Help first time Jeep Owner

[Mabes]

So as the title says I'm a first time Jeep buyer. Im getting ready to order a 2023 wrangler for 5% below invoice. I think the Willys XR is the perfect thing for me EXCEPT I hate the black grill. Im able to get it at 5% below invoice so I dont mind putting some money into getting it painted or swapped but didnt know how easy that was to get done. I also wish the Willys came with a color matched 3 piece hard top but no luck with that. (if anyone has any pictures of a Sting gray willys with a black 3 piece hard top please feel free to post).

I have absolutely no reason to step up to the rubicon and honestly I hate the red dash anyways. The other option I have is one on a local lot that is a beach edition (high tide) for sticker that runs around 51k. That would get me the color matched top and grill but I would lose some of the important things to me like the bigger display and better sound system.

I guess I am more so just trying to get information on how hard it might be to color match the Willys so i dont need to give up the other stuff in order to get that. Sorry for the long post but thanks in advance

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[laroo]

I bought a color matched grill for around $200 for our Willys a couple of years ago off of Craigslist. Then I sold the black grill for around $175, so cost was minimal to switch. Just start searching Craigslist and FB marketplace now, I see different colored grills pop up occasionally. Same for hard tops, but the color matched normally cost $2k or more. But you can probably sell your black hard top to get much of your money back. Both are very easy to swap.

If you're not willing to wait, you can have both painted, although it will cost much more probably.

And the Willys has the best stock wheel option in my opinion. The bigger screen and premium audio are a must as well. I'd go ahead and order and search for takeoffs while waiting.
Edit: oh, you want the XR... those wheels are nice too, along with everything else if comes with.

 

[Old Dogger]

Welcome to the Forum, from Cave Creek AZ.

 

[aldo98229]

Welcome to the forum.

You can get a color matched top on a Willys if you order the Sun and Sound Package, which includes the SOT.

You should be able to pick up a painted grille on eBay. They are easy to swap.

Good luck.

 

[Apexcars]

Yes, the SOT does upgrade to a color matched top but it costs $4000. Expensive way to get a color matched top. The $4000 does include the upgraded radio and display though so you do get some other things for your money.

 

[2nd 392]

Yes, the SOT does upgrade to a color matched top but it costs $4000. Expensive way to get a color matched top. The $4000 does include the upgraded radio and display though so you do get some other things for your money.

Actually not a bad deal—package $4290- color matched top-$2695 , alpine- $1295, rear defrost/wiper $?, couple other little things. The SOT itself is not expensive (almost free)with the package. Depends on what you want and how you break it down.

 

[Mabes]

Yes, the SOT does upgrade to a color matched top but it costs $4000. Expensive way to get a color matched top. The $4000 does include the upgraded radio and display though so you do get some other things for your money.

I should have mentioned that I don’t want the SOT. I hate the way it looks on a naked Jeep. I know that’s kinda picky but we have been talking about getting the hard top and ordering a bestop soft top for summer months.

 

[KevinC11]

You didn't mention what color you are getting. Some colors do not look great with color matched hard top, it needs another color (black) to break it up. Same with the fender flares.

I like the black grill on the Willys, regardless of color. If you want color matched grill, someone will probably swap with you.

As it shows you are in SC, I wouldn't even get a hard top. The weather is not going to get that cold to where it is benefiting you in any way. Soft top for the win IMO. Save some money.

KevinC

 

[Mabes]

You didn't mention what color you are getting. Some colors do not look great with color matched hard top, it needs another color (black) to break it up. Same with the fender flares.

I like the black grill on the Willys, regardless of color. If you want color matched grill, someone will probably swap with you.

As it shows you are in SC, I wouldn't even get a hard top. The weather is not going to get that cold to where it is benefiting you in any way. Soft top for the win IMO. Save some money.

KevinC

It’s going to be sting gray. The fiancé likes the look of the hard too better and I don’t mind it either way. And I like the slant back soft top so I would be ordering that either way so we could have both.

 

[Rubi SoHo]

I agonized over the color matched top vs black top on my Sting Grey Rubi XR. But I went with black in the end, and am VERY glad I did. I’ve since seen a few painted Sting Gray tops in the wild and I’m fairly certain I would have been disappointed seeing both in person. (No offense to those who love theirs)

my rig (also an XR, so you can see how the wheels and flares will look:

And here she is without top or doors:

 

[Mabes]

I agonized over the color matched top vs black top on my Sting Grey Rubi XR. But I went with black in the end, and am VERY glad I did. I’ve since seen a few painted Sting Gray tops in the wild and I’m fairly certain I would have been disappointed seeing both in person. (No offense to those who love theirs)

my rig (also an XR, so you can see how the wheels and flares will look:

And here she is without top or doors:

I actually like that a lot. But I for sure want to have the grill color matched. Thank you for the pictures that helped a lot! Time to call some paint shops and ask about painting the grill

 

[KevinC11]

I agonized over the color matched top vs black top on my Sting Grey Rubi XR. But I went with black in the end, and am VERY glad I did. I’ve since seen a few painted Sting Gray tops in the wild and I’m fairly certain I would have been disappointed seeing both in person. (No offense to those who love theirs)



That is how a Sting Gray JL is supposed to look.

KevinC

 

[The Last Cowboy]

For the cost of a color matched hard top, you can have yours painted at a reputable body shop. The top will need the texture sanded off of it, but it's not that big of a deal as it would need to be sanded anyway. Might as well get the grille done at the same time since they will have the paint mixed.

Look at google images of a Sting Grey Jeep with a painted hard top and grill (Sahara) vs a Willys, then decide for yourself.

 

[AOBE]

One thing to consider, if you have the 3 piece black hard top color matched to your body base coat color then:
the glass needs to be removed
sanding the texture off will then require the top to be completely primed and block sanded
what about the rear hatch area?

I do automotive painting and paintless dent repair and I'm about ready to order a 2023 JLUR and would not consider painting a factory black top the body color vs ordering it already done. I like the look of both options so it's a tough choice.

Good Luck

 

[Mabes]

One thing to consider, if you have the 3 piece black hard top color matched to your body base coat color then:
the glass needs to be removed
sanding the texture off will then require the top to be completely primed and block sanded
what about the rear hatch area?

I do automotive painting and paintless dent repair and I'm about ready to order a 2023 JLUR and would not consider painting a factory black top the body color vs ordering it already done. I like the look of both options so it's a tough choice.

Good Luck

Yeah if I could order the body color hard too I would. But you can’t get it with the willys unless you get the one touch top

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