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What would you do?
Buy the Mustang GT! 12%  12%  [ 4 ]
Buy the TJ Unlimited! 62%  62%  [ 21 ]
Keep the Miata and no car payments! 26%  26%  [ 9 ]
Total votes : 34
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 Post subject: What vehicle to buy?
PostPosted: Fri Aug 14, 2009 11:22 pm 
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Okay, so we have a Miata (my wife's DD) that is paid for and runs quite well. However, my wife steals my KJ occasionally and leaves me driving the Miata. I'm 6' tall and don't fit in that fun little roadster too awful well, and I just this week got stuck driving that tiny thing home from work during a street-flooding thunderstorm. So I'm thinking about selling the Miata and getting either a Mustang convertible, or a TJ Unlimited.

It just so happens (what are the odds?) that my local dealership has a 2005 Mustand GT convertible and a 2006 Jeep Wrangler TJ Unlimited (X model) sitting on their lot. Both have around 32k on the odometer, and both are in the same price-range (factoring in a moderate lift, new rims/tires, and skids/bumpers for the TJ).

If we get the TJ, it will become my DD and the KJ will become my wife's DD.

If we get the Mustang, it becomes my wife's DD and I keep the KJ as my DD.

If we keep the Miata, we have no car payments, but I occasionally have to use it for driving to/from work.

What would you do?

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 Post subject:
PostPosted: Fri Aug 14, 2009 11:42 pm 
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I don't think anyone is going to say to stick with the miata.
I bet the popular choice will be the TJ.

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 Post subject:
PostPosted: Sat Aug 15, 2009 12:09 am 
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If you are set on buying one of the two vehicles I would go for the TJ. I have owned a 1989 5.0 Litre Mustang and I loved every second of it, but I would buy the TJ if I were making the same decision today, and I really love Mustangs, especially the new body style.

I find that the Jeep is far more practical, even if it does not have a trunk. Try driving the Mustang with the convertible top up, you loose a little height and visibility when the top is closed. The TJ has similar issues for interior roof height and outward visibility with the hard top on. The lack of trunk space in a convertible Mustang may also be an issue if you need to move bulkier items and the Liberty is not available.

I cannot give any suggestions on the Miata. Since you already own it, you know its' history and value as a trade in. Debt free is always nice if you decide to keep it. My friend still regrets selling his several years ago, but with a new family, he had no choice. He is also 5'8", so he fit into his with no problem. I am 6' and I hated being a passenger in what felt like a busted skateboard, or when the top was up, a rolling coffin. :lol: Now if it were a TR-6 I would say keep it.

I do not envy your decision on which one to purchase. Both are great choices.

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 Post subject:
PostPosted: Sat Aug 15, 2009 12:37 am 
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You failed to mention the most important thing in a married man's world.









WHAT DOES SHE WANT AND WANT TO DO?
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..
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.

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 Post subject:
PostPosted: Sat Aug 15, 2009 12:38 am 
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Keep the Miata for a while and enjoy having a vehicle that's paid off for a while. Wait until the economy picks back up before you make another big purchase.


PS

Tokyojoe has a VERY GOOD point!!

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 Post subject:
PostPosted: Sat Aug 15, 2009 8:10 am 
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If she likes your KJ that much, get her a KJ of her own.... :)

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 Post subject:
PostPosted: Sat Aug 15, 2009 8:23 am 
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- try on the Mustang and see if it really fits.
I'm 6'2" and they fit about the same as the Miata I tried - not enough leg room
in fact the Mustang manged to not have enough seat adjustment for either me or my wife (she's short)

The Jeep doesn't actually have much more distance - but the seat height keeps your legs at a better angle.

also if either of you have to drive a lot - calculate what the cost would be if gas goes back up to $4/gallon -the TJ will probably be in the 15 mpg range and the Mustang will break 20+

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 Post subject:
PostPosted: Sat Aug 15, 2009 8:37 am 
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mustang put a kenne bell on it and heave over 800 ponies w/ no other mods :twisted: :shock:

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 Post subject:
PostPosted: Sat Aug 15, 2009 10:43 am 
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I voted for the TJ in your poll.

But there is something good about having a vehicle that you own outright with no loan and payment on it. So it really depends on your personal situation, and what your wife wants as Tokyojoe said.

....decisions....decisions....think about it (like you are obviously doing) and you will make the right one for you both.

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 Post subject:
PostPosted: Sat Aug 15, 2009 12:45 pm 
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I say TJ or the Mustang 8)

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 Post subject:
PostPosted: Sat Aug 15, 2009 2:35 pm 
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i said the mustang...i mean your wife has the miata, so why buy yourself a car, let her get what she wants ;) and i'll bet she would want the mustang lol

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 Post subject:
PostPosted: Sat Aug 15, 2009 5:00 pm 
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Keep the Miata, as long as it doesn't become your daily driver. Every month put aside in a saving account what you think your payments would be on any possible replacement vehicle, keep that money till you really need to purchase.

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 Post subject:
PostPosted: Sat Aug 15, 2009 5:30 pm 
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any real jeeper would know the answer

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 Post subject:
PostPosted: Sat Aug 15, 2009 5:33 pm 
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ihatemybike wrote:
Keep the Miata, as long as it doesn't become your daily driver. Every month put aside in a saving account what you think your payments would be on any possible replacement vehicle, keep that money till you really need to purchase.


That was my logic in voting for #3.

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 Post subject:
PostPosted: Thu Aug 20, 2009 11:12 pm 
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did get the tj?

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 Post subject:
PostPosted: Thu Aug 20, 2009 11:16 pm 
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Maybe keep the Miata, and find a way to mess with the seats so it's not so annoying to drive. Not sure if you can though, cause that is one tiny car.

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 Post subject:
PostPosted: Thu Aug 20, 2009 11:19 pm 
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If you have stable jobs.............


Ditch the mazda and buy something.

Crazy deals going on the cash for clunkers and everyone wanting to give away new cars.

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 Post subject:
PostPosted: Fri Aug 21, 2009 12:09 am 
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My wifes dd is the kj and we have a miata that I got from my daughter when she got married and had kids. Not a very practical car but it never breaks just keeps running. I'm only 5 foot 9 so I fit just fine, but I have a company truck so most of the time the miata just sits in the garage. But it is nice having a paid off car that you don't have to put any money into. So I would keep the miata thats what I did anyway. :lol:

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 Post subject:
PostPosted: Fri Aug 21, 2009 12:26 am 
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While my jeep has been in the shop, I have been using my brother in laws little itty bitty compact Chevy something or other. I wouldn't mind a little car that, like kskj mentioned, was paid off and I didn't pour nearly every cent I had into. When the KJ is "done" here shortly I think I will pick up a little commuter car to zip around in. In this economy, these unsure times, and with the laws and regs coming in, having a car like that makes more and more sense. Don't get me wrong, I will always own a jeep, but for a dd, a little car is hard to beat. :wink:

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 Post subject:
PostPosted: Fri Aug 21, 2009 9:41 am 
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Thanks for all the input guys. We're still thinking. To answer an earlier question: my wife loves her Miata...but she LOVED the Mustang convertible we rented. She would opt for keeping the Miata or getting the Mustang before getting a TJ.

To answer a couple other questions: Stable job, and I'm 6' tall. The Mustang seat works just fine for me, though no one could sit behind me.

Actually, she really loved the JK Unlimited Rubicon we test drove too, but that's a bit more money than a used Mustang or TJ.

Anyway, really good thoughts on keeping the Miata and "paying" a faux car loan into a savings account. I think that's what we might do.

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