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Thinking of going with a "bare bones" model

AmericanPatriot100

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I have a 2025 sport base 6MT and I love it! I also knew I was going to modify it and didn’t want to spend the extra money for the rubicon if I was just going to be removing the more expensive things I paid for.
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Socks

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I spent about 2hrs today at the Jeep dealership. Priced out a 2026 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon X 2-door. V6/6-speed manual transmission. Looking at it and a 2-door Bronco Badlands 7-speed manual. Jeep is cheaper by about 9000.00 dollars. But, the Bronco I have now is in the shop with a fried gage cluster. Ford has to get involved now because it is to new. 2025 base Bronco with only about 7000 miles on it. 3 months old. Miss my 2-door Jeep. But really like my Bronco. Both of the 2026's I'm looking at are loaded up. Only vehicle I have and I like the bells and whistles. Tuff decision.
 

hoch

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If I hadn’t found my Rubicon at a great deal, I’d have bought a Sport 6MT. Love the manual windows, simple interior, less busy hood, etc. Go for it.
 

roaniecowpony

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Did they ever truly fix the clutch issue? Or did they just de-rate the engine torque further?
 

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roaniecowpony

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AC is standard, as is a 12" wide display with WIFI hotspot, bluetooth handsfree, Android Auto, Carplay.
 

jadmt

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oh man once you have had heated seats and steering wheel you can never enjoy the barebones again :)....nothing like -20°F and coming out to a piping hot steering wheel and toasty bun warmers.....
 

roaniecowpony

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oh man once you have had heated seats and steering wheel you can never enjoy the barebones again :)....nothing like -20°F and coming out to a piping hot steering wheel and toasty bun warmers.....
I'm going to just take your word for it. I haven't lived in MT since 1965 when I was 9 years old.
 

roaniecowpony

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I have a 2025 sport base 6MT and I love it! I also knew I was going to modify it and didn’t want to spend the extra money for the rubicon if I was just going to be removing the more expensive things I paid for.
So you're going to D60s and Atlas?
 

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Blacksport

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I'm thinking of ordering a 2 door model with the only option being a hard top. This will get me a 6 speed V6. May add LSD or something similar at a later date. Not much reason for AC where I currently live. Do all models come with AC? This will be a 4th vehicle and will only be driven about 20% of the time. Maybe off road on occasion but no hard core stuff. Been driving manuals for over 50 years so no issues there.
Anyone here go with the base model and ended up happy with their decision? I might use it as a TOAD once we get our RV in the future.
Yes, all models come with AC. I have 2025 2-door 3.6 6-speed, it's a great machine. I would ignore complaints about the manual, I've owned at least 15 cars with manuals, and the Wrangler's Japanese 6-speed (and clutch) is superb. The "S" options add $3600, but I purchased mine at $5000 off list price. There's some nice equipment in the package: Aluminum wheels, full speed collision warning & brake assist, Corning Gorilla Glass (Wranglers break windshields because they're so vertical), window tint, heated RV mirrors, leather steering wheel, better sun visors...and definitely get the hard top, all windows are deep tinted & you get a rear wiper.
 

AmericanPatriot100

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So you're going to D60s and Atlas?
At this current moment no smarty pants. But 1 tons and 40-42s and an atlas could be in my future. Or I just build a rubicon out of my sport for a huge fraction of the cost. My current setup, I’m currently into it like $145 with the rubicon parts I’ve already gotten. Just need the wider axles lockers and 4:1 tcase and I’d still be in it less than what it would have cost me new. Especially since I paid $29k for my sport.
 

Leisure Freak

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I bought my 2019 2dr V6 Sport new with only Hardtop, AT, AC added as options. Never have regretted it one bit. I do run the AC on our yearly interstate road trips from Co to Ut and SD. Most of the time I never run AC, just cruise with windows down with Bestop Sunrider for Hardtop open. I do love having the AC when needed. I live at 6200 feet elevation with some dirt roads in the community and it has never failed me in mud or snow. I do treat it as my 4 season sports car that can go into the woods.
Crank windows don't bother me either. Easy enough to reach across the passenger seat to crank if I need to. I think I heard crank windows have officially ended. Too bad, IMO. I have had lots of Mopars in my life and their elec windows have always been my biggest unreliable PITA so I leaped at the chance to go crank.
 

YJdude

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I'm thinking of ordering a 2 door model with the only option being a hard top. This will get me a 6 speed V6. May add LSD or something similar at a later date. Not much reason for AC where I currently live. Do all models come with AC? This will be a 4th vehicle and will only be driven about 20% of the time. Maybe off road on occasion but no hard core stuff. Been driving manuals for over 50 years so no issues there.
Anyone here go with the base model and ended up happy with their decision? I might use it as a TOAD once we get our RV in the future.
When I ordered my Willys Sport in 2021, A/C was still optional. I intended to buy a Sport, but for around $1500 more, you could order the Willys Sport (not to be confused with straight "S" Willys) which came with better brakes, mud tires, 44lsd rear axle, Rubicon shocks, rock rails, gloss black grille, tinted rear windows, BUT none of the interior fluff that the way more expensive "S" Willys had.
It was a tremendous option for about the cost of tires alone. I don't think it was available for very long.
I'm still happy with mine.
 

roaniecowpony

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At this current moment no smarty pants. But 1 tons and 40-42s and an atlas could be in my future. Or I just build a rubicon out of my sport for a huge fraction of the cost. My current setup, I’m currently into it like $145 with the rubicon parts I’ve already gotten. Just need the wider axles lockers and 4:1 tcase and I’d still be in it less than what it would have cost me new. Especially since I paid $29k for my sport.
Easy up there, Trigger. Just asking. It's a common route to get to a big axle rig.
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