Welcome to NEFF

Sign up for a new account today, or log on with your old account!
Register

Give us a try!

Welcome back to the new NEFF. Take a break from Twitter and Facebook. You don't go to Dicks for your fly fishing gear, you go to your local fly fishing store. Enjoy!

Ultimate Fishing Car: Ford Bronco vs. Jeep Wrangler

moosekid

moosekid

Handsomest Neff Member
Hey car people, can you help me out here??

After my tax return and a generous holiday bonus, I've got about 4.5 K left and I'm looking for a whip. I live in Brooklyn and I don't really plan on driving it much in the city but I need a way to go fishing because my car access followed my girlfriend off a cliff....

I've got my heart set on a Ford Bronco or a Jeep Wrangler. I'm only 23 and I really want to get something 'cool.' I feel like the older I get, the harder it will be to justify not getting a fucking camry or something insanely practical like that...

I've got my opinions on each vehicle but I'd like to know what you guys think.

In my situation, what would you go with?? I'm open to other suggestions, but nothing boring please. Also keep in mind that I'm really only trying to spend 3k on the car (I'd like to knock out 6 months of insurance at once and keep a little on hand for the parking tickets i'm sure to start collecting).

-Charlie
 
For 3 grand, it's going to be very tough to be picky. Find the first one that still runs and buy it. Just make sure the major mechanicals are all in proper working order. Good luck.
 
Whichever one allows you to carry more stuff and throw a fully assembled rod in the back for when you move between spots.
 
Have you considered a light pickup trick (Ranger or the like).

The open bed gives you a place to throw wet muddy waders without obsessing about a clean up.
If you get a "Crew cab", the back seat may be useless for passengers, but it could serve as dry, semi-secure storage, in lieu of a "trunk".

Downside... A "fully assembled" rod won't fit, unless you're into very short rods.
 
Sounds like its time to establish some credit history.

You'll have to do it sooner or later and a car payments an easy way to boost your score...
 
mob201 said:
Done... You're welcome.

With $600 left over to accessorize and elevate your game.
Click to expand...

THIS GUY IS FUCKING HILARIOUS ^^^^

...my dad was trying to pitch the el camino as well...and I still haven't ruled it out.

@Sunsign -- Not gonna fall into that loan trap. I already pay 600$ a month in student loans. I just want something I can beat the shit out of for the summer (hopefully get 2 years out of it).

I might have to snap this up tho...it is a full camper

1979 Volkswagen Bus Hippie Camper
 
moosekid said:
THIS GUY IS FUCKING HILARIOUS ^^^^

...my dad was trying to pitch the el camino as well...and I still haven't ruled it out.

@Sunsign -- Not gonna fall into that loan trap. I already pay 600$ a month in student loans. I just want something I can beat the shit out of for the summer (hopefully get 2 years out of it).

I might have to snap this up tho...it is a full camper

1979 Volkswagen Bus Hippie Camper
Click to expand...

OR...OR...buy the El Camino, spend around $1500 more (I know, a stretch), and drop a crate motor into it. Now, you have a righteous ride that will last you a while.
 
Trout Nazi said:
Whichever one allows you to carry more stuff and throw a fully assembled rod in the back for when you move between spots.
Click to expand...

That would be the bronco.

In addition, since the only acceptable jeep is a soft top, you'd get that fucker slashed open in the city all the damn time, unless you went with a hard top which would make it pretty ghey.

Also broncos are everywhere. Go with that.
 
I have a 92' Bronco Nite, ltd edition, goes just about any place and has a ton of room. I use it almost exclusively as an off road truck for winter and pull logs with it for fire wood. The 351 engines is an awesome power house off road. Down side 10mpg but a 36 gallon tank gives you plenty of gas and its wide track sometimes prohibits you from using it on narrow trails.
 
Ok so, I've been anxiously waiting for time to reply on this thread..

I work in the automotive repair field and will provide you with my most honest and sincere advice. If you budget is 3-4k, it will be very hard for you to find a reliable "fishing" vehicle.

It's damn near impossible to find a bronco without severe rust issues for under 5k, I primarily work on Fords and love the shit out of the later gen. broncos. However, most of the survivors you will find are either lifted and beat to shit or have been sitting for a long time and have corrosion issues.

In regards to Jeep wranglers, for 4k it's almost impossible to find a TJ in good shape. I have a lifted 98 TJ that I use as a plow vehicle and the frame rotted out the first time at 70k. I'm actually doing a clutch on it this weekend and now have to replate the frame again because the belly pan weld nuts rotted out. Not fun.. Unfortunately this is actually a common occurrence on most Tj's.. However, you can find some decent YJ's in that price range. But they are really far and few in between.

So for your budget I'd honesly stay away from both. You can find something along the lines of an explorer or a blazer for the same amount of money and it will be a better choice. I'd strongly recommend that you put that money aside and save up for something newer.

Most modern (2000+) cars/trucks are produced with better galvanizing procedures and are less likely to rot out. Just try to stay away from anything mopar related and you'll be good!
 
I have a 2003 Jeep Wrangler (TJ).

I bought it a few months ago for $7200. Its a manual, and its got a great frame (rusted frames are one of the biggest problems). Honestly man, for 3K, you're not going to find a good Jeep in that price range. Even a good YJ will be run you more than that.

As far as being a good fishing vehicle goes- its a dream. It doesn't get stuck anywhere. Its fun to drive and gets me anywhere I want to go. I manage to fit everything I need in it for both hunting and fishing with no problems, but there's not a ton of space in it. When the top is off you can keep your rod assembled and just strap it in. If it the top is on you have to disassemble the rod to travel. When I really need space I take the backseat out and that frees up room. I mostly do that if I'm going camping.

I would highly recommend the Wrangler, but you're going to need to save some more cash to get anything worth buying.
 
Trout Guy said:
Ok so, I've been anxiously waiting for time to reply on this thread..

I work in the automotive repair field and will provide you with my most honest and sincere advice. If you budget is 3-4k, it will be very hard for you to find a reliable "fishing" vehicle.

It's damn near impossible to find a bronco without severe rust issues for under 5k, I primarily work on Fords and love the shit out of the later gen. broncos. However, most of the survivors you will find are either lifted and beat to shit or have been sitting for a long time and have corrosion issues.

In regards to Jeep wranglers, for 4k it's almost impossible to find a TJ in good shape. I have a lifted 98 TJ that I use as a plow vehicle and the frame rotted out the first time at 70k. I'm actually doing a clutch on it this weekend and now have to replate the frame again because the belly pan weld nuts rotted out. Not fun.. Unfortunately this is actually a common occurrence on most Tj's.. However, you can find some decent YJ's in that price range. But they are really far and few in between.

So for your budget I'd honesly stay away from both. You can find something along the lines of an explorer or a blazer for the same amount of money and it will be a better choice. I'd strongly recommend that you put that money aside and save up for something newer.

Most modern (2000+) cars/trucks are produced with better galvanizing procedures and are less likely to rot out. Just try to stay away from anything mopar related and you'll be good!
Click to expand...

Dude, thanks. I was hoping you'd reply. Why don't I want something that has been "lifted" ??
 
An electric go kart. So you can bring your barbie beginners pole to a shady side of the hudson.

:)

Go figure, this comment is my 1000th.

You're a part of history today moose kid.

Infamous history? Maybe. But history nonetheless.

I'm gonna lurk for awhile. Let you guys take care of business on your own for a bit.

Good luck!
 
Yesterday will be the last day that I take the train to the east branch. I picked up this sex toy a few hours ago. 120,000 miles -- check me out.

10259814_10152708632859045_1689921311221744775_n.jpg
 
nice ride......lots of space...you could get a little grill and live in that thing....
bring you back to the caboose days....:)
 
Good for you. Now get back to work so you can afford to feed that thing! :)

While your search is over, one car a bunch of my fishing buddies drive is the Honda Element. Fits up to 10' rods easily, can be washed out inside with a garden hose, and gets great mileage for an all wheel drive vehicle.
 
Rusty Spinner said:
While your search is over, one car a bunch of my fishing buddies drive is the Honda Element. Fits up to 10' rods easily, can be washed out inside with a garden hose, and gets great mileage for an all wheel drive vehicle.
Click to expand...

And is hideous to boot...

I shouldn't talk tho, my ride is certainly not a ladies magnet.
 
I'm a little late to the party - driving from Brooklyn to the fishing spots is going to cost you a lot in gas $ with that thing but it looks like fun. I went the other route and got a sports car to get me to the the streams faster. The cops on Rte 17 put the kibosh on that pretty quickly. :finger:
 
Oliver10 said:
So how is the car working out? or did it already breakdown?
Click to expand...

I actually just put plates on it yesterday so no fishing yet. I figured out that I could pay 70$ a month in insurance if I got MN plates so it took about a week to get all that sorted out. I put in extra hours at work this week so I can take monday, tuesday, wednesday off next week so I'm pretty pumped.

I was gonna order blank cassettes off Amazon.com but since all the girls are always tryin' to make me mixtapes i figured it was unnecessary.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

M
Camping and fishing around Roscoe
Replies
3
Views
3K
MilsurpShooter
M
moosekid
skagit / scandi advice
Replies
11
Views
11K
Fishbum1
F
dcabarle
Fudr - 2016
Replies
8
Views
18K
golden beetle
golden beetle
Thursthouse
Salmon fly help
Replies
25
Views
43K
FIN-ITE 34
FIN-ITE 34
moosekid
Tipi in the Woods TR
Replies
14
Views
4K
moosekid
moosekid
Back
Top