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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Dh and I really want a fun 4 door (we have 2 in car seats) stick shift and we’ve been thinking about a Jeep rubicon Or Sahara. We want something fun to drive as our second car and we also do a lot of hauling/ off roading. Our #1 is getting a fun manual car. These are really popular in the DC area. Anyone love or hate theirs?

We bought our son a Wrangler (I know it's not the model you're considering) and he LOVES it! Prior to purchasing the jeep we consulted a good friend who is a mechanic and he gave it the thumbs up. Whatever model you get I would suggest that you make yourself familiar with all of the features and use them--take those doors off and enjoy the open air. Jeeps are fun, fun, fun! I admit that on the rare occasion my son needs to trade vehicles with me I'm a happy camper since I get to drive his jeep.

The models greatly vary. Getting a sport, in less you are going to modify it, makes no sense as it doesn't do much.

False. A bone stock Wrangler is a plenty capable off roader.

Yes, it is. A bone stock Wrangler is capable of running trails that would exclude almost every other 4x4 on earth, except for modified or Rubicon Wranglers, current generation G-Wagons, or modified Toyotas. It's certainly far more capable than "soft-roaders" like Range Rovers or other luxury SUVs.

It’s very basic. It cannot do more than dirt roads in less it is modified. It does not have the same or even close to the rubicon.

You're talking completely out of your ass. You have no idea WTF you're babbling about. Leave this discussion to the people here who've actually owned Jeeps and have actually driven them off road. Because that ain't you.

The only real differences between a stock Wrangler and a Rubicon are the locking diffs, electronic sway bar disconnects, the tires, and the transfer case gear ratio. Other than that, they're identical vehicles.

Those four factors DO make a considerable contribution to off-road performance, but only in circumstances such as really, really difficult rock-crawling situations. And since literally no other factory built vehicle could match a Rubicon, it's sort of a pointless distinction anyway.

I've personally driven a bone-stock rental Wrangler (a TJ and JK) over the Rubicon Trail twice. When I say bone-stock, I mean right down to the factory Goodyear GS-A tires. The only options either had were tow hooks and TracLoc LSRD. I needed a tug one time in the TJ at Big Sluice, and a couple times in the JK at Gatekeeper (it was wet from rain. In dry conditions it would've easily walked it). I've also driven stock rental Wranglers at Moab too many times to count.

Go ply your BS someplace else where you won't run into people who know better.

I own a Rubicon JL. Good Try. They are extremely basic, and sure they will work but they are not much different than an AWD SUV. JLs have a lot more than the JK's.

Anonymous wrote:My only jeep that could really handle roads was my Jeep CJ7. Had a 302

Just a large engine strapped to frame

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Dh and I really want a fun 4 door (we have 2 in car seats) stick shift and we’ve been thinking about a Jeep rubicon Or Sahara. We want something fun to drive as our second car and we also do a lot of hauling/ off roading. Our #1 is getting a fun manual car. These are really popular in the DC area. Anyone love or hate theirs?

We bought our son a Wrangler (I know it's not the model you're considering) and he LOVES it! Prior to purchasing the jeep we consulted a good friend who is a mechanic and he gave it the thumbs up. Whatever model you get I would suggest that you make yourself familiar with all of the features and use them--take those doors off and enjoy the open air. Jeeps are fun, fun, fun! I admit that on the rare occasion my son needs to trade vehicles with me I'm a happy camper since I get to drive his jeep.

The models greatly vary. Getting a sport, in less you are going to modify it, makes no sense as it doesn't do much.

False. A bone stock Wrangler is a plenty capable off roader.

Yes, it is. A bone stock Wrangler is capable of running trails that would exclude almost every other 4x4 on earth, except for modified or Rubicon Wranglers, current generation G-Wagons, or modified Toyotas. It's certainly far more capable than "soft-roaders" like Range Rovers or other luxury SUVs.

It’s very basic. It cannot do more than dirt roads in less it is modified. It does not have the same or even close to the rubicon.

You're talking completely out of your ass. You have no idea WTF you're babbling about. Leave this discussion to the people here who've actually owned Jeeps and have actually driven them off road. Because that ain't you.

The only real differences between a stock Wrangler and a Rubicon are the locking diffs, electronic sway bar disconnects, the tires, and the transfer case gear ratio. Other than that, they're identical vehicles.

Those four factors DO make a considerable contribution to off-road performance, but only in circumstances such as really, really difficult rock-crawling situations. And since literally no other factory built vehicle could match a Rubicon, it's sort of a pointless distinction anyway.

I've personally driven a bone-stock rental Wrangler (a TJ and JK) over the Rubicon Trail twice. When I say bone-stock, I mean right down to the factory Goodyear GS-A tires. The only options either had were tow hooks and TracLoc LSRD. I needed a tug one time in the TJ at Big Sluice, and a couple times in the JK at Gatekeeper (it was wet from rain. In dry conditions it would've easily walked it). I've also driven stock rental Wranglers at Moab too many times to count.

Go ply your BS someplace else where you won't run into people who know better.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Dh and I really want a fun 4 door (we have 2 in car seats) stick shift and we’ve been thinking about a Jeep rubicon Or Sahara. We want something fun to drive as our second car and we also do a lot of hauling/ off roading. Our #1 is getting a fun manual car. These are really popular in the DC area. Anyone love or hate theirs?

We bought our son a Wrangler (I know it's not the model you're considering) and he LOVES it! Prior to purchasing the jeep we consulted a good friend who is a mechanic and he gave it the thumbs up. Whatever model you get I would suggest that you make yourself familiar with all of the features and use them--take those doors off and enjoy the open air. Jeeps are fun, fun, fun! I admit that on the rare occasion my son needs to trade vehicles with me I'm a happy camper since I get to drive his jeep.

The models greatly vary. Getting a sport, in less you are going to modify it, makes no sense as it doesn't do much.

False. A bone stock Wrangler is a plenty capable off roader.

Yes, it is. A bone stock Wrangler is capable of running trails that would exclude almost every other 4x4 on earth, except for modified or Rubicon Wranglers, current generation G-Wagons, or modified Toyotas. It's certainly far more capable than "soft-roaders" like Range Rovers or other luxury SUVs.

It’s very basic. It cannot do more than dirt roads in less it is modified. It does not have the same or even close to the rubicon.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Dh and I really want a fun 4 door (we have 2 in car seats) stick shift and we’ve been thinking about a Jeep rubicon Or Sahara. We want something fun to drive as our second car and we also do a lot of hauling/ off roading. Our #1 is getting a fun manual car. These are really popular in the DC area. Anyone love or hate theirs?

We bought our son a Wrangler (I know it's not the model you're considering) and he LOVES it! Prior to purchasing the jeep we consulted a good friend who is a mechanic and he gave it the thumbs up. Whatever model you get I would suggest that you make yourself familiar with all of the features and use them--take those doors off and enjoy the open air. Jeeps are fun, fun, fun! I admit that on the rare occasion my son needs to trade vehicles with me I'm a happy camper since I get to drive his jeep.

The models greatly vary. Getting a sport, in less you are going to modify it, makes no sense as it doesn't do much.

False. A bone stock Wrangler is a plenty capable off roader.

Yes, it is. A bone stock Wrangler is capable of running trails that would exclude almost every other 4x4 on earth, except for modified or Rubicon Wranglers, current generation G-Wagons, or modified Toyotas. It's certainly far more capable than "soft-roaders" like Range Rovers or other luxury SUVs.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Dh and I really want a fun 4 door (we have 2 in car seats) stick shift and we’ve been thinking about a Jeep rubicon Or Sahara. We want something fun to drive as our second car and we also do a lot of hauling/ off roading. Our #1 is getting a fun manual car. These are really popular in the DC area. Anyone love or hate theirs?

We bought our son a Wrangler (I know it's not the model you're considering) and he LOVES it! Prior to purchasing the jeep we consulted a good friend who is a mechanic and he gave it the thumbs up. Whatever model you get I would suggest that you make yourself familiar with all of the features and use them--take those doors off and enjoy the open air. Jeeps are fun, fun, fun! I admit that on the rare occasion my son needs to trade vehicles with me I'm a happy camper since I get to drive his jeep.

The models greatly vary. Getting a sport, in less you are going to modify it, makes no sense as it doesn't do much.

False. A bone stock Wrangler is a plenty capable off roader.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Dh and I really want a fun 4 door (we have 2 in car seats) stick shift and we’ve been thinking about a Jeep rubicon Or Sahara. We want something fun to drive as our second car and we also do a lot of hauling/ off roading. Our #1 is getting a fun manual car. These are really popular in the DC area. Anyone love or hate theirs?

We bought our son a Wrangler (I know it's not the model you're considering) and he LOVES it! Prior to purchasing the jeep we consulted a good friend who is a mechanic and he gave it the thumbs up. Whatever model you get I would suggest that you make yourself familiar with all of the features and use them--take those doors off and enjoy the open air. Jeeps are fun, fun, fun! I admit that on the rare occasion my son needs to trade vehicles with me I'm a happy camper since I get to drive his jeep.

The models greatly vary. Getting a sport, in less you are going to modify it, makes no sense as it doesn't do much.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. I'm ONLY interested in the Wrangler lineup. We're only looking at convertible, stick shifts. I'm not sure why everyone is arguing about other SUVs. None of the others offer what we're looking for. Barely any SUVs even have a manual/stick shift.

Yeah, it’s pretty much the only game in town for what you’re looking for. There literally is nothing else in it's class.

Do yourself a favor as a Wrangler owner. Go on a Jeep Jamboree trailride weekend. They have a dozen or so within 4-5 hours of DC every summer. Or join up with a local off-road club, and go off-roading. You’ll really get an appreciation for what the vehicle is capable of. Because if you own a Wrangler and never take it off-road, you really ARE missing the very best part of the vehicle. It’s like owning a Ferrari and never driving it spiritedly. You just miss out on what it was designed to do.

I’ve been on trails in my Jeep that were so difficult that other vehicles like Range Rovers couldn’t have even made it up the access road to get to the start of the trail. It will really astonish you the first time you see what it’s capable of.


Have fun.

Any suggestion of local groups?

There are lots of local clubs in MD and NoVA. I used to run with a club in MD about 15 years ago. A web search will turn up several. The two I know of are Maryland Jeep Club and NoVA Jeepers. There are others, of course. We got really busy once we had kids, and that lifestyle change brought an end to our Jeeping for the time being. Tends to be a younger crowd with no kids and lots of disposable income, but there were several empty nesters in our club who were enjoying their new freedom as well.

Jeep Jamboree offers several trail rides in PA, WV, NC and other locations within a days drive of DC. These are guided trips where you use your own vehicle as part of a trail ride group with other people in their own vehicles, under the direction of a trail guide. The degree of difficulty is user-selectable from mild-to-wild, depending on what trail you pick. Some trails are very tame and suitable for people who are doing their first trip, and others are bordering on impossible to run, and are for hardcore enthusiasts who don’t mind getting stuck and possibly some vehicle damage. And everything in between those two extremes.

If you’ve never driven off road before, you’re best bet is to go on a club trip or a Jamboree. You’ll learn plenty that first time out.

Thanks. I was looking at the Jamboree but it was pricy. Are they good for kids too?

Depends on the kid.

If they’re younger, I’d say no. If they’re older and are more into video games or texting with their friends instead of doing stuff outdoors for the weekend, then definitely no.

But if they’re into it, they’ll have a blast. I’ve done maybe two dozen Jamborees, but mostly solo. It can get expensive buying seats for four. Hence the part about trail rides with local clubs. After you learn what you’re doing, you’ll want to just go on your own anyway.

Look into Rausch Creek Off-road Park in PA, Big Dogs in Gore, VA, and the GWNF in VA once you’re comfortable driving off road.

Driving your car off road is not really doing outdoorsy stuff no matter what the car commercials tell you. And it is actually quite bad for the outdoors to tear it up and fill it with noise and pollution and the actual outdoorsy types hate the fossil fuel addicts who think there is something tough about pushing on the gas.

If you want to do actual outdoorsy stuff park your SUV at a trail head and go and do actual outdoors stuff like hiking and backpacking, neither of which in any way require an SUV.

It is also quite easy to park and walk to the beach and the beaches that aren't littered with SUV's and their overweight and often drunk owners are much more pleasant beaches to visit.