First trip to the beach – less than 500 miles on the odometer and still a 100% stock JL Unlimited Sport S
After driving the same Toyota RAV4 for 13 years, I was ready for a change. I was tempted to buy a convertible but it would have forced me to keep the RAV4 to go to the Home Depot or to the dog park (two of my favorite destinations, apparently), and the convertible would not have been driven frequently. A few week-ends every now and then. No, I wanted a car I would drive every day.
It left me with the prospect of buying another SUV but I could not bring myself to spend my hard earned cash on a vehicle full of electronic nannies, looking the same as millions of other cross-overs, and as rewarding to interact with as a washing machine.
From Ford’s official media library.
Then Ford launched the new Bronco. Their marketing was brilliant, and opened my mind to a new range of possibilities – I could get a vehicle with a strong personality, enough space for the dogs and my home improvement activities, and the open air driving experience I was so keen on enjoying again.
The Bronco planned availability did not align with my timeline, and at the top of that I suspected that Ford’s distribution approach (start the purchase process on line with Ford, but discuss the price and the delivery with a dealer at a later stage) would be major source of pain for the clients.
But if not a Bronco, why not a Wrangler?
We first rented a Rubicon of the previous generation (a JK Unlimited) for a week-end on Truro, and were very pleasantly surprised – it felt like a little truck, for sure, but it was comfortable, easy to drive, and could fit in a suburban lifestyle.
Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon (JK) – the car we rented through Truro.
Considering the price of a recent second hand Wrangler and of the extended warranty, it made more sense to buy the Jeep new. I test drove a model of the current generation with the 6 speed manual, liked it very much except for the clutch and the gearbox, and we settled for the 8 speed automatic and the “Sky One-Touch” power top.
The “Sky One-Touch” power top – a big selling argument (FCA media library)
We ordered our Wrangler from one of those volume dealerships that don’t insist on having you in their showroom, and the experience was pleasant end to end (a couple of emails, a phone call to agree on the details, a great price, not even a deposit, and no silly surprise at the end of the process). I just found bizarre that when I took delivery of the Jeep, I had to sign multiple forms where I acknowledged that the sales person was showing me this or that feature. He said Jeep (the Corporation) are checking the forms that are filled in during the walk through, and that the dealers are fined for each missed feature.
“Did the dealer use high pressure sales tactics, did the salesperson lie to you, did they lock you in a small dark room until you sign for an extended warranty?” – Not word for word, but pretty close – at least that’s the general tone of the “dealer evaluation survey” that Jeep (the Corporation) send to the buyers of their cars. Obviously, they have a very poor opinion of some of their dealers.
First trip to the forest roads of North Georgia. I already had installed side steps.
And what it’s like to drive? The answer probably depends a lot on the tires, and on the modifications performed by the owner. Our Jeep is a 4 door Sport S with the Michelin “highway and gravel” tires, and a stock suspension. Jeep has optimized this version for the road and relatively light off-road duty. My feed-back would probably be very different if I was driving a two door Rubicon with 35in Mud Terrain tires and a 3.5in lift.
On our Jeep, you clearly feel the body move laterally above the front solid axle if you hit a bump in a fast bend, but it’s not scary and for the rest of the time, it’s very civilized and not that different to drive from a “normal” SUV. The steering is not as bad as generally reported, either. It’s definitely more truck-like than Miata-like, but it’s reasonably precise and the power steering is correctly calibrated. The 2020-2021 models have a more rigid steering box – it must have addressed the most glaring issues experienced by the first owners of the Wranglers of the current generation.
The instrument panel is half analog half digital. 1941…The magic number for Jeep.
This Wrangler is perfectly capable of long freeway drives – it’s fast enough to keep up comfortably with the traffic and not even loud. The 2L engine has a lot of grunt, and reminds me of a turbo diesel (with the whine of the turbo but without the clatter of a diesel). Gas mileage is not diesel like though, in the 19 to 22 mpg range most of the time. Inside, the cabin is relatively narrow with little storage space for things like keys or phones, but the commands are well designed, the infotainment system easy to use, and the fit and finish more than correct. The most surprising? Because of the shape of body (almost vertical windshield, small lateral windows, plenty of headroom) the cabin does not get hot in the Atlanta summer, and you can drive without turning on the A/C most of the time. You simply press the magic button to open the retractable canvas top, and on you go.
I still have a lot to learn more about off-road driving. Owning a Jeep is clearly an invitation to spend more time out of the main roads. What I’ve noticed so far is that you cross all sorts of vehicles on the US Forest roads (even Chrysler minivans and Mercedes E Class station wagons) but when it gets a bit tougher, you only see other Wranglers.
A Euro-spec Wrangler Sport shot last summer in Spain (probably at 80th Anniversary edition). A few details are different from the North American Spec models, like the bumper covers and the rear view mirrors.
Is our Jeep a “he” or a “she”? I was born and raised in France, and in the French language, we don’t have the concept of a “neutral” gender for objects – they are grammatically “masculine” or “feminine”. Whatever the reason, a “car” tends to be associated with the feminine, in proper French as well as in slang (une automobile, une voiture, une bagnole, une caisse,…). On the other hand, “trucks” tend to be masculine (un camion, un pick-up, un semi-remorque, un SUV…). It’s the French language, so there are plenty of nuances and exceptions: the Jeep Willys MB and all its direct descendants have always been “feminine”. So, for me and my wife, our Wrangler is a “She”: “Une Jeep”.
“La Raleuse” – a Jeep of the French 2eme DB – even in 1943, the Jeeps were given “feminine” names (here: “La Raleuse”, the feminine of “grumpy”)
Why Gertrude? This car has enough personality to deserve a name. “La Jeep” would have been an option, but it was too obvious. At an antique show recently, we found a beautiful silver tumbler, engraved with the first name of its first owner: “Gertrude”. We did not buy the tumbler, but we felt the name was a good fit for our Jeep, which is now known as “Gertrude” or “Gertie”.
The reason I could not get a convertible…
A word about the power top. I have the same sort of set up on my Fiat 500c Abarth. I am a convertible guy. Been owned/drove one or another since 1991 when my wife and I bought a Dodge Shadow convertible. I currently own a 2000 Viggen convertible that went on a 1000 mile outing last month. So, I love the full on convertible experience.
The roof on my Abarth and your Jeep is not that experience. But it is a good experience in its own right. And it is a versatile one, too. I live in NE Ohio and lately I have driven to or from work on days that would be too chilly for the Saab or short enough that I might not have bothered putting down the top. The one button operation of the Jeep’s sort of top as well as the isolation from weather with top open but windows up is a great experience in its own right.
Congratulations! I have never been a member of “the Jeep family” but my sister is on her second Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon, so I am kind of an in-law. As one on the outside, it really does strike me as just a little like a cult, but in a good way. It is interesting to see how Jeep has managed to maintain that mystique and that family feeling despite the massive growth they have seen.
I was a little surprised at the engine, but only because I was expecting the big V6. Yours is probably a better choice in the current environment.
Your note on the Bronco is interesting – I have seen very few out on the road. Whether it is the chip shortage, a modest launch or something else, I don’t know.
Ford has had massive issues with the launch of the Bronco. They had issues with chip shortages then not having the right parts to meet the specs that people were actually ordering then the final the kicker was production issues with the hardtops that essentially means the few hardtops sold in 2021 have to be recalled and the tops replaced. Some on I know was a very early order holder (ordered the day it opened) and he just had to replace his order to get a 2023 model some time next year as he wanted a 2 door hardtop and those were essentially not available.
A local dealer has a 2 door hardtop but I guess it’s a demo of some sort. The salesman said that they weren’t allowed to sell it for 6 months or something like that. He mentioned an issue with the top and wouldn’t even open it up for me so I could see the inside. That dealer will never get my business.
Base engine is still a V-6 with the turbo four an option, probably standard on some models.
They ARE fun to drive, you are correct, or at least I find our ’15 JK to be that way. In a different but similar way as a decent sports car, it just finds a way to delight – not the fastest, not the most agile, but every trip is an adventure and it all stops being about the speed, power, or handling.
The Sport S is a bit of a sweet spot, ours is that as well, and I’ve found that it’s at least as capable as I personally need to it be and likely fulfills what 99.9% of owners need it to do, the Rubicon is way overkill for most in reality and Jeep parts (especially take off new parts from people further upgrading their Rubicons) are generally very inexpensive if there is a desire or need to change anything.
That top is fairly complex but delightful to use, one of the testers I had last year or the year before had it as well and makes using it so simple. It seems rare to see it on a Sport, usually they are on loaded Rubicons due to the cost but I’m glad you like it.
The impending threat of the Bronco has seen Jeep step up its game massively over the last couple of years which can only be a good thing. From one engine a few years ago to now a choice of five including the hybrid (and 4, 6, 8 gassers and the diesel) as well as a nicely done interior in the JL along with the (in usual times) ability to get a custom order done quickly at still with discounts the Wrangler needn’t be too concerned.
Jim, the description of your JK is exactly how I feel about every drive in my ’05 TJ. Whether I’m running to the market or hitting the trails, every trip is enjoyable. Best new-vehicle purchase I’ve ever made.
One thing about Jeeps, the Broncos, Blazers, Hummers and Scouts come and go, but there is always the Jeep. A constant in a world of change.
Jeep has done many details in homage to their “1941” roots. Another one shown here is the typeface on their analog instruments. Specifically, most obviously comparable on the speedometer, the typeface of the numerals mimics that of the original Auto-Lite unit on the earliest examples.
Thank you for the comments…
A few comments on the comments…
-engine/gearbox combinations – it’s not because it’s a custom order that you can create any configuration you fancy – Jeep defines what’s permissible, and the combinations they permit (engine and gearbox, or paint color and type of roof) changes multiple times a year. Ours is the 2L Turbo because when we ordered, the V6 could only be had with a manual, or with a light hybrid configuration that added cost and weight for no fuel economy benefit. And it’s white because all the bright colors we liked were either discontinued, or non-compatible with the Sky One Touch (SOT) roof.
– the Sky One Touch – on the Sport S and Willys models, it’s an option grouped with the upgraded 8.4in infotainment system – which makes it more palatable financially (basically, you get the Sat Nav and the Alpine sound system “for free”). SOT is a compromise – you lose the ability to drive “fully naked” (the roof can’t be routinely removed and reinstalled like a hard top) and it’s a fairly complex system – I don’t know how it will age. But you drive with the roof open most of the time because it’s so easy, and you don’t have to be afraid of a sudden downpour.
– Rubicon or not Rubicon – last week-end I took a 4WD driving class in the North Georgia mountains. The instructor was trying to show us the benefits of disconnecting the sway bar on a Rubicon, and could not find a terrain difficult enough to show it in the 4WD park. Rubicons are so capable that they make it look easy, but what a stock Sport or Sahara can do is already extremely impressive.
JEEP is kind of annoying with the options on the Wrangler, they seem to have too many and too few at the same time, and they do change it often. Some colors were only available for 6 month periods for instance. If you play with the build and price tool online you can see what I mean.
Stellantis seems to prefer you buy the 2.0 for two reasons, one the better MPG helps with their CAFE calculations, two the penta star V6 is used in a lot of their vehicles so it frees up production for other models.
I used to go offroad a lot when I was younger. I grew up reading offroad magazines, but never tried it until late in high school when I met up with a group of guys who had an informal offroad club. When I first tried it I was shocked how well my stock Ramcharger did after reading all the magazine articles on modified trucks. I know its an old saying but Tires have an even more dramatic effect on performance off road then on. Off road oriented tires help alot with things like mud that would otherwise stop a stock vehicle. As you get into it you can tell why people modify trucks and why they make things like the Rubicon but it takes a rough trail or obstacle to need it. I never went crazy and only added mud terrain tires and mild lifts (2-3″) over stock on most of my rigs. I did get stuck a few times where my oversized tires rear lockers, lift kit and swaybar disconnects weren’t enough and had to be dragged out by a truck with something like 38″ interco tires but it was pretty rare.
If you’re not going every weekend with a group of other people or need to be all about trying to impress yourself and/or others, there is virtually no reason for a Rubicon, certainly not as a “first” Jeep. When you find yourself after a few years of constant experience needing more capability, then maybe. And if you run out of equipment on one of the first few trips out, you’re likely putting yourself in over your head anyway. In my opinion, of course, if the Rubi’s the one you want to start with, go for it, it certainly looks the business.
On the EXBRO5 trip with Paul, I was slightly concerned about my JK Sport S 2-door at first as I was not completely sure what to expect. While it was not necessarily “hard” offroading I took a few detours including going straight up the side of a rock covered reservoir bank and a few other very steep and rutted climbs etc. In the end those were virtually the only times I ever even needed to put it into 4WD, 99 percent of the “off-road” trip was handled in 2WD, same as Paul’s lifted XB. The short overhangs and wheelbase were the real boons.
In short, a Wrangler (any Wrangler) is so capable out of the box in base configuration, that you have to be a real die-hard to need or actually be able to use all of the bells and whistles while if it’s the look one is after, that can be replicated for quarters on the dollar by judicious use of the aftermarket or new take-off parts. Tire selection makes a bigger selection than ANY other variable and needn’t be expensive, plenty of excellent non-big-name brand tires out there at good prices. Second might be driver training. Just don’t accidentally buy the 2007 JK that was optionally available in 2WD for that year only. Although it’d still be better than most anything else out there.
https://www.curbsideclassic.com/blog/road-trip/cc-exbro5-trip-cannonball-klein-drives-2700-miles-in-eight-days-while-living-and-sleeping-in-a-2015-2-door-jeep-wrangler/