IF:

1. No one buys the first year of a vehicle
2. The vehicle doesn't get made any more
3. Lots of unhappy potential customers since no one wanted the first year. And the manufacturer can no longer makes said model since they lost so much money.


If:
1. Lots of people buy the first year
2. Jeep gets wind of what is can how goes wrong and fixes it
3. Next year comes more of #2. BUT still lots of happy customers and lots of smiles.
4. More refinement etc...More reliable etc...YET, the first year owners are still smiling and have been doing it longer. The only problem is...the ones that bought later all say the same thing..."Why did I wait so long?"

Just food for thought.

 

Good points.

I used to sweat little things like the first model year status... it just doesn't even factor into my consideration anymore.

There's good and bad vehicles out there, and good and bad dealers. I believe that it's simply random chance regarding a lot of these variables. First model year status is just a minor consideration given the big picture.

 

I learned a long time ago, don't put off until tomorrow what you can do today, because if you enjoy it today, you can do it again tomorrow!

 

I will drink to that! (But not while I'm driving)

 

Good points all but................I've purchased two first year vehicles in my life, a 90 VW Passat and my new JK. Got rid of the VW after 14 months. Most unreliable POS on the planet. 4 sets of tires, 2 sets of stub axles (never could get the alignment right), several fuel injectors, CPU, windshield with optical defect in wife's line of sight), radio never worked on FM, etc. My JK leaks like crazy (this may be solved though, waiting for the next monsoon), stall bug thing twice, auto tranny can't decide what gear to be in (hopefully an aftermarket programmer will fix this.........come on Hypertech!), multiple coolant leaks (now fixed), plastic interior sucks (learning to live with it) and the hood lift issue (solved also, thanks to b1pig not DCX). Funny thing is though, that the longer I drive the Jeep the better I like it..........I'm rapidly becoming a Jeep/DCX apologist. And yes, I expect I'll keep it pretty much regardless of the problems because I normally don't have this much fun except on two wheels. All of that said, however, I strongly believe that first year vehicles (from any manufacturer) are a gamble.

 

This will be my 2nd 1st year vehicle I have bought from Chrysler. The first was a 1997 Dakota that I drove for 10 years without it ever giving me a problem. I have no reservations about the buying a 2007 JK, now if it would just get here.

 

You're gonna love it! As big a pain in my a$$ as mine is, I've never had more fun with a four wheeled vehicle.

 

This is my second 1st year vehicle...my first was also a 97 Dakota which ended up being bought back by DCX under lemon law. I've been gunshy about 1st year vehicles ever since. So far the only issue with my JK is the steering shaft is being replaced this Saturday due to popping/clunk in the column.

 

This is my 2nd first year vehicle as well. I got a TJ in November '96 and drove it for ten years (less a month) until I got my JK last October. TJ started off with a couple of issues (valve springs had to be done 3 months after I got it and I had an electrical short somewhere that they never figured out) but over the 10 years I barely had any other issues. I still had the original muffler on it when I sold her!

In my first 6 months I didn't have any issues but last Sunday my power steering pump blew up and its been in the shop for a week cause they can't get the part. Despite that, I love it and it's killing me not having it. I'd rather have it a year early, it's way too much fun to miss out on.

 

That's what warranties are for. No one knows what next year brings in life or if you will even be here.