Need basic info on '05 Wrangler

Hey guys!

As you can see I'm new to this forum. I'm doing my best to research all aspects of the Jeep Wrangler. I'm particularly in love with the '05 Wrangler, purely on interior and exterior aesthetics. I'm finding some gorgeous, well maintained, low mileage, and under $20k that I think are just awesome!!! From what I've read so far, it's a loud, in the elements, rough ride, but it's a Jeep! So those things definitely appeal to me, as I am interested in having a fun vehicle to drive my errands and then also take off asphalt for mountain day/weekend camping/hiking/off roading trips with my husband. We have an '11 Liberty that we've taken through the Rockies and Smokies a ton and love it. (Yes, I, the wife, am the adventurous, adrenaline junkie, Jeep/Mopar gal, that pushes my husband to try and do things he'd never do without me, and lo and behold, he has a blast with me!!!) Anyways....

What I'm hoping you can inform me about is the ins and outs of owning the '05 Wrangler. What are the common maintenance issues of this particular year? How often does it seem like repairs are necessary? Is there a particular part that wears excessively on this year that requires regular replacement? Just some of the basic issues with the '05 model.

I'm not looking to take it on intense off road expeditions (like Moab or something, though that would be sweet, I've only ever ridden dirt bikes there, GORGEOUS!!! Got to watch a Jeep caravan do some gnarly trails!!!) So I dont anticipate doing a lot of mods to the vehicle. Ideally I'm looking for a Jeep I can buy and then enjoy without too much hassle (read expense).

Basically I'm just asking for honest, open reviews on the '05 Wrangler models and what you guys think of them. Is it a worth while investment? Are they very costly maintenance wise? Is there a newer model that you'd recommend more just due to age of model? Do the new models really have something better to offer quality wise or are they just more "techy" with more at the finger tip buttons?

ATM, I plan on going up to a dealership that has an '09 and '05 to test drive and see what I think asap. So I'll get to really get a personal feel for the vehicle itself before making the decision to buy. I've been scouting around at a bunch available, so I'm not set on these two, so I have some time to decide.

Thanks! I look forward to hearing what you guys have to say.

 

Welcome from Oklahoma.

You will want the 4.0 liter Inline 6. It's a great little motor and can last "forever", the 4 cylinder can be pretty anemic... It will probably have the 4.0 liter I6 as it seems most Wranglers came with them, but figured it was worth a mention anyways.

However, the 4.0 liters are known for their leaks. Mainly the valve cover gasket and the oil filter adapter (if the TJ has one) and on occasion the rear main seal. The first two are easy fixes though. The exhaust manifolds are also known to crack.

 

If your going to spend north of 15k for an 05 make sure you get a low mileage Jeep Wrangler unlimited also known as a LJ. Preferably a Rubicon for 15-20k. The Rubicon comes with a whole lot more trail ready accessories that are more coveted if you eve do see Moab again. There is a company here in Houston that sells on eBay and they specialize in low mileage TJs and LJs. I've had winning bids on their LJ Rubicons for 15k, 16k, and $17k , but they always come back at me saying that the reserve was not met and say they won't take less than $19k. Still a good deal, but I was looking for an excellent deal.

 

^ What he said

 

Thank you so much!

Keep the awesome info coming! I really appreciate it!

The two I'll be testing out today are not the unlimited but they do have quite a few after market upgrades. I'll keep my eyes and ears open when looking at them. There are some unlimiteds I've got my eye on, so I may steer that direction.

Again. Thanks. If its of interest, I'll post my initial thoughts on them after the test drives and personal, uninformed inspection. I've always found it a shame I don't know more about vehicle mechanics. But I intend to start learning!

 

As we all do Aletani. we learn as we go. It's all good.

Yes....post your experience with your test drives. To many experienced jeepers here that can help for you not to.
Good luck in your search. Take your time. You mentioned your not in a rush. Remember that. I took my time with my JK. And it payed off. No regerts.and I wasn't eating a Milkey Way. Lol. (If you've seen the commercial. You get it. Anyway.)

 

https://www.jeeps.net/threads/2004-wrangler-sport.1800/

Heres an 04 by a member here. Not sure where either of you guys live. Just a thought.

 

Hey Guys! So crazy story. So we showed up to test drive the two Jeeps. The '05 had literally just sold that afternoon. When we arrived, someone was looking at the financing on the '09 but they backed out. So we just checked out the '09 because it was a good feel for what the newer model would be like. It was super clean, inspected everything we could think of and consumer reports suggested looking at - everything was clean and neat - and new. You could tell the engine block had seen some off road action, but it didnt show any signs of leaks or cracks or excessive wear, all the fluids and hoses looked in perfect levels and condition. Under carriage looked clean of leaks and the suspension and what not didn't show any cracks or wear or anything in the cases. (Sorry if my terminology is off, lol, doing my best here) The tires are a wide off road tire, brand new, the soft top is brand new.... Anyways, it was a lot of fun to drive, didnt have any issues or abnormal noises during the drive, and it was a lot quieter than expected on the road.

So the guy helping us out asked if we wanted to look at their financing options since we were already preapproved thru our online banking. We said, sure, it can't hurt, but we knew the trade in value would be just too low. We had a number we needed to sell my Lexus SC for for the down payment and the trade in value was just too low. So, we said no, and no again to their next offer. Then he was like, well, lets at least get the head manager in to see you out. When he got in, he asked what we needed for us to buy it and we told him. It was a bit over their last offer - and they were minutes from closing - he said he'd make it happen if we'd buy it tonight. Lol.

So..... I bought an excellently modded and quality '09 V6 Wrangler X, without paying too much and getting what we needed for my car. Needless to say, I'm over the moon with my awesome manual jeep. I love it. Here are some fun specs, and then I'd better see myself to the right section of the forum for the newer model. haha

Flame red
64k miles
3.8L V6 engine with 6 speed manual tranny
2.5" JKS lift kit with Bilstein shocks
Eagle Alloy wheels 17" with 35" Nitto Ridge Grappler Tires
Brand new Bestop soft top
3.73 axle ratio
Next Gen Dana 44 HD Rear axle
Next Gen Dana 30 Solid front axle

I'm sure you guys can understand some of that more than I can. i dont' know much about the brands or the axle ratio, but I absolutely adore the vehicle. Lmk what you think! I did not expect to drive home with this one, but I'm happy with my decision and will enjoy the hell out of this Wrangler.

Pics below. Yes, I'm a tiny gal for such a big jeep, but I LOVE THAT. Haha ^_^
Thank you guys so much. I really do appreciate the advice, even if it seems like I completely ignored it. It means a lot that you took the time to help inform me! I can't wait to continue learning about this amazing vehicle and get into the Jeep community!

 

Congratulations! They are awesome vehicles.
#standardtransmission

 

That Jeep was destined to be on Jeeps.net banner! You cannot buy a new Jeep off the lot with that built-in attitude. Make sure you blow up that pic with the three of you because its part of the family now. The dealership in PA used to take photos of new owners and their Jeep before departure which was a nice touch.

 

Thank you! ❤️❤️❤️

We have a great little tripod. When we make it out to the smoky mountains we'll snap a better family photo! I'll be sure to share with you guys.

 

Sounds like an excellent Jeep!

 

Thank you! I appreciate the feed back! I love driving it! Can't wait to take it to the mountains!

 

Nice choice! That thing looks really well taken care of and the mods look nice! Long live the manual transmission!! Have fun and post lots of pics

 

Thank you! I will!

 

Wow....really nice rig Aletani. Congrats on an awesome find. See, things happen for a reason. The 05 was sold. But this 09 shows up in your life just in time. And....every thing works out for you. Sweet. And a great upgrade from a Lexus a Wrangler. Now, your livin large. Lol.

Your pretty much set up. Lift, wheels, tires. Any plans for any mods and upgrades? Just a warning. Once you start. It becomes an addiction. Hope you have a good paying job. Lol.

Welcome to the Jeep family. Hope you hang around. This is an great site with a bunch of (disfunctional) knowledgable members that are very happy to help. And bust your chops. Lol. But hey. We're family.

The best of luck with your new ride. And you better post pics. We like pics.

 

Yeah, the more I research and see the feedback on this forum, the more I'm sure I made a good choice of JK. Its been so great to drive for errands today and its hard to believe it's actually mine!!!. Love it.

Hoping to get it out to the Smokey mountains here soon. Hubby and I are stuck splitting time between NC and GA each week for his job, so that might not happen until October. I plan on using it to its fullest. Definitely happy to trade my old coupe for a beastly JK that will take me everywhere.

I am not sure at the moment what I want to mod. There are so many amazing mods already done for me. At this point I can only really think of aesthetic or wench system upgrades, but I don't expect to be doing such intense off roading to require a wench system. Paint color maybe, but the red and black are my home town colors, so it's super fun. Just ordered a replacement windshield mirror and a hitch for our mountain bikes rack. Minor things.

I have really been pleased with the reception of my posts here on the forum. I hope to keep learning and gleaning info from anyone willing on here.

Thank you so much for the feedback and welcome. I will see you guys around. And I won't be shy about posting up all the pics I take.

 

I just picked up a hitch also. I'm a mountain biker too. I like Versa Hitches set up. They have numerous set ups from a vise to bike carriers. A little pricey. But I like the stability of the 2 racks. I'll post pics when I get the hitch bolted up.