Chief_Dan
Well-Known Member
- Thread starter
- #1
So, let me start with a little background info & apologize now for the long post!
I learned to drive when I was around 10yo. My dad taught me on the 1948 Willy's we had. Dark green, even had the metal doors & top. I thought it was the coolest thing around. With the old Co-Op tires on it, it was a tough little Jeep. Wish I had never sold it back 34 years ago. But, things always to tend to happen that way. Craved a Jeep ever since.
So, for the last 30 years I have been driving a 1990 Toyota 4x4 Extra Cab truck that I bought brand new in 1990. Nothing fancy, 22RE, 5-speed, has power brakes & steering (no other power anything, yep crank windows), the A/C used to work (quit about 2 years ago & it is R12, tough to fix, but I managed to baby it for about 3 years), stereo quit about 15 years ago, never replaced it. It does have some old American Racing chrome wheels & 31X10.5x15 General Grabber AT2 tires on it though. But, it has been a good truck, well used, but treated well (thankfully my dad taught me how to work on cars/trucks). But, I always wanted a Jeep, especially after the 4-door models came out. Fast forward through 3 daughters completing college (we helped to pay so no debt for them), 2 daughters married, & now 5 grandkids. Few cars for the daughters paid for while they were in college, wife's Highlander paid for, & 2 promotions at work. Then, finally able to stop working 2 jobs. So, time finally came that my wonderful wife of 33 years since yesterday 2-28-20, said I could get the new vehicle. After mulling over everything (Raptor, GMC, TRD Pro 4Runner, etc) I decided on the Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon. For all I like to do outdoors, it was the best choice. So, about 3 years ago I started doing research & watching forums & reading. After a long time of going through the costs & getting everything set up, I started looking. Thought I was going to have to order one to get what I wanted. Well, back in December I was off on vacation leave practically the whole month. So, the wife & I started visiting dealerships & I made some phone calls & e-mails. On 12-30-19 we went to a local dealership & they had pretty much exactly what I wanted, in 2 of my favorite colors, GCM & SG. After seeing the SG, my wife liked it best & so did I. After a loooong test drive (I checked out everything in the tires, suspension & steering realm, & even transmission & engine realm, pushed in a few fuses), some bartering with the dealership, & it being end of month & end of year, I got a GREAT deal & we took the 2020 JLUR home the next day. We got a JLUR with tow package, black hard top & fenders, auto, 3.6L V6, 8.4" U-Connect, cloth interior (I really don't like leather), & it came with the proximity locks, Jeep floor mats, & that trail kit. It didn't have the cold weather package that I wanted, but the dealership put heated seats in it for me (no charge) & they are great & covered under warranty. So, no remote start (which I would probably never use) & no heated steering wheel, but hey I am in the south, so no worries. It would have been nice though to have the heated steering wheel. But, I couldn't pass up this deal.
I must say going from my old Toyota to the Jeep, is like stepping out of a WW2 P40 Warhawk & into an F22 Raptor. The tech & all the nice things are really a big step up for me. So, let me give you my impression so far.
2 months later, a little over 1000 miles & this is what I think.
WOW!!
The transmission has been smooth & great, steering tight & solid, U-Connect & Off Road pages & all the dash controls & features seem to be working great so far. The 4-wheel drive system with locking diffs & all, have worked great & are quite awesome in the mud. Yep, still had drive out tag & was in the mud & muck to test it all out. So far so good. The regular halogen lights seem nice & bright to me to!
So, I am going to drive it a little while to get used to it, before I start the mods. Bumpers & a winch is probably first up, with some type of slider that will be a good step. But, going to be taking it slow, if you haven't figured that out yet. I tend to do a lot of research before I buy. Reading through the builds here have been a HUGE help as well! The wife & I plan on using it for fishing/sightseeing trips. We want to go to the Grand Canyon next year, so those mods will have to come pretty soon. Look forward to this time of life with my wife & the Jeep!
Here are some pics...
I learned to drive when I was around 10yo. My dad taught me on the 1948 Willy's we had. Dark green, even had the metal doors & top. I thought it was the coolest thing around. With the old Co-Op tires on it, it was a tough little Jeep. Wish I had never sold it back 34 years ago. But, things always to tend to happen that way. Craved a Jeep ever since.
So, for the last 30 years I have been driving a 1990 Toyota 4x4 Extra Cab truck that I bought brand new in 1990. Nothing fancy, 22RE, 5-speed, has power brakes & steering (no other power anything, yep crank windows), the A/C used to work (quit about 2 years ago & it is R12, tough to fix, but I managed to baby it for about 3 years), stereo quit about 15 years ago, never replaced it. It does have some old American Racing chrome wheels & 31X10.5x15 General Grabber AT2 tires on it though. But, it has been a good truck, well used, but treated well (thankfully my dad taught me how to work on cars/trucks). But, I always wanted a Jeep, especially after the 4-door models came out. Fast forward through 3 daughters completing college (we helped to pay so no debt for them), 2 daughters married, & now 5 grandkids. Few cars for the daughters paid for while they were in college, wife's Highlander paid for, & 2 promotions at work. Then, finally able to stop working 2 jobs. So, time finally came that my wonderful wife of 33 years since yesterday 2-28-20, said I could get the new vehicle. After mulling over everything (Raptor, GMC, TRD Pro 4Runner, etc) I decided on the Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon. For all I like to do outdoors, it was the best choice. So, about 3 years ago I started doing research & watching forums & reading. After a long time of going through the costs & getting everything set up, I started looking. Thought I was going to have to order one to get what I wanted. Well, back in December I was off on vacation leave practically the whole month. So, the wife & I started visiting dealerships & I made some phone calls & e-mails. On 12-30-19 we went to a local dealership & they had pretty much exactly what I wanted, in 2 of my favorite colors, GCM & SG. After seeing the SG, my wife liked it best & so did I. After a loooong test drive (I checked out everything in the tires, suspension & steering realm, & even transmission & engine realm, pushed in a few fuses), some bartering with the dealership, & it being end of month & end of year, I got a GREAT deal & we took the 2020 JLUR home the next day. We got a JLUR with tow package, black hard top & fenders, auto, 3.6L V6, 8.4" U-Connect, cloth interior (I really don't like leather), & it came with the proximity locks, Jeep floor mats, & that trail kit. It didn't have the cold weather package that I wanted, but the dealership put heated seats in it for me (no charge) & they are great & covered under warranty. So, no remote start (which I would probably never use) & no heated steering wheel, but hey I am in the south, so no worries. It would have been nice though to have the heated steering wheel. But, I couldn't pass up this deal.
I must say going from my old Toyota to the Jeep, is like stepping out of a WW2 P40 Warhawk & into an F22 Raptor. The tech & all the nice things are really a big step up for me. So, let me give you my impression so far.
2 months later, a little over 1000 miles & this is what I think.
WOW!!
The transmission has been smooth & great, steering tight & solid, U-Connect & Off Road pages & all the dash controls & features seem to be working great so far. The 4-wheel drive system with locking diffs & all, have worked great & are quite awesome in the mud. Yep, still had drive out tag & was in the mud & muck to test it all out. So far so good. The regular halogen lights seem nice & bright to me to!
So, I am going to drive it a little while to get used to it, before I start the mods. Bumpers & a winch is probably first up, with some type of slider that will be a good step. But, going to be taking it slow, if you haven't figured that out yet. I tend to do a lot of research before I buy. Reading through the builds here have been a HUGE help as well! The wife & I plan on using it for fishing/sightseeing trips. We want to go to the Grand Canyon next year, so those mods will have to come pretty soon. Look forward to this time of life with my wife & the Jeep!
Here are some pics...
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