Hey, knuckle-draggers. I love Jp, but I think you guys might be getting too much terra firma in your diets. I was reading through the May '07 issue for the second time while placing my other comments in the round deluxe hopper, when a little photo theft was noted on the part of Mr. Pete Trasborg in his article "Muddy Horses."
It seems even after years of wrenching on and writing about Jeeps, he doesn't know the difference between a worked AMC 304 and a stolen picture from Drew Hardin of a stock 4.0L from his article "10-Day Competitor." Maybe it was the big tubing that confused him. By the way, great article, Drew. Don't worry I'll keep reading--just like a Jeep, if a few things weren't wrong with it, it wouldn't be any fun. Keep it coming.
Girt Allerton
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
I could make up all kinds of excuses, but none of them would make any sense and you'd still remember we goofed anyways. So look at this picture of Bree for a second. I think she's winking at you!
It makes my skin crawl to hear what seem to me as ignorant individuals lambasting and talking smack about the JK. The only two Jeeps that I have owned and still own are CJs. When I got my CJ-7, I was always talking down about the YJ "Yuppie Jeep." Well, after seeing some built ones doing as well or better than I was on the trail, I came to see that the short-wheelbase Jeeps have their merit.
I had the chance to rent and wheel a four-door JK when we were in Puerto Rico last month. I was stoked when my wife told me she had secured a Jeep to drive for our time there. The excitement was diluted upon picking it up in San Juan and seeing that all they had were four-doors. I thought the long wheelbase would surely hold us up on our planned wheeling.
This thing amazed us. I have been wheeling Jeeps since 1988, and my CJ-7 has undergone its buildup since I got it in 1989. This JK did things and went up things I'd have never tried with my stock CJ (partially because of my lack of experience then). The traction control worked amazingly well. The road manners were great. We had disconnected the sway bar and the ride was a lot softer, with little body roll (I haven't had a sway bar on my CJ for more than 10 years, so consider the source).
I realize that you certainly don't need anybody to stick up for you. I just have to say it is my experience too that the JK is an improvement on the TJ from our seat-of-the pants experience. Hell, it better be an improvement, otherwise why mess with a good thing? Compare a stock '57 CJ-5 with a stock '77 CJ-7, a stock '87 YJ (well, that carbed 258 was a dark period), a '97 TJ, and an '07 JK. The progression is obvious. Until these folks drive it, they need to shut up!
Peter Bartell
President, NJJC
Via e-mail