Husband wants to trade in his SUV for a new 2-door Jeep Wrangler. Is this odd?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't think the nice ones can be hosed down. The one we test drove had a large navigation screen and leather seats and cost over $50,000. It looked okay but once you sat in it and drove it, it felt a bit cheap. I didn't expect it to feel like an S Class Mercedes, of course, but I did expect it to at least feel more solid than it did.

I’m guessing at that price point you were test driving a Rubicon?

You’re not paying the extra premium for the interior. You’re paying for off-road technology. Electronic differential locks, sway bar disconnects, trail cameras, larger tires, suspension upgrades, winch bumpers, underbody armor, rocker panel armor. Plus an interior where everything is designed to be water resistant.


The fact that you don’t understand all that stuff sort of indicates that Jeeps aren’t suited for you.

Buy a Honda CR-V and stay in your lane.

You can say the same about a sports car, but an AMG still feels quality inside.

Horrible analogy. A Jeep is more like a ATV’s interior. Spartan and cheap. It’s made to get wet and dirty and get cleaned off with a rag and a hose. It’s not a luxury vehicle - it’s an off-road vehicle.

Do you often compare apples and oranges in other aspects of life?

Range rovers and land cruisers manage to be capable off road and luxurious inside.

A Land Cruiser or Range Rover couldn’t even make it up the entrance road to the start of a typical Jeep trail.

You really have no clue what you’re talking about.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't think the nice ones can be hosed down. The one we test drove had a large navigation screen and leather seats and cost over $50,000. It looked okay but once you sat in it and drove it, it felt a bit cheap. I didn't expect it to feel like an S Class Mercedes, of course, but I did expect it to at least feel more solid than it did.

I’m guessing at that price point you were test driving a Rubicon?

You’re not paying the extra premium for the interior. You’re paying for off-road technology. Electronic differential locks, sway bar disconnects, trail cameras, larger tires, suspension upgrades, winch bumpers, underbody armor, rocker panel armor. Plus an interior where everything is designed to be water resistant.


The fact that you don’t understand all that stuff sort of indicates that Jeeps aren’t suited for you.

Buy a Honda CR-V and stay in your lane.

You can say the same about a sports car, but an AMG still feels quality inside.

Horrible analogy. A Jeep is more like a ATV’s interior. Spartan and cheap. It’s made to get wet and dirty and get cleaned off with a rag and a hose. It’s not a luxury vehicle - it’s an off-road vehicle.

Do you often compare apples and oranges in other aspects of life?

Range rovers and land cruisers manage to be capable off road and luxurious inside.

A Land Cruiser or Range Rover couldn’t even make it up the entrance road to the start of a typical Jeep trail.

You really have no clue what you’re talking about.

99% of rubicons will never get near a trail head. Meanwhile land rovers and land cruisers have no problem actually being used off road throughout the world

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't think the nice ones can be hosed down. The one we test drove had a large navigation screen and leather seats and cost over $50,000. It looked okay but once you sat in it and drove it, it felt a bit cheap. I didn't expect it to feel like an S Class Mercedes, of course, but I did expect it to at least feel more solid than it did.

I’m guessing at that price point you were test driving a Rubicon?

You’re not paying the extra premium for the interior. You’re paying for off-road technology. Electronic differential locks, sway bar disconnects, trail cameras, larger tires, suspension upgrades, winch bumpers, underbody armor, rocker panel armor. Plus an interior where everything is designed to be water resistant.


The fact that you don’t understand all that stuff sort of indicates that Jeeps aren’t suited for you.

Buy a Honda CR-V and stay in your lane.

You can say the same about a sports car, but an AMG still feels quality inside.

Horrible analogy. A Jeep is more like a ATV’s interior. Spartan and cheap. It’s made to get wet and dirty and get cleaned off with a rag and a hose. It’s not a luxury vehicle - it’s an off-road vehicle.

Do you often compare apples and oranges in other aspects of life?

Range rovers and land cruisers manage to be capable off road and luxurious inside.

A Land Cruiser or Range Rover couldn’t even make it up the entrance road to the start of a typical Jeep trail.

You really have no clue what you’re talking about.

99% of rubicons will never get near a trail head. Meanwhile land rovers and land cruisers have no problem actually being used off road throughout the world

Old ones, yes. Which were the equivalent of a Jeep. The new ones? Ha!

The old series 70 Land Cruiser, SFA RR’s and LR’s can hack it off-road. Nissan Patrol and Toyota Prado (neither sold here) were good too. But anything with independent suspension is a joke. That’s why the Jeep Wrangler is the only game in town now when it comes to actual off-road capability.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't think the nice ones can be hosed down. The one we test drove had a large navigation screen and leather seats and cost over $50,000. It looked okay but once you sat in it and drove it, it felt a bit cheap. I didn't expect it to feel like an S Class Mercedes, of course, but I did expect it to at least feel more solid than it did.

I’m guessing at that price point you were test driving a Rubicon?

You’re not paying the extra premium for the interior. You’re paying for off-road technology. Electronic differential locks, sway bar disconnects, trail cameras, larger tires, suspension upgrades, winch bumpers, underbody armor, rocker panel armor. Plus an interior where everything is designed to be water resistant.


The fact that you don’t understand all that stuff sort of indicates that Jeeps aren’t suited for you.

Buy a Honda CR-V and stay in your lane.

You can say the same about a sports car, but an AMG still feels quality inside.

If you think of AMG as a sportscar, you really are clueless. It is a really damn fast luxury car. The performance analog to a Rubicon is a Viper or Hellcat Dodge.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't think the nice ones can be hosed down. The one we test drove had a large navigation screen and leather seats and cost over $50,000. It looked okay but once you sat in it and drove it, it felt a bit cheap. I didn't expect it to feel like an S Class Mercedes, of course, but I did expect it to at least feel more solid than it did.

I’m guessing at that price point you were test driving a Rubicon?

You’re not paying the extra premium for the interior. You’re paying for off-road technology. Electronic differential locks, sway bar disconnects, trail cameras, larger tires, suspension upgrades, winch bumpers, underbody armor, rocker panel armor. Plus an interior where everything is designed to be water resistant.


The fact that you don’t understand all that stuff sort of indicates that Jeeps aren’t suited for you.

Buy a Honda CR-V and stay in your lane.

Yes we test drove a Rubicon. You're wrong about interior not being upgrades or the only upgrades being utility in nature. Leather seats, large navigation screen, better audio system, power seats, body-matched hard roof and fenders, etc. are standard and/or only offered on an expensive Rubicon spec.

All of those are available and many standard on the Sahara and many are available on Sports and Willys trim levels also. My I elected the nav/audio on my rubicon but didn't take and wouldn't want any of the others. In fact, mine doesn't even have a hardtop. The original poster is right -- the value of the rubicon is the diff, sway bar disconnect, larger tires and factory lift, etc. And that, like all jeeps, it has real goddamn axels not independent suspension. Sure people buy them that don't use them but those of us who do know why.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't think the nice ones can be hosed down. The one we test drove had a large navigation screen and leather seats and cost over $50,000. It looked okay but once you sat in it and drove it, it felt a bit cheap. I didn't expect it to feel like an S Class Mercedes, of course, but I did expect it to at least feel more solid than it did.

I’m guessing at that price point you were test driving a Rubicon?

You’re not paying the extra premium for the interior. You’re paying for off-road technology. Electronic differential locks, sway bar disconnects, trail cameras, larger tires, suspension upgrades, winch bumpers, underbody armor, rocker panel armor. Plus an interior where everything is designed to be water resistant.


The fact that you don’t understand all that stuff sort of indicates that Jeeps aren’t suited for you.

Buy a Honda CR-V and stay in your lane.

You can say the same about a sports car, but an AMG still feels quality inside.

Ever see the interior of a Lotus 7?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As in, is this a mid-life crisis thing? We're in our mid 40s, our youngest will be going to college next fall, so we don't really need two SUVs anymore. However, isn't this a bit odd for a 40-something white collar dad? To me, it looks like something a college boy would drive.

If you asked me to guess what this cost I would assume $15,000 and that it was 5 or 10 years old. I can't believe these are $50,000 to $55,000. Not to mention even brand new they look basically identical to a 10 year old one.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As in, is this a mid-life crisis thing? We're in our mid 40s, our youngest will be going to college next fall, so we don't really need two SUVs anymore. However, isn't this a bit odd for a 40-something white collar dad? To me, it looks like something a college boy would drive.

If you asked me to guess what this cost I would assume $15,000 and that it was 5 or 10 years old. I can't believe these are $50,000 to $55,000. Not to mention even brand new they look basically identical to a 10 year old one.

That’s why they are iconic. You may or may not appreciate this. The one other car that comes to mind is the Porsche 911, but Porsche departed too far the past decade or two.

The Wranglers maintain their value better than most anything else (maybe Subaru WRX?). You won’t find many/any for $15k that are 10 years old.

[Anonymous]

Owning a Jeep Wrangler is a unique experience. There is a Jeep wave. Each Jeep can be built uniquely by the owner. I highly recommend buying one. 4 doors have quite a bit of storage space in them. Back seats can go down for even more space. There are lots of unique colors too. I have a Mojito green one and love it!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As in, is this a mid-life crisis thing? We're in our mid 40s, our youngest will be going to college next fall, so we don't really need two SUVs anymore. However, isn't this a bit odd for a 40-something white collar dad? To me, it looks like something a college boy would drive.

If you asked me to guess what this cost I would assume $15,000 and that it was 5 or 10 years old. I can't believe these are $50,000 to $55,000. Not to mention even brand new they look basically identical to a 10 year old one.

That’s because you don’t know WTH you’re talking about or anything about Jeeps.


Your post is basically the equivalent of an orangutan complaining about not understanding String Theory.

[Anonymous]

The black plastic fenders make them look cheap.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The black plastic fenders make them look cheap.

They’re plastic for a few reasons:

1) they offer a degree of “forgiveness” when you get up against a tree or a rock on a tight trail. A metal fender flare would be bent and scraped at the slightest rub, but the plastic ones are designed to flex somewhat and not suffer extensive damage

2) they’re designed to be easily replaced in the event of trail damage.

3) they’re often swapped-out for other types of aftermarket fenders, so putting a lot of detail finish into them is often wasted money.



It’s a Jeep. You have to understand what it’s designed for to understand why it’s designed that way. Otherwise it’s akin to complaining that race cars don’t have air conditioning or interiors.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The black plastic fenders make them look cheap.

They’re plastic for a few reasons:

1) they offer a degree of “forgiveness” when you get up against a tree or a rock on a tight trail. A metal fender flare would be bent and scraped at the slightest rub, but the plastic ones are designed to flex somewhat and not suffer extensive damage

2) they’re designed to be easily replaced in the event of trail damage.

3) they’re often swapped-out for other types of aftermarket fenders, so putting a lot of detail finish into them is often wasted money.



It’s a Jeep. You have to understand what it’s designed for to understand why it’s designed that way. Otherwise it’s akin to complaining that race cars don’t have air conditioning or interiors.

You can upgrade to steel bumpers if you custom order it. Some Jeep dealers allow custom orders. We upgraded ours.

[Anonymous]

You can get it optioned with body-colored fenders and body-colored top so it all matches. It does not have to have the cheap plastic fenders. Historically the Wranglers with all of the plastic are the cheapest trims, hence it looks "cheap". If some mid-life crisis guy is going to spend 50 grand on a Rubicon trim, you might as well click two more boxes for body-colored fenders and top, so it doesn't look like a cheap 25 grand model.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You can get it optioned with body-colored fenders and body-colored top so it all matches. It does not have to have the cheap plastic fenders. Historically the Wranglers with all of the plastic are the cheapest trims, hence it looks "cheap". If some mid-life crisis guy is going to spend 50 grand on a Rubicon trim, you might as well click two more boxes for body-colored fenders and top, so it doesn't look like a cheap 25 grand model.

I was at a dealership in Rockville yesterday doing some tire-kicking.

There ARE no “25 grand model” Jeeps. They don’t exist. Best you can do is $32k for the entry level.