Which Trim to Purchase

[MrMike]

I haven’t read all four pages. OP: have you driven the automatic? It is a sweet transmission.

Yep and I've spent a lot of time driving a WK. I'll be driving more Wranglers tomorrow.

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[LKG]

Did you order another Sport Altitude or did you get a different trim this time?

The insurance co did me right and I ordered a Rubi. In fact when I ordered the SA wasn't available.

 

[MrMike]

I ordered a sport altitude last January for about the same reasons you're asking about, manual, hardtop, audio, LSD. When I added all of my must haves it was cheaper than a sport with the same adds and it came with the headliner as a little bonus. Yes, the SA has the same shocks, springs and brakes as the Sahara/high altitude so it will sit around 3/4" taller than a sport. I wanted a Rubi but I just couldn't afford/justify the extra $$. I "was" going to snag a set of Rubi take-off wheels/tires as the 22's only offered all seasons. I believe the 23's have an all terrain as an option. Aside from the lame ass all season tires I loved it.

I'd say build a sport altitude, a willis and a Rubi on the build site and see what number works best for you, there's really no wrong answer.

This is really good info considering I won't be doing any major off-roading. Thanks for the confirmation about the Sport Altitude's suspension. The interior is the same as the Sport S/Willy's right? I think that's what another poster was getting at earlier, that it's not as nice as the Sahara's cloth interior or the Rubi's cloth interior.

I've been using the configuration spreadsheet to help me out pricing-wise. I can afford a loaded Altitude, a mostly loaded Willys, or a 2-3 option Rubi.

 

[MrMike]

The insurance co did me right and I ordered a Rubi. In fact when I ordered the SA wasn't available.

From Sport Altitude to Rubi, what options did you get?

 

[LKG]

From Sport Altitude to Rubi, what options did you get?

Lets just say the insurance co was really good to me. Dual top, trailer tow, cold weather (mostly for my wife, haha), safety group, floor liners and of course the manual. Oh and the premium sound is standard on the Rubi now. Basically everything I wanted but couldn't afford the first go round. It's been an ordeal but it'll be worth it as soon as I get the new keys.

Forgot to mention before but the 3.45 axel ratio is fine IMO with stock tire height (32's on the SA) but if you ever plan on going much taller it will probably be an issue. I know there are a lot of opinions on the manual too but I thoroughly enjoyed it.

 

[Trini]

Hey guys,

I’m looking to order a Wrangler.

I am leaning towards 4-door because I used to have a 96 4.0L Cherokee Sport and I feel like a 4-door Wrangler is it’s spiritual successor. I already have a 2-door car and will be keeping it.

I will be doing very minor off-road driving. Dirt roads and very basic trails. No rocks. I will be driving the Wrangler anytime there is snow. This will be a daily driver in the winter and when transporting 3-4 people in the summer.

I want manual. I want premium audio/technology groups. I want LED headlights. I want hard top. I do not want leather. I think I want a LSD. I think I want trailer-tow group because those things seem like a pain to add later.

• Is the Sport Altitude essentially a Sahara with the option for a manual and no leather or LED turn signals/markers?
• If I get the LSD on the Sport Altitude, will I get the same rear axle as the Willys and Rubicon?
  • Follow-up, does this mean the remaining mechanical difference between Sport Altitude w/LSD and Willys is just the Rubicon shocks?
• On the Willys, how bad will the OEM mud tires be in the snow/rain? I’m not bothered by road noise.
• I think a Rubicon is overkill, but if I bought a second set of tires/wheels for the Willys, I’d be most of the way to a Rubicon already. How dumb would it be to pick up a Rubicon for my usage?
  • Is the added weight of the Rubicon noticeable compared to the others in daily driving?

Thanks in advance

Seems like Sahara or Sport would be a great fit for you.

 

[LKG]

This is really good info considering I won't be doing any major off-roading. Thanks for the confirmation about the Sport Altitude's suspension. The interior is the same as the Sport S/Willy's right? I think that's what another poster was getting at earlier, that it's not as nice as the Sahara's cloth interior or the Rubi's cloth interior.

I've been using the configuration spreadsheet to help me out pricing-wise. I can afford a loaded Altitude, a mostly loaded Willys, or a 2-3 option Rubi.

That is correct on the interior. I think if it were me I'd go with the 2-3 Rubi but I do a fair amount of off-roading. That said, my SA surprised the hell out out of me off-road even with the terrible tires. I had to sell my 93 YJ to bankroll the JLU and the JLU did literally everything better/easier than the YJ except for super tight stuff.

Again there's no wrong choice here, if you enjoy the outdoors at all you're going to love the Jeep.

 

[MrMike]

Lets just say the insurance co was really good to me. Dual top, trailer tow, cold weather (mostly for my wife, haha), safety group, floor liners and of course the manual. Oh and the premium sound is standard on the Rubi now. Basically everything I wanted but couldn't afford the first go round. It's been an ordeal but it'll be worth it as soon as I get the new keys.

Forgot to mention before but the 3.45 axel ratio is fine IMO with stock tire height (32's on the SA) but if you ever plan on going much taller it will probably be an issue. I know there are a lot of opinions on the manual too but I thoroughly enjoyed it.

That's a good build! That would just fit into my budget.

Your experience with the SA is why you skipped the 4.88 axle then? Even in this thread, a lot of people indicating 4.10s are still solid.

I scheduled a test drive on a manual 2018 Sahara tomorrow, it's the closest manual to me. I'll get to find out what it's like myself. Hopefully I don't love it too much and start hunting for something that doesn't exist.

 

[rcadden]

I love hydro blue, it's my #1 choice currently!

I'll keep that in mind, thanks. Paying a bit more to have it done from the factory doesn't bother me that much, but if it's easy I'll check out some DIY videos.

I'm the same way - paying a bit more makes sense, but paying ~$500+ more is obscene (and for something that should honestly be standard on a $40K+ vehicle anyways).

 

[Deleted member 59498]

I didn't notice the rev hang either but the throttle response drove me nuts. I killed it from a dead stop more times than I care to admit, left foot wouldn't wait for it to rev and the right foot is too set in it's ways to be retrained. The 22 was totaled, waiting on a 23 MT, I will have a throttle controller ASAP.

Haha I had a few of those red faced moments when I first started driving it, had been 10 years since I drove manual and it was touchy so I stalled dozen times at red lights in the first month I bet.

I have the pedal monster on my diesel and love it!

One thing I did learn was even if it was just barely rolling 2nd was just fine to get going 1st is pretty low.

 

[LKG]

That's a good build! That would just fit into my budget.

Your experience with the SA is why you skipped the 4.88 axle then? Even in this thread, a lot of people indicating 4.10s are still solid.

I scheduled a test drive on a manual 2018 Sahara tomorrow, it's the closest manual to me. I'll get to find out what it's like myself. Hopefully I don't love it too much and start hunting for something that doesn't exist.

I think 4.88's are wayy overkill unless you jumped to 35's right away especially if you ever did any highway driving. I would have considdered 4.56's. A good friend of mine has a Rubi w/ 4.10's says it's perfect.

Happy hunting!

 

[LKG]

Haha I had a few of those red faced moments when I first started driving it, had been 10 years since I drove manual and it was touchy so I stalled dozen times at red lights in the first month I bet.

I have the pedal monster on my diesel and love it!

One thing I did learn was even if it was just barely rolling 2nd was just fine to get going 1st is pretty low.

Part of my problem, I have an old Dodge Cummins manual and it's almost impossible to stall.

 

[kah.mun.rah]

Willys XR is the best bang for the buck:
https://www.jeep.com/bmo.wrangler.2...FC,A7,AEK,AAN,AGB,RC4,HT1,XDB,RSD,ADH,UAQ,25W

If you have to have a manual transmission then I would go with this:
https://www.jeep.com/bmo.wrangler.2...DA,TTP,WJP,A7,AEK,AAN,RC4,HT1,RSD,ADH,UAQ,23W

 

[Newwilly420]

I went with a 23 rubicon manual and have no regrets. Wanted a manual bad and drove a few and some autos. Auto has no feeling. Yes it drives smooth but it’s still a lifeless auto. Got the rubicon for the 4.10 gears so I wouldnt need to regear for stock tires. No regrets. Too much built up hate for the manual. But it’s not near as bad as people claim.

 

[BuyHold]

Even in this thread, a lot of people indicating 4.10s are still solid.

JLR Driver Here: Yes 4.10s are definitely acceptable with 33in or smaller tires in the MT. As far as I know 4.10s are only offered in Rubicon models. So unless you opt for a Rubicon, you will be limited to something less than 4.10. As I mentioned earlier, most (not all) complaints about the MT have root cause in insufficient gearing (e.g. "6th gear is useless", "reverse too fast"). If you can tolerate those things then don't let anyone tell you the "auto is better". Driving the vehicle is the only way you can determine this for yourself. I love my manual and wouldn't have bought an Auto.

Just mentioning that because even if you don't think that you want to use the Rubicon features, it is the only way you are going to get 4.10s with a MT.

Note: Mojave JTs also have 4.10s. In the rare instance there are no Rubicon MTs (JTs or JLs) at your local dealers and there is a JT Mojave MT, you could try that as a substitute for MT w/4.10s. Only suggesting because drive train is the same.

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