Can't Decide What to Order

[PTM]

Currently offered in Jeep Grand Wagoneer

That would be pretty neat, but I can't imagine that being available anytime soon and the cost would be prohibitive for me. If the 392 costs an additional $30,000, whatever they put this in would be out of my range as well.

Sponsored

 

[ColoradoMike]

A couple of perspectives from a guy who bought a '21 Rubicon manual and a year later ordered a '22 Rubicon with an automatic and traded in the 21.

Like you, I was worried about the learning curve with the manual while hard-core off-roading. I had driven hundreds of thousands of miles on manuals, but I was worried that in hardcore wheeling situations, the manual would be challenging/stressful.
It wasn't. I found the JL manual Rubicon to be absolutely a joy offroad, on trails as hard as Poison Spider. It's difficult to stall it in 4-low. It's awesome.
HOWEVER, I did NOT know about the design flaws of the JL clutch and its propensity to catastrophic failure. As I learned about that stuff, and saw incident after incident happening, it began to stress me out. In the year I drove my JL clutch, I didn't have any issues, but it was hard for me to not worry about it.
Some people don't have that problem, they don't worry, and good for them.
Now another perspective: Like you, I planned to offroad a bit. I didn't plan for it to be hobby No. 1, and I assumed a stock Rubi would be plenty for me.
It was enough, sort of...:
Taking a Rubicon to Moab got me REALLY excited about offroading, and I started wheeling harder stuff than I imagined I would. And what that taught me was... I really wanted MORE than a stock Rubi, especially in terms of clearance. But, like you, I was concerned about it being a good daily driver, and I didn't want to go down the path of a lot of modifications.
And then I learned about the Xtreme Recon package. Which, to your stock Rubi, adds:
* 35-inch tires
* a lift (modest; 1.5 inches)
* steel knuckles (instead of the stock Rubi alloy)
* Spare tire relocate and hingegate reinforcement
* 4.56 GEARS
* Heavier-duty axle tubes
* bigger brakes
All from the factory, built that way, under warranty.
And the kicker? I notice a difference in on-road manners, but only a smidge. It's still a lovely daily driver, and a much more capable off-roader.
And unfortunately/fortunately, the XR package can't be ordered with a manual.
So I grudgingly let go of my manual and accepted the automatic in order to get the gnarliness of the XR, and I am glad. Yes, I miss the fun and cool factor of the manual, but I also am very relieved to not have the JL Clutch Timebomb under my feet.
My rec: Rubi XR.

 

[ZBRA]

I've owned several 4-doors. I've owned 2-doors, I've owned autos and manuals, I've owned CJs, SJs, a YJ, a TJ, and four JKs. I have been daily driving jeeps for over 15 years.

When I ordered my 2023 JL, I ordered a 2-door with a manual.

Why? Because that is BY FAR the most fun version of a Jeep to drive. I am a gear head and I enjoy driving a Jeep. I don't drive one because it's practical, I don't drive one because it's comfortable, I don't drive one because it's economical. I drive it because it's fun. An auto saps away much of that enjoyable driving experience, as does the 4-door version. Plus the 2-door looks SO MUCH better than the SUV version of the Wrangler.

Side note, I have wheeled the hell out of autos and manuals. The modern manual is easy as hell to wheel, especially with the super low Rubicon crawl ratio.

 

[BlueMoose]

I too would consider the Xtreme Recon package. I’ve got it coming on my ‘23 JLUR. It will also be a daily driver.

Disclaimer - I’m a complete novice to offroading and this is my first Jeep.

That said - 2 different dealerships have assured me that while the XR package is $4k, doing the same upgrades aftermarket are $15k.
And the info from The Sheriff’s JeepFest in Jasper, GA that they published for beginner’s says 35” tires are the minimum you want for off roading.

Is that true? I don’t know, but I’m betting people here can answer that…

 

[GMX]

No one mentioned this yet...so FWIW
If you ever want to rent a UHaul trailer, they will not rent to soft tops, only hard top equipped.
Not sure of their reasoning on this.

Also, I run with the hard top installed most all of the time as I have already had skin cancer on my head and don't need to experience any more of that.

I've had the soft top and the hard top with headliner is definitely quieter than soft top, and keeps the heat out and a/c in much better.

That said, running around town with no top is lots of fun.

 

[Mocopo]

Manual vs auto.... when I do even mild offroading with groups, even the best manual drivers seem to stall regularly. With auto, if you need more power, use more pedal, it's as easy as that, and no stalling. Besides, auto has "manual mode" so you still control your gear when off road.

I went soft top because I take my top off all the freaking time. I even like that it's easy to completely remove the soft top. I agree with you that you will regret not getting a soft top, but I would argue Security is the one thing that should be considered a good enough reason to offset that. If you really are concerned, probably want to go hard top. You know the security situation in your neighborhood best.

 

[PTM]

Manual vs auto.... when I do even mild offroading with groups, even the best manual drivers seem to stall regularly. With auto, if you need more power, use more pedal, it's as easy as that, and no stalling. Besides, auto has "manual mode" so you still control your gear when off road.

I went soft top because I take my top off all the freaking time. I even like that it's easy to completely remove the soft top. I agree with you that you will regret not getting a soft top, but I would argue Security is the one thing that should be considered a good enough reason to offset that. If you really are concerned, probably want to go hard top. You know the security situation in your neighborhood best.

This is really what I am worried about with offroading in a manual. No issues on the road but if I am halfway up some slickrock and stall my panicked mashing of pedals while grabbing the e-break may require a replacement of the cloth seats afterwards.

 

[Mocopo]

This is really what I am worried about with offroading in a manual. No issues on the road but if I am halfway up some slickrock and stall my panicked mashing of pedals while grabbing the e-break may require a replacement of the cloth seats afterwards.

I don't want to trash on manual off road too much. It's a skill that can be learned. For me, I just don't see many people perfecting it very well lol

 

[The Last Cowboy]

Currently offered in Jeep Grand Wagoneer

I'm going out on a limb here and say that this engine will never see a JL, maybe never a Wrangler. If it does, it will be in a new generation of Wrangler with the space for it and all of the required turbo plumbing and cooling engineered into the design. If that that were to happen it will be a limited edition, high dollar model.

 

[Canucklesammich]

As a manual owner, my $.02: As to the exploding clutch issues, I personally see it the same as an accident- can it happen to me? Absolutely. Could it be catastrophic? Absolutely. Is it enough of a concern to "scare" me away from driving my Jeep? Absolutely not. As long as I'm aware of the risk & do whatever I can to reduce it, that's about all I can do. I believe (no data to support this) that the clutch issue is relatively rare & the chances are slim enough that I won't worry about it any more than getting involved in an accident. I also waffled about an auto for the ease of off-roading vs the fun factor w/ the manual. Since most of my driving is on road, I went with what would be more enjoyable most often. So far, no regerts. ?

 

[kakwvu]

I love manuals and have owned many, but I do not love manuals that have known, ignored catastrophic failures.

I went with the auto, and it’s great.

 

[Opus]

Another vote for auto here, too. Also, I went with a soft-top for my order but that's partly because I have a garage to keep it in. If I were parking it on the street every night, I would probably go with a hard top instead. JMHO

 

[Pinky Tuscadero]

It's good to see a post with so many differing viewpoints and no one being a dork for a change
Lots of varying viewpoints and thats why there are so many options for us to choose
In the end, it will be your Jeep so you need to decide
Only thing on the manual with me is try and find one to test drive first as the JL has very little foot room, if your feet aren't too big it might swing okay, if big like mine (16W) then not so much so best to check first for sure, getting 4.88 from the factory would be cool and a huge bonus too !

 

[Flor1]

The clutch in a Jeep is junk from the factory and in my opinion should be replaced at time of purchase.

 

[pfletcher229648]

2022 JLUR XR w/SOT

First Jeep, had it for about a month now. The XR package and 35” tires, even if you only ever drive it in a parking lot at Walmart and hop the occasional curb, looks badass. Have taken it out in deep sand, water and mud, we have plenty of that in FL, and it was amazing that it didn’t get stuck. Don’t know if a stock Rubi would do the same. Daily Driving the XR is fine, I don’t see any issues.

As far as the top, went with the Sky One Touch (SOT). Almost nary a day has gone by that I haven’t opened that top. Twenty seconds and the push of a button to go topless, and to reverse it.

I’ve never really been a Jeep enthusiast, as I only ever knew older Jeeps, and actually bought the Jeep for my wife. However, after a month in this JLUR XR, I’m one weak moment and bad decision away from ordering another JLUR XR w/SOT.

Sponsored