Thinking about getting a wrangler

[jts98z28]

well seeing all these threads about people getting new cars makes me want one, ive been looking into wranglers ive always had an odd fetish for them and since you guys know a **** load about jeeps i figure ill try to get some info on them... and i hate the unlimited's with a passion so thats not even on my radar, but as far as the 7 or 8 different models like sport, sport s, rubicon ect. whats someof the major differences? and i dont go offroading but theres alwaysa possibility since i never went racing til i bought my camaro lol
thanks for any help

[Tru2Chevy]

If you are planning on little to no offroading, don't get the Rubicon. The only way that model makes sense is for the people who do moderate offroading at least a few times a month, but don't want to get into any real serious offroading. Serious offroaders will end up replacing most of the upgraded equipment that the rubi package offers anyway.

Can't give you a solid recommendation as to what would be best for you, best thing to do first would probably be to hop on Jeep's website and spend some time in the "Build Your Own" section to see what they offer and what you think you would like. Then you can come back, let us know what you are thinking of getting and why, and we can advise based on that.

Are you planning on buying new? If not, are you looking for a current generation JK (07+) or would you be open to a TJ (97-06)?

- Justin

[madness410]

i looked into wranglers before i bought my camaro. they hold their value really well...i had a hard time finding one with under 100K miles for under 8 grand..but the straight 6 motors i hear are indestructible.

[elle]

I also have owned Wranglers. I loved mine but def needed another vehicle to drive. As any everyday vehicle i hated it after about 9 mos.

[LS1ow]

i love wranglers. there not a vehicle i would DD thou. not like "refined' enough i guess you can say? but boy are they hella fun!

oh btw, i work at jeep, so if you ever need anything ;)

[jts98z28]

thanks for all the info, and i played with the build your own thing for a while and im leaning toward the sport s with the v6, 6speed, tracklock and 3.73s..and my plans for the time being would be a small lift and 33's, and do you know if the doors still come off of the sport s? i know it said standard on the sport so idk if that includes the sport s or not
thanks again

[LS1ow]

doors come off every wrangler

[sweetbmxrider]

Those new v6's just feel so weak. Nothing like the i6.

[greenformula92]

Those new v6's just feel so weak. Nothing like the i6.

i agree....and i heard they weren't as reliable

[JL8Jeff]

A Wrangler for a daily driver can be a bit jarring due to the short wheelbase. And the NJ roads keep getting worse. Have you actually driven one around for a day to see if you'll be ok with it?

[Tru2Chevy]

i agree....and i heard they weren't as reliable

While they aren't known to last quite as long as the 4.0L I6, the 3.8s in the 07+ Wranglers is based on the same 3.8 that ChryCo has been using for years in minivans and other vehicles. Different years have had some issues, but it's certainly not a junk motor - just not what Jeep guys are used to after living with the 4.0 for so long.

Aren't the newest Wranglers getting the new 300ish hp Pentastar v6 though? I thought I read that but I'm not sure.

- Justin

[mc73nova]

The engine in the new Jeeps is on the weak side but it isn't as bad on the 2 door. I had a 2 door 6 speed Sahara and currently have an Unlimited X with an auto and my 2 door felt a lot more peppy. There is a ton of aftermarket parts for them so if you aren't quite satisfied you can go crazy with parts!

For moderate off roading with 33's the Sport would be fine. Get the dual tops if you can, I felt that the soft top was too loud for everyday highway driving and even used hard tops are pretty costly. I wouldn't go for the Sahara because of the painted flairs, they get scratched up quick (trust me!) That is more of the luxury model. If you are someone who gets hooked on things and like the idea of off roading the Rubicon would be your best starting point. It has e-lockers, Dana 44's front and back rather than the Sport and Sahara having a rear Dana 44 and front Dana 30.

I had 3.73's with trac-loc and never had a problem and I beat the crap out of it! I did regear once I lifted it, I had 35's, I'm not sure how the 3.73's would be with 33's. You might be ok with the 6 speed, I dont think the auto would be as good with stock gearing and 33's.

I am on my 2nd JK and they are nothing but fun, good luck finding your Jeep!

[sweetbmxrider]

I'm not sure but they feel like dogs when you give it some throttle to me.

edit: This was a 4 door.

[mc73nova]

While they aren't known to last quite as long as the 4.0L I6, the 3.8s in the 07+ Wranglers is based on the same 3.8 that ChryCo has been using for years in minivans and other vehicles. Different years have had some issues, but it's certainly not a junk motor - just not what Jeep guys are used to after living with the 4.0 for so long.

Aren't the newest Wranglers getting the new 300ish hp Pentastar v6 though? I thought I read that but I'm not sure.

- Justin

There have been a million engine rumors since they came out with the JK. Until it hits a showroom, I don't believe it. Not that I have the money but a lot of people have been doing Hemi swaps and lately LS swap popularity is growing.

[jts98z28]

wow thanks for all the info, and i have actually driven jeeps before 2 softtops and 1 hardtop, idk why but the slapping of the top doesnt bother me, today i am gonna drive my moms new unlimited and see how i like it, i drive a neon right now so i would think the ride quality/interior wouldnt be any worse lol i have manual locks/windows/seats/everything and it rides like ass cheeks and is slow as hell to the point where i am afraid to pull out of roads
thanks for all the info you guys are the **** you helped me a lot

[JL8Jeff]

Is the Unlimited the 4 door? If so, you can't compare the ride quality to the regular 2 door because of the longer wheelbase. I drove my buddy's old CJ7 with 33's and it was brutal compared to my Toyota pickup. I'm just saying they are really short wheelbase and light vehicles that tend to bounce around a lot more than regular cars and trucks. I've had mostly regular cab pickups and the old 2 door 4Runners and you can even feel the harshness in those vehicles with the short wheelbase and stiff suspension. If you can find one lifted with 33's to test drive, that would really let you know if it will bother you or not. I had a soft top on my old 87 4Runner that I used all summer and it was great, but the weight reduction of removing the hardtop made it bounce around even more. Putting the hardtop back on for the winter made a huge difference in noise and road manners.

[jts98z28]

Is the Unlimited the 4 door? If so, you can't compare the ride quality to the regular 2 door because of the longer wheelbase. I drove my buddy's old CJ7 with 33's and it was brutal compared to my Toyota pickup. I'm just saying they are really short wheelbase and light vehicles that tend to bounce around a lot more than regular cars and trucks. I've had mostly regular cab pickups and the old 2 door 4Runners and you can even feel the harshness in those vehicles with the short wheelbase and stiff suspension. If you can find one lifted with 33's to test drive, that would really let you know if it will bother you or not. I had a soft top on my old 87 4Runner that I used all summer and it was great, but the weight reduction of removing the hardtop made it bounce around even more. Putting the hardtop back on for the winter made a huge difference in noise and road manners.

ya its a 4 door but the one softtop i drove around for a little while had a small lift with 33's on it so thats what i am gonna base it off of thanks for the heads up

[chemicalstylez]

Don't buy it, save your self the money pit a Chrysler product brings with it. We didn't keep our JEEP longer than a year. And my mom's AWD Laredo has been through 3 transmissions... and shes old. Just my 2 cents :)

[Cycule]

Yea man go with a I6 wrangler. you wont regret.

[jts98z28]

well i bit the bullet and bought one i passed at a dealership i love it, 2011 cosmo? blue sahara soft top 6 speed, infinity sound system or something, 3.73's, free satellite radio for a year, 3 year bumper to bumper warranty, 5 year powertrain warranty, 18 miles on it after my test drive, paid 23,400 before taxes and tags, and i was very impressed with it on the highway i was doing 80mph with the windows down and up either way the top was dead silent i was expecting it to be loud as hell but the changed the way they hold down now i believe

[maroman88]

cooool, enjoy it, not a bad deal

[mc73nova]

Congrats and now......ttiwwp

[jts98z28]

so far this is all i have, i have no idea why the color looks so light kinda like baby blue in the pics maybe because its a cell phone but in person it looks a lot deeper blue not so feminine lol and driving with no top and no doors makes it worth every penny i loved it today

[maroman88]

awesome... LOVE that color

[Tru2Chevy]

Looks good! What's with the pine tree though? Trying to get rid of the new car smell?

- Justin

[sweetbmxrider]

That color is pretty cool, best of luck.

[WildBillyT]

Car looks awesome!

Please bear in mind that a cop may pull you over for having no driver's side mirror.

[elle]

Car looks awesome!

Please bear in mind that a cop may pull you over for having no driver's side mirror.

Yup, happened to me EVERYTIME i went down the shore.

Jeeps are awesome!

[jts98z28]

thanks for all the compliments, and the pine tree is vanillaroma, much better than new car smell imo lol, and ya i know about that whole mirror thing but lately i have had good luck with cops and gotten away with no tickets the last 6 times i got pulled over so i gotta take my chances with the doors cause its awesome without them

[maroman88]

they sell the mirrors that pop into the door hinges

[79T/A]

they sell the mirrors that pop into the door hinges

Yup. And some others, too. Log on to Quadratec.com and try not to over accessorize. But they've got some good side view mirrors that bolt onto A pillars, too.