nwoods
Expedition Leader
If this Gen 3 OWNS the Rubicon next week i'll be picking up a new Gen 3 on the way home
Toasty, please post tons of pictures of that 3rd Gen. I am intrigued!
New guy looking to replace his beloved Cherokee, focus on Montero
- Thread starter Swank Force One
- Start date
Toasty, please post tons of pictures of that 3rd Gen. I am intrigued!
IncorpoRatedX
Explorer
Where's the proof behind this lofty claim?
plh
Explorer
SR Gen 2 '95 / '96 are getting so hard to find in good condition. 20 years old. Personally I'd focus only on a '96 thou because its got OBD II. The '95 you will either need a MUTTS (harder to find than the vehicle!) or a needle type volt meter to read the engine DTCs. Yep they are 20 years old, stuff will go wrong and be worn out.
jeep-N-montero
Expedition Leader
I could type out a long story about why you should buy a Montero but will just say this, having owned 2 Jeeps myself and my brother owning 3 or 4 I know that the Montero will do 95% of what the Jeep will do but simply do it better. To accomplish what the Montero can do in stock form the XJ needs a 3-4.5 inch lift, gears, and a better rear locker than the factory trash-loc. There are moments where I miss a solid front axle, but when I am blasting down a long and bumpy dirt road at 10-15mph faster than I ever would in the Jeep those moments are quickly forgotten. Oh, and let's not forget how those unibody rigs love to crack along the 'welds' and rip off the control arm mounts.
So find yourself a clean Monty, add the OME suspension for better ride and stability, some sliders, and go show the XJ guys what they are missing.
So find yourself a clean Monty, add the OME suspension for better ride and stability, some sliders, and go show the XJ guys what they are missing.
Toasty
Looking for that thing i just had in my hand...
THIS!!!! I have a friend with a late model XJ and i must say that repairing cracks in a unibody after every trip gets to be a chore (granted his truck is driven hard, really hard). One more reason i haven't been sold on a Gen3 Montero, I wonder how they hold up after a few years of regular suspension cycling and undercarriage being hammered by boulders?
I'm a little torn with doing the SAS on my Montero for this reason, bumpy washboard roads that are long and boring can become short and exciting if you have the right vehicle.
kbahus
Adventurer
I was originally going to say to buy an 80 series if that is what you really desire, my Montero is no where near the rig my 80 was. What the Montero excels at is being a reasonable daily driver that can go offroad when needed (at least the gen3). Living in Indy, the Montero would be a better choice as there is hardly any terrain that I have found that would challenge the 80, if you lived in the mountain states I would say Land Cruiser all day. I will be going back to Toyota as soon as it is feasible, I am just not as impressed as I hoped I would be with the Gen3 chassis.
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jeep-N-montero
Expedition Leader
Mod for mod I would put my Monty up against an 80 series anytime, and still have plenty of power and gas left over to drive home after....
4D55 Performance
Explorer
Having owned a locked LX450 and a Gen 2.5 Montero I was much happier with the Montero. The LX450 was slightly more capable at rock crawling but in all reality LX450/FZJ80 are way too heavy to be effective in the rocks. The Montero had much better leg room in the rear seats, it was way better traveling offroad at high speed because of the suspension setup. The other thing I really loved about my Gen 2.5 Montero was the tcase. With 2wd, AWD, 4HI and 4LO it is a great unit. I think that's what separates the Montero from the competition. I recommend looking at what type of terrain you will be traveling and then purchase accordingly.
Swank Force One
Adventurer
Wow, lots of info, thanks guys.
Let me just address a few things, in no particular order, and in a non-combative way.
1) I love these XJs. Luckily, we actually owned two. His and hers. Mine is/was a 98 2dr 4x4 4.0 5spd, hers is a 2000 4dr 4x4 4.0 auto with a small Rancho lift, Rancho RS9000XL adjustable shocks, and 30s.
2) I'm not really into rock crawling, which is really the sole reason i'm looking outside of another XJ at the moment. If i was, i'd be looking for another XJ simply for the enormous aftermarket, cheap cost to run, and anvil reliability.
3) Personally, i enjoy the rough/"trucky-ness" of the XJ. However, i can see how that would get old on a long overland trip, which is really what i'm looking for in this case, and why i'm considering a Montero. It's a much larger and comfier rig.
4) On the subject of space, it's just my wife and i. No kids, no dogs, we leave the cats at home. The XJ was plenty big enough for an overland trip for us, and neither of us are very tall. There's room for the two of us to sleep in the back of the XJ, which was going to be the plan. Montero just makes this easier.
5) When i have an XJ, i'm continually building out a $30k rig in my head. Because the parts are out there, and i can't leave anything alone. Project Creep is a huge issue with me. With the Montero... the limited aftermarket is actually a godsend for me. I'll still do damn near everything i can, but there's just simply not as much to do, due to the aftermarket, AND because it being an IFS truck. This is good. I like this.
Soooo... are you guys ready for what i think i decided? You'll probably laugh, and be proud(?).
We're test driving a Gen3 on Saturday to see if my wife likes driving it enough to replace her beloved 2000 XJ. If so, i'm flying out to CA to get a 20th Anniversary that was offered to me, and she'll drive that. THEN, when i get back, i'm selling the 2000 XJ to replace it with a Gen2.5. The Gen3 will stay the nice comfy vehicle for her to daily drive and for us to take normal road trips, maybe tow my Miata. The Gen2.5 will become the overland/expedition build that i'll be daily driving and won't mind bouncing it off rocks and such.
From His 'n' Hers XJs to His 'n' Hers Monteros.
Yes? No? "Boy you're stupid?"
Let me just address a few things, in no particular order, and in a non-combative way.
1) I love these XJs. Luckily, we actually owned two. His and hers. Mine is/was a 98 2dr 4x4 4.0 5spd, hers is a 2000 4dr 4x4 4.0 auto with a small Rancho lift, Rancho RS9000XL adjustable shocks, and 30s.
2) I'm not really into rock crawling, which is really the sole reason i'm looking outside of another XJ at the moment. If i was, i'd be looking for another XJ simply for the enormous aftermarket, cheap cost to run, and anvil reliability.
3) Personally, i enjoy the rough/"trucky-ness" of the XJ. However, i can see how that would get old on a long overland trip, which is really what i'm looking for in this case, and why i'm considering a Montero. It's a much larger and comfier rig.
4) On the subject of space, it's just my wife and i. No kids, no dogs, we leave the cats at home. The XJ was plenty big enough for an overland trip for us, and neither of us are very tall. There's room for the two of us to sleep in the back of the XJ, which was going to be the plan. Montero just makes this easier.
5) When i have an XJ, i'm continually building out a $30k rig in my head. Because the parts are out there, and i can't leave anything alone. Project Creep is a huge issue with me. With the Montero... the limited aftermarket is actually a godsend for me. I'll still do damn near everything i can, but there's just simply not as much to do, due to the aftermarket, AND because it being an IFS truck. This is good. I like this.
Soooo... are you guys ready for what i think i decided? You'll probably laugh, and be proud(?).
We're test driving a Gen3 on Saturday to see if my wife likes driving it enough to replace her beloved 2000 XJ. If so, i'm flying out to CA to get a 20th Anniversary that was offered to me, and she'll drive that. THEN, when i get back, i'm selling the 2000 XJ to replace it with a Gen2.5. The Gen3 will stay the nice comfy vehicle for her to daily drive and for us to take normal road trips, maybe tow my Miata. The Gen2.5 will become the overland/expedition build that i'll be daily driving and won't mind bouncing it off rocks and such.
From His 'n' Hers XJs to His 'n' Hers Monteros.
Yes? No? "Boy you're stupid?"
You may want the 20th for yourself once you see what that traction control can do off road, even with street tires. Not to mention the increased interior space and added creature comforts.
I presume it's a locked NL?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P9AKYAT_B6E
I presume it's a locked NL?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P9AKYAT_B6E
Swank Force One
Adventurer
I didn't think the Gen3 was available with a locker? For my Gen2.5, i'm focusing on 98-99 to try to get a locker, but won't be against a really nice 00 and adding the locker and DOHC gears later.
I like validation. Validation is good.
Swank Force One
Adventurer
Ah ok. The only Gen3 i'm looking at is a 2003, so traction control.
2000s seem to be most common around here out of the Gen2.5s, but it's different elsewhere. Always intrigued me how certain years/models sold differently state to state.