A few JL questions

[NAZJeeper]

I'm on my 4th Wrangler currently and getting ready to step up into a JL. Random thoughts:

1) I'm assuming I should stay away from the 2018 to avoid any first year problems?
2) I'd like to go with the 2.0 L engine unless someone says they really suck...?
3) I see some Willy's models available.....what would the differences be between them and a Sahara?
4) Would you ever buy a "BuyBack'? One of the dealers has several of them at (of course) decent prices....
5) I am finding lots of Sahara trim models that I like. Any thoughts on them?

TIA!

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[The Fixer]

I'm on my 4th Wrangler currently and getting ready to step up into a JL. Random thoughts:

1) I'm assuming I should stay away from the 2018 to avoid any first year problems?
2) I'd like to go with the 2.0 L engine unless someone says they really suck...?
3) I see some Willy's models available.....what would the differences be between them and a Sahara?
4) Would you ever buy a "BuyBack'? One of the dealers has several of them at (of course) decent prices....
5) I am finding lots of Sahara trim models that I like. Any thoughts on them?

TIA!

1) Check out this recent thread here - https://www.jlwranglerforums.com/forum/threads/would-you-buy-a-first-year-jl.109194/ - overall sentiment seems to be that the major issues that plague '18s are still happening on '23s, outside of the updated steering box.

FWIW, we have two 2018s and have had no significant problems with them (knock on wood!).

2) I have a 2.0T in mine, it's fantastic, gets great mileage, the transmission programming takes some getting used to.

3) Sahara will most likely have leather and painted fenders. They also come with heavy duty brakes like the Rubicon from what I remember. Willy's come with M/T tires, Rubicon shocks and a D44 rear, though the Sahara could be optioned with one as well.

4) No thanks!

5) I got nothing for you on the Sahara, as both of ours are Sports. My wife's is a Sport S with power windows, locks, mirrors, dual-top group, 7" radio. Mine is a basic Sport with crank windows, manual locks, and only a soft top.

 

[Nitehawk92]

I do not have opinions on most of the questions, but the Sahara trim is in essence the luxury Wrangler model. It comes with more of the "creature" comforts. It is not quite as capable of a hill climber as a Rubicon or Willy's, especially if you have the XR package on a Rubicon or Willy's but the Sahara can still climb. If you are a hardcore climber, the get a Willy's or Rubicon. The Sahara comes from the factory with body colored fender flares, and both the Sahara and Rubicon come standard with the 8.4 inch screen instead of the 7" screen like the Willy's.

My last Jeep was a Sahara and I loved it, but I wanted a 2023 in Reign (Purple), but you cannot order a 2023 Sahara with a manual transmission, so I ended up going with a 2023 Rubicon. It seems from your post that you might be talking about buying a used Jeep. But if you are going to order a new Jeep build a Willy's, a Sahara, and a Rubicon with the options you want. You may be surprised that the price difference between them all is not that much difference with the options you want...

 

[jdavis106]

3) Sahara will most likely have leather and painted fenders. They also come with heavy duty brakes like the Rubicon from what I remember. Willy's come with M/T tires, Rubicon shocks and a D44 rear, though the Sahara could be optioned with one as well.

I'm pretty sure Willy's has the Rubicon brakes too.

 

[NAZJeeper]

Thank you guys. Yes, I am buying used, budget of < $40k. I am more into trailing than luxury, but some creature comforts are obviously nice too. I'll check out more of the Willys. Not many down in Phoenix so I may look into an online company, although that makes me a little nervous???

 

[jessedacri]

Thank you guys. Yes, I am buying used, budget of < $40k. I am more into trailing than luxury, but some creature comforts are obviously nice too. I'll check out more of the Willys. Not many down in Phoenix so I may look into an online company, although that makes me a little nervous???

If it were me I'd just look nationwide (or at least within 500 miles). The right deal is worth a cheap one-way plane ticket and a fun road trip home in your new rig. You can almost, almost swing a used 4-door Rubicon if you find the right deal, 2-door rubicons are more firmly in your range too. To me the front D44, gearing, 4:1 t-case, swaybar e-disco and lockers are well worth it when you live an an area with lots of trails to explore and will cost you much more in the long run if you decide you want any of those things. JLs are plenty capable in any trim though as long as you get rid of the awful stock sport/sahara/willys tires.


I would also try and test drive a 2.0 vs a 3.6. The 2.0 is fine and actually has a little more power than the 3.6, but I vastly prefer the 3.6's sound and feel. Others are the opposite.

 

[AcesandEights]

Not relevant to your questions, but...

It'll really depend on your market, whether used cars are holding value, but I paid $39.8k for my new 2022 JLR. If I were you, I'd spec a new one, with the options you have to have, then pay no attention to MSRP. Contact Peterson's CJD in Nampa, Idaho at [email protected] and see what a new "custom(er)" order will cost you.

 

[NAZJeeper]

Wow, thanks for the 'outside the box' ideas, now my brain is cranking.......I know what I'll be doing this evening - drinking whiskey and doing 'research'

 

[aldo98229]

I'm on my 4th Wrangler currently and getting ready to step up into a JL. Random thoughts:

1) I'm assuming I should stay away from the 2018 to avoid any first year problems?
2) I'd like to go with the 2.0 L engine unless someone says they really suck...?
3) I see some Willy's models available.....what would the differences be between them and a Sahara?
4) Would you ever buy a "BuyBack'? One of the dealers has several of them at (of course) decent prices....
5) I am finding lots of Sahara trim models that I like. Any thoughts on them?

TIA!

1). Not necessarily. I own a 2018 Sahara; it’s been trouble free. We see forum members on here report problems with their brand-new 2022 and 2023 JLs
2) No comment
3) Willys is a Sport with a rear LSD, rear D44, rock rails, bigger brakes, Rubicon shocks and MT tires. It is a compelling package. Sahara is a more luxurious trim level, with a nicer interior, more sound deadening and equipment, and the bigger brakes. You can option a Sahara to come with the same rear LSD and D44 as a Willys, however
4) No. There’s good reason Jeep had to take it back; they were unable to fix it
5) I absolutely love my Sahara. Especially with the Selec-Trac, LSD and color-matched hardtop. If you decide to go with the Sahara, I recommend you get a fully loaded one; they are VERY nice

 

[Heimkehr]

I'm on my 4th Wrangler currently and getting ready to step up into a JL. Random thoughts:

1) I'm assuming I should stay away from the 2018 to avoid any first year problems?
2) I'd like to go with the 2.0 L engine unless someone says they really suck...?
3) I see some Willy's models available.....what would the differences be between them and a Sahara?
4) Would you ever buy a "BuyBack'? One of the dealers has several of them at (of course) decent prices....
5) I am finding lots of Sahara trim models that I like. Any thoughts on them?

1) The only thing that comes to mind at the moment is that 2018 through 2020 model year Wranglers had an aluminum steering box that had room for improvement, in terms of engineering and thus steering feel/performance. The 2021+ Wranglers have the improved, black steel steering box. Some owners have had the aluminum boxes replaced. You'll want to examine any 2018-20 Jeep for this change, as necessary.

2) That subject is almost as contentious as an oil discussion. Lots of threads on engine choices, to include the pros & cons of each. Use the Search feature to find and peruse them.

3) (skipped)

4) Not in a million years. I don't even purchase dealer demos, no matter the discount. Just my personal policy on the subject.

5) They are the pretty Jeeps, so to speak. Lots of integrated creature comforts and aesthetic tweaks. Their value is subjective. If you like the upgrades, that's the correct answer.

 

[GrayWolf.Overland]

If you are going to mod and build it up.. Sahara with rear D44 is a way better starting point than Willys. There are so many quality of life things you get with Sahara that you will find it hard to retrofit the sport based willys. Older sport and willys didn't come with proximity unlock sensors for eg.. It's not trivial to add those aftermarket.

A Sahara built up for overlanding can actually be very capable off roader and as a general daily driver family ride.

 

[NAZJeeper]

I'm not finding many used Willy's....I'm guessing they're a rare model...? Sahara's are all over the place for <$40k so I guess I'll just look for the right options package. Thanks for all the advice guys!

 

[AcesandEights]

I'm just wondering why you wouldn't order one.

 

[Mikeoso]

In terms of equipment, it pays to look hard at the individual jeep, rather than just the model. For example, my basic Sport bought off the lot came with the M220 rear axle (updated D44). Bought it new in 2019, $32k out the door

 

[Smoke Showing]

(4)- absolutely not. I won’t even buy a refurbished toaster let alone a “fixed“ vehicle from the same people who couldn’t figure out how to “fix“ it the first 5 times.

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