Having an old vehicle...

SheikAVC here, and what can I say? A girl having their first car is harder to break up with a first bf....<_<() awful metaphor but...truth XD 


I looked back on my first payment when I first bought my car, and it was four years ago! Wow, time sure flies. Four years...and I'm still an awful driver ^^; Some of you already known by hearing the stories or...if ya lucky, by experience XD What kind of vehicle? It is a 1989 Sahara Jeep Wrangler, 2 door, hard top that came with a soft top and bikini top. I don't remember how many mileage was on it but right now its around 150,000.  Some cars around that mileage is ready to take the boot, but mines? My jeep is design to take on tough terrain and the high way (with suitable tires), it can last forever~!  I paid 5,500USD for it, the guy was asking for 6k and my dad, of course made a deal.  Oh yeah- did I mention all the interior/engine/exterior are all original? 


Now back then, I just told my dad 'I just want a jeep! a two door jeep!' So dad looks in the paper and found one, call me that he found one that is pretty good price (jeeps in the desert such as AZ run about 7k-12k easy and of course, higher), and ask if I wanted it-- EVEN though I have never SEEN it, don't know what KIND is it, or any description whatsoever.  So I gave the pop 'go for it' and one day I came home, a spanking beige/tan jeep is waiting for me in the drive way, I think it called me mother :'D


Since it was all square-ish and brown, I named it Domo-kun ^^; I'm silly, I named my things but that's what makes it personal.  Now here is the part where I do my...review? Since I been reading reviews online about jeeps and moreorless influence other people to buy the vehicle or not.  


1989 Sahara Jeep Wrangler - For a first experience driver/car owner, I have to say this is good for a starter.  The tires lift makes it so I can see the road all around me, making the cars in front of me (unless its also a jeep, truck, SUV) seem small.  I am a caution-riskless driver (does that make sense?). For example, I fear going in reverse and backing up, but the way the jeep is shaped, its square, so the rear/back window is basically what my end of the jeep actually--end.  And even if I accident-ly bump into something while going in reverse, the tire on the jeep backside acts like a cushion~ ^^;; 


I know there's some Jeep haters out there, saying 'Well it can't go too fast, it'll flip over! You can't go fast around curves! The insurance for it is too high!'  Well....o.O I got the jeep for four years, and if I haven't flip over, then I'm sure its a safe jeep.  As for insurance, any insurance will say anything to take more money <_< so they'll use the ' It has a flip over caution' blah, fine, here's mah money.  Other then that, its a very fun car to drive in.  I kid ya not, its like....I'm put in the category of fun and adventurous people alongside those with trucks and motorcycles. 


How about mechanic problems? Well, just like any vehicle, it does need maintenance. Though in the course of 4 years that I have it, all I ever done was refill oil (it has a leakage but not a big one), replace battery (three times now but with warranty, I paid only once), rebuilt carburetor (not a waiver carburetor), and replace electrical. And of course I have to replace a few hoses but that's because of the extreme dry weather here. Also I am way over due for new tires.  I have NOT replace the tires since I bought it, and who knows how LONG those tires been on that jeep.  Took it to a shop and get several opinions on the tires, and all of them said I SHOULD replace them ASAP because the tires are well over 10 years old, and it has severe cracks.  Age + Dry weather = diaster~ I check some tires online, and their roughly a little less 100USD per tire, so in order to change all four tires, I need at least 400USD ^^;; however, I been told, as long I don't go over 50MPH, I should be safe and less change of my tires blowing out on me, so far...so good.


All is good and dandy, but what now? Well....the paint is fading on the front side of the jeep, so I have to repaint it- that's because of the severe sun exposure we have here in AZ. I want to replace a few parts that is ageing, fix that oil leakage, and over all- I just want to restore the jeep.  I luv it, and even got some guys walking up to me, asking how much I'm willing to sale it. I kid you not.  I can see this jeep as an antique collection, seeing it was release in the first few years of the Jeep Wrangler YJ family and being the Sahara edition. 


Specs and features:
150,000 mileage
4.2 liter
177 horsepower
6 cylinder
15 gallon gas tank
3 speed automatic and a 5 speed manual
4 wheel drive/off roading compatible