New to wrangler: choose 2.0 or 3.6 for reliability and smooth operation?

[twistyfun48]

So you're looking for reliability and smooth operation? I'd probably pick a different vehicle, Jeep Wranglers aren't very reliable nor do they drive very well. You may want to checkout the Toyota LandCruiser 1958.

new ones like Rubicon X are quiet

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[mcaltitude]

@CarbonSteel contributes so much we can overlook the fact he now owns a Bronco

Totally! I have read every post in the engine oil debate thread and appreciate that he still posts here. The 3.6L isn’t a total POS though….

 

[TheBrandon]

If I had a tuned 2.7 and it couldn't pull a low 6 0-60 I'd be fucking pissed...WTF!?! No wonder you're disappointed holy mother of God. A manual 3.6 Sport can do 0-60 in 6 flat...

Haha! Not pissed at all, just sharing my experience is all. My bikes see 200+ mph regularly. Bro check YouTube for Bronco 2.7 0-60 times . Some of these move pretty quick all things considered but it’s not just stop and hit the gas. There’s an entire sequence for these things vs my Jeep and literally every other vehicle I’ve ever owned where maybe you brake boost but sheshhhh. this is inline with my experience. Mine is probably just over 7 now.

Again, these aren’t the go fast vehicles I get it. City driving though especially from a dig in my Bronco is straight dog water. That’s after getting it tuned (worth it just to smooth out the shifting), running 93, unlocking sport mode (this is a must), and having a KN Filter ‍.

I wish I’d have had a chance to try the v6 with etorque. Wondering how many people tried both or had 1 with etorque vs the other regarding the 2.0L and V6.

 

[autotragic]

Haha! Not pissed at all, just sharing my experience is all. My bikes see 200+ mph regularly. Bro check YouTube for Bronco 2.7 0-60 times . Some of these move pretty quick all things considered but it’s not just stop and hit the gas. There’s an entire sequence for these things vs my Jeep and literally every other vehicle I’ve ever owned where maybe you brake boost but sheshhhh. this is inline with my experience. Mine is probably just over 7 now.

Again, these aren’t the go fast vehicles I get it. City driving though especially from a dig in my Bronco is straight dog water. That’s after getting it tuned (worth it just to smooth out the shifting), running 93, unlocking sport mode (this is a must), and having a KN Filter ‍.

I wish I’d have had a chance to try the v6 with etorque. Wondering how many people tried both or had 1 with etorque vs the other regarding the 2.0L and V6.

I should get my Draggy out and see what the Rubicon can really do. I should do it tomorrow on the way to work.

 

[twistyfun48]

As of right now I'm talking to a dealer in Alabama about buying a brand new 2-door Jeep Wrangler Rubicon X. 3.6/Auto. I'm in Indiana. Looked at all of the info on the 2025's. No 3.6/Auto available. Will it be...who knows. Basically no change between 2024 to 2025 besides a loss of paint colors. The one I'm considering is High Velocity Yellow. Payment will be stupid high. But, there are hardly in 2-door's out there in Rubicon X trim. Coast to coast border to border. Only one I found close to me and only one, is white. Just not a color I care for. I really miss my 2-door.

I can point you toward a new Black Rubi X based near Tampa, FL for $53.5K (before taxes, dealer fee, and electronic filing).

 

[TheBrandon]

I should get my Draggy out and see what the Rubicon can really do. I should do it tomorrow on the way to work.

Thinking about taking my Bronco out tomorrow except I’ll have my wife drive it and I’ll race it on foot.

When I first drove my Jeep the 2.0L engine had just come out and man these boards were wild with the hesitancy (I get it!). I was excited, I had been driving a Mercedes Benz CLA45 AMG and that was a fun car. I was extremely surprised on the Jeep and never once missed the AMG quickness when I sold it. The Bronco on the other hand… it’s awesome in a lot of areas but man the engine isn’t it for me. It’s my daily driver to work but when we’re out playing it’s in the Jeep.

I did check both turbos have all pipes tight and good gosh, at the Factory the techs are probably like, just torque every clamp down until you can’t

 

[Oncorhynchus]

So the consensus is buy a bronco ?

 

[2nd 392]

Waiting impatiently, my garage wired and ready

Well, almost

 

[CarbonSteel]

So the consensus is buy a bronco ?

No--don't buy a 3.6L Wrangler unless you are prepared to be disappointed in a multitude of ways. Jeep should have $hitcanned it in 2016 instead of developing a "new and improved" version. The jury is on permanent hiatus as to what was improved...

 

[CarbonSteel]

If I had a tuned 2.7 and it couldn't pull a low 6 0-60 I'd be fucking pissed...WTF!?! No wonder you're disappointed holy mother of God. A manual 3.6 Sport can do 0-60 in 6 flat...

Something is clearly off...I just drove from Colorado Springs to Dillon and back and building boost is a complete non-issue. I can count on one hand the number of times it downshifted, I averaged 19.1MPG on the trip, and mine is not tuned.

 

[Pape]

No--don't buy a 3.6L Wrangler unless you are prepared to be disappointed in a multitude of ways. Jeep should have $hitcanned it in 2016 instead of developing a "new and improved" version. The jury is on permanent hiatus as to what was improved...

Jut joking, this entire threads is like throwing French fries at gulls

 

[XYJGuy]

Need help. Would one choose the 2.0 or the 3.6 for reliability and smooth operation

Go 3.6 if for nothing else but the horrible sound of the 2.0 motor. I love my jeep but selecting the 2.0 is a regret. You hear it every time you drive, especially when doors and/or the top is off. It is cringeworthy.
Otherwise I am 3 years in with only 15K miles and no issues.

 

[autotragic]

Jut joking, this entire threads is like throwing French fries at gulls

 

[Halxen]

Dealer tech here.

2.0: Better power output, more complex. Significantly higher labor costs in the event repairs are needed. Still relatively new. Coolant leaks galore, failed oil coolers, turbo failure at higher mileage.

3.6: Less complex, any shop can work on it without issue. All issues are well known at this point. OFA leaks, head gaskets, rocker arms.

Both have roughly equivalent reliability. Personally I would suggest the 3.6L purely due to ease of reparability. The 2.0L also sounds like shit, so there's that. The 2.0 also get *horrendous* MPG with normal driving. Like ~13-15 on average with mixed use. The 3.6 isn't much better in the MPG department, but it's around ~15-17 on average.

^ this is pretty much exactly why I decided to get a 3.6 rather than the 2.0T; not because either engine is significantly better than the other, but because the cost of repair on the 2.0T ends up being significantly higher in the event of failure. I keep my vehicles very long-term and plan on having my Wrangler for well beyond the warranty period so out of pocket repair costs in the long-term was something I weighed heavier in my decision.

 

[azjl#3]

Well..with all of these different responses, you should be totally confused..LOL Why not take one of each out for a ride, then you can decide which has the smoothest operation. Next purchase the MOPAR max extended warranty insurance policy, to help with your concern for reliability. This way you can at least sleep at night..

Speaking of warranty, finance guy tried selling a cds warranty, said any shop takes it vs mopar maxcar only used by dealers. Uhhhhh, not so sure that’s correct, just need approval which cds needs. Anyone hear of them? No clue why they didn’t have mopar warranty, a Jeep dealer, largest in state.

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