@@peterbiltxr379which is a damn shame. When I had my TJ, after a decade of wanting one, all I could think of is how shit it was compared to my old 90s Cherokee. Made me miss it, so I sold the TJ after 5 months or so. Did NOT live up to the hype at all.
One of my dad's friends worked for AMC as a plant manager in the 70s and 80s. We bought our 79 Jeep Cherokee from him. We found out later that the reason it was so good was that he had it custom built at the factory and hand=-picked everything. It was a one-off, and a great family vehicle.
@@michaelb2226 Engine, carb, suspension, transmission, and I think there might have been a few other "but sir, that doesn't come with this model" bits.
One of the wrangler designers said the yj is why there is still a wrangler, the square headlights was to differentiate the yj from the cj to say see this is different this is safer
The reason the YJ wasn't loved during its time was because everyone saw it as the CJ losing what made it special. The reality was that the YJ was not a progression of the CJ. It was the origin of the modern wrangler. The CJ died when the YJ came out. So the people who have come to love the YJ do so because they see it (correctly) as the origin of their TJ/JK/JL. It was the first wrangler that could be used by regular people as their sole mode of automotive transport.
YJ and CJ-7 parts are largely interchangeable. YJ tubs are a common swap onto CJ-7s because the rustproofing is better. The CJ front end can be adapted to a YJ. Many interior and body parts are the same. The TJ is a completely different vehicle with a different frame, body, and suspension that don't interchange. I do agree that the YJ changes made it more usable, though it's still a bouncy ride.
I'm with you, the square headlights and kinked grill are amazing. Personally I think the YJ has the best proportions of any Wrangler. I'd have one if I had a use for one, instead I have a similarly awesome MJ.
The 4.0 is the best thing to ever happen to Jeeps though.... and although it kind of started in the Cherokee, it's original real home was the Wrangler YJ. It was much better than the 4.2 it replaced.
The 4.2 is a great motor to use to make a budget stroker motor though. Just plop the 4.0 heads and rocker arms, along with the fuel injection and you have a 4.5 liter stroker motor with gobs of torque.
I remember when Nam vets were those older cousins to your buddy that you kinda kept your eye on, cause they did a lot of day drinking, even in their 30's.
As someone with HORRIBLE IBS (hell in the bathroom right now) the poop jokes actually makes me feel better about my issue and not as self-conscious. Thank you for that.
I figured the rubber ducky thing was so when you hydrolocked your engine trying to cross a stream that you had no business trying to cross, you could tie a rescue note to the rubber ducky and float it downstream!
@@drewschumann1I'll take my YJ over a Land Cruiser any day, I guess as a Toyota mechanic I've seen way too many of them with exhaust manifold leaks that cost 10 times what it cost to repair on a YJ
There's the grunge 90s with the cool kids. It aged well. Then there is the COOL 90s where everything has to be SO COOL. Everything from that era is kitsch.
the other day i was talking to a family freind who told us shes planning on buying a jeep soon. she was obviously talking about getting a new one but my dad still interjected with "make sure you dont get one with square headlights" and i thought that was hilarious
Only Mr. Regular can combine an informative, yet argumentative essay on a car, its history of the model and company behind it with the comedic timing of toilet humor, stereotypical humor about the model’s typical drivers and have such a soothing voice that keeps drawing the viewer in. Please, never change.
My dad had one of these when I was really little. My first toddler memories are tooling around the hills of Idaho in a cherry red YJ. I loved that thing so I will always love the YJ. The YJ stock rode just as bad, even 3 year old me knew that haha
Amazing video. I had the 1990 stock Islander YJ (4.2 L I6) and was stolen in 2003 in San Diego. I made $ from the insurance company and bought the 1999 TJ Sport (4.0 L I6) stock, which I still own today. Although I prefer the interior of the YJ, the TJ is amazing.
The press at that time was doing hit pieces on everything. 60 Minutes had to doctor up a Suzuki Samurai with weights and mismatched tires so it would get tippy. They also rigged a Chevy pickup so the sidesaddle gas tanks would blow but got caught because the charges went off before the truck was actually hit. I have accidentally taken corners faster than I should have in my CJ-7 and I'm surprised how well it took them.
In 2018 my 1st car was a red, 1995 YJ with a 4.0 . The thing sucked at literary everything. It was slow as hell, rickety, loud, got 13 mpg, and I have never felt more unsafe gping 65 mph. But the second that thing touched dirt, it became a completely different machine. It flew through farm roads, had more torque than I knew what to do with, handled wonderfully in the dirt, and never had a single mechanical issue. Its the only car I've driven that rode better off road than on road. My friend had a TJ, and while his was the better car, I still think my YJ was the better Jeep. Im totally biased, but nothing compares to the fun I had in my purpose built, leaf springed death box.
My first car was a red CJ-7 with the 2.5L. It was gearing limited to 55MPH but going over 40 was not recommended. It got 10MPG, 8 if the hubs were locked. Poor man's ABS: unassisted drum brakes barely powerful enough to stop. The top never sealed, which was fine as the A/C was taking the doors off. Roads that don't have bumps, have bumps. It was reliable when I only drove it twice a week. I'll never sell that car.
Such a surprise to see this today! I know alex he's such a great guy. His jeep is awesome and a solid unit he absolutely loves. Glad to see a favorite channel and a friend make an episode.
"I put square headlights in my Jeep, because it was the style at the time" My first exposure to the duck thing was when I found one on my hood. The hood of my Samurai. I guess I should be flattered?
My 95 may have been terrible but it was also terrific and I miss it constantly. The 4L is from heaven and 4x4 always actuated for me. Square gang 4 life
As a non Jeep guy, I like the look of the YJ! even the wipers, everything. Coming from a 1st gen CR-V, which is basically a bastard child of a YJ and a Defender if it Japanese.
My father used to have an '88 wrangler with the carbureted 4.2 liter inline-6 with a whopping 130hp with a single barrel carburetor. It was his first Jeep after he traded it for his old bronco. It would get about 12 mpg, which was fantastic compared to the whopping 5 mpg the bronco got, especially when gas was over $5/gallon after hurricane Katrina.
Some of my best driving memories were in my dad's white YJ. It was in the shop more than it was on the road. transmission was screwed up and never got addressed but kept working somehow. it backfired as loud as a rifle once right as i drove past a sheriff's house. Truly one of the vehicles of all time.
Ok. I thought I was Mandela'd into an alternate reality or some shit. I was absolutely sure I'd heard and seen the ducks before COVID. Maybe it was a different pandemic in Canada and he misspoke??
You’re absolutely right about today’s Jeep people. The Jeep culture today just sucks. It’s nowhere near as good as it was 20 years ago. And the duck thing? Yeesh.
Thank you for explaining the duck thing!! I detail cars full-time, and I had been wondering why every single Wrangler I detail has ducks on the dashboard. What a sweet little phenomenon! I shall approach any ducks I come across with much more reverence now ❤
When I was in high-school my friend dove one of theses. Manual with the I4. Slow as anything but it was a soft top, and for 8 months of the year that made it all worth it driving to school in the open air.
My bestie bought a 94 and 95 (it was two jeeps welded together) for $200 in the mid noughties. Was like driving a sailboat on the highway - at a top speed of 65. I loved that thing.
I always thought they were dumb too, and then I got my first duck on my wrangler, and now I have a box of ducks with cowboy hats that I put on jeeps i see. Sometimes dumb things bring joy.
I got a 95 YJ Rio. 2.5l with 4.10 gears. A dog. Starts every time. I like it. Hwy driving is okay. Gear ratios could be better. Rather have the AX15 manual as opposed to the AX5 manual. Love to find a small block 283. Gas mileage would be better. But I like the square headlights. The ride isn't bad. It likes the snow.
I daily a 91 and let me tell you, it's a commitment. Going above 70 is terrifying. It's a stiff ride. It's not comfortable for long distance, but damn it it's fun ride that my early 20s back can handle. That grunge aesthetic just hits different especially in the age of sterile nanny state cars. It's bare bones and the only safety feature is the seatbelts and you. It's almost like you can bond with the machine, learning its personality.
I always liked the square headlights and turn signals. They were brought in to give it an 80s update. After all, we were moving away from round headlights everywhere back then. It was when they brought back the round headlights that I thought it was weird, but it's understandable since we've started the whole "retro" look for everything in a car.
My father bought his '94 brand new off the lot. Daily drives it to this day still. it is all original. Fun car to grow up in, I fix it for him now a days and drive it time to time.
17:27 side note, if you are OK with a two door Sport with a soft top, the 2024 model MSRP is $31995, so it's more expensive but not overtly so, and the next trim up is the Sport S for $3600 more in two door form. All it adds is electronic junk (forward collision warning, adaptive cruise,) power windows and locks, aluminum wheels (same size tho), and the more expensive to replace Gorilla Glass branded windshield. But a V8 is available, if you have $92K to spend on a freaking Wrangler with a 392 Hemi.
I had one. 1990 5sp 4.0 black soft and hd top. Never removed the hard top. Fun on smooth roads. Loud on highest and a kidney buster with the leaf springs.
6:16 Some really subversive truth bombs about boomers and the deeply messed up property market mixed right on in there with standard fare Mr. Regular humor.
I’m a YJ owner. It’s definitely the black sheep of Jeeps. Many of us YJ owners don’t do the duck thing but we do the wave. It’s a fun little vehicle and it’s easy to work on. When I was looking for a Jeep I wanted the 4.0 and AX-15 which narrowed it down to the YJ and TJ. The YJ can be a better bargain if you don’t care about the round headlights and the spartan interior. I was able to pickup a very modified YJ for the same price as most stockish TJs with 50k more miles. The TJ is the pinnacle of Jeep evolution, the coil overs make for a much better ride and the TJ did away with the stupid central axle disconnect. The TJ has a larger aftermarket for modifications but the YJ still has a surprising amount of mods for its age. The Achilles heel to both generations the weak stock axles but you can get the Rubicon TJ with the superior D44. Both generations also need the Slip Yoke Eliminator to prevent your driveshaft falling off during severe articulation. Lucky a previous owner already installed a SYE in mine. I originally bought it as a hunting rig I can flat tow behind my truck. I never got the whole Jeep thing before I bought it. I just figured it cost less than a new side by side and it is road legal. After owning it I definitely see its charm. It’s just dumb fun. Now on to the negatives. The ride is terrible. I would not want to daily drive it. I upgraded to grease-able boomerang shackles and it helped immensely but coil overs are superior to leaf springs. It’s very slow. With stock gears and 33” tires it can barely hold 70mph on flat land. Hit any slope and you are downshifting. The only mod my Jeep lacks are upgraded axles. After I replace and re-gear the axles it should be closer to stock acceleration (I recently picked up an Explorer 8.8 from a junkyard). The final minor gripe is that there isn’t much interior room. After recovery gear, tools and a cooler there isn’t much left over for my girlfriend, dog and I. Before I bought my new truck I overlanded a bunch in a full sized SUV. I am a little spoiled for space but the Jeeps size is also its advantage. Modern trucks keep getting larger. My crew cab is just too big for where I want to go. In the Jeep I can get through tight switchbacks and I have got to places I couldn’t get to before. I tow it to my camp with my truck loaded with everything I need as a support vehicle set up camp and use the Jeep as a scout. It excels in this role. It gives me a bit more peace of mind having two vehicles in the deep woods where I hunt in the fall and scout in the spring and summer. Amazon has square headlights that have a round DRL ring and integrated blinker. I think it helps modernize the look of the YJ and installed them in mine but many in the YJ community dislike them because they look like the new Bronco headlights.
Man, I've been watching your videos for about 6 years, now. I love how they have evolved over time finding a perfect blend between real life, comedy, real review, and real opinion. This video is a climax of sort for me. It's absolutely my favorite one so far. I just wish there was a lesbian Subaru joke in there somewhere. I'm not a Jeep guy, but I kinda want to be one, now.
Had a 93 same color but with the gray interior. Came with the turquoise splash stickers on the side. The first warm day I peeled them off, lol. Had the same CB installed as well. The YJ was the best jeep. Only knock was 5th gear was about useless unless you were going down hill. My mom had bought a 99 TJ (same color as the video) which we still have. It's been a good jeep but I would take the YJ any day.
A guy in my town has a MINT YJ that he shoe-horned a supercharged 3.6 PENTASTAR into. Since the 3.6 has large external dimensions, I asked him "why not just get a Hemi or some other small block V8?" He stated he wanted a challenge and wanted to be different. The dude is an excellent fabricator and needed those skills to put the 3.6 in and keep all of the 4x4 system functioning. It's a sweet build. He's never dyno'd it but he thinks it has probably at LEAST 400HP and boy it feels like it. Fuckin thing RIPS. Great vid as always, Mr. REG & Romie. ❤❤
So far I have owned 3 vehicles reviewed here. The late 70’s Granada, the late 80’s Toyota pickup, and now the square eyed YJ Jeep. You guys need to review my entire vehicle list since I’ve been driving. Notable ones: the 1978 VW Rabbit diesel, the AMC Eagle AWD, the 1984 Lincoln MVII diesel (only year made), and the 99’ Mazda B3000 (Ranger) which I currently drive
I remember seeing lots of jeeps with TONS of ducks on the beach as a kid DECADES before covid... I feel like its been a thing for a while now, don't know WHY,, but I don't think it "started" recently?
I had a 4banger and I loved her so much even though 60 was hauling ass. i broke 3 leafs and could never keep enough oil in it. but i loved her so much.
i had a 4 cylinder YJ with too much lift, tires that has zero reason to be on it and a 5 speed, meaning with the big mudders it was really a 3 speed with 2 extra gears you couldnt use. the entire thing had been bed linered inside and out, the seats were vinyl, it was the WORST thing ive ever owned, and i miss it to this day
My dad had an 86 Jeep CJ7, black with blue stripes with Renegade written on it. As a kid we used to take the top and doors off and go for tours all the time. But as a truck driver he would drive it In the winter and it would sit parked 2 to 3 weeks covered in salt and grime and over time it rotted into dust... some kid bought it as a parts vehicle just a couple years ago. I would have loved to have owned a Jeep but I could never afford one.
I have a CJ-7 that my grandfather bought for $800 in 2005. It had some rust, minor by CJ standards. I was careful not to drive it much in the winter and always clean it afterwards back when it was my only car. In the summer, it's a blast to take the doors and windows off. I'll never sell it.
Mu cousins YJ and my parents wagoneer is what sparked my love of jeeps.. and now 3 TJ's one ZJ and a 4 door JK later my son wants one for his first car..
I recall that the automotive journalists of the time said that the YJ's suspension was much improved over the CJ, mostly due to the expertise of Renault. Context is everything, I guess.
Growing up surrounded by Jeep culture, I never knew the square headlights were weird. Most everyone in our Jeep club and all of my family that had Jeeps had Cherokees or YJs since they were dailies in addition to trail rigs
Hey man, remember to stop and breathe the air and smell the flowers. Life brings a lot of different emotions and humans are a difficult bunch (putting it mildly). Just wanting to spread some love your way.
You think the old jeep guys didn’t like the YJ back in the day? You should have seen them when the Renegade trim came out with all its boxy flares. They were so mad, yet my teenage brain at the time thought it looked awesome with 33’s.
I was a CJ7 Renegade owner. Bought it new in 1986 when I was 20 years old. What did I think if the YJ? I liked it. I went to my dealership just to drive one. Handled well. Had the YJ had round headlights I think CJ owners would have thought it was a suitable replacement.
@5:20 - I forgot about the Jamboree package! One of the guys from HS we hung out with had one of these. I really miss the old CJ's and YJ's. It was before Chrysler ruined the Jeep brand, after Iacocca retired.
I own a Jeep YJ listen. I'm an adult. Don't give me a rubber duck you like my Jeep. Put a beer. Just chuck a beer into my Jeep. What he's not telling you is that the ducks are actually for the Jeep swingers and the different colors and different style of ducks actually show what you're willing to do.
Use code REGULAR50 to get 50% OFF your first Factor box plus 20% off your next month of orders at bit.ly/48fuHrz
alright babe
FIGHT MILK!
“I’M GOING BACK TO SAIGON TO MARRY A WOMAN THE SIZE OF A FENCEPOST.” Lmfao
That killed me!
Doesn't sound too bad to me lol
Fencepost > whale
Yeah, but... "Jurassic Park".
Also MacGyver!
Only thing them ugly things have going for them. Unless you swap a cj7 front then I would puke less every time I see one
@@jordbjor1cope and seethe. Square headlights are the best Jeeps. Wrangler, Cherokee, Wagoneer, Comanche, J/M715...
Nootnoot noot nootnoot
Controversial opinion here... squares > circles
Honestly, this is the best looking jeep. No one hates the square lights on the Cherokee xj
it's a purist thing like with 911's. the cherokee isnt even a jeep to them just a mommy box with the nerve to have that grille and name on it.
@@peterbiltxr379which is a damn shame. When I had my TJ, after a decade of wanting one, all I could think of is how shit it was compared to my old 90s Cherokee. Made me miss it, so I sold the TJ after 5 months or so. Did NOT live up to the hype at all.
Or on the Comanche MJ! YJs look awesome, like all of Jeep's late 80s lineup.
If it ain't a wrangler it ain't a jeep.
@@themassivefail9062 Agreed! My 1988 XJ was twice the rig my 2004 TJ was.
One of my dad's friends worked for AMC as a plant manager in the 70s and 80s. We bought our 79 Jeep Cherokee from him. We found out later that the reason it was so good was that he had it custom built at the factory and hand=-picked everything. It was a one-off, and a great family vehicle.
Reckon
Your dad's friend is a real one.
What was different?
@@michaelb2226 Engine, carb, suspension, transmission, and I think there might have been a few other "but sir, that doesn't come with this model" bits.
Other brands have done the same.
The official car of “I post my interactions with figures from the Jeep community to LinkedIn”
Jeep Wrangler: the official car of "I EAT COFFEE AND DRINK EGGS! MY DAD USED TO TAKE ME TO THE GYM AT AGE 4"
No, no, you're thinking of Dodge Durangos
@@viscountslappy5085 ...close enough
@@viscountslappy5085, which share the same frame as the Grand Cherokee in later generations.
FIGHT MILK! 🥛🤜💥
Ya and they still weigh 350 pounds and live off their parents inheritance
One of the wrangler designers said the yj is why there is still a wrangler, the square headlights was to differentiate the yj from the cj to say see this is different this is safer
Because squares don't roll
The reason the YJ wasn't loved during its time was because everyone saw it as the CJ losing what made it special. The reality was that the YJ was not a progression of the CJ. It was the origin of the modern wrangler. The CJ died when the YJ came out. So the people who have come to love the YJ do so because they see it (correctly) as the origin of their TJ/JK/JL. It was the first wrangler that could be used by regular people as their sole mode of automotive transport.
YJ and CJ-7 parts are largely interchangeable. YJ tubs are a common swap onto CJ-7s because the rustproofing is better. The CJ front end can be adapted to a YJ. Many interior and body parts are the same. The TJ is a completely different vehicle with a different frame, body, and suspension that don't interchange.
I do agree that the YJ changes made it more usable, though it's still a bouncy ride.
Never change Mr Regular.
Seems that he's actually... regular. He's on board with the movement.
"Oh boy! my favorite Jeep!"
Mr Regular: "Here comes the UGLY one."
Man, every time. I think my tastes are just uggo at this point T3T
i think its the most baller looking one ngl
I'm with you, the square headlights and kinked grill are amazing. Personally I think the YJ has the best proportions of any Wrangler. I'd have one if I had a use for one, instead I have a similarly awesome MJ.
The 4.0 is the best thing to ever happen to Jeeps though.... and although it kind of started in the Cherokee, it's original real home was the Wrangler YJ. It was much better than the 4.2 it replaced.
Agreed 💯. That 4.0L I6 was a workhorse. I had a 92 XJ and absolutely loved that motor🤘
4.2 was a hunk of shit. Especially with that Renix garbage. Miss my 4.0 jeeps.
4.0 is bulletproof. arguably one of the best motors of all time (apart from race cars).
The 4.2 is a great motor to use to make a budget stroker motor though. Just plop the 4.0 heads and rocker arms, along with the fuel injection and you have a 4.5 liter stroker motor with gobs of torque.
My buddy has a 4.2 in his yj and it just doesn't sound good. Makes heaps of torque and like no hp but still... also 3spd auto
7:25 was savage! "When things that I like change, it reminds me of my dwindling influence on the modern world. " absolutely savage. Thank you RCR
The Vietnam vet tirade was top tier
I remember when Nam vets were those older cousins to your buddy that you kinda kept your eye on, cause they did a lot of day drinking, even in their 30's.
As someone with HORRIBLE IBS (hell in the bathroom right now) the poop jokes actually makes me feel better about my issue and not as self-conscious. Thank you for that.
Colon cancer survivor here. Man, do I understand poop issues 😅
Ain't that some shit
I figured the rubber ducky thing was so when you hydrolocked your engine trying to cross a stream that you had no business trying to cross, you could tie a rescue note to the rubber ducky and float it downstream!
Happiness is recovering brand new hydro locked jeep with my land cruiser, all while the owner sings the praises of their cheap
@@drewschumann1I'll take my YJ over a Land Cruiser any day, I guess as a Toyota mechanic I've seen way too many of them with exhaust manifold leaks that cost 10 times what it cost to repair on a YJ
You said Jeep Wangler around 10:00. I love it!
I'm calling them Wangler from now on. I don't know if he did it on purpose or not but it's on brand
I'm sorry, but the grunge 90s were the best 90s. Don't pretend you don't remember.
There's the grunge 90s with the cool kids. It aged well.
Then there is the COOL 90s where everything has to be SO COOL. Everything from that era is kitsch.
Had a 97 TJ. Glad i owned it. Fun vehicle. Realized pretty quickly that it was a off road version of an MG convertible.
the other day i was talking to a family freind who told us shes planning on buying a jeep soon. she was obviously talking about getting a new one but my dad still interjected with "make sure you dont get one with square headlights" and i thought that was hilarious
Only Mr. Regular can combine an informative, yet argumentative essay on a car, its history of the model and company behind it with the comedic timing of toilet humor, stereotypical humor about the model’s typical drivers and have such a soothing voice that keeps drawing the viewer in. Please, never change.
I love that you’re doing older cars again and getting back to your roots comedy wise as well. The zj video is still one of my favourite
My dad had one of these when I was really little. My first toddler memories are tooling around the hills of Idaho in a cherry red YJ.
I loved that thing so I will always love the YJ. The YJ stock rode just as bad, even 3 year old me knew that haha
My family has had a red CJ-7 for 20 years. Every bump is felt. Roads that I didn't know had bumps, have bumps. I'll never sell that Jeep.
@@bwofficial1776 absolutely!!!!!!
I'm surprised to see a YJ that hasn't been Jurassic Parked.
So...Jeep Ducks are the physical manifestation of social media "likes." Isn't that cute...
Yep. Only a woman would come up with that idea
@@stevecooper7883dude you have some serious issues
Its horrifying.
Amazing video. I had the 1990 stock Islander YJ (4.2 L I6) and was stolen in 2003 in San Diego. I made $ from the insurance company and bought the 1999 TJ Sport (4.0 L I6) stock, which I still own today. Although I prefer the interior of the YJ, the TJ is amazing.
This, by far, is the most interesting car review channel.
I just had my roommate over hear this video. He is totally sold on your awesome channel. Keep up the good work everyone at RCR
The wrangler Yj is the only wrangler I want to own, I've owned Xjs. I currently own a MJ.
I'm not a Wrangler fan, but the YJ is the exception.
The press at the time was doing hit pieces on the CJ's about them rolling over, so Jeep redesigned the Wrangler so it didn't look like the old one.
The press at that time was doing hit pieces on everything. 60 Minutes had to doctor up a Suzuki Samurai with weights and mismatched tires so it would get tippy. They also rigged a Chevy pickup so the sidesaddle gas tanks would blow but got caught because the charges went off before the truck was actually hit. I have accidentally taken corners faster than I should have in my CJ-7 and I'm surprised how well it took them.
I will never forgive 60 mins for what they did to Suzuki. The Jimny is what a basic off-roader should be!
@@bwofficial1776they just wanted the next big thing after the whole pinto shit.
Then again, the press has always lied, like about the Corvair.
In 2018 my 1st car was a red, 1995 YJ with a 4.0 . The thing sucked at literary everything. It was slow as hell, rickety, loud, got 13 mpg, and I have never felt more unsafe gping 65 mph. But the second that thing touched dirt, it became a completely different machine. It flew through farm roads, had more torque than I knew what to do with, handled wonderfully in the dirt, and never had a single mechanical issue. Its the only car I've driven that rode better off road than on road.
My friend had a TJ, and while his was the better car, I still think my YJ was the better Jeep. Im totally biased, but nothing compares to the fun I had in my purpose built, leaf springed death box.
My first car was a red CJ-7 with the 2.5L. It was gearing limited to 55MPH but going over 40 was not recommended. It got 10MPG, 8 if the hubs were locked. Poor man's ABS: unassisted drum brakes barely powerful enough to stop. The top never sealed, which was fine as the A/C was taking the doors off. Roads that don't have bumps, have bumps. It was reliable when I only drove it twice a week. I'll never sell that car.
Such a surprise to see this today! I know alex he's such a great guy. His jeep is awesome and a solid unit he absolutely loves. Glad to see a favorite channel and a friend make an episode.
Grew up in the 80s near a beach town so the YJ is The Wrangler in my mind. I love it
"I put square headlights in my Jeep, because it was the style at the time"
My first exposure to the duck thing was when I found one on my hood. The hood of my Samurai. I guess I should be flattered?
Game respects game, I guess.
*Nixon voice in Futurama* "lowered?!, you can't do that! Arooooo!"
"Fight Milk" made my day. 100% best sponsored content on the internet.
My 95 may have been terrible but it was also terrific and I miss it constantly. The 4L is from heaven and 4x4 always actuated for me. Square gang 4 life
As a non Jeep guy, I like the look of the YJ! even the wipers, everything. Coming from a 1st gen CR-V, which is basically a bastard child of a YJ and a Defender if it Japanese.
Old CR-Vs are the best fr
My father used to have an '88 wrangler with the carbureted 4.2 liter inline-6 with a whopping 130hp with a single barrel carburetor. It was his first Jeep after he traded it for his old bronco. It would get about 12 mpg, which was fantastic compared to the whopping 5 mpg the bronco got, especially when gas was over $5/gallon after hurricane Katrina.
Finally another rule of acquisition reference followed up by a Brat era BROWN sequence. Dude Encarta 95...
Art.
The absolute best script writing on all of TH-cam!
And I forgot to add “ voice acting!”
The Grand Nagus would be proud.
Some of my best driving memories were in my dad's white YJ. It was in the shop more than it was on the road. transmission was screwed up and never got addressed but kept working somehow. it backfired as loud as a rifle once right as i drove past a sheriff's house.
Truly one of the vehicles of all time.
The ducks did not start during COVID by a lady from Canada. I’ve been getting ducks in my Jeep for over a decade already.
Ok. I thought I was Mandela'd into an alternate reality or some shit. I was absolutely sure I'd heard and seen the ducks before COVID.
Maybe it was a different pandemic in Canada and he misspoke??
You’re absolutely right about today’s Jeep people. The Jeep culture today just sucks. It’s nowhere near as good as it was 20 years ago.
And the duck thing? Yeesh.
The thing that ruined jeep culture was social media.
The four door Wrangler was absolutely necessary, a great product, and it ruined Jeep culture.
Thank you for explaining the duck thing!! I detail cars full-time, and I had been wondering why every single Wrangler I detail has ducks on the dashboard. What a sweet little phenomenon! I shall approach any ducks I come across with much more reverence now ❤
"When things I like change, it reminds me of my dwindling influence on the modern world" was a little too real to be funny
When I was in high-school my friend dove one of theses. Manual with the I4. Slow as anything but it was a soft top, and for 8 months of the year that made it all worth it driving to school in the open air.
Jeeps and Jeeple are baffling. As it is said, it is a Jeep thing and I don't understand it.
I drive a TJ and still don’t get it, although I did see a really clean CJ once that probably would deserve a duck if I participated in any of that.
@@SCIFIguy64 I am a CJ5'er (pretty much stock) and always overlooked compared to the 7.
Agree. grew up around jeeps my whole life and restore them now as a hobby ... I don't get the weird duck obsession either , to each their own I guess
My bestie bought a 94 and 95 (it was two jeeps welded together) for $200 in the mid noughties. Was like driving a sailboat on the highway - at a top speed of 65. I loved that thing.
I still like the square lights over the round ones. This seems to be the only body type/generation owned by semi-normal people
"I don't have a morphine addiction. You have a morphine addiction." might be my new fav RCR line
Ducks are still kinda dumb ngl
I drive an FJ40 and get triggered when some Jeep cultist puts a duck on my dash
Bath toys to play with 😂😂😂😂😂
I always thought they were dumb too, and then I got my first duck on my wrangler, and now I have a box of ducks with cowboy hats that I put on jeeps i see. Sometimes dumb things bring joy.
I got a 95 YJ Rio. 2.5l with 4.10 gears. A dog. Starts every time. I like it. Hwy driving is okay. Gear ratios could be better. Rather have the AX15 manual as opposed to the AX5 manual. Love to find a small block 283. Gas mileage would be better. But I like the square headlights. The ride isn't bad. It likes the snow.
I daily a 91 and let me tell you, it's a commitment. Going above 70 is terrifying. It's a stiff ride. It's not comfortable for long distance, but damn it it's fun ride that my early 20s back can handle. That grunge aesthetic just hits different especially in the age of sterile nanny state cars. It's bare bones and the only safety feature is the seatbelts and you. It's almost like you can bond with the machine, learning its personality.
I also daily a 91 🙏 bless you friend
I always liked the square headlights and turn signals. They were brought in to give it an 80s update. After all, we were moving away from round headlights everywhere back then. It was when they brought back the round headlights that I thought it was weird, but it's understandable since we've started the whole "retro" look for everything in a car.
As far as wranglers, love the YJ. square headlights and square dash is so retro.
My father bought his '94 brand new off the lot. Daily drives it to this day still. it is all original. Fun car to grow up in, I fix it for him now a days and drive it time to time.
this was an awesome episode, really reminded me of the “old days” loved the characters
I always enjoyed these, thank you RCR
My first car was a ‘93 YJ. No doors, no roof, salvage title… but boy do I still miss her very much.
It's amazing, the blogger is really creative and worth watching
17:27 side note, if you are OK with a two door Sport with a soft top, the 2024 model MSRP is $31995, so it's more expensive but not overtly so, and the next trim up is the Sport S for $3600 more in two door form. All it adds is electronic junk (forward collision warning, adaptive cruise,) power windows and locks, aluminum wheels (same size tho), and the more expensive to replace Gorilla Glass branded windshield. But a V8 is available, if you have $92K to spend on a freaking Wrangler with a 392 Hemi.
I had one. 1990 5sp 4.0 black soft and hd top. Never removed the hard top.
Fun on smooth roads. Loud on highest and a kidney buster with the leaf springs.
6:16 Some really subversive truth bombs about boomers and the deeply messed up property market mixed right on in there with standard fare Mr. Regular humor.
FINALLY!!! I've been waiting since the mention in the Tj video!
I’m a YJ owner. It’s definitely the black sheep of Jeeps. Many of us YJ owners don’t do the duck thing but we do the wave.
It’s a fun little vehicle and it’s easy to work on. When I was looking for a Jeep I wanted the 4.0 and AX-15 which narrowed it down to the YJ and TJ. The YJ can be a better bargain if you don’t care about the round headlights and the spartan interior. I was able to pickup a very modified YJ for the same price as most stockish TJs with 50k more miles. The TJ is the pinnacle of Jeep evolution, the coil overs make for a much better ride and the TJ did away with the stupid central axle disconnect. The TJ has a larger aftermarket for modifications but the YJ still has a surprising amount of mods for its age. The Achilles heel to both generations the weak stock axles but you can get the Rubicon TJ with the superior D44. Both generations also need the Slip Yoke Eliminator to prevent your driveshaft falling off during severe articulation. Lucky a previous owner already installed a SYE in mine.
I originally bought it as a hunting rig I can flat tow behind my truck. I never got the whole Jeep thing before I bought it. I just figured it cost less than a new side by side and it is road legal. After owning it I definitely see its charm. It’s just dumb fun.
Now on to the negatives. The ride is terrible. I would not want to daily drive it. I upgraded to grease-able boomerang shackles and it helped immensely but coil overs are superior to leaf springs. It’s very slow. With stock gears and 33” tires it can barely hold 70mph on flat land. Hit any slope and you are downshifting. The only mod my Jeep lacks are upgraded axles. After I replace and re-gear the axles it should be closer to stock acceleration (I recently picked up an Explorer 8.8 from a junkyard). The final minor gripe is that there isn’t much interior room. After recovery gear, tools and a cooler there isn’t much left over for my girlfriend, dog and I. Before I bought my new truck I overlanded a bunch in a full sized SUV. I am a little spoiled for space but the Jeeps size is also its advantage. Modern trucks keep getting larger. My crew cab is just too big for where I want to go. In the Jeep I can get through tight switchbacks and I have got to places I couldn’t get to before. I tow it to my camp with my truck loaded with everything I need as a support vehicle set up camp and use the Jeep as a scout. It excels in this role. It gives me a bit more peace of mind having two vehicles in the deep woods where I hunt in the fall and scout in the spring and summer.
Amazon has square headlights that have a round DRL ring and integrated blinker. I think it helps modernize the look of the YJ and installed them in mine but many in the YJ community dislike them because they look like the new Bronco headlights.
Man, I've been watching your videos for about 6 years, now. I love how they have evolved over time finding a perfect blend between real life, comedy, real review, and real opinion. This video is a climax of sort for me. It's absolutely my favorite one so far. I just wish there was a lesbian Subaru joke in there somewhere. I'm not a Jeep guy, but I kinda want to be one, now.
Had a 93 same color but with the gray interior. Came with the turquoise splash stickers on the side. The first warm day I peeled them off, lol. Had the same CB installed as well. The YJ was the best jeep. Only knock was 5th gear was about useless unless you were going down hill. My mom had bought a 99 TJ (same color as the video) which we still have. It's been a good jeep but I would take the YJ any day.
A guy in my town has a MINT YJ that he shoe-horned a supercharged 3.6 PENTASTAR into. Since the 3.6 has large external dimensions, I asked him "why not just get a Hemi or some other small block V8?" He stated he wanted a challenge and wanted to be different. The dude is an excellent fabricator and needed those skills to put the 3.6 in and keep all of the 4x4 system functioning. It's a sweet build. He's never dyno'd it but he thinks it has probably at LEAST 400HP and boy it feels like it. Fuckin thing RIPS. Great vid as always, Mr. REG & Romie. ❤❤
So far I have owned 3 vehicles reviewed here. The late 70’s Granada, the late 80’s Toyota pickup, and now the square eyed YJ Jeep. You guys need to review my entire vehicle list since I’ve been driving. Notable ones: the 1978 VW Rabbit diesel, the AMC Eagle AWD, the 1984 Lincoln MVII diesel (only year made), and the 99’ Mazda B3000 (Ranger) which I currently drive
I remember seeing lots of jeeps with TONS of ducks on the beach as a kid DECADES before covid... I feel like its been a thing for a while now, don't know WHY,, but I don't think it "started" recently?
Just another example of how mythology routinely revises history
I owned an 89 YJ for a couple years, miss it sometimes
Everything about this video is accurate and is exactly why I love YJ's
I had a 4banger and I loved her so much even though 60 was hauling ass. i broke 3 leafs and could never keep enough oil in it. but i loved her so much.
i had a 4 cylinder YJ with too much lift, tires that has zero reason to be on it and a 5 speed, meaning with the big mudders it was really a 3 speed with 2 extra gears you couldnt use. the entire thing had been bed linered inside and out, the seats were vinyl, it was the WORST thing ive ever owned, and i miss it to this day
My dad had an 86 Jeep CJ7, black with blue stripes with Renegade written on it. As a kid we used to take the top and doors off and go for tours all the time. But as a truck driver he would drive it In the winter and it would sit parked 2 to 3 weeks covered in salt and grime and over time it rotted into dust... some kid bought it as a parts vehicle just a couple years ago. I would have loved to have owned a Jeep but I could never afford one.
I have a CJ-7 that my grandfather bought for $800 in 2005. It had some rust, minor by CJ standards. I was careful not to drive it much in the winter and always clean it afterwards back when it was my only car. In the summer, it's a blast to take the doors and windows off. I'll never sell it.
Had a 92 Sahara as my first car, sold it 18 years ago. Most fun vehicle I ever owned.
Mu cousins YJ and my parents wagoneer is what sparked my love of jeeps.. and now 3 TJ's one ZJ and a 4 door JK later my son wants one for his first car..
...those first 3 seconds...I can't help but hear "FIRE HER UP, MAN!!" in the background. If you get it, you get it.
17:52 The audio recording nobody asked for, but everybody deserves to hear. 💀
Middle child is best child. Change my mind. Love the YJ and the utilitarian, square, flat styling that will run forever.
YJ. As a 996 is to the 911. The “ugly” but necessary one. (Pls do an ep on a 996 they’re cheap)
I had one 20 years ago, didn't do my research and ended up with the 4 cylinder.
Top speed on the highway was 60mph and it sounded like a weedeater.
The jeep of 90s dude bros
I recall that the automotive journalists of the time said that the YJ's suspension was much improved over the CJ, mostly due to the expertise of Renault.
Context is everything, I guess.
Growing up surrounded by Jeep culture, I never knew the square headlights were weird. Most everyone in our Jeep club and all of my family that had Jeeps had Cherokees or YJs since they were dailies in addition to trail rigs
just the entire context surrounding “downloading Bonzi Buddy” is so fucking funny😭😭😭
Hey man, remember to stop and breathe the air and smell the flowers. Life brings a lot of different emotions and humans are a difficult bunch (putting it mildly). Just wanting to spread some love your way.
You think the old jeep guys didn’t like the YJ back in the day? You should have seen them when the Renegade trim came out with all its boxy flares. They were so mad, yet my teenage brain at the time thought it looked awesome with 33’s.
It's still hard to believe Jeep made a factory widebody Wrangler.
I absolutely love my 94. I will have it until I die.
I was a CJ7 Renegade owner. Bought it new in 1986 when I was 20 years old. What did I think if the YJ? I liked it. I went to my dealership just to drive one. Handled well. Had the YJ had round headlights I think CJ owners would have thought it was a suitable replacement.
My brother had a 1990 Wrangler Sahara. Honestly they have a charm to them that is unique to any other Jeep
@5:20 - I forgot about the Jamboree package! One of the guys from HS we hung out with had one of these. I really miss the old CJ's and YJ's. It was before Chrysler ruined the Jeep brand, after Iacocca retired.
The thing with Jeeps is that they drive loose, kinda like a boat. It's not a perfect driving experience at all, and I just absolutely love it.
My friend has a bone stock 94 yj with the four cylinder with a five speed. Love driving that thing
How did you go this whole review without mentioning the fame from Jurassic Park??? That movie made me want one so bad lol.
I’ve always liked the YJ, the 4.0 is indestructible. Would love to find a YJ Sahara and do the Jurassic Park build.
6:18 As a Cape Codder who was priced out of living in my hometown, this is the funniest damn thing RCR has done in a hot minute 😂
I own a Jeep YJ listen. I'm an adult. Don't give me a rubber duck you like my Jeep. Put a beer. Just chuck a beer into my Jeep. What he's not telling you is that the ducks are actually for the Jeep swingers and the different colors and different style of ducks actually show what you're willing to do.