Absurd Configurations

[NavyVet1959]

One could argue that the capabilities of the Rubicon model are wasted on the flatlands of Florida...

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[jaldeborgh]

I hear you but I think there's a very specific type of person who walks into and out of a dealership on the same day with a $50k+ vehicle that isn't to their absolute specification. Like you, I'd personally want everything to my exact liking and I'm alright with waiting 2-3 months for a custom order.

Is the average consumer that way? I wouldn't bet my money on it.

This is a very interesting question/observation. I have always believed that most car shoppers are accustomed to going to a dealer and picking a car from the Dealers stock, as they see exactly what they are buying, no visualization required. Inventories are usually high and many folks think they will get a better "deal" buying a vehicle that's been "sitting around the on the lot" versus buying a custom configured car; after all why would a Dealer discount a custom configured vehicle. The other factor with most people today, instant gratification is a way of life. All of this is very similar to buying a used car, you take what you can get because your saving money, it's a trade-off.

I'm at a point in my life where I understand my likes, learned patience and have been successful enough where I don't really care about a few grand ($) one way or the other, to configure a vehicle to my liking. Don't misunderstand, I care about money and negotiate carefully and will gladly walk away if I don't feel I'm buying at competitive market pricing. I'm a seasoned industrial sales executive by trade and understand not leaving money on the table. That said, I know what I want and would rather wait a little longer in order to buy to my specifications. I also tend to keep cars/vehicles for a long time so a little waiting at the front end isn't a big deal. Given that many folks who have ordered JL's on this site, at ~5% below invoice, I'm not sure it isn't cheaper to custom order.

The funny thing to me is, say you need the tow package, you go to the dealer and ask to see the Jeep's with tow packages; you will most likely reduce the population of available vehicles by a very significant percentage. So in other words, if your selection criteria is gated by an option/feature that's not very common, your working against yourself. Hypothetical example, there are 50 Wrangler's on the Dealers lot but only 17 have the tow package, and 8 of those are fully equipped (expensive). The result is you are probably going to be forced to make significant compromises on all your other selection criteria, color, options and price. The Dealer is smart and will see that you need a specific feature and will use this against you in a pricing negotiation, they are trained to pinpoint your buying criteria and use this to their benefit. Once you custom order a vehicle, the Dealer has no power, all options are created equal, just a mouse click away, the only tool he/she has is price. Otherwise you just walk out and you've just waisted their time, which is their most important asset, always remember, they're invested in you much more than you're invested in them.

 

[NavyVet1959]

The funny thing to me is, say you need the tow package, you go to the dealer and ask to see the Jeep's with tow packages; you will most likely reduce the population of available vehicles by a very significant percentage.

Considering how much the Jeep tow package costs, I have to think it would be a lot easier to just buy an aftermarket receiver hitch for the vehicle and install it yourself. Unless I'm misunderstanding exactly what the tow package consists of...

According to their website when I'm using the "Build" option, it says that the tow package consists of:
1. 240 Amp Alternator
2. 700 Amp Maintenance Free Battery
3. 7- and 4-Pin Wiring Harness
4. Auxiliary Switches

I don't particularly see the need for the increased alternator and battery size for towing a trailer. Neither my boat nor my utility trailer have brakes on them, but even if you did have electric trailer brakes, I don't see them taking enough power to require upgrading the electrical system. And I don't particularly see the need for the extra switches either. If I need some more switches, I'll install them myself.

You should be able to easily mount your own receiver hitch and wiring for $100-200.

 

[Tfom]

Considering how much the Jeep tow package costs, I have to think it would be a lot easier to just buy an aftermarket receiver hitch for the vehicle and install it yourself. Unless I'm misunderstanding exactly what the tow package consists of...

According to their website when I'm using the "Build" option, it says that the tow package consists of:
1. 240 Amp Alternator
2. 700 Amp Maintenance Free Battery
3. 7- and 4-Pin Wiring Harness
4. Auxiliary Switches

I don't particularly see the need for the increased alternator and battery size for towing a trailer. Neither my boat nor my utility trailer have brakes on them, but even if you did have electric trailer brakes, I don't see them taking enough power to require upgrading the electrical system. And I don't particularly see the need for the extra switches either. If I need some more switches, I'll install them myself.

You should be able to easily mount your own receiver hitch and wiring for $100-200.

That was my thought until I saw someone who went through mounting one. It was a 7 pin setup though. I guess it was a lot more work than the JK.

 

[Bearded_Dragon]

One could argue that the capabilities of the Rubicon model are wasted on the flatlands of Florida...

Lockers and electric sways are not just for rocks.

 

[NavyVet1959]

Lockers and electric sways are not just for rocks.

I was thinking more in terms with the super low "granny gear". I'm thinking that is not exactly what you need for the sand and mud you have in Florida.

 

[NavyVet1959]

That was my thought until I saw someone who went through mounting one. It was a 7 pin setup though. I guess it was a lot more work than the JK.

All my trailers are 4-pin, so it should be pretty simple. Of course, I *could* design a completely wireless system that utilized LED lights and a couple of lithium ion rechargeable batteries so that I could press a button to send it a signal that would do an imitation "brake check" on someone who was tailgating, but not actually put on the brakes or slow down. There's even been a few times when I wished I had a rear facing horn that I could use to wake up some of these people who are obviously not paying attention.

 

[RisingEagle]

You should be able to easily mount your own receiver hitch and wiring for $100-200.

the complete tow package with aux switches and heavier battery / alternator has other benefits than just towing; if you're rigging up for overlanding, the expanded capability is power while out in the hills for a weekend. Or it's more power for the additional LED bars / fridge / whatever.

the 7-pin wiring harness (which you COULD do yourself but can be a pain) is integrated into the wiring system; it also allows you the ability to connect an electric brake controller in the cab of the Jeep. Having electric brakes isn't common on small trailers - but if you're pulling a 2500lb trailer equipped with electric brakes, they really are a nice convenience to have

you are absolutely correct - if all you intend to pull are small yard-size 5x8 trailers with an atv on it or something, then slapping on your own hitch and wiring harness for a couple hundred bucks would save you $500 on the price. For me, the expanded capability outweighed the minimal cost.

Leather seats, however, are completely unnecessary and can be left out of any trim (I believe) saving $1500 for expanding capability (tow package, LED, etc). Not selecting the infotainment system - especially on the Rubicon that already comes with a 7" screen - saves an additional $1500. $3K could buy a LOT of capability-enhancement features in lieu of creature-comforts. And if you took that $3k to aftermarket products - you could get a great front and rear bumper with a 10K winch and some other capability-increasing items

however most Rubicons out there are jammed with leather seats, infotainment systems and whatever else but leave out the $500 proximity entry. The logic in option selection isn't sound - I would think you could either provide a bunch of creature comforts or provide utility and get after two different but distinct markets of people.

@jaldeborgh is spot-on; ordering a vehicle, although there is time-wait in there, can be the cheaper way to go in my opinion as well. Your options are a mouse-click, the price is displayed as it is, and you are further armed with knowing what invoice price is (vs MSRP) with just a small bit of previous research - and you also know you can get at LEAST 3% under invoice by ordering it remote. When that conversation occurs with the salesman / GM - and you can show you know what you're talking about and are willing to go somewhere else to save the $2-4k - they will take the sale with less profit, especially on an order. they have lost nothing - they can still sell the in-stock Jeeps at higher prices to some other impulse buyer, and you've increased their sales numbers for the month (which matter - a lot of money is tied to how many vehicles they sell) and they've still made something off the sale to you. Additionally, by buying through them you have a higher likelihood of servicing at their location - which is where they also make a lot of money

in the end, if you only care about a couple options then buying off the lot works. if you're looking for the best deal possible, it's unlikely you'll get a better deal than ordering by purchasing something sitting on the lot - unless it's a JK or last years model. you could get a GREAT deal on the round-button-doorhandle version right now...

 

[Tfom]

All my trailers are 4-pin, so it should be pretty simple. Of course, I *could* design a completely wireless system that utilized LED lights and a couple of lithium ion rechargeable batteries so that I could press a button to send it a signal that would do an imitation "brake check" on someone who was tailgating, but not actually put on the brakes or slow down. There's even been a few times when I wished I had a rear facing horn that I could use to wake up some of these people who are obviously not paying attention.

You would have to drive around with the horn on constantly in that case. Which might not be a bad idea.

 

[smuddy]

If you don't mind, if/when I place an order, I'd like to run it by you first. I want it to be configured like a real jeeper would. I've already taken proximity entry off my list, but I'll want you to okay everything else too. Thanks!

That guy (Christophercarl1983) is a troll and a D***! Check out his other posts...or better yet, don't, and take my word for it.

 

[NavyVet1959]

That guy (Christophercarl1983) is a troll and a D***! Check out his other posts...or better yet, don't, and take my word for it.

Well, he *is* a NYer, so that's kind of expected, isn't it?

 

[BillG]

That guy (Christophercarl1983) is a troll and a D***! Check out his other posts...or better yet, don't, and take my word for it.

Yeah, but the original poster kinda brought it on. Calling people dumb if they didn’t buy proximity entry and acting like 500 meant nothing to him.

 

[That One Guy]

Yeah, but the original poster kinda brought it on. Calling people dumb if they didn’t buy proximity entry and acting like 500 meant nothing to him.

I'm not even planning on buying power windows and locks, alloy wheels, or tint

I must be the JLWF dumb-dumb of the century!

 

[jeepskate]

Yeah, but the original poster kinda brought it on. Calling people dumb if they didn’t buy proximity entry and acting like 500 meant nothing to him.

Dude, when I said it was dumb, I was talking about the dealers &/or factory that configured the vehicles. That was the main point of my post.

$500 means nothing to me? On the contrary; every dollar means a lot to me. Jeepskate is my screen name here for a reason.

 

[cnyjl]

Well, he *is* a NYer, so that's kind of expected, isn't it?

There's about 8 !/2 million people living in NY City. There's another 11 million or so that live in New York outside NY City. Just because you experienced one D*** troll from Long Island, don't group the 11 million upstaters with him. Actually, I imagine anyone outside of Long Island in NY City wouldn't want be grouped with him either. So go holster your six shooter, hang up your cowboy hat and get ready for some Friday night football y'all! Lol, stereotypes are a bitch.

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