While searching for deals on a jeep, I ended up at the jeep dealer in Escondido, Ca--a northern suburb of San Diego, Ca. I was pleased that the salesman watched me like a hawk as I oogled at the new jeep flavors and didn't approach me once--not once--that was nice. So when I was done looking, I had questions and he greeted me with a smiley, "YESSIR!".
A 2004 Wrangler for $17k that they had spinning on the front lawn of the dealership caught my attention. Then I asked him about the RUBICON. He asked me if I'd ever driven a jeep before and I told him that I had not. With that, he directed me away from the rubicons and led me to the Wranglers while telling me that he'd love to sell me a $30k jeep, but I wouldn't get my money's worth if I wasn't going to use it right--he was right and I appreciated it.
They're offering 2007 jeeps for about $19 - $20k which isn't much more than the used $17k Wrangler they had out in front.
So, I think I may be changing my tune a bit. I have access to a 2003 Saturn ION that I can use a commuter and baby a new jeep. I told my wife that I'd only use the jeep a few times a year. She said, "no, if you had it, you'd use it every chance you'd have--or I would"
I have to be honest with myself. I really don't know anything about jeeps and just recently understood with dana 30 is--the dealer explained the differences. My wife and I both want this jeep but we're thinking that if it's new, we may not have as many problems as we might potentially have with a really used jeep. I know that goes completely against what I initially thought but this jeep bug's biting me and my wife.
So I think that I may do that because I'm finding that my stress levels of owning a jeep have diminished when I thought about getting a new one. I just have to wait for this year to finish and see what uncle sam's going to leave me with, if anything...
thanks again for all your advice and I'll report in when I'm in the new jeep.
-ac