So on the wife's latest car buying safari, the Jeep Grand Cherokee caught her interest again. Pursuing dealer's websites I came across a Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon with a 6 speed manual transmission.

Maybe it's a mid life crisis or maybe it's regret over buying an F-150 instead of a Jeep a while back. But it's got me thinking....

So tell me the good, the bad, the ugly, the fun and the pain in the ass of having a Jeep as an everyday vehicle.

It ain't a Jeep, if it's not the old Jeep Cherokee.

Gas guzzling Fiat marketed to off road wannabes.

Curious - how would you use the car? Why this car vs whatever you consider as alternatives?

Is there just some image you associate w/ this Jeep? Or are there specific usages and features behind this interest?

Just curious because I went through a similar decision making process recently.

Trailhawk?

A JGC maybe, but I think I'd miss a lot of when I have in my F150, if I went to a Wrangler.

Plus, around Houston, it would never get used off road.

What year Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon?

The 2005/2006 Unlimited was a 2-door with an extension between the front seats and rear wheels.

The later Unlimited is a 4-door.

I had a 1988 Jeep Wrangler YJ for 13 years and drove it daily. Wranglers are much more civilized today and larger (sadly). The ride is pretty stiff and bouncey; they can be hard to get in/out of. Will this be your only vehicle or just yours, i.e. consider others? If it's your mid-life toy, I say go for it. I enjoyed mine despite all its faults. If you don't need the Rubicon, get a milder, less expensive version.

Expensive, shitty on gas, but lotsa fun.

My wife has a 4-door Sahara, I enjoy it. Despite being against it initially, I really like it, nothing beats driving it with the doors off.

Never been a pain in the ass at all.

It would be my daily driver. It would also be the means to get off road into BLM land where we shoot, hunt and fish. It would also be the means going off road on the trails around Sedona that we tend to frequent. It would be my primary vehicle, the wife currently has her own.

I currently drive a 2015 F-150 Supercrew with the FX-4 package, leveled with 33" All Terrains on it. It's gone everywhere and done everything I've ever asked of it and been comfortable as well.

There's also the fun factor to the Jeep. I miss driving a manual. Taking the top off 9 months out of the year here. All kinds of options for bolting on pieces and parts to make it my own. It's also one of those bucket list things that I've always wanted to own.

But then I think if I had the Jeep, would I absolutely dread the thought of loading up the family and archery equipment and driving 10 hours to Salt Lake City for a tournament?

I'm kind of new to this jeep thing. Started back in 1977 and have had at least one ever since. 40 years now. Many people who don't own them don't like them. I wasn't overjoyed when Chrysler bought the brand, liked it more when Mercedes took over. Got really discouraged when Fiat started messing with them.

The new ones have adequate power (285 horse) and do OK. Fuel economy isn't too terrible, I'm getting around 18 to 19. If I'm not spending hours at stop lights, its possible to go over 20. The biggest problem with fuel economy isn't the engines or horsepower, its the cities and their traffic lights timed to make sure you stop at each one, some for about 5 minutes.

Don't say you'll never use it off road because its too tempting.

It's my wife's daily driver. We pack up and drive 100 miles to the shore every weekend.

We have the 4 door, so no issues fitting a buncha cr in it. I use it to drive up and down mountains on my hunting and fishing trips into the PA mountains. My father in law has a 2 door that he uses as a daily driver, 50 miles each way. No issues.

Definitely the AR-15/mr potato head when it comes to adding crap to it.

Join some jeep forums for more info. Don't forget your jeep wave if you do buy one.

Are you asking us to talk you into/out of the Wrangler or the GC?

Two entirely different questions, really.

-Rob

Why on Earth would anyone want a clutch? The autos out perform them in every conceivable way.

quote:

Originally posted by Ryanp225:
Why on Earth would anyone want a clutch? The autos out perform them in every conceivable way.

Was wondering that myself.

quote:

Originally posted by Ryanp225:
Why on Earth would anyone want a clutch? The autos out perform them in every conceivable way.

Because some people actually like to drive.

If I can help it, I won't ever own another automatic.

I couldn't care less if an auto goes faster in the quarter mile or makes it easier to drive off road. That's not the point. I like the experience of driving.

I could hire hire a professional racecar driver to drive me around everywhere or a professional off-road driver and be assured I'd be the best on the road, but where is the joy in that? I don't want to be the passenger. I want to drive.

quote:

Originally posted by BurtonRW:
Are you asking us to talk you into/out of the Wrangler or the GC?

Two entirely different questions, really.

-Rob

Wife's looking at the GC as a possible replacement for her 4Runner. I just happened to stumble across the Wrangler while helping her look. The Wrangler would be mine and she'll still have her 4Runner or whatever she decides to replace it with.

I'm not the best person to ask this question. While I vehemently dislike Dodge/Chrysler and feel they are incapable of making a good auto transmission I have a soft spot for the Jeep Wrangler....especially when they have a manual transmission. I myself want one badly.

quote:

Originally posted by Ryanp225:
Why on Earth would anyone want a clutch? The autos out perform them in every conceivable way.

Because an automatic cannot provide the state of Zen that comes from executing a perfect heal/tow downshift. Not that I would be doing that much in a Jeep, but I just prefer to drive a manual rather than an automatic. Problem is it is getting difficult to even find a vehicle that is offered with a manual anymore.

I wouldn't mind a jeep for a toy, but as a daily driver, I'd go out of my mind.
You mentioned road trips to archery comps.
My 18mi, 18minute commute is 16mi @70mph - I like tunes, not wind noise. My Sierra crew cab has good tunes & very little wind noise. Every jeep i've been in sucks for tunes.
Get an older 2dr for a toy, keep the truck for trips/commute. Dad bought a 2dr soft top in Very good condition for ~4k, sold it 4yrs later for 2500 after beating the shit out of it.