It’s with a heavy heart that I announce the passing of a dear friend. For almost a decade, he was my companion on countless adventures. I’ll admit that he wasn’t much to look at, but he was always dependable, and that’s what counts. Over the weekend, folks, I sold my 1998 Jeep Wrangler.
My Jeep Wrangler (1998 – 2007)
I bought my Wrangler (Eugene, for those that knew him best) new back in May 1998, but even then, it was just a plucky li’l 5-speed with no air conditioner and no rear speakers. It didn’t matter; we were young and ready to take on the world together. Over the years, I added some flair (running boards, fog lamps, tire cover, better speakers, replacement top), but at heart, it was still the same spartan Jeep.
Keeping a CD player proved difficult. When you drive a car with a soft top, security is more of a suggestion than a hard and fast rule. Over time, I learned simply not to keep anything of value in there.
The Wrangler had only 85K miles, which is pretty remarkable for a vehicle of its age. When your car has no A/C, some else always offers to drive.
I never got a speeding ticket in my Wrangler. How could I? If I got it much above 60MPH, it felt like I was re-entering earth’s atmosphere. The canopy started vibrating, the floor boards heated up, and I swear I could hear Scotty saying, “I don’t know how much longer I can hold it together, captain!”
Also, I was never involved in an accident while driving my Wrangler. What can I say? The thing was built like a brick shithouse. Ironically, had I owned something more lightweight, I’m sure I would have wrapped it around a lamp post. Armored inside my Wrangler, I felt like Ripley in that big mechanical suit (they mostly come at night…mostly).
In truth, it should probably been owned by a much burlier individal than myself, perhaps someone with lots of facial hair who enjoys dressing in plaid flannel. I never really took my Wrangler off-road, but I did make the most of its convertible top. My personal record for earliest topless driving (the Jeep, not me – that’s another story) is February. And during summer months, only monsoonal rains could actually convince me to zip it up.
So, you may ask, what am I driving now? The next best thing to a “real” Jeep…a 1999 Grand Cherokee. I may be growing up, but I ain’t dead. It’s still a Jeep.
– Greg
gregsedwards 
I just got my licence and started driving my jeep wrangler 1998 same color, soft top and everything. so when you stop driving one i just started.
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Congrats! May it provide you with many years of fun and reliability. Just don’t wrap it around a telephone pole, you young whippersnapper. Thanks for reading my blog. :)
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Greg: You need to fix the years it lived: My Jeep Wrangler (1998 – 2007)I had my 1965 VW Bug from 1973 until 1996, when my hubby and I packed to move to Oklahoma from California after we married. Between the two of us, we had a 65 bug, 66 bug, 1991 Chevy Blazer, (all mine) and a Ford Fiesta, my new hubby) We sold everything but the Blazer and hauled that behind the UHaul. We still drive it. I cried really big tears the day my 1965 Bug drove away. But, you gotta do what you gotta do. I feel sad right now just thinking about that day. X
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@ X – no the timeframe is quite correct. Check the publication date, and you’ll find it’s an older post from 2007. I told you I’ve been doing this for a while. 😉
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Greg, I’m glad this is old grief. I’d be sad if you had just sold it and were crying all over the place. Yeah, I’ve been doing this a while, too. According to my blog, my first post was Jan 2006. X
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Amazing what a family does to a guy……..but like you say "It’s still a Jeep". RIP ole Wrangler.
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So here I am, reading this, and having that age-old song going round in me noodle: "Pretty Chitty-Bang-Bang we love you!"Ah, poor Greggers! But you found something else to drive. That’s cool:-)"Topless driving" – LOL.
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Bobo and Jen, I know how it feels to lose a car that is a member of the family. I hope you never have to go through it.X
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Greg, I posted a new blog entry with a song on youtube. I have decicated one of the lines to you. X
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We’ve been through loads of different cars, X. You have to change ’em sometimes.
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@x Gee im 55 x i have gone through a hundred of them?
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