ken31756
Active Member
I'm kinda late to the party, but since I recently found myself facing a similar decision as you I thought I chime in my 2 cents worth.
At first it seems almost everything you said would have had me going with the Rubi.... it's not your daily driver, the Rubi is better geared for off road, larger tires, has larger fender openings, lockers, etc etc etc. AND Rubicons hold their resale value better! And you list of options the Rubi was missing was no big deal really. You could have added a heavy duty alternator/ battery/ trailer hitch. The limited slip is nothing compared to the set up the Rubi has with it lockers. And the cold weather package is a waste here in AZ. Mine actually came with the cold package and I had to remove the battery warmer cover for fear it would over heat the battery here in the 115+ summer heat!
HOWEVER....
when I read your comment about it having a steering issue, that would have had me re-thinking things. Jeeps seem to be notorious for steering issues, and as we all know they can be involved if not impossible to cure sometimes. And if it has a problem when its for sale... nuh uh! Bye bye.
My last 2 jeeps were Rubicons, JK and TJ. I narrowed down my JL purchase to two... both 2018s, one a silver Sahara and the other a white Rubi. After test driving the Rubi I was kind of concerned about how it handled. Steering seemed weird...not sure exactly what, but something was off. They told me it hadn't had the new updated steering stabilizer installed yet, and they would do that for me. Yeah right.... how bout install it before you put it out on the lot! Takes 10mins! Besides, all the reports seem to suggest that the improved stabilizer hasn't cure anything. So yeah... all BS!
Meanwhile by comparison my Sahara test drove was the exact opposite. Handled like a dream! Steering was just perfect! Best handling Jeep I've ever drove in my life! (and I've had a few) I fell in love with how it handled. And so I bought it. And so far I have been very pleased with the choice!
True if I find myself at the Moab Rim, Golden Spike, Blanca Peak, Holy Cross, Iron Chest, a certain 80 yard section of Lockhart Basin, God forbid, Pritchett Canyon, Amasa Back, Rose Garden Hill, the Wall on Poughkeepsie, Kane Creek, etc., etc. and get in trouble I might wish I had a Rubicon, but honestly I've never been to any of those places. My off roading is more moderate, an occasional weekend campout, drive up to the lake, take a trip to the mountains, or out through the desert here in AZ. But the reality is most of my miles are on pavement.
Congrats on your choice! I think you were wise to pass on "that" Rubi, and like me I'm sure your Sahara will provide you lots of fun.
AND... that eye grabbing color! I'll keep my eye open for you around town!
At first it seems almost everything you said would have had me going with the Rubi.... it's not your daily driver, the Rubi is better geared for off road, larger tires, has larger fender openings, lockers, etc etc etc. AND Rubicons hold their resale value better! And you list of options the Rubi was missing was no big deal really. You could have added a heavy duty alternator/ battery/ trailer hitch. The limited slip is nothing compared to the set up the Rubi has with it lockers. And the cold weather package is a waste here in AZ. Mine actually came with the cold package and I had to remove the battery warmer cover for fear it would over heat the battery here in the 115+ summer heat!
HOWEVER....
when I read your comment about it having a steering issue, that would have had me re-thinking things. Jeeps seem to be notorious for steering issues, and as we all know they can be involved if not impossible to cure sometimes. And if it has a problem when its for sale... nuh uh! Bye bye.
My last 2 jeeps were Rubicons, JK and TJ. I narrowed down my JL purchase to two... both 2018s, one a silver Sahara and the other a white Rubi. After test driving the Rubi I was kind of concerned about how it handled. Steering seemed weird...not sure exactly what, but something was off. They told me it hadn't had the new updated steering stabilizer installed yet, and they would do that for me. Yeah right.... how bout install it before you put it out on the lot! Takes 10mins! Besides, all the reports seem to suggest that the improved stabilizer hasn't cure anything. So yeah... all BS!
Meanwhile by comparison my Sahara test drove was the exact opposite. Handled like a dream! Steering was just perfect! Best handling Jeep I've ever drove in my life! (and I've had a few) I fell in love with how it handled. And so I bought it. And so far I have been very pleased with the choice!
True if I find myself at the Moab Rim, Golden Spike, Blanca Peak, Holy Cross, Iron Chest, a certain 80 yard section of Lockhart Basin, God forbid, Pritchett Canyon, Amasa Back, Rose Garden Hill, the Wall on Poughkeepsie, Kane Creek, etc., etc. and get in trouble I might wish I had a Rubicon, but honestly I've never been to any of those places. My off roading is more moderate, an occasional weekend campout, drive up to the lake, take a trip to the mountains, or out through the desert here in AZ. But the reality is most of my miles are on pavement.
Congrats on your choice! I think you were wise to pass on "that" Rubi, and like me I'm sure your Sahara will provide you lots of fun.
AND... that eye grabbing color! I'll keep my eye open for you around town!
Sponsored