My Jeep addiction all started with a '60 Willys Wagon when I was much younger. Mending fences, collecting firewood and other farm chores seemed like more of an adventure than work. OK…so maybe my lack of experience and judgment as a novice driver contributed more to the adventure aspect than "Willy" the wagon did. I look back in amazement and admiration at how well the Jeep faithfully endured the entire process. My Dad was equally amazed and amused. Every trip around the farm became a personal challenge. The tougher the going the better; at first just being able to drive in Dad's tire tracks was enough. Then I got the "Star Trek" syndrome. You know, "to go where no man has gone before", while I was in my TRAIL and error driving phase that lasted several years. By the time I had turned 16 and was ready to become a road warrior old Willy had endured several rollovers and other assorted indignities at my hand. A father and son project later and Willy became commissioned for school commuting during the week and for weekend camping and hunting activities. Four years later my faithful but tired Willy was at last permitted to return to the relaxed pace of the farm.

Several years of after-school employment at the local Radio Shack and working night shift at my Uncle's bakery during the summers allowed me to squirrel away a modest down payment towards a NEW 1978 CJ5. I got accustomed to and learned to enjoy the V8 power, tilt wheel with power steering, disc brakes, bulldog four-speed, and all the other modern amenities very quickly. The '5 became just as trusted and faithful as old Willy. Over the next 15 years it endured even rougher terrain and treatment. Guess I still hadn't outgrown that "where no man has gone before" stuff. The next ten years ole '5 endured a number of modifications that included replacement sheet metal (the stuff that survived my driving couldn't survive the rust problem), lockers, bigger tires and wheels, etc. You know, the same types of upgrades that most of us now consider "gotta-haves."

Even after all those upgrades and attention the years of use and abuse brought about a major decision recently. Do I completely restore ole '5 or would he join Willy on the farm? I decided to explore the options, including buying a new Jeep. I made my list of "gotta-haves." Either way; new or restore these things are a must: lockers, power steering, four wheel disc brakes, fuel-injection, upgraded suspension, larger mud tires and wheels, etc. Hmmm…..maybe everyone's right…I never have outgrown that "where no man has gone before" phase. While I no longer burn the midnight oil at Unc's bakery for all-you-can-eat and a coupla' bucks an hour, the money issue is still important.

I diligently researched the project. This was a serious issue. My one and only new vehicle purchase had occurred 25 years earlier. I planned on my next rig lasting just as long. My research included reading and re-reading a number of positive reviews, and several test drives and Q&A sessions with the local Jeep dealer. The warranties and the increased occupant safety factors were among the positives that would result in the purchase of a new RUBICON.