Which One Deserves Some Love? 1989 Jeep Wrangler vs 1993 Dodge Daytona

Good morning! It’s November now, and before long, the snow will be flying. For some of us, that means it’s time to retreat into the garage, fire up the propane heater, put on a pot of coffee, and turn some wrenches. Due to finances, my winter projects this year will be strictly 1/10 scale and radio-controlled, but this week, we’re going to look at some “big” car projects that maybe one of you could use to while away the winter hours.

I gave you a big assignment on Friday, and boy did you all deliver! I asked you to pick a car and come up with a scary story featuring it, and there were some really fun ones. Thank you so much for getting into the spirit of things! The most popular subject vehicle was the Porsche, and to be fair, it’s definitely the scariest of the bunch.

I still like my “paranormal investigator who drives an old Camaro” idea, but thinking about it, I think I’d set it in modern times, and the investigator would be a young woman. She inherited a PI business and an old Camaro from a long-lost uncle, and decides to make a go of it. But the only cases that come her way are the really weird and supernatural ones. Think Veronica Mars meets Kolchak: The Night Stalker. It could work.

I suppose the impulse to fix up old cars is either something you have or you don’t. For those of you who prefer your cars 100% functional and ready to go, this might be a tough week. But I’m going to soften the blow a bit by promising that all of this week’s contestants will at least be able to be driven home. We’re starting off with a couple of cars in my neck of the woods. Let’s see what you make of them.

1989 Jeep Wrangler – $2,500

Engine/drivetrain: 2.5-liter OHV inline-4, five-speed manual, 4WD

Location: Bellevue, MI

Odometer reading: 151,000 miles

Operational status: “Runs and drives as expected for older jeep”

Our illustrious editor-in-chief isn’t the only enthusiast who looks at an old Jeep and sees potential. Jeep projects aren’t exactly hard to come by. He’s also not alone in bailing on project Jeeps unfinished; in fact, I bet a lot of Jeeps get passed around from defeated seller to bright-eyed buyer without having been altered at all. The seller of this one warns us that it is “not for the faint of heart or first time Jeep owners.” But honestly, I think they’re underselling it; it looks pretty decent for the price.

This is a basic, plain-jane YJ Wrangler with the base engine, a 2.5-liter four-cylinder held over from the AMC days. It has throttle-body fuel injection, and makes 117 horsepower and 135 pound-feet of torque. That may not sound like much, and that’s because it’s not, especially when it’s trying to turn 33 inch tires like this one has. Don’t expect miracles when it comes to acceleration. It does run and drive, but the seller says it’s not a daily driver. Why not, I don’t know, unless they’re just trying to set realistic expectations for such a crude vehicle.

And speaking of crude, have a look at the interior: vinyl seats, bare floors, and no creature comforts whatsoever. It does have a nice collection of leaves going, though. I imagine it would look a lot better with a little cleaning. The seller says it comes with doors and a back seat, but they make no mention of a top, either hard or soft. It’s sort of an important detail, so it’s a question worth asking.

You’d expect a Wrangler in Michigan for this price to be a rustbucket, but it looks pretty good underneath. The seller includes several underside photos, and I don’t see anything alarming in any of them. Part of the frame has been treated with rust preventer, POR-15 or something, but it looks like they stopped partway through. The paint is crap, and there are plenty of dents in it, but rust is always the major concern with old Jeeps, and this one looks fine in that regard.

1993 Dodge Daytona ES – $2,650

Engine/drivetrain: 3.0-liter OHC V6, four-speed automatic, FWD

Location: Fraser, MI

Odometer reading: unknown

Operational status: “Runs, stops, drives, and shifts”

I’m actually surprised by the number of Dodge Daytonas I’ve seen for sale around here. They’re not as numerous as Camaros or Mustangs, but you still have your pick from several, at various price points. This ES is from the final model year. It’s not in great shape, but it’s definitely saveable, and it runs and drives fine.

After years of turbocharged four-cylinders under the Daytona’s hood, for the last couple of years Dodge offered a 3.0-liter Mitsubishi-built V6. It is, of course, the same engine that powered a bazillion minivans and LeBarons. It drives the front wheels through a four-speed “Ultradrive” automatic transmission. It runs and drives, but that’s all we get out of the seller. The odometer is also broken, so we don’t know how many miles are on it.

It’s not in bad shape inside, I don’t think, but it’s hard to tell with so much junk in it. I wish people wouldn’t do that. At least the upholstery is in good condition. I see a few bits and pieces of broken plastic here and there, but it’s a ’90s Dodge, so that’s no surprise. Once it’s cleaned up, I think it would be perfectly presentable.

Outside, things take a bit of a turn for the worse. The seller says it has “some rust,” and I fear they’re talking about more than just those spots on the hood. The plastic cladding on the rocker panels is probably hiding something worse. And yes, rust sucks, but it can be fixed. Is it worth patching up the rocker panels on an automatic Dodge Daytona? Maybe not, but it could be a good way to learn, so you can tackle a car you really want to fix. And I don’t know about anyone else, but I’ve always kind of wanted to learn how to weld.

Choosing a project car is all about balance. You don’t want something that’s too expensive, because it leaves you with no budget for repairs. Nor do you want something too far gone, or too far beyond your abilities, because you’ll just get bogged down and frustrated. This week I’m trying to find that balance, looking for drivable projects that won’t cost too much to fix up. So are you more the sporty coupe type, or are you going for the open-top off-roader?