This Jeep has maybe 140 HP - out of a fucking 5.7L engine... Yeah... I don't know how you can have that little HP out of an engine that size, but they managed.
It doesn't help. It doesn't help even a little. I still get 12 MPG with it. Yeah, 12 MPG out of a 5.7L that gets a total of 140 HP...
Some articles cite 190 HP, but it doesn't feel like it. Some articles say I can get 17 to 21 MPG, but that's just bullshit.
It does have 280 lb ft of torque, so I'm told. In its day, that wasn't too bad.
It's a steady beast that's easy to drive - but there's not a whole lot of 'fun' in it. It handles like an old lady in her slippers. It sucks down gasoline faster than many of my exotics that have hundreds of more horsepower.
The heat works pretty good for such a large cabin. Visibility is good all around, except to the rear of course. Even then, it's fine - but be aware of what's behind you before you back up.
The seats are comfortable - not snug and firm. It's kinda like driving a very large couch - but the seats aren't as comfortable as many others - they're just more comfortable than some of them.
It does get a lot of looks. People remember when the Grand Wagoneer roamed the earth like dinosaurs. People see it as far more approachable than if I'm in something like a Ferrari. All sorts of people honk and wave and I someone stops to talk to me at pretty much every stop.
It's no longer the farm vehicle at this point, and hadn't been for a while. It's a highway cruiser that's probably not really all that good in the snow when compared to modern vehicles. However, I've got pretty rugged BF Goodrich M/T tires under it, so I'm confident that slow and steady will win the race - or at least reliably get me where I'm going.
It's not in terrible condition - it's in 'survivor' condition. It hasn't been restored. It has a new suspension and someone put shitty tires under it that I had to replace. Those were just given to the guys at the tire shop. They'll sell 'em to someone that needs cheap new tires. I don't mind. They're a good shop and do things like that - and they'll be honest that they're not new. They are damned close to new, but not quite. So, they'll make a few bucks there.
Anyhow...
Oh, the radio sucks. It's not stock - which you know I generally prefer. They put some cheap CD player FM radio in there and 'upgraded' the speakers. It sounds like shit. It's probably better than stock, but it still sounds like shit. (I have some REALLY FUCKING GOOD radios in some of my cars.)
So, there you have it.
You have my Jeep Grand Wagoneer Driving Review.
Thank you for all the laughs, that was a hilarious review.
... an old lady in slippers LoL
The FJ I drove last week was less powerful and had a shittier heater - and an even shittier radio.
I like it better.
I own a 73 Wagoneer (or is it a '72?). I forgot how little fun that was to drive and was overly optimistic about this one. It does not make me all that happy. I still have fun and I love driving anything, but this one is just not that good.
I spent more on it than I should have. It's almost certainly going up for sale, but I think I may actually take a loss on it. (I can easily absorb the loss, and we're talking like a 5k loss.)
On the other hand, I can probably get my guys to put a thousand dollars worth of goodies into it and get my money back. So, I might do that. I already put really nice tires on it.
At the same time, people like it. It draws a lot of attention and conversations. People tell me how their relatives had one and they remember riding in it. People tell me that they used to own one and that they wish they'd never sold it.
You might be able to find a sicker that wants to pay what you paid for it!
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