Can't decide ... Sahara or Rubicon??

[RavenJeep]

So here is my take, wait and order the new Moab special edition that has been confirmed to be coming out. It will hit all your needs. Looks more like a rubicon with steel bumpers and the Rubi hood and rock rails, will likely have the upgraded Rubi back axle, will have Sahara interior and be available with Select trac for NE winters. It should tick all your boxes, be priced higher then a non equipped Sahara but lower then a Rubi if previous history holds. I had the same dilemma, pulled the trigger for a Mojito Rubi because I wanted the exterior, slight lift, bigger tires, and axles for towing our camper and I fell in love with the Mojito color which is not supposed to be available 2019 but now I’m second guessing it. Like you, in the NE, mostly beach wheeling, tow a 2800 lb camper and some off roaming but nothing my upgraded Sahara couldn’t handle.

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[Tex117]

will have Sahara interior and be available .

Do we know that?

 

[RavenJeep]

Well we know it’s based on the Sahara so it!s a pretty safe bet it will have the Sahara interior. Also that has been the history with SE though they usually get some sort of SE specific interior for the seats. We own 2 SE a 2007 Camp Jeep that came with lockers, sway bar disconnect and a Camp Jeep interior, pretty cool since only 50 we’re ever made, and my 2016 Backcountry which came with a special interior for the Backcountry, the ant-spin differential and some other goodies.

Do we know that?

 

[Bubba33]

I like my Sahara, I could afford the difference between the 2. I never wanted the low gears or lockers for everyday use. I did the rubicon takes off for 200 bucks after I sold the Sahara wheels and tires

 

[Tex117]

Well we know it’s based on the Sahara so it!s a pretty safe bet it will have the Sahara interior. Also that has been the history with SE though they usually get some sort of SE specific interior for the seats. We own 2 SE a 2007 Camp Jeep that came with lockers, sway bar disconnect and a Camp Jeep interior, pretty cool since only 50 we’re ever made, and my 2016 Backcountry which came with a special interior for the Backcountry, the ant-spin differential and some other goodies.

Cool!

 

[SouthLeb]

I was planning on ordering the sahara (sting gray) with leather, 8.4in screen, and anti spin rear differential. My plan was to keep it near $40k, I got dealer down to $41.7k But this morning I decided to wait till and see if in next few months I can get a better deal on sahara or rubi at same price. If not I will order a 2019

 

[Woodynj]

I was planning on ordering the sahara (sting gray) with leather, 8.4in screen, and anti spin rear differential. My plan was to keep it near $40k, I got dealer down to $41.7k But this morning I decided to wait till and see if in next few months I can get a better deal on sahara or rubi at same price. If not I will order a 2019

40k? That’s a great price. With Dual top?

 

[TheWingman]

Rubicon. In reality, if traction is loose, engaging 4wd is not difficult on non-Sahara models. If the rubi turns you on, then you’ll enjoy looking back every time you park it. If it doesn’t, then get the Sahara.

 

[RavenJeep]

https://www.jlwranglerforums.com/2019-moab-edition-jl-wrangler-confirmed-and-in-production/

Here is the known info for the Moab edition. Looks to be positioned right between a regular Sahara and a Rubicon.

 

[1quick1]

I'm personally a Rubicon or Sport guy. Don't jump on me but most the options I can get on a Sport and I definitely didn't want leather so the Sahara was never an option for me.

 

[Goin2drt]

I think it is simple. If you can afford the Rubi then that. If money is tight I think the Sahara will be more than capable to do what you need.

 

[nova99]

If MOAB has KM2 those are awful tires for this OP's needs so he will need new tires for sure.

 

[Wingman]

So I am about to order a JL, but can not decide on Rubicon or Sahara. Love the look of both, except not sure i am sold on the red interior of rubicon (if you have pics please share)

• I will be off road a little, but dont have plans to do any serious crawling or mudding. More like rough fire/dirt roads and trails and general snow driving in the North East.
• I will be towing a boat fairly often (about 3200 lbs total)
• I do plan to put larger tires/wheels on either, but no lift (so 33 on Sahara maybe 35 on Rubicon)

What should i be thinking about? All thoughts welcome! Thanks!!!

Where in NJ are you ? I am in Cranford (exit 136) You are welcome to drive my Mojito Rubicon if you want to come by. This our first Wrangler, coming from a Durango, and it would be my wife's daily driver. I was sure we would end up with a Sahara. My wife surprised me when she said, I really like the look of the Rubicon, it looks more like what a JEEP is to me. I didn't look back, No regrets!

 

[1quick1]

I think it is simple. If you can afford the Rubi then that. If money is tight I think the Sahara will be more than capable to do what you need.

Here's where I don't find it simple. The Rubicon and Saraha often are priced very similar. That's why I tend to say Rubi or Sport.

 

[Thrive]

So basically you just answers the question on why you bought yours, but nothing to do with his question, lol. He doesn't plan to off-road. Dirt roads are still roads, lol.

"I learned my lesson the hard way. Do it “right” the first time and don’t pay for features you will never use and instead pay for options that will mean something for your lifestyle." Rubicon's are built for SERIOUS off-roaders. Yes the hood looks nice and the stickers on the side of that hood, but I have the rubi take off wheels, suspension, rock rails and LED package and paid considerably less with a loaded Sport S. I don't need the low gears, and upgraded axles so I, like you say didn't need to pay for something I am not going to use.

I have a neighbor who has a new rubicon and mine has more than his. He actually asked me if mine was a rubicon that i toook the hood sticker off of, lol. He has roll up windows and regular halogens. But he bought it for off-road and actually goes seriously off-roading.

@Woodynj , go with your gut and get what YOU want. The first mistake is getting what someone else thinks you should have, which is probably the same reason why they got theirs.

Yeah nothing at all to do with his question.... maybe reading comprehension isn’t your best quality but he asked what he should be thinking about between a Sahara and a Rubicon and I gave him my real life experience living one state away from him. I had a Rubicon and could have purchased a second one but people in this thread already proved my point. “Rubicon’s look badass” and “I off-roader with lockers a sway bar disconnected on some flat river rock.”

Not to mention I preceeded my whole post saying in my opinion which is precisely what he asked. If you want a badasssssss looking Jeep to drive 95% on road and have cash to spare and don’t care about a safer transmission in the inclement weather we see here by all means get a Rubicon. It will look totally badass. If your looking for a nice Jeep with nice interior and features and don’t want to have to immediately modify it get a Sahara. Who says the Sahara immediately needs wheels and tires? I loved my first Jeep 2.5” Teraflex prerunner balls out suspension on 35’s. It looked awesome but was definitely me binging a bazooka to a knife fight.

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