variety of mid to late 1990's BMW 3ers with a stick. NADA says a '98 328is is worth $5k so keep your eyes open, the E36 is a great car.

Party-vi > TheBloody, Oppositelock lives on in our shitposts.
08/28/2013 at 08:58

Dear god why would you do that to him??? The Cherokee gets better gas mileage and won't break nearly as often hahaha!

liquid_popcorn > Party-vi
08/28/2013 at 08:59

Haha, yeah, that's about what I figured. I'm already a member/creeper on bimmerforums.com, so I'm thinking about a 3-series. Do you know how the maintenance is? It looks like it's doable, but could get nasty if the previous owner didn't perform scheduled maintenance religiously.

liquid_popcorn > TheBloody, Oppositelock lives on in our shitposts.
08/28/2013 at 09:00

Hmm, that's somewhat tempting...serious question, how hard is replacing the head gasket on those? I've never done it, but as I said, I have lots of enthusiasm and a hammer, so I should be able to fix anything.

Also, good tip! I hadn't thought of that. Thanks.

TheBloody, Oppositelock lives on in our shitposts. > Party-vi
08/28/2013 at 09:02

Once you take care of the head gaskets Discovery's are fine, I beat the shit out of mine and have only had to replace the usual maintenance stuff.

TheBloody, Oppositelock lives on in our shitposts. > liquid_popcorn
08/28/2013 at 09:05

$300 for the kit and it's not an easy job, the whole air intake manifold is on top of the engine so you pretty much have to take the whole thing apart. Most indy mechanics charge $2000+ to do it.

Party-vi > TheBloody, Oppositelock lives on in our shitposts.
08/28/2013 at 09:23

I really really want an '04 but the lack of a locking diff keeps me away.

TheBloody, Oppositelock lives on in our shitposts. > Party-vi
08/28/2013 at 09:26

You realize that the 04 comes with a locking center differential standard right?

Party-vi > liquid_popcorn
08/28/2013 at 09:27

No idea, but Snapundersteer might know (he has an E36 M3 IIRC). As with any older German car you'll want one with maintenance records. I think the average is $100/month for maintenance, which is what I've been told for my E46.

Party-vi > TheBloody, Oppositelock lives on in our shitposts.
08/28/2013 at 09:28

I was under the impression that the '01 to '03 had the locking diff but did not have the mechanism to engage it, and that on the '04 it was an option.

TheBloody, Oppositelock lives on in our shitposts. > Party-vi
08/28/2013 at 09:32

Nope, late 01's and 03's didn't have the locking diff. Land Rover realized how retarded they were being and brought it back in 04. The mechanism that was missing is basically a ratchet wrench to turn the switch, one of the guys in my club had one sticking out of his center console which he used to engage the diff lock.

JEM > liquid_popcorn
08/28/2013 at 10:17

Everyone I know who's sold a Cherokee has regretted it.

liquid_popcorn > JEM
08/28/2013 at 10:51

I know I will...I love it, but there's no way in hell I'm offloading a new GTI a few weeks after picking it up, though.

liquid_popcorn > Party-vi
08/28/2013 at 10:52

Hmm, okay. That's doable.