There’s More Than One Jeep: 1995 Jeep Wrangler vs 2005 Jeep Liberty

Good morning! Today we’re in Indiana looking at cheap old Jeeps to determine whether the newer “tame” Jeeps measure up to the old ones. But first let’s see if you chose flowery prose or shiny wheels yesterday:

I’m amazed! Not that the Lincoln won, but that the Tempo broke twenty percent! Onward to glory, brave warrior. And I’m happy to hear that I’m not the only one who hates those stupid aftermarket wheels on the Lincoln.

Now, as you are all acutely aware, we have someone around here who is a little bit of a Jeep fan. And I happen to know he has some strong opinions on what constitutes a “real Jeep.” As it so happens, I agree with him, and I was driving a Jeep before he was even a gleam in his father’s eye:

That’s me in 1987, at the tender age of 14, learning how to maneuver my Uncle Bill’s four-speed Jeep Scrambler around the side yard. It was the first vehicle I ever drove, and my cousin and I had lots of fun bombing around in it for a couple of summers, even getting it stuck in a ditch once (Uncle Bill is gone, I can admit that now), and I loved every second of it.

So I have some strong opinions about what makes a “real Jeep” as well. One of these checks most of the boxes for me: solid axles, a removable top and doors, low-range four-wheel-drive. But I’ll tell you right up front that both of them lack one vital component necessary to the essence of Jeepness: a clutch pedal. Will you miss it? How do they measure up? Let’s find out.

1995 Jeep Wrangler – $3,800

Engine/drivetrain: 2.5 liter overhead valve inline 4, three-speed automatic, part-time 4WD

Location: Indianapolis, IN

Odometer reading: 113,000 miles

Runs/drives? Yep!

It’s funny now to think that when the YJ Jeep Wrangler came out, Jeep purists scoffed at it. It was too soft, too nice inside; the joke was that “YJ” stood for “Yuppie Jeep.” But compared to today’s Wrangler, this thing is practically an ox cart. It has leaf springs on both axles, lots of bare painted steel inside, and a simple, stout, all-mechanical drivetrain. By comparison, the new Wrangler coming out next year has power seats. I mean, come on. Might as well be a freaking Avalon.

Under this Jeep’s externally-latching hood is probably the least desirable drivetrain ever installed in a Wrangler: AMC’s 150 cubic inch inline four, and a three-speed Torqueflite automatic from Chrysler. I’ve driven a four-cylinder Wrangler before, but it was a stickshift; it wasn’t fast, but it was fun anyway. I imagine this one feels like it’s dragging an anchor everywhere, with that slushbox sucking all the fun out of it.

Condition-wise, it’s only okay. The seller has done a lot of recent mechanical work, and it runs and drives well, but rust, that old Midwestern car nemesis, is starting to show its ugly head. From the photos, it appears to be confined to the body tub; the frame looks clean, at least, so there’s a solid platform to work from. This is a hard-top Wrangler, but of course the top can be removed, as can the doors, and the windshield folds down if you really want to get hardcore about it.

YJ Wranglers never really got cheap; this is about as low as a running/driving one that isn’t a pile of rust ever got. It’s too bad about the automatic, but maybe it can be swapped for a proper transmission.

2005 Jeep Liberty – $3,500

Engine/drivetrain: 3.7 liter overhead cam V6, four-speed automatic, part-time 4WD

Location: New Whiteland, IN

Odometer reading: 112,000 miles

Runs/drives? Sure does

In 2001, Jeep’s XJ Cherokee, beloved by David and budget off-roaders all over the country, sailed off into the sunset after seventeen years of production. It was replaced by this vehicle, the Liberty. Gone was the old four-liter inline six, the solid front axle, the ruggedly blocky good looks. Most of the Jeep faithful just ignored it.

This Liberty is powered by a 3.7 liter V6, an ill-fated detour on the way to today’s ubiquitous Pentastar V6s and Hemi V8s. This engine doesn’t have a great reputation; it’s a bit low on power for its size and fuel consumption, and it has a habit of dropping valves as it gets older, from what I’ve read. This one is claimed to be in good shape, and it doesn’t have many miles on it, but it’s something to be aware of.

The Liberty was available with a manual, but this one is an automatic, as I imagine most were. At least it does have a proper 4WD transfer case with a low range. The Liberty never looked the part to me; it’s too soft, too roundy, and the interior looks like every other mid-2000s Chrysler product. If not for the 4WD system, this thing might as well be a PT Cruiser. But it is a lot more suburb-friendly than the old rough-and-tumble Wrangler.

At least it’s in good shape. The paint is nice and shiny, the interior is clean save for a spot or two, and I don’t see any signs of rust. That doesn’t mean it isn’t there, of course; road salt is a way of life in most of America’s midsection.

Everyone who has ever loved a Jeep has an opinion about when the brand lost its way, or whether or not it actually did. There’s no denying that the later Jeep platforms are a lot nicer than the old leaf-sprung beasts, but are they still Jeeps? Are you more willing to sacrifice some ride comfort and convenience features to keep the pure experience? Or would you rather have something nice that still has some minor-league off-road chops for occasional use?

(Image credits: Craigslist sellers)