Driving performance between JL Willys vs JL Rubicon

[Capricorn]

What performance difference would I see between Jeep JL Unlimited Willys with 32.1" stock tires and 3.45 axle ratio compared with JLU Rubicon with 33" stock tires and 4.10 axle ratio?

Would I see noticeable performance difference in:
1. Torque
2. Acceleration
3. Driving on hilly roads/incline
4. With passenger load

I now have a JLUR 3.6L but I am considering a 2020 Willys 2.0L. I haven't done a test drive yet but before I take that, I would appreciate your opinion if I would be disappointed.

Thank you in advance.

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[oceanblue2019]

What performance difference would I see between Jeep JL Unlimited Willys with 32.1" stock tires and 3.45 axle ratio compared with JLU Rubicon with 33" stock tires and 4.10 axle ratio?

Would I see noticeable performance difference in:
1. Torque
2. Acceleration
3. Driving on hilly roads/incline
4. With passenger load

I now have a JLUR 3.6L but I am considering a 2020 Willys 2.0L. I haven't done a test drive yet but before I take that, I would appreciate your opinion if I would be disappointed.

Thank you in advance.

As a reference: I'm in a loaner Sahara 3.6L and normally drive a JLUR 2.0L. This loaner is a complete pig. I was shocked the moment I pulled away from the dealership how much worse it performed. Some of it is the gears and some the engine being down on torque compared to the 2.0L.

But I was really shocked how big the difference is.

 

[ChattVol]

What performance difference would I see between Jeep JL Unlimited Willys with 32.1" stock tires and 3.45 axle ratio compared with JLU Rubicon with 33" stock tires and 4.10 axle ratio?

Would I see noticeable performance difference in:
1. Torque
2. Acceleration
3. Driving on hilly roads/incline
4. With passenger load

I now have a JLUR 3.6L but I am considering a 2020 Willys 2.0L. I haven't done a test drive yet but before I take that, I would appreciate your opinion if I would be disappointed.

Thank you in advance.

Yes to all 4 questions...I'm curious, what do you like better about the willys?

 

[Capricorn]

Yes to all 4 questions...I'm curious, what do you like better about the willys?

Dealer is offering a bigger markdown on the Willy's and the one I am looking at has Sky One Touch top.

 

[Jitzy]

I have a Willys and absolutely love it with the 2.0. I test drove the new 3.6 (had 2 prior Jeeps with 3.6 and the new one is better) and 2.0 and absolutely love the 2.0 it drives fantastic. Now that being said when I traded in I didn’t want to make my payment any higher than I was paying so I went with the Willys but if I didn’t care if my payment went up I would of jumped on the Rubicon with the same engine. If you plan on doing some upgrades like 37’s and want to do a lot of rock crawling I would go rubicon if your mostly gonna be around town and some off-roading then I would easily go with the Willys.

 

[ratherbskiing]

I'm considering a JLU Willys 3.0 to replace my JKU. I'm shying away from the Rubi as I prefer the instantaneous nature of an LSD over having to be in 4L for lockers or 4H for BLD. Not to mention the 15K price differentials in the builds that I am considering.

OP- if you have concerns with "Torque, Acceleration, Driving on hilly roads/incline, with passenger load", the 3.0 might be worth considering. I live at high elevation, like to pull small camper trailers, and have very long steep mountain passes to contend with so I'm leaning 3.0. Possibly the 2.0, but not the 3.6 due to the elevation tax on a NA engine.

Does anyone know if you can order the tailgate hinge reinforcement option on a Willys? It would seem to befit the trim level.

 

[Capricorn]

I'm considering a JLU Willys 3.0 to replace my JKU. I'm shying away from the Rubi as I prefer the instantaneous nature of an LSD over having to be in 4L for lockers or 4H for BLD. Not to mention the 15K price differentials in the builds that I am considering.

OP- if you have concerns with "Torque, Acceleration, Driving on hilly roads/incline, with passenger load", the 3.0 might be worth considering. I live at high elevation, like to pull small camper trailers, and have very long steep mountain passes to contend with so I'm leaning 3.0. Possibly the 2.0, but not the 3.6 due to the elevation tax on a NA engine.

Does anyone know if you can order the tailgate hinge reinforcement option on a Willys? It would seem to befit the trim level.

Found a Willys 3.0 Punkin' Orange with Sky One Touch and Alpine audio. It has 3.73 gearing.
Just said yes to that.
Thanks!

 

[oceanblue2019]

Found a Willys 3.0 Punkin' Orange with Sky One Touch and Alpine audio. It has 3.73 gearing.
Just said yes to that.
Thanks!

3.73 plus diesel torque is a good option

 

[Capricorn]

Got my new Willys 3.0L Diesel home.
Thanks all for your advice!

 

[kermitjewel]

Dealer is offering a bigger markdown on the Willy's and the one I am looking at has Sky One Touch top.

sky one touch FTW

 

[kermitjewel]

Got my new Willys 3.0L Diesel home.
Thanks all for your advice!

photos please

 

[Capricorn]

photos please

Will do! Planning to take some pictures tomorrow in day light.

 

[ratherbskiing]

I would love to know what front axle come on a JLU Willys 3.0. Any idea if the weight of the diesel bumps up non-rubi's to the 44 up front?

 

[702SaharaJL]

I believe all 3.0s have front and rear 44s.

yeah, the sport and sahara's get D44 front and rear with 3.73 gearing.

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