Jeep CJ5 good vehicle of a 16 year old?

mntbikedude · 08-25-2009, 11:14 AM

Just wanted to get some ideas here. My 16 year old son wants to buy a Jeep Cj5 1983. He's pretty stoked about working on it. (my father inlaw owns it) he plans on paying for it himself and he also will be working with my father inlaw to get it in shape.

I guess I worry that it's not very practical for a his main mode of tranportation. I read that there was a problem with roll overs and that is why they were discontinued.

I am willing to furnish him a vehicle to drive thru high school (granted it is our old family astro van).

CoorsLight · 08-25-2009, 11:18 AM

i got a jeep in highschool and worked on it all the time, still have it. while yes your right its not the most practical mode of transportation it is a fun project and he will learn new things and it may keep him out of trouble.

oh and the thing about roll overs always makes me laugh, jeeps have roll cages, if his doesnt have a good one then tell him thats his first project to make or buy one..id rather roll over in my jeep then any other car

iccyman001 · 08-25-2009, 11:21 AM

I wish I had a CJ-5 at 16........

Just be sure hes aware that its very tippy and if he takes a corner to fast they can roll. But I think that would be great. If its old he can learn how to take care of his things.

Or he could just do what I would do and jack that thing up to the sky

mntbikedude · 08-25-2009, 11:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CoorsLight

i got a jeep in highschool and worked on it all the time, still have it. while yes your right its not the most practical mode of transportation it is a fun project and he will learn new things and it may keep him out of trouble.

Yeah I thought of that and he is able to do this with his grandpa.

lotusfreek · 08-25-2009, 11:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mntbikedude

Just wanted to get some ideas here. My 16 year old son wants to buy a Jeep Cj5 1983. He's pretty stoked about working on it. (my father inlaw owns it) he plans on paying for it himself and he also will be working with my father inlaw to get it in shape.

I guess I worry that it's not very practical for a his main mode of tranportation. I read that there was a problem with roll overs and that is why they were discontinued.

I am willing to furnish him a vehicle to drive thru high school (granted it is our old family astro van).

There is no problem with roll overs if he drives it correctly. If he drives like a retard, it will still take alot to roll it.
Great vehicle right there.

jamesk20 · 08-25-2009, 11:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mntbikedude

Just wanted to get some ideas here. My 16 year old son wants to buy a Jeep Cj5 1983. He's pretty stoked about working on it. (my father inlaw owns it) he plans on paying for it himself and he also will be working with my father inlaw to get it in shape.

I guess I worry that it's not very practical for a his main mode of tranportation. I read that there was a problem with roll overs and that is why they were discontinued.

I am willing to furnish him a vehicle to drive thru high school (granted it is our old family astro van).

i would let him get it !! jeeps are Awesome !! and great vehicles...maybe not so practical but hes 16.....anything impractical is practical if you want it to be !

i drive a 2door convertible with one seat ! and no interior lol and my old car had no A/C or power steering but to me it was practical because i liked it

i didnt know you had a 16year old son !

Dummkopf · 08-25-2009, 11:23 AM

Working on cars kept me out of a trouble in high school

Dan916 · 08-25-2009, 11:26 AM

I'd get your son a JEEP JEEP IM A BEEP! bumper sticker.

Spiffman · 08-25-2009, 11:26 AM

I say let the kid enjoy his life while he is young and get that jeep.

My first car was a god damn Volvo 940 which was super balls ass slow, and definitely not the ideal car that I had in mind when purchasing my first vehicle. But whatever, it worked.............most of the time.

beaucephus · 08-25-2009, 11:26 AM

Jeeps are great, I've owned 8 of them and am actually selling mine now (yes, sad).

I owned a jeep in high school, was always working on it. It had a small block V8 (Chevy) engine in it, so it was nice to work my way around a small block and figure it out. I'd drive it from one side of the state to the other (Arkansas, where I grew up), it would break down, I'd grab a hammer and get it started again.

I didn't have a top for it either, so in the winter, I just had to wear extra clothes and when it rained, I had a tarp that I'd tie up to keep the water away.

Honestly, my friends and I loved that Jeep. Since you're in CO, I'd say it would provide your son with countless stories. I know I have tons.

EDIT: *Utah, same situation though.

lincolnmkv · 08-25-2009, 11:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mntbikedude

Just wanted to get some ideas here. My 16 year old son wants to buy a Jeep Cj5 1983. He's pretty stoked about working on it. (my father inlaw owns it) he plans on paying for it himself and he also will be working with my father inlaw to get it in shape.

I guess I worry that it's not very practical for a his main mode of tranportation. I read that there was a problem with roll overs and that is why they were discontinued.

I am willing to furnish him a vehicle to drive thru high school (granted it is our old family astro van).

I'm sounding like an old fogey, but it's probably a bad idea. I have a 66 CJ5 with an '80 body, 231 buick engine, 3 speed manual, 35" tires... a real mutt. At 50 mph, that thing is downright scary... it revs high because of the low gearing and it's generally unstable. High center of gravity, short wheelbase. Also, every interior piece is solid metal, so if you crash it, you're in trouble. Mine has lap belts only - I assume your potential one might have shoulder belts.

Mine was customized to drive on sand, i.e. tires, gearing. If yours is a little more street oriented, it might have some better manners, but there will still be some inherent safety issues.

Of course it's fun as hell, but I use it as a summer beater, and it's probably not good for anything more than that. With the exhaust coming out each side under the seats, it's fun to clutch it and blast the shiit out of joggers who hog the road.

CoorsLight · 08-25-2009, 11:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lincolnmkv

I'm sounding like an old fogey, but it's probably a bad idea. I have a 66 CJ5 with an '80 body, 231 buick engine, 3 speed manual, 35" tires... a real mutt. At 50 mph, that thing is downright scary... it revs high because of the low gearing and it's generally unstable. High center of gravity, short wheelbase. Also, every interior piece is solid metal, so if you crash it, you're in trouble. Mine has lap belts only - I assume your potential one might have shoulder belts.

Mine was customized to drive on sand, i.e. tires, gearing. If yours is a little more street oriented, it might have some better manners, but there will still be some inherent safety issues.

Of course it's fun as hell, but I use it as a summer beater, and it's probably not good for anything more than that. With the exhaust coming out each side under the seats, it's fun to clutch it and blast the shiit out of joggers who hog the road.

so because you have a POS jeep you dont think his son should get one?

WinterFresh · 08-25-2009, 11:38 AM

Yes, very good choice. He can do all the work himself on it. I'd get it for him.

i_will · 08-25-2009, 11:46 AM

Get him the jeep. Just don't let him jack it too high, he should be fine.

CHOOSE · 08-25-2009, 11:46 AM

It may not be very practical, but it's a typical teenager car. It's cheap, he gets to work on it and make it what he wants.

m1canes29 · 08-25-2009, 11:52 AM

please dont give him the astro van...kids will make fun of him

Habett · 08-25-2009, 11:54 AM

I have a 2005 jeep.... love it..

mntbikedude · 08-25-2009, 11:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jamesk20

i would let him get it !! jeeps are Awesome !! and great vehicles...maybe not so practical but hes 16.....anything impractical is practical if you want it to be !

i drive a 2door convertible with one seat ! and no interior lol and my old car had no A/C or power steering but to me it was practical because i liked it

i didnt know you had a 16year old son !

I have two sons and two daughters. I was thinking that the jeep would be a lot easier for him to learn mechanics than other vehicles. Would you agree? He already changed out the radiator in the van and it was a pain to work on because its such cramped quarters.

Jeremy90 · 08-25-2009, 11:55 AM

Jeep braaaaaaaaaaaaaahhh

mntbikedude · 08-25-2009, 11:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vanidoso

"stoked"

u must be a cool "hip" dad

yeah my son would cringe and roll his eyes that I used stoked.

mntbikedude · 08-25-2009, 11:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WinterFresh

Yes, very good choice. He can do all the work himself on it. I'd get it for him.

He has a good job and will be paying for it himself.

lotusfreek · 08-25-2009, 11:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by m1canes29

please dont give him the astro van...kids will make fun of him

I got more pussy in my van than the sports car driving guys.

Thing had a fridge and a bed in it. Ladies loved it

YUL · 08-25-2009, 11:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by m1canes29

please dont give him the astro van...kids will make fun of him

not unless he customizes it to be a shag wagon

mntbikedude · 08-25-2009, 12:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CoorsLight

i got a jeep in highschool and worked on it all the time, still have it. while yes your right its not the most practical mode of transportation it is a fun project and he will learn new things and it may keep him out of trouble.

oh and the thing about roll overs always makes me laugh, jeeps have roll cages, if his doesnt have a good one then tell him thats his first project to make or buy one..id rather roll over in my jeep then any other car

Good point

Catchpole · 08-25-2009, 12:00 PM

They're like any performance vehicle, they only break a lot if you beat on them. If he takes care of it, it'll treat him right.

Plus they're retarded easy to work on, parts are cheap, lots of after market support, and there's a ton of forums to get knowledge from.

ZAZusmc03 · 08-25-2009, 12:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by m1canes29

please dont give him the astro van...kids will make fun of him

Are you kidding me? He drives around in astro van and rips the seats out and puts down a mattress, the kid will be the most popular guy in school. And if dad worries about him partying, he never has to drive, because he has a room on wheels. Fckin Genious if you ask me.

mntbikedude · 08-25-2009, 12:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by m1canes29

please dont give him the astro van...kids will make fun of him

Actually kids thought it was pretty cool, it was customized. The biggest problem was it was always breaking down and those mini vans are hard to work on for a beginning mechanic. I'm thinking the jeep would be easier to fix himself.

Catchpole · 08-25-2009, 12:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZAZusmc03

Are you kidding me? He drives around in astro van and rips the seats out and puts down a mattress, the kid will be the most popular guy in school. And if dad worries about him partying, he never has to drive, because he has a room on wheels. Fckin Genious if you ask me.

Or he's the weird ****ing dirty guy that never bangs anyone because all the girls instantly get turned off seeing him with a bed in a van....

lotusfreek · 08-25-2009, 12:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Catchpole

Or he's the weird ****ing dirty guy that never bangs anyone because all the girls instantly get turned off seeing him with a bed in a van....

And that is a problem with the person, not the vehicle or what is in it.

TWMac · 08-25-2009, 12:10 PM

Couldn't ask for a better vehicle, IMHO. I grew up on a farm and learned to drive a 1948 Army issued Willys Jeep. Was a 3 speed POS, but it ran and my dad used it to teach me and my brother and sister all how to drive it.

Working on it with his grandfather will be great...not to mention that he will gain a lot of good mechanical experience and knowledge that most guys don't get these days. Sounds like a solid plan to me. Have fun.