[mud4feet]

Bottom line is you now own a Jeep!!!! I'm a 4banger owner, also, and I have no complaints. I love my Jeep, "underpowered" as it is!! I'm unlucky enough to have the 2.4L (I believe '03 was when they switched) which means you have the 2.5L.............amazing how much difference that .1 liter makes! Mudwoman's YJ has the 2.5, and I've always felt quite a difference in the power............if you need a fifth gear, I have one available - I RARELY use it!! But, like I said, I have no complaints. My 4banger just loves runnin' at around 3K rpms....she'll run happily all day long! 106,000 miles and counting - still on the factory clutch, one brake change on the front (only because I had a caliper go bad), no other problems other than the usual "maintance" things......O2 sensors, plugs and wires a couple times, that's about it!

The problems you mention seem to me to be minor things - nothing compared to what's ahead (lift, gears, tires, lockers, etc, etc!!!!!). Welcome to the obsession!!!!!!!