tjkj2002 wrote:
Though my KJ has not been to diiferent from my 1st vehicle,a '79 Grand Wagoneer...............
No power seats
No leather
No ABS
NO ESP
Truck tranny
Plenty of creaks/groans/and many rattles--just turn up my stereo till I can't hear them anymore
No 4wd <-----????Stiff ride
and the biggest is.........................
Putting what seems like a never ending supply of cash into it till it is built the way I want it

.
There were no Grand Wagoneers in '79: That did not start until jeep made a "baby" XJ Wagoneer in '85, making the need for the "Grand" term when referring to the real version. Also, I am confused over the "no 4wd." All '79 Wagoneers were 4wd?
My KJ:
No ABS or other electronic nannies
No Leather
No slushbox
the NSG370 IS used in the Ram, but is hardly the tranny my T18 is...
No power seats
And if I read on more " oh my gosh my tires make noise on the road' thread I may scream at my monitor.
To each is own on trannies: I want the control, options, and reliability of a manual when playing. No auto KJ or KK is going to touch the crawl ratio ( and control that comes with it) of a good stick. Yes, it may take a bit more concentration, but if I wanted a sunday drive I'd be on the interstate.
There really must be a "gap" of some sort going on, but I do not know if it is age. I have been trashed in the past for talking about the "jeep brotherhood" back when driving a jeep meant you were in something unique & were probably sacrificing something to be in it. I could not comprehend complaining about a squeek in my CJ2a, C101, C104, CJ5, '79 Chero or even the new one, the '80. I view the Kj as a jeep, and treat it no differently. I realize I am in a jeep and to have the abiltiy a CR-V lacks, I am giving up somethings elsewhere. Jeep's sales success with watered down vehicles, starting with the XJ, has meant a growing stream of people more concerned with widgets, amps, and fake fender vents than jeeps.