i am almost 16 and i will be driving next year. i really like off-roading but i dont know what to get for my first off-road rig. i am thinking of trying the ctc thing but i need something that i can use to get me to school and home with out dieing on the highway. i dont know if i want a samie or if i shoud keep looking for an old cj in the auto books. i know that i will need a lift and some tires but i need a rig that i can use first! plz help me! i have about 1200$ right now and i an in the northeast. so salt will be a big problum. plz help me out people!  

good luck, for $1200 you are better off with the sammy, atleast here in the south-southwest. a decent CJ goes for $4000+....  

An older chevy may be in your budget, but the sammie's are great little platforms to build cheap, and then maybe upgrade to a cj when you have more funds, any cj under 1200 is going to have serious driveability issues!  

thank you both for the ideas. now comes the hard part. i live up in NH and the salt will eat up any thing. should i try to find a sammy in NH or try to find one where there is no snow?
plz post more ideas people!  

now that i re-read you original post.. you want a highway commuter as well as off road capable, you might consider a full size.. K5 or Bronco.  A CJ with moderate lift and 33-35" tires (as long as it has the I-6 or v8) would be ok.  A K5 or Bronco would still be small enough to get around most trails and still have the power to get you moving down the highway.. you can sometimes come across a k5 or shortbed 4x4 for $1500..  most anything you find for $1200-1500 is going to need some work..  

thank you for the ideas. now comes the hard part. i live up in NH and the salt will eat up any thing. should i try to find a sammy in NH or try to find one where there is no snow?
plz post more ideas people!  

get a sami or an older cherokee. there both cheap and dependable and upgradeable.  

I'd say also look into a Toyota, I live in maine and was able to find a toyota that was already lifted 6" and came with 5 36X14.50 R15's on it for $1,500. Agreed it did need a little cosmetic work but other than that I can't complain, My best bet would be to thumb through the Uncle Henrys in the Trucks section and just take your time. The reason that i suggested toyota is because they get great gas mileage, the 22re motors are basically indestructable, they already have 4:10 gears, the 8.8" rear end is almost comparable to a 9" and the ifs is pretty strong contrary to what some may say. I've got a built GM 4.3 in mine now with 37X13 boggers and havn't had any trouble in the mud yet.  

I'd stick with the sami,tracker/sidekick, they are one of  the best 4bys out there. i have a sami and a tracker and love both. i picked up the sami for $500 running but needing rod bearings,and the 94  tracker for for $200 running but wrecked in right side door.the tracker gets better MPG and it also rides better with it's coil spring suspension.i live in fl so prices will very, but you WILL be able to find a good one that will take you on many adventures and to&from school for your $1200.

I took am a big fan of the Trackers I've had 2 2dr convertables, got each for under $1000.00can but they were both rusted beyond repair. Up here in the rust belt( NH, ME, and here in NB, Canada) it's hard to find a Suzuki or Toyota that isn't rusted all away. That is one of the worst things about these 2 brands is that they rust out really bad really fast. My 92 Tracker was actually rusted worst than my 89 Tracker. The 89 the complete floor was gone and up about 6" all around it, I fiberglassed a new one in but that made non-street legal up here in NB. My 92 had a bit better floor but the frame was completely rusted in 2, didn't find out til it was delivered, don't from photographs. Another one you might look for is a Suzuki X90, they were smaller than the Tracker but had the stronger cast sport axles and a 1.6-1.8 twincam engine. They were 2dr conv. only and I believe they started in 1996 so they're probably not rusted away yet. They would be a great plateform to start from and look way cool with 35 BFG MT's, believe me I've seen them. They might be over your $1200.00us budget though as the last one I seen was $2500.00can but that was also about 3yrs ago. If you look hard you might find one for your price. Robin.  

get a jeep cj 5