[AKTransAM]

I was having a conversation with one of my car buddies earlier today, and we got on the topic of 4x4 regrets. Anyone have one of those? This is actually the ONLY automotive regret I've ever had, through all the vehicles I've owned. A 1975 Jeep Wagoneer. It seemed like a great idea at the time. It was rust free, and an old school 4x4 with an AMC 360 and a 4 bbl carburetor. It needed a little bit of work at the start (starter heat soak issues, and seat belt problems), but I was able to work on that with the advice of my car friends. Unfortunately, this thing was fun, but only when it ran, which wasn't often. Within a month of owning it, I needed to change out the TH400 transmission over a weekend, which was of course specific to AMC even though it was a GM transmission. Luckily I was able to find one from a junk yard and have it shipped up here, then change it with the help of friends. Everything that followed was basically a nightmare, including a frozen axle spindle that nearly killed me when the front wheel froze while driving, a ticking lifter, which a camshaft swap and lifter replacement didn't solve, and finally an AMC 360 engine with 7 cylinders instead of 8. I didn't mind the 8 mpg, and the 4WD Quadratrac system, which was incredibly innovative for it's time (a mechanical full time AWD system that could be overridden to on demand 4WD, Hi and Lo) worked great. But in the end, I was really glad to get rid of it after a year and a half.
I'm always into old American vehicles, but now will never go near another AMC product again!

[Samurai]

The first photo immediately made me think of the first time I watched a 4x4 in action, nearly 40 years ago in a movie theatre.

It was a scene from the movie Lonewolf Mcquade. A buried Dodge truck climbs out of the ditch...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pfLTbzU0FXo

[shankar.balan]

This is a contrarian post;

I think my near-maniacal obsession with 4x4/ Jeepy type things began because we lived on the tea/ coffee estates and as a kid I was surrounded by brilliant natural beauty and wild trails and hardly any proper paved roads, all of which generally necessitated Jeepy type things.
And of course to cement the obsession, one of the first few films that I clearly remember watching was that lovely John Wayne Classic - Hatari and that old Jeep Kaiser and the water jump and all. And of course a steady diet of WW2 films further set my Jeep obsession in stone.

Regrets?

Frankly none. Except perhaps just one. In 1992-1993 when I started in the workforce there was an estate jeep about to be sold by the company Dad worked for, and the price was more or less at book value/ written down value. A dark green Mahindra MM540 first generation and I dearly wanted it but did not ask my Dad if he could get it for me.

So since childhood I ve just absolutely been unable to stay away from Jeepy things - Scale models and Real ones.

https://youtu.be/twlWGH9jmjc

[AKTransAM]

Shankar, I guess I should have clarified that I don't have any regrets about 4x4s in general. I have a great truck that I enjoy offroading in. I was just curious about specific 4x4 vehicles that we have had in the past that we've regretted.

Samurai, I still haven't watched that movie, but I've heard of that scene!

[Amrik Singh]

Regrets ?
Though there have been many ups and downs, owning and wrecking has been my choice. Hence pleasure overcomes regrets largely.
Off reading in Dubai, sand enters the engine through air filter and the engine turns smoky - a big no during annual inspection of the vehicle.

[GTO]

Single regret with my Jeep is plonking a lousy 1.8L ISZ petrol in it, when the original 2.1 XD3P gave up at 1.4 lakh km. The Jeep was undriveable for 2 years. Eventually got a 2.5L IDI diesel, brand new & directly from Mahindra. The Jeep has been top-class since .

Other regret would be not participating in Mahindra's Multi-Day Great Escape / Expedition Drives. But well, I will fix that sometime soon.

[Samurai]

Now GTO is going to say I told so...

My only 4x4 regret is replacing the CJ340 with MM550. I was looking for practical stuff like AC, doors, disc brakes, stronger engine, physical safety, etc. However, I didn't realize Jeeping is supposed to be impractical... that's the very essence of the Jeep Thing.

Once I started driving MM550, I realised the magic was gone. The fun factor of driving a doorless SWB is what really made Jeeping worth the effort. I have lost count of the number of strangers who walked up to strike a conversation. Having no door made that possible. Once I was even stopped in the highway by some enthusiasts to discuss the vehicle. That never happened with the MM550. I put it up for sale after two years.

[Kosfactor]

Well, not picking up CJ models of Mahindra Jeeps or at least a Major when they were available for very less. Now finding one that does not require a full on restoration with whatever parts available is going to be a task. I am envious of those who have a LHD or flat fender models.

Apart from that my Jeep gets all the attention on the road it can think of, Toll booths, tea shops, traffic signals , sometimes the cops would stop me to ask about the Jeep, kids would climb over to take selfies, teenagers would take Kaala style photos those days , all kinds of things. Maybe it looks old school, maybe it looks like it's restored.

But it's hard to regret a Jeep when it's used right, leaving you all with pictures of a recent outing - Jeeps are magical automobiles, get them when you still can.

Old school.



More motivation for you GTO, Perhaps a red Thar ?

[dhanushs]

Well, my one regret would be modifying a perfectly road worthy jeep into this:





With all the mods I can never run the Jeep on road. And the cops problem is separate.

I miss driving my Jeep everyday in regular roads. Might as well buy a Major very soon. With open doors and use in outskirts of Chennai (Mahindra World City).

[yamaniac]

Mine would be buying a 2wd mm540 with a horrendous peugeot DP engine, With heating issues. The temp on it used to max out. Could have probably used that jeep as a boiler.

Later on converted the same to a 4wd and replacing the engine with an xd3p (bad choice) The vehicle was now sluggish, gear getting jammed on reverse. Transfer case issues. And a whole lot of other problems, I shudder to think about it.

Finally bit the bullet after 5 years of owning the vehicle, was completely fed up with it and sold it off.. and restored a DI jeep After that its complete piece of mind since.


And just recently got a 540 for some serious off roading, This was done up by a good friend of mine, with a 2.6 engine. SPOA and some other good stuff.


My suggestion to anyone considering to buy a jeep and do it up. Please spare yourself the trouble and get an already modified jeep. You may spend a bit more, But the amount of time and head ache that you save is worth it. Wish I had learnt this earlier, This is another one of my regret.

[roy_libran]

Two for me -

1. Letting go of the old Gurkha (8+ yrs. Delhi) and replacing it with the Scorpio 4wd which pretty much killed the experience for me. Let go of the Scorpio in just 3 years and haven't bought another 4wd till date.

2. Off-roaders (in general) wandering off designated trails and wreaking havoc on already threatened habitats, pushing the boundaries of the already one-sided man-animal conflict even further.

[Amrik Singh]

Originally Posted by roy_libran

Off-roaders (in general) wandering off designated trails and wreaking havoc on already threatened habitats, pushing the boundaries of the already one-sided man-animal conflict even further.

Driving over Sand in Dubai, it was always easier to drive over whatever little greenery we could find because of good traction. But wait, we did not come to desert to find a comfortable road to drive on !
So it was a big No to drive over plants as we respected the flora & fauna that survived the harsh climatic conditions. These plants / shrubs provided much needed protection to insects that thrives in them.
I had ventured out with offroaders here too. Found them to destroying habitats and driving in suicidal mode. Gave up not just the hobby but my Yellow Gypsy too. Getting old to repeat the antics that were a part of my life (Narrated in my Life in Dubai)

[McLaren Rulez]

Waiting for the Land Rover crew to finish compiling their list

Only kidding, I'm a sucker for them too!

[DirtyDan]

My first 4X4 was an "Early Ford Bronco" (See my Avatar and below). 4200 lbs, V-8, Dana hardware, rugged, dependable, right-sized, bullet proof. This was much better quality and safer than an American Motors Jeep of the time.

I have had several 4X4s since those days. Regrets? None. Frustrations?
You bet your booties. Too often companies that started out making great vehicles were bought out by accountant driven chintzy corporations and great vehicles like Jeep, Land Rover and others went spiralling downward
into the abyss. Then, too, governments "protecting the public" with their boundless compassion have taken away simplicity and innovative modification....but I still like my mediocre Thars despite all that.

[AKTransAM]

Originally Posted by DirtyDan

My first 4X4 was an "Early Ford Bronco" (See my Avatar and below). 4200 lbs, V-8, Dana hardware, rugged, dependable, right-sized, bullet proof. This was much better quality and safer than an American Motors Jeep of the time.

Dirty Dan, always loved those old Broncos. You can't get them for love or gold anymore. They're really sought after these days, and if you do find even a rust bucket project, they're crazy expensive.

Originally Posted by Samurai

Now GTO is going to say I told so...

My only 4x4 regret is replacing the CJ340 with MM550. I was looking for practical stuff like AC, doors, disc brakes, stronger engine, physical safety, etc. However, I didn't realize Jeeping is supposed to be impractical... that's the very essence of the Jeep Thing.

Samurai, I always enjoyed reading your travels around KA with the CJ340. Great spots and a great vehicle to get you there.