My New Jeep
Having been asked, here's the story: a few weeks back, on a Thursday, I took my 1994 Jeep Wrangler (only 56,000 miles on it) down for its DC inspection. At the inspection station the clutch failed. I drove home in second gear, having to turn off the ignition just to put it into gear. It needed brake work also, which I'd been procrastinating over, for a total of about $3,000 bucks to get it road-worthy but only five days to bring it back for inspection. Since its blue-book value, in top condition, was about $4,000, and it wasn't in top condition (having several of the seams on the soft-top split, zippers on the soft doors broken, back seats removed for the dog's convenience, dash panel plastic broken from when someone ripped off the stereo, etc.), it hardly seemed worth getting repairs. That same afternoon I called my bank, USAA, and they gave me a loan in about five minutes — to my complete shock and amazement — so, armed with what was essentially a blank check that I'd downloaded from the USAA site and printed at home, I went straight to a dealer (Safford in Springfield, VA) for a replacement. My preference would have been to get the middle of the three Wrangler models, stripped down, but all that the dealer had was a loaded base model. Not quite as good off-road but actually a smoother ride on-road. Hard top, stick shift (six forward gears plus high and low 4WD), full electronics package, dark tinted windows, extra-large alloy wheels, etc... Engine and drive train made in Germany. With a USAA pre-negotiated price and a few other discounts I got about $3,000 off the sticker price plus $750 for the old Jeep. A five year loan at 5.74% which, as it turned out, Chrysler financing was slightly cheaper than through USAA. Insured, however, through USAA, which can't be beat. I hadn't set out that morning to buy a new vehicle but sometimes life comes at you fast. Anyhow, I'm very, very happy with the new Jeep — the dog is happy too — and I feel like I've done my part to boost the economy!
Posted by George Kenney on February 9, 2009 11:20 PM 
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Comments
Dear George,
I'm listening to your wonderful show regularly. But I was set back a little bit recently, as you came out with your less-than 20mpg Wrangler purchase story.
I don't know whether it was for the utility (dogs) or you have some mountain summer house "nearby", but for D.C. area driver and for someone with Greenparty link prominently on the website, this is quite sad decision.. I know the options in the alt. fuels are limited as of now, plugin hybrid kits are expensive, full electric even more rare, but even CNG/LPG car might have been a better option.
All best M.
[It's for the dog. If only I had a summer mountain cottage... But try putting a 100 lb. black Labrador Retriever in a little vehicle — it just won't work. At one point, for some reason I forget, we had to take Hugo somewhere in Sharon's Honda Civic, with the rear seat backs folded down to make a larger cargo area. Hugo kept making expressions that said "this isn't right." In my old Jeep and now in my new one, I've actually completely taken out the back seats so he's got plenty of room, and that's how he likes it. Now if I could only figure out how to protect the rest of the vehicle from getting plastered with mud! g.]
Posted by: Michael | February 13, 2009 7:44 AM
Looks like EP has gone to the dogs err, dog!
Oh, well. I'm forking out money for new car too as I have failed to convert my wife switch to an electric hybrid bicycle like I "drive". But it isn't all bad news as she'll be driving a Honda Insight which gets almost double (in real use terms) the fuel economy of her present car.
I hope Hugo like long walks. :)
[We do about a forty minute walk most days in a park where he can be off-lead. No doubt he likes it. Just say "dog-park" and he starts bouncing up and down off of his forepaws. ☺ g.]
Posted by: Pandabonium | February 14, 2009 4:21 AM
George,
I was listening to your Jeep purchase as first announced at the beginning of your interview with Dr. James K. Galbraith.
Hello "Old Normal" Jeep. I reckon, you haven't learned from talking to James, that the world is different now and you cannot continue to think and act like everybody did, based on economic paradigm and statistical facts we collected since 1945. I am not referring to the size of the car, nor to the mileage, but to the fact that you bought your new Jeep on credit.
Hello "New Normal" would be to a) live without a second car, or b) get your old car fixed, or c) save the money first and purchase a smaller car later.
I like your weekly shows, I don't like your Jeep.
If Hugo 'justifies' a Jeep, then maybe Hugo is the "Old Normal".
If taking Hugo for long walks means drive your Jeep, then that's "Old Normal" too. Walk Hugo to a nearby park might be "New Normal".
We have to change too!
Yes, we can...
Posted by: Tom | February 14, 2009 3:15 PM