Back in the Saddle
11-07-2007 | 02:57 PM
#1
Thread Starter
JK Newbie
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 19
Likes: 0
From: Lake Orion, MI
Back in the Saddle
Greetings from Lake Orion, MI. 
After a long hiatus, I am FINALLY getting a new Jeep. I'm placing the order tomorrow morning for a Unlimited Sahara. And I can't wait! This will be my second Jeep, having been without my '98 TJ since 2001. That vehicle was sold due to the birth of my daughter, and not wanting to place a child seat in the fold-n-tumble rear seat. I've missed that Jeep nearly every day since. I had just about gotten it tricked out to the exact point I wanted it, and I had to give it up.
I first was brought into the Jeep world back in the summer of 1997 when I was working on the TJ for a Tier-1 supplier of fuel tanks. As part of our test plan, we were performing hot testing in Arizona at the Chrysler Arizona Proving Grounds on TJ's, where we were introducing a few emissions related upgrades. On our trip, there were 15 of us, none of us former Jeep owners. During our testing, someone mentioned that none of the vehicles that we had installed the system on had been off-road vehicles, so perhaps we should deviate from the standard test plan (the standard plan was developed for cars) and take these off-road. We all thought that sounded like fu...err... a good idea.
So we veered off the main track, and into the rock wash. Never having driven like that, I took it slow, but quickly gained confidence as I bounced that TJ around. It was an AWESOME experience. We proceeded to run about 10 'extra' tests going over every off-road trail on the Proving Grounds.
Later, we were running part of the highway tests, and we got the idea that "hey, this IS a convertible, maybe we should take the top off". So the two of us in my test vehicle pulled over, and somehow managed to take the top down with no experience, instructions, or a clue of what we were doing. 15 minutes later, we climbed back in and drove off, catching some rays during an otherwise boring drive up US-95. We of course found one or two turn-offs to take it off-road again.
We were hooked. Bad. After we returned from the trip, within 3 months, 8 of our group had bought TJ's. It was that kind of an experience.
So now my girls are grown up enough and the Jeep has matured enough (as the JK) that I feel comfortable getting one. I had to wait for my lease to run out on my '05 Avalanche before placing the order (it runs out February 29, 2008). So tomorrow morning, I place the order. One disadvantage of living in Detroit - dealers are closed weekends and only open past 6:00 on Mondays and Thursdays.
My Jeep: Unlimited Sahara, Jeep Green, Khaki dual tops, 6-speed, MyGIG. I get a supplier discount, since right now they aren't accepting employee EC's for non-employees on the Unlimited's. Even better - dealers in Detroit are so used to only selling employee vehicles that they give the rare non-employee an even better deal than the Supplier discount. I'll end up about $3,500 under MSRP.
In any case, I can't wait. I caught the Jeep bug again last summer, testing the JK's out in Arizona again, and it's been painful waiting until I was closer to the lease expiration. I've already been telling my girls about the Jeep wave, and pointing out every Jeep we see on the road. They now think it's a game and will shout out "JEEP!" when they see one (I told them the wave won't work until they're in one ).
So I'm getting back in the saddle. I just have to wait for the Jeep to come in. And I'm extremely excited.
Best Regards,
Uncle Miltie
After a long hiatus, I am FINALLY getting a new Jeep. I'm placing the order tomorrow morning for a Unlimited Sahara. And I can't wait! This will be my second Jeep, having been without my '98 TJ since 2001. That vehicle was sold due to the birth of my daughter, and not wanting to place a child seat in the fold-n-tumble rear seat. I've missed that Jeep nearly every day since. I had just about gotten it tricked out to the exact point I wanted it, and I had to give it up.
I first was brought into the Jeep world back in the summer of 1997 when I was working on the TJ for a Tier-1 supplier of fuel tanks. As part of our test plan, we were performing hot testing in Arizona at the Chrysler Arizona Proving Grounds on TJ's, where we were introducing a few emissions related upgrades. On our trip, there were 15 of us, none of us former Jeep owners. During our testing, someone mentioned that none of the vehicles that we had installed the system on had been off-road vehicles, so perhaps we should deviate from the standard test plan (the standard plan was developed for cars) and take these off-road. We all thought that sounded like fu...err... a good idea.
So we veered off the main track, and into the rock wash. Never having driven like that, I took it slow, but quickly gained confidence as I bounced that TJ around. It was an AWESOME experience. We proceeded to run about 10 'extra' tests going over every off-road trail on the Proving Grounds.
Later, we were running part of the highway tests, and we got the idea that "hey, this IS a convertible, maybe we should take the top off". So the two of us in my test vehicle pulled over, and somehow managed to take the top down with no experience, instructions, or a clue of what we were doing. 15 minutes later, we climbed back in and drove off, catching some rays during an otherwise boring drive up US-95. We of course found one or two turn-offs to take it off-road again.
We were hooked. Bad. After we returned from the trip, within 3 months, 8 of our group had bought TJ's. It was that kind of an experience.
So now my girls are grown up enough and the Jeep has matured enough (as the JK) that I feel comfortable getting one. I had to wait for my lease to run out on my '05 Avalanche before placing the order (it runs out February 29, 2008). So tomorrow morning, I place the order. One disadvantage of living in Detroit - dealers are closed weekends and only open past 6:00 on Mondays and Thursdays.
My Jeep: Unlimited Sahara, Jeep Green, Khaki dual tops, 6-speed, MyGIG. I get a supplier discount, since right now they aren't accepting employee EC's for non-employees on the Unlimited's. Even better - dealers in Detroit are so used to only selling employee vehicles that they give the rare non-employee an even better deal than the Supplier discount. I'll end up about $3,500 under MSRP.
In any case, I can't wait. I caught the Jeep bug again last summer, testing the JK's out in Arizona again, and it's been painful waiting until I was closer to the lease expiration. I've already been telling my girls about the Jeep wave, and pointing out every Jeep we see on the road. They now think it's a game and will shout out "JEEP!" when they see one (I told them the wave won't work until they're in one
).So I'm getting back in the saddle. I just have to wait for the Jeep to come in. And I'm extremely excited.
Best Regards,
Uncle Miltie
11-07-2007 | 03:07 PM
#3
JK Super Freak
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 1,037
Likes: 0
From: Colorado
Me too.
I wish people up here understood the jeep wave as well as your daughters do.
Welcome back... I know the feeling. My JK is my third jeep and I've been without one for 6 years until just a few months ago.
I wish people up here understood the jeep wave as well as your daughters do.
Welcome back... I know the feeling. My JK is my third jeep and I've been without one for 6 years until just a few months ago.
11-13-2007 | 05:55 AM
#4
Thread Starter
JK Newbie
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 19
Likes: 0
From: Lake Orion, MI
