Pull the trigger on a JL Wrangler or avoid them?

[GRAK]

The fact that you're looking at a 2 door makes me question your judgment.
Everybody knows 4 doors are better.

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[Eischman]

Just my 2 cents, I test drove a 2 door three years ago and thought it rode rough on streets that were not well maintained, so I bought a Jeep GC Overland, (nice, but wasn't me) traded it in this past spring on a 21 JLUR Diesel, I'm very HAPPY now!

 

[Oncorhynchus]

Did you name your Jeep “Shai-Hulud”?

 

[Oncorhynchus]

Hello, I been debating on a purchasing a JL 2 door Wrangler Sport. I love how they look and like many, always wanted to own one. I get on these forums and read all the issues people have after not even 6 months of owning them and horror stories about how they ride on the highway. I'm 52 years old and my mom owned a 1988 Wrangler back in the early 90s and loved it. Is it like other vehicles and just luck of the draw for quality issues or is it really that bad on trips to the dealer for service? Also on the ride, I thought the JL was fine on the highway then see people talking about service bulletins and ripping the way their JL drives over 45mph. What's your experience and opinion on this? I'm at a loss on if I should pull the trigger and just get one or will I regret it and have issue after issue. Thanks.

If you have the financial wherewithal to purchase a particular vehicle just because you like the looks of it, then go right ahead. Do it.

If there is something you’ve always wanted to do but have deferred it because you have been a responsible adult, well at age 52 I’d say … Do it.

If you know how to find an auto shop you can trust, no need to worry about Jeep dealer for service.

If you do get hit with a bit of bad luck and the Wrangler turns out to be a pain in your backside but not so terrible to qualify under your local lemon law, then you can always sell it. Used cars are fetching high prices right now and Wranglers have decent resale value and market demand.

I have no qualms about driving the Jeep on the highway. It does require more active user input for steering compared to most other cars and trucks on the road today but I only notice it the first few minutes behind the wheel. I soon forget about it and it almost becomes automatic. That’s just me. If you are the kind of person that thinks Elon Musk’s fraudulent claims about “Full Self Driving” are the bee’s knees, then take a hard pass on the Wrangler. BTW I ride on 35” M/T tires with a cheap-ass 2.5” spacer lift on a JLU Sahara.

To get a first hand look at quality, I recommend you go to an auto show. It’s a place where you can see and experience a wide variety of manufacturers’ products at one time without having to rely on your own memory to remember what that other company’s vehicle that you looked at a few weekends ago when you had time to do some car shopping. I felt the Wrangler, Gladiator and Grand Cherokee all felt a little cheap and chintzy in terms of materials and build compared to other manufacturers. But the off-road capabilities are something I could not find at a comparable price point. Closest vehicle I cross-shopped was the Toyota 4Runner. But a few test drives showed me that the quirks of the 4Runner ride quality were all about “compromise” whereas the quirks of the Wrangler ride quality felt like they were all about “fun.”

Lastly, don’t believe anything I’ve written above. I am not actually a Jeep owner. I don’t even have a drivers license. I live in the basement of my 80 year old parents’ house and spend most of my time on video game chat forums and watching reruns of Sailor Moon on YouTube. ?

 

[LCW]

Also 52 and just picked up a JLR last week. Have a daily commute of 65 highway miles and it has been nothing but fun so far. The ride is rougher than my Subaru Outback but not as bad as several of the 3/4 ton trucks that I have had over the years. The last Jeep that I owned was a 1981 CJ5 and simply put the 2022 JLR still drives like a Jeep. I had wanted the 3.6 motor as it has a history of running for many miles. I ended up with the 2.0 turbo and purchased a 150K mile warranty for a little more that the 3.6 motor upgrade. Now I have full warranty for the next 150K miles which should equate to the next five to six years.

I find my JLUR to ride much better than my 2016 F150 (2.7 super crew) that I traded it for. Solid axles and all. Just a much more fun driving experience.

 

[Grooster]

My '19 Sahara is a daily driver and I have zero regrets. 43K fun miles that include 2 trips to the Rockies, many trips to the Ozarks, and a wild weekend trip from Kansas to Austin to south of Houston and back again (parts run). Added Rubicon wheels & KO2s, springs and shocks, and a soft top will be in place in a couple weeks after I build the hard top caddy for summer storage.

No, it's not going to handle like your mom's Honda. It's a Jeep and it's damn fun to drive no matter where you go. Just ask anyone who actually drives one. Heck, go drive several and then pick the one you like the most. You'll have a blast and laugh at everyone driving their boring whatever. Actually, I don't laugh at them - they probably like their ride as much as I like my Jeep. So good on them.

Buying a Jeep will change your life. You'll plan better vacations around the Jeep. You'll add cool stuff to your Jeep. Your Jeep will hold it's value like nothing you've ever had before. Remember this, reviews are written by people that need you to read them so they can justify getting paid to write them. Odds are they lead very boring lives. That's not you...go buy the Jeep!!!

 

[LarryB]

to add to the many posts, I also have a 2 door Sport. I did some upgrades that helped make it better suited for daily driving without affecting its off-road prowess. First, a new steering stabilizer is a great way to make it firmer and more stable on the highway. Next, I upgraded the shocks to Bilstein, which made it better at cornering and more stable. Finally, I changed out the stock tires to a more aggressive AT tire, which made it better in snow and doing light off-roading. Drives much better now.

 

[Spartan99]

My 2008 JKU that I originally bought has 165k miles on it and it’s running like new, and the JL’s are even better. They’re great vehicles if you can afford them as they are 1) over priced at the moment and 2) gas is insane. JL’s are solid!

 

[COBill]

Neither of my TJs had any electrical issues at all (still driving the 2006).

The issues you are talking about at least won't stop you from getting back home.

You are correct with your other statements, but getting home with a completely dead instrument cluster isn't a great move and of course, as seen in Planes, Trains and Automobiles, isn't legal, either.

The horn thing was always frustrating, as when you need to use your horn, pressing the center of the wheel… did absolutely nothing.

 

[Speed331]

Pull the trigger! What's the worst that could happen?

 

[DUNE RAP]

I have a 2021 2dr Rubicon 3.6L E-torque. Owned it one year and 18k miles. Very heavily 4-wheeled and driven daily. Gets 21-22 mpg and has been flawless! I love it!

 

[jeepoch]

@ChargingBuffalo,

Lance, if you haven't been swayed from all the other Wrangler pilots on this forum by now, it's useless. Go buy some very reliable but boring Corolla, Civic or some other crappy boring foreign contraption. Really.

From the highway, I'll look down on you from my lifted on 35's 2019 Bright White 2 door Sport S. But most likely I'll need binoculars to see down on your peppy but ubiquitous sports sedan from many (many) miles away from high up on some mountain trail looking back at civilization.

My Sport is by far the best daily driver I've ever owned. Wouldn't trade it in for anything other than perhaps another Wrangler.

Cheers,
Jay

 

[AZJeepGuy]

Hello, I been debating on a purchasing a JL 2 door Wrangler Sport. I love how they look and like many, always wanted to own one. I get on these forums and read all the issues people have after not even 6 months of owning them and horror stories about how they ride on the highway. I'm 52 years old and my mom owned a 1988 Wrangler back in the early 90s and loved it. Is it like other vehicles and just luck of the draw for quality issues or is it really that bad on trips to the dealer for service? Also on the ride, I thought the JL was fine on the highway then see people talking about service bulletins and ripping the way their JL drives over 45mph. What's your experience and opinion on this? I'm at a loss on if I should pull the trigger and just get one or will I regret it and have issue after issue. Thanks.

Light years ahead of your mom's. But for the same reason she loved hers you will love yours.
Regarding repairs and reliability, people come to these forums because they are having an issue. They need to validate what the dealer did or did not say or agree to. Go on a forum for BMW. OMG lol.

 

[1BadManVan]

Did we scare him off? Lol

 

[Moblrn]

Did we scare him off? Lol

Hope not, but 8 pages is a lot to read. I read the first two and then came here and read what was on page 8.

I am very close to the first anniversary of owning a JL Two Door Soft Top.

Saturday I considered myself a "Real Jeep" owner by purchasing a set of Wheels and tires from another owner he took off his Rubicon. They are "33's" according to him. I had the stock wheels with a set of Michelin's.

Am still looking for a bold on trailer hitch and maybe someday I will go with a hard top and a sunrider front section. I love the ease of flipping up the front portion of the top and I did remove the back window to drive at "Highway Speeds" Saturday with the top open. Have tried up to 60mph with just the front open and it gets quite hair raising without the ability for the air to pass through. Once spring actually arrives I plan to pull all the windows out and see how it does until it gets too hot.

Try the JL, if you don't like it I've heard they hold their value and you may be able to sell it for as much as you paid.

Rod

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