Is it just me or are current Wrangler buyers different…[CLOSED DUE TO INSULTING BEHAVIOR]

[Matt878]

Maybe it’s the substantial price increase, maybe they have moved onto other things but…

I was having a discussion with my wife tonight after we saw a modded JK, and we both agreed that during the JK’s prime there were many more modded Wranglers rolling around town then there are for JLs.

Ive felt like this for a while now, I rarely see lifted JL’s with larger tires and aesthetic mods anymore…All I’d see is the occasional JT with large muds, a roof rack and lift.

Hell I used to see JKs with dynatrac axles runnin around town more than I see modded JL’s nowadays. Maybe those people all switched over to muscle cars for now since there are more Dodge Chargers on the road than Honda Civics lol. When I had my 2015 Sahara I felt like I was part of a big family…always waving…now it’s soccer moms in JLs lol


thoughts?

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[JRobes]

I'm one to wait for my warranty to expire before doing substantial mods, maybe others are the same. Give it a few years and maybe once people's loans are paid off they'll spend that spare $$$ on mods.

 

[sentience]

Stock for stock, my 2021 JL 4xe Sahara is nearly twice as expensive as my 2010 JKU Sport S. Even factoring in inflation, there’s still a 20k difference in price.

At this point, Jeep is trying to move the Wrangler upmarket, closer to what Land Rover Defender is today, than a relatively affordable small SUV.

Strategically, Jeep could benefit from another cheaper but capable off-roader. Might be a business case for a “Wrangler Classic” - similar to what Ram does with it’s trucks. Sell the Sport and Sport S JKU Wranglers alongside JLs new, at a discount.

As it is right now, the Wrangler price inflation has priced out certain new buyers.

 

[Poordad]

Because stock JL’s are more capable than stock JK’s were? I have seen quite a few modded JL’s around here, but there are also tons of stock ones.

 

[1BadManVan]

Because of how expensive even a used one is now, it’s not as easy to afford all the mods right away lol

 

[Strommen95]

Well, I agree JL owners are definitely different than JK owners. I would say a similar amount are modded in my local area though, including some that look ridiculous.

 

[aldo98229]

Both buyers and Wranglers have changed.

FCA wanted to attract more educated, affluent buyers, willing to pay the high premiums and margins Marchionne loved. Meanwhile, Wranglers have become more refined, more loaded with creature comforts, and significantly more complex.

We now regularly see JL buyers trading in Mercedes, Audis and Lexus, which was rare before. At the same time, the number of DIYers, the college kids and the adrenaline seekers have all but disappeared.

One thing that has not changed is the crummy service we receive from Jeep dealers. In fact, it’s worsened over the last 7-8 years.

Wranglers have traditionally enjoyed some of the highest owner retention levels in the industry. I wonder whether JL’s new customers, used to Mercedes and Lexus levels of service, will stick around after they get to experience Jeep’s combat-drill customer service.

 

[TriumphJeepster]

Eh I don't know. Jeeps are just more desirable. They have done well (thank the four doors) to make the Wrangler an everyday solution.

This will be my... fifth? Jeep, from YJ's forward. Would have owned a CJ but the only one I found at the time had no brakes and was a pile of rust.

Now I patiently wait for my new 2 door Gobi to wrap up while I hope the car market crashes to get the gf a new SUV.

Murica.

 

[JABCAT]

I think it depends on where you are. In my area, I see more modded Jeeps of all generations than stock. But like others have said, the price of new Wranglers has increased significantly over the last few years. Our '22 Sahara Altitude which is less-equipped than our 2016 Backcountry Edition has an MSRP of $8k more than the '16. Factor in the oem steel bumper group that was standard equipment on our '16 & that would bump the price difference up another $1700, and the locking differential that was standard on the '16. You're looking at $10k price jump for basically the same vehicle in just 5 years.

 

[Hearhear]

Yes, buyers are different because times are different. Cars in general are much more complex today and far fewer people are weekend mechanics. Back in the ‘80’s and ‘90’s I used to do all my own car maintenance, lots of guys did. My first car was a ‘72 Buick with a simple V8 and I could work on it myself, do anything except rebuild the carb. But the Wrangler still attracts guys that like to work on and modify them. It probably stands out as one of the most heavily modded vehicles out there. Though like someone else posted, many people are reluctant to just start tearing apart a brand new Jeep, especially since they might have warranty issues if they do. And they’re just so pretty right out of the box.

 

[aldo98229]

Speaking of Mercedes owners: yesterday I met up with my friends, who were camping over the Cascade mountains in their Mercedes Sprinter. They were returning from a month-long trip to NM, CO, UT and WY.

They love their camper. But in the 18 months they have owned that Mercedes it has left them stranded twice, and given them close calls another 2-3 times. One time they had to wait 16 hours for Mercedes roadside assistance to pick them up, their dog, and the van, from Coos Bay, OR. It spent the following month at the dealership getting repaired.

It is always the electronics that fail. Everything, even the 4WD, is governed by electronics, which will refuse to engage if the vehicle is in a bad mood that day.

Two days ago the dashboard started lighting up one by one: CEL, ABS, ESC, 4WD... Yesterday the entire dashboard was lit up like a Christmas tree . Thankfully they were on their last leg getting home in Vancouver. They are now considering getting rid of the unreliable van, getting a fullsize pickup and putting an old fashioned camper on it.

Hearing their stories makes me appreciate the — still — relative simplicity and robustness of my Jeep.

I took the Fiat on the gorgeous 320-mile round trip over the Cascades to meet up with them

 

[TheBirdie72]

Yeah, as others have stated above, I think it’s a combination of many things:

• Pricing has increased on the Wrangler putting it above some folks means.
• The warranty is something to be considered when modding your vehicle. I know I thought about it before I started modding mine, and asked a lot of questions.
• The JL does seem more capable stock than the JK does.
• The JL is more complex to mod vs Jeeps of the past due to added technology/electronics
• Certain folks in the younger generations might not be getting into Jeeps simply due to the lower MPGs vs other SUVs on the market / are more environmentally conscious
• The mods themselves are more expensive, and shop rates have gone up also
• Vehicle handling in modern vehicles has improved significantly over the last 25 years to the point that pretty much any SUV handles better than a Wrangler. Perhaps the Wrangler “driving feel” appeals to less folks now?

 

[Chile1]

That’s because the JK’s have been around for years and the JL’s are relatively new (some ‘18’s still under extended factory warranty even). I think in a few years you’ll see the same ratio of modded JL’s.

 

[roaniecowpony]

I see a lot of modified JLs around here in socal.

 

[dougywarren]

As others have stated, wait until the warranties expire. It’s more capable stock than ever before. It’s also more comfortable stock which will lead many to enjoy it the way it is. And it’s become so much more expensive to do anything

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