Another "Deciding Between Willy's and Rubicon" Thread

[JT1]

Not anymore. Last month or so, they've been delivered with Falken Wildpeak M/T

Is the M/T an option like it is on the gladiator? The only ones I have seen have had KO2s on them

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[ellunchboxo]

Is the M/T an option like it is on the gladiator? The only ones I have seen have had KO2s on them

I ordered mine with A/T in November and it shipped in February with M/T

I don’t know.

 

[Bandit59]

I posted this on FB and thought I'd post here as well to see how the opinions/answers align.

Currently going back and forth on which 2024 model to order to replace my 2019 Sport S.

Right now, I'm leaning towards the Willy's over the Rubicon. The ~$7k price delta is hard for me to justify with my current Jeep currently being a pavement princess. Something about the Willy's when I build it on the Jeep website just calls to me, not sure what it is.

However, I see it said a lot that "If you were even thinking Rubicon and don't get it, you'll regret it!" I do have a few questions that I'm hoping this group can help.

Does the 2024 Willy's come with the bigger brake setup that the Rubicon and Sahara get?

What are some of the other things I'd potentially miss if I don't go Rubicon?

A few items I can tell are more off-road inclined suspension, front facing trail cam, auto dimming rear view mirror, front lockers, cool looking Rubicon hood, and non-blacked out grill and wheels. What else am I missing?

It seems that if I really wanted a colored grill, Rubicon hood, or the Rubicon wheels I could just buy them after the fact and still come out ahead in the $$$ department?

I feel like there must be something else I'm missing in that $7k price delta?

I posted this on FB and thought I'd post here as well to see how the opinions/answers align.

Currently going back and forth on which 2024 model to order to replace my 2019 Sport S.

Right now, I'm leaning towards the Willy's over the Rubicon. The ~$7k price delta is hard for me to justify with my current Jeep currently being a pavement princess. Something about the Willy's when I build it on the Jeep website just calls to me, not sure what it is.

However, I see it said a lot that "If you were even thinking Rubicon and don't get it, you'll regret it!" I do have a few questions that I'm hoping this group can help.

Does the 2024 Willy's come with the bigger brake setup that the Rubicon and Sahara get?

What are some of the other things I'd potentially miss if I don't go Rubicon?

A few items I can tell are more off-road inclined suspension, front facing trail cam, auto dimming rear view mirror, front lockers, cool looking Rubicon hood, and non-blacked out grill and wheels. What else am I missing?

It seems that if I really wanted a colored grill, Rubicon hood, or the Rubicon wheels I could just buy them after the fact and still come out ahead in the $$$ department?

I feel like there must be something else I'm missing in that $7k price delta?

If you really want a Ruby then your decision is made. You want really be happy with anything else. But a fully optioned Willy’s or Sahara worked best for us. Little better ride then a Ruby

 

[FLAirgunner]

The decision was pretty easy for me when we ordered our 2024 Willys. Living in Florida, I figured my chances of doing any real rock crawling were probably close to zero! I feel the Rubicon with it lower transfer case ratio, locking front axle and front sway bar disconnect were probably more needed for rock crawling than riding sandy trails. Plus the additional $10K it would have cost to get a similarly equipped Rubicon, the Willys just made more sense. Then, when I built a Sport S with all the option that come on the Willys (and it still didn't come with 33" BFG KO2's, locking rear axle, off road mode, and Rubi Fenders), it was only $700 less than the Willys! For me, the Willys was the most bang for the buck, so it was a no brainer for me!

 

[Planotex]

I’m real curious to how a Willys is better in snow and sand? Especially if comparing stock to stock, Willeys has MTs and Rubicon has 3 peak rated ATs. Sounds like some salesman lied to you. And then with sand, I drive my Rubicon in sand all of the time, beaches in FL. Lockers vs no locker, zero comparison. I’ve never have had an issue but have seen many non-locker wranglers stuck.

Has to do with Rubi being locked. Tires can be changed. My BMW XDrive is better and my Commander with Quadra Trac 2 the best in snow. You're right about tires. I have driven all a lot on snow so can only say how they actually perform. Rubi is king of the rock crawl.

 

[agpr2016]

I posted this on FB and thought I'd post here as well to see how the opinions/answers align.

Currently going back and forth on which 2024 model to order to replace my 2019 Sport S.

Right now, I'm leaning towards the Willy's over the Rubicon. The ~$7k price delta is hard for me to justify with my current Jeep currently being a pavement princess. Something about the Willy's when I build it on the Jeep website just calls to me, not sure what it is.

However, I see it said a lot that "If you were even thinking Rubicon and don't get it, you'll regret it!" I do have a few questions that I'm hoping this group can help.

Does the 2024 Willy's come with the bigger brake setup that the Rubicon and Sahara get?

What are some of the other things I'd potentially miss if I don't go Rubicon?

A few items I can tell are more off-road inclined suspension, front facing trail cam, auto dimming rear view mirror, front lockers, cool looking Rubicon hood, and non-blacked out grill and wheels. What else am I missing?

It seems that if I really wanted a colored grill, Rubicon hood, or the Rubicon wheels I could just buy them after the fact and still come out ahead in the $$$ department?

I feel like there must be something else I'm missing in that $7k price delta?

I'd go Willys unless your offroading really requires a front locker and sway bar disconnect.

The grille is make or break for me...I prefer the sport grille to the Willy's...but however weird I might feel, a 24 sport grille is not that hard to find.

Would it look weird to have a color matched grille on a Willy's?

 

[Fatfreewilly]

The "standard" tires changed from a KO2 A/T to Faulken M/T in early January, but you can still pick a free option to get the KO2s if you custom order.

I'm in the same boat of I ordered a 2024 Willys in July 2023 with KO2s, and it showed up in January 2024 with Faulken MT01 tires. Dealer told me to pound sand as I ordered it with "Standard" tires, when clearly my order form had the code used for KO2s.

Also OP - Bikini Pearl is an option too vs. Hydro Blue. I swear Bikini is just Hydro with a red filter on it. I had a JK in Hydro and like both.

Bikini Willys + few Hydro pics here:

 

[ACAPECE]

My opinion only disclaimer. If, like you said, your Jeep is mainly a pavement princess getting a Rubicon is only for the "status" of having one since you don't use the features you would get in a Willys, much less a Rubi. The only thing you're really doing is paying extra for a sticker since every Jeep has all the functions you need on pavement with the difference being creature comforts on the higher trim levels. I do light off-roading and got a Willys Sport XR and it can do a hell of a lot more than I can right now.

I’m in the same boat. Mainly pavement with some off roading. I got the Willys XR really because I like the stance of the 35’s. however I’m comfortably knowing my Jeep is very capable.

A good example if having it and not needing it. I was doing a quick search of Jeep events in my area and came across this. Had I chosen a Sport or Sahara based on my driving 90% of the time I would have excluded myself.

 

[zaimer]

I just traded my Rubicon for a used XR Sport. I did off road but I never really used the lockers or the sway disconnect. For me, it was more about going from 2 doors to 4, and manual to auto for the wife.
I like the 4.56 gearing, better brakes and 35's. But I would have stayed in the old Jeep if I wasn't looking for more room. Big savings. Have you considered a re-gear?
Here is my Hydro blue vs Sarge...

Sarge is one of my all time favorite Jeep colors, but I definitely prefer the High Tide in this case. Numbers aside, I'd say you did well.

 

[shooting4625]

All I can say is instead of paying for a 24 Willys would you be willing to get a lightly used Rubicon for the same or less money? See when I ordered my 24 Willys back last year used Rubicons were all a lot more expensive but by the time this year rolled around I was able to get myself a Rubicon with only 12,000 miles on it for about the same money as a brand new Willys and that's with 9% discount off invoice price. And honestly I kind of like having the front locker and the push button sway bar disconnect.

Factor in that there's some things about the 24s that I found out that I didn't like and I don't know how much that affects you or what but personally for me I like the pre-24s better so finding the Rubicon that I bought was really a heck of a deal for me.

Anyway that's just how I dealt with it once used Jeep prices started coming down it made sense to at least look at the option and it ended up working out for me.

I agree, we picked up this 2023 rubicon extreme recon for $53k with 1900 miles

 

[exilepa]

The "standard" tires changed from a KO2 A/T to Faulken M/T in early January, but you can still pick a free option to get the KO2s if you custom order.

I'm in the same boat of I ordered a 2024 Willys in July 2023 with KO2s, and it showed up in January 2024 with Faulken MT01 tires. Dealer told me to pound sand as I ordered it with "Standard" tires, when clearly my order form had the code used for KO2s.

Also OP - Bikini Pearl is an option too vs. Hydro Blue. I swear Bikini is just Hydro with a red filter on it. I had a JK in Hydro and like both.

Bikini Willys + few Hydro pics here:

I really want the KO2 ATs, but it sounds like they are shipping with M/T. As others have said, if I really prefer the look of the Rubi wheels, I could probably easily trade with someone or even sell the MT's and get the KO2s for little cost. That is crazy just how close bikini looks to Hydro in different lighting! I didn't realize just how close they were!

 

[PBosch]

It's a very short list of people who bought a Rubicon, and later wished they'd bought a Willy's. The opposite cannot be said.

 

[Old Jeeper]

I posted this on FB and thought I'd post here as well to see how the opinions/answers align.

Currently going back and forth on which 2024 model to order to replace my 2019 Sport S.

Right now, I'm leaning towards the Willy's over the Rubicon. The ~$7k price delta is hard for me to justify with my current Jeep currently being a pavement princess. Something about the Willy's when I build it on the Jeep website just calls to me, not sure what it is.

However, I see it said a lot that "If you were even thinking Rubicon and don't get it, you'll regret it!" I do have a few questions that I'm hoping this group can help.

Does the 2024 Willy's come with the bigger brake setup that the Rubicon and Sahara get?

What are some of the other things I'd potentially miss if I don't go Rubicon?

A few items I can tell are more off-road inclined suspension, front facing trail cam, auto dimming rear view mirror, front lockers, cool looking Rubicon hood, and non-blacked out grill and wheels. What else am I missing?

It seems that if I really wanted a colored grill, Rubicon hood, or the Rubicon wheels I could just buy them after the fact and still come out ahead in the $$$ department?

I feel like there must be something else I'm missing in that $7k price delta?

Look at it this way: IF you want to be a ROCK CRAWLER then its RUBICON all day!

Not sure what market segment the Willy's is aimed at, I have only driven Rubicons since 2003 as I am a Rock guy.

 

[JT1]

Look at it this way: IF you want to be a ROCK CRAWLER then its RUBICON all day!

Not sure what market segment the Willy's is aimed at, I have only driven Rubicons since 2003 as I am a Rock guy.

The e-disco in the Rubi is a pain in the rear. Driving from obstacle to obstacle it re-engages all the time. If you are going to toss an anti-rock on there anyway, the Willys is 90% there. 24 Willys has the same rear axle and front axle as a 23 Rubi. Add a front locker for $1500 and you have the exact same jeep (mechanically) minus the 4:1 transfer case for $5000 less..

 

[Old Jeeper]

The e-disco in the Rubi is a pain in the rear. Driving from obstacle to obstacle it re-engages all the time. If you are going to toss an anti-rock on there anyway, the Willys is 90% there. 24 Willys has the same rear axle and front axle as a 23 Rubi. Add a front locker for $1500 and you have the exact same jeep (mechanically) minus the 4:1 transfer case for $5000 less..

I have never used the e-disco and I have had 4 Jeeps with it! I love the Anti Rock.

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