It has been one year since TFL brought home a 1995 Jeep Wrangler YJ for long term testing. The Jeep Wrangler almost has a cult following because of its off-road worthiness and overall appeal to those who understand the Wrangler’s quirky character. Four Wheeler magazine calls the YJ Wrangler the red-headed stepchild of the Jeep world that everyone loves to hate. But with a little love and attention, the YJ Wrangler can become a wonderful 4-wheeler to own and a capable off-roader.
The TFL Wrangler has a 4.0-liter high output inline-6 that is good for 190 horsepower and 220 lb-ft of torque. The gear ratios of the 3-speed automatic transmission are far apart, thus speed and fuel economy are definitely not the Jeep’s strengths. With over 148,000 miles on the odometer, the drivetrain has been flawless and has never given us any reason to doubt its reliability.
One year ago, the 1995 Wrangler was purchased for $6,500. Over the year of ownership, cost of repairs and maintenance added up to less than $1,000. Thus far, grand total spent on the YJ is $7,487. Not bad for a Chrysler vehicle with 20 years on the clock and a lot of off-road beatings.
In this video, Tommy talks about the pros and cons of owning a Jeep that has been up and down the mountain more times than we care to remember. He also covers any problems that have occurred during the year the Wrangler has been in the TFL stable and goes over some buying tips.