Cost

[tyresmoker]

Lemme start by saying I dropped almost $80k on an SRT last year (second WK2), so spending $$ on a Jeep is not foreign to me...But...I cannot get my arms around almost $55k for a decked out Sahara though. I just do not see the value in it. Too many things missing for that kinda scratch, Probably my biggest issue? The seats, or lack of features in the seats. For that kinda scratch, I believe the passenger seat should do more than just slide back and forth aka a 1980 Camaro...Just me, but someone else might get our business...

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[PaulNY]

Lemme start by saying I dropped almost $80k on an SRT last year (second WK2), so spending $$ on a Jeep is not foreign to me...But...I cannot get my arms around almost $55k for a decked out Sahara though. I just do not see the value in it. Too many things missing for that kinda scratch, Probably my biggest issue? The seats, or lack of features in the seats. For that kinda scratch, I believe the passenger seat should do more than just slide back and forth aka a 1980 Camaro...Just me, but someone else might get our business...

I agree. I am paying in the $47's for my JLU Ruby which stickered for almost $52k. I would have hoped for at least a power drivers seat. However, I guess there is some comfort in knowing that it does have lockers and at least heated seats/steering wheel. But, for the amount of coin that either the Sahara or Ruby's bring, you would think there would be more creature comforts.

 

[That One Guy]

Lemme start by saying I dropped almost $80k on an SRT last year (second WK2), so spending $$ on a Jeep is not foreign to me...But...I cannot get my arms around almost $55k for a decked out Sahara though. I just do not see the value in it. Too many things missing for that kinda scratch, Probably my biggest issue? The seats, or lack of features in the seats. For that kinda scratch, I believe the passenger seat should do more than just slide back and forth aka a 1980 Camaro...Just me, but someone else might get our business...

FCA is milking the Wrangler for all it is worth, and then some. As their ultimate cash-cow, its massive profits help pay for many failures within FCA brands.

I've been wanting a Wrangler all my life and they just about priced me out with this one. Sure, it's improved, but I think they could've gone with a jump lower than ~$3,000 from comparable-ish JK's. I'm gonna be getting a Sport or Sport S two-door, and even those are $29,300+ with a hardtop.

Just a few years ago a JK base was a cool $22,995.

 

[That One Guy]

I agree. I am paying in the $47's for my JLU Ruby which stickered for almost $52k. I would have hoped for at least a power drivers seat. However, I guess there is some comfort in knowing that it does have lockers and at least heated seats/steering wheel. But, for the amount of coin that either the Sahara or Ruby's bring, you would think there would be more creature comforts.

You don't pay for creature comforts in a Rubicon--you pay strictly for added offroad technology. I think one of the biggest mistakes would-be Wrangler buyers make is figuring a Rubicon is better than a Sahara. If it's a pavement ponding princess conquering malls, there's no point to buying a Rubicon, when a Sahara would serve that crowd so much better.

I've always wondered what percentage of Rubicons will never use their lockers off road. Or sway-bar disconnects. Or low range with that upgraded transfer case.

 

[PaulNY]

You don't pay for creature comforts in a Rubicon--you pay strictly for added offroad technology. I think one of the biggest mistakes would-be Wrangler buyers make is figuring a Rubicon is better than a Sahara. If it's a pavement ponding princess conquering malls, there's no point to buying a Rubicon, when a Sahara would serve that crowd so much better.

I've always wondered what percentage of Rubicons will never use their lockers off road. Or sway-bar disconnects. Or low range with that upgraded transfer case.

I will def use my Rubicon as intended, but agree that there are surely some mall crawling Rubicons out there. I really like the way my Rubicon is equipped, but would have liked power driver/passenger seats. I have the cold weather package and leather package which neither was cheap options, but would have liked to have seen power seats included with the leather. Other than that, I am very satisfied.

 

[RonH]

I ended up paying $40K 12 years ago for a loaded F-150 FX4 (before FX4 was just a package added to any F-150). The JLUR is running me just shy of $49K, loaded. Now, are they different vehicles? Sure. The Wrangler is leaps and bounds more capable offroad...the FX4 hauls and tows more. The point I'm making is this...vehicles are expensive, and getting more so as the years go by. I actually don't think, when you compare capabilities, that the JL is all that overpriced, considering today's market for comparable vehicles (think 4Runner, Tacoma, etc...). No price of a vehicle will come down until the market refuses to pay what the manufacturers are asking. So, if we don't like the price, then we shouldn't buy. But, I'll guarantee this...FCA will sell, at this price or more, every JL that they can produce. Just watch what happens next year when the JT comes out...that sucker will be $60K unless I'm mistaken...

 

[That One Guy]

I ended up paying $40K 12 years ago for a loaded F-150 FX4 (before FX4 was just a package added to any F-150). The JLUR is running me just shy of $49K, loaded. Now, are they different vehicles? Sure. The Wrangler is leaps and bounds more capable offroad...the FX4 hauls and tows more. The point I'm making is this...vehicles are expensive, and getting more so as the years go by. I actually don't think, when you compare capabilities, that the JL is all that overpriced, considering today's market for comparable vehicles (think 4Runner, Tacoma, etc...). No price of a vehicle will come down until the market refuses to pay what the manufacturers are asking. So, if we don't like the price, then we shouldn't buy. But, I'll guarantee this...FCA will sell, at this price or more, every JL that they can produce. Just watch what happens next year when the JT comes out...that sucker will be $60K unless I'm mistaken...

True, but it does seem they could risk losing some market if they really push it with the JL. Although, for many buyers they'll just pay whatever it costs, and the added on-road drivability is a real boon to these buyers.

I almost wanted to wait for a JT, but considering I'm not interested in the JLU's price, I probably wouldn't pay up for a JT. We shall see.

 

[OscarMike_to_Rubi]

Tons of value to me.

'15 JKU Oscar Mike. Poised to trade to dealer when ordered '18 JLUR comes in.

Even if I take dealer's offer, I'm retaining nearly 80% of what I paid after nearly 3 years.

Wrangler and Tacoma 4x4 are only things that can pull this off. Other vehicles you'd be looking at 50% or less after 3 years.

I have no qualms spending almost $47k, as I know I will get most of it back when I decide to sell / upgrade.

 

[LouNYC]

I stated that the the new Wrangler is overpriced in another thread and killed for it. I am still going to pull the trigger but a fully spec Sahara for close to $60K is NUTS. Wonder how the value will hold up?

 

[tyresmoker]

Tons of value to me.

'15 JKU Oscar Mike. Poised to trade to dealer when ordered '18 JLUR comes in.

Even if I take dealer's offer, I'm retaining nearly 80% of what I paid after nearly 3 years.

Wrangler and Tacoma 4x4 are only things that can pull this off. Other vehicles you'd be looking at 50% or less after 3 years.

I have no qualms spending almost $47k, as I know I will get most of it back when I decide to sell / upgrade.

Made that mistake back in 2011 when the new BMW X3 came out....Assumed all things would remain constant (price & production volume) and there would be a strong return on the second generation X3...WRONG...BMW played with production and price (both raised over the outgoing model...sound familiar?!?!) and the values of that car tanked. FCA already has big plans for production increases on the JL....

Post script...Toyota is playing the same game with the Taco...Building them in San Antonio now. As a result, dealers have ample supplies on hand, not like the days past. As I have stated in past posts, this is just a game of supply and demand..Remedial economics.

 

[Jrbrannan]

Another "the Wrangler costs too much now" thread. Not trying to hate but there is zero other vehicles that you can take the doors off and cruise around, zero other vehicles that are true 4x4 off-roaders and are also a convertible. The engineering to make that happen with all the safety requirements of modern vehicles is not easy or cheap. Is Jeep cleaning up on profit, sure but if you want a brand new 4x4 convertible that you can drive anywhere you can either buy the Wrangler or the Wrangler Unlimited.

 

[Swanny297]

Lemme start by saying I dropped almost $80k on an SRT last year (second WK2), so spending $$ on a Jeep is not foreign to me...But...I cannot get my arms around almost $55k for a decked out Sahara though. I just do not see the value in it. Too many things missing for that kinda scratch, Probably my biggest issue? The seats, or lack of features in the seats. For that kinda scratch, I believe the passenger seat should do more than just slide back and forth aka a 1980 Camaro...Just me, but someone else might get our business...

Some of us don’t see the value in an 80k SRT. It’s all personal preference.

 

[Armycop]

I bought my 2007 JK at sticker price because the market was so hot. In 2008 I had a baby on the way so I traded for a 2008 JKU on the lot. I got a $1,500 rebate, $2,500 discount and low finance rate. I'm hoping this trend happens again when I'm ready to buy a JL. The price will only hold out until the demand slows down.

 

[simpleJL]

A big chunk of the cost of buying a JL goes into the fees FCA has to pay for emissions/EPA standards. The Wrangler comes with hefty fees on their end.

Hence rising costs as time goes on. More EPA standards and more fees if modern produced vehicles don't abide by them.

Everyone seems to not pay attention to this with these cost debates.

This is proven by the fact it is cheaper for FCA to include ESS in their vehicles, saving a single MPG or so, than it is to have a vehicle with 1mpg less rating. Every little bit will save them more in fees/taxes.

 

[ERIXJLUR]

Some of us don’t see the value in an 80k SRT. It’s all personal preference.

Perspective.

Resale on the SRT isn’t close to the Wrangler. I know, I just sold my 2 year old SRT with 15K miles on it for about 70% of what I paid for it. My last Rubicon, I had for 2 years and sold for over 85 percent of what I paid.

My question - will all the options bring a higher resale or not matter 2-3 years down the road.

Will a 47K Rubi be worth 40K and a 56K Rubi be worth 42K? I’m probably making a huge mistake not buying a stripped down Rubi. Oh well, it has features that my SRT had that I like (cold weather pkg, infotainment, keyless proximity, side monitoring etc)

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