Honest feedback

[Some Random Guy]

Hey everyone, new here, first post, I’ll try to keep it short.

I have a 2019 Challenger scat pack that I absolutely love. The issue is (no not kids, thank god) the car isn’t always the most practical. It can be unsafe in rain and completely unusable on .0000001” of snow, (woo torque) and because ECO is crap and I worry about using the MDS on the engine.

Some more background, we’re a 2 car background and I drive a work van 5 days a week. So I have put only 6K miles on my car in 2 years. I’ve considered getting a crap truck or something for the days I can’t drive it but I don’t know if I feel like doing that. I spend all week in a crap van, I like to enjoy the little leisure time I get in a nice car. So a second car would make my Challenger more of a garage queen than she already is. Anyways, the 392 is the perfect car for me but when I asked my wife it went something like, “75K Jeep? GTFO. Absolutelyfugginnot,” so that died a quick and brutal death. Been a Jeep fanboy since I was young, last Jeep I drove was an early 2000’s so it’s been a LONG time since I’ve even ridden in one. My wife is getting a 2036 Ford Bronco Badlands, if Ford can ever build it. It’s a surprise for her, 2 door, I think all the research I’ve done has brought back my Jeep passion from a kid. Then I went and saw a 4XE on a showroom and I’ve been obsessed for a month. I recently drove a Squatch Bronco and fell in love with it, but I’m nervous Ford is really dropping the ball already on 1 Bronco order. I had 2 orders already so I placed a 2nd to see what Ford could do but It’s a crap show right now. I think i’d be happy with the Bronco or the Wrangler, biggest issue is I REALLY like the recon Rubicon but it’s like 3K more than the Bronco and the Bronco is a 4 door, not a 2. So price comes into play some here, want to keep the cost lower.

So now I’m keyed into a non-recon Rubicon. More than I need but I don’t care, it looks good and has everything I could ever need. I’d like to start going up trails like I did with my friends as a teen. Plus if I’m making this move doing it when i can get 46K for my car is the right time. So here are my questions…

*Anyone else came from a sports car and regret having only a Jeep? I’d get the 2.0L as I heard the diesel isn’t the best.

*I’m a 2 door guy, any perks to the 4 door besides access for crib midgets?

*Issues/handling/reliability. You ask 10 people and you get 10 different answers.

*Am I an idiot for wanting 2 off road cars since we’ll only take 1 on the 1 day we got off together each week? Obviously we could take 2 camping but I don’t think we’d need to do that.

Any other thoughts, personal experiences etc? Also, I will not rock crawl like some of the psychos so I don’t think SFA is a huge concern here. Oh and 1 more thing, don’t be like the Bronco forum when you mention a Jeep. They’re both great, if you’re just going to call me stupid or bash the Bronco, stroll on by. Thanks.

TIA

-William

• Be aware that off-roading with an automatic is much easier than a stick shift. With an automatic you can concentrate on your lines, and putting those tires where you want. When you are shifting gears, your brain needs to share RAM space with all those other tasks.

I came from a sports car + commuter to my Wrangler being my DD (Sports car got wrecked at a red light), so I might be able to offer a bit of insight.

No regrets at all. That being said, I'm waiting for the market to cool down to get another sports car. Cadillac's Blackwing is making me drool, but it is a bit out of my price range without putting our next house purchase in jeopardy. I would recommend the 2Door all day long. It is still huge. A 2 door is bigger than the XJ I had in college. The extra maneuverability on the trail is worth 2" of lift in my opinion. That being said, it can be squirrely on road. If constant road corrections will bother you (or drive your wife crazy after the fact), go 4 door. It's already gigantic, so if you're stuck with a 4 door you won't notice on the road.

Reliability, depends on your handiness. If you don't mind fixing things, there can be lots of problems, but they're easy to address. If you drop it at the dealer for every squeak or noise, it might drive you and the dealer crazy. Mechanically they're pretty good, and the dealer will address actual issues (anything with a dash code).

2 Vehicles is better than 1 on the trail, much safer. If you plan on joining a group, you'll have help that way. But if you're going out by yourself, this is an easy way to justify having 2 offroad vehicles so the not-stuck one can get the stuck one out. You can always leave 1 at the trailhead and go explore with the other, giving you a backup plan if something goes wrong. Also, don't knock rock crawling till you've done it. I was hooked when I had to negotiate lines in 3 dimensions, managing my cab tip and everything.

Other personal thoughts, consider sticking with a lower trim. I bought the Rubicon thinking I could enjoy 90% of what's out there and not have to dump more money into it. $10k in parts and driveway projects later, I can enjoy 90% of what's out there WITHOUT scraping my belly all over the place. That was the kicker. It might be a product of where I live(North of Seattle), but they seem to build all gatekeepers out here to try and keep stock vehicles out unless you're not afraid of body damage. I've almost ripped 2 fenders off, and countless frame/skid bolts have been gouged before I lifted and put on 39's. If I had to do it again, I'd buy a 2 door Willys or Sport S and slap 60's on it immediately. That would get me out of regearing, allow me to go big tires right out the gate, and not have to buy beadlocks twice. Also, don't buy beadlocks. You don't need them unless you're prepared to upgrade your steering. I learned that the hard way.

Finally, don't be afraid of offroading with the manual. It is WAY easier than I thought it would be. Any time you need to worry about the clutch, you're not touching the gas. You literally just let off the clutch enough to climb the obstacle and manage clutch/brake to start/stop movement as you revise your line. Gas only comes in between obstacles, or you'll already be in the proper gear (usually 2nd in 4L). Plus, you never overheat, unlike some of the torque converter idiots who's solution to everything is MORE SKINNY PEDALL!Z!! Most of them are smarter than that, so I'm mostly kidding. . . Mostly. My XJ was an auto.

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[392scat]

Just order a wrangler already 4lyfe ???. Don’t forget about the $7500 tax credit on the 4XE it would probably cover the cost of the Rubicon package you want.

 

[392scat]

Just order a wrangler already 4lyfe ???. Don’t forget about the $7500 tax credit on the 4XE it would probably cover the cost of the Rubicon package you want.

Haha well the 4XE can’t have the recon? At least it’s not listed. But if I did a 4XE I’d have to use my wife’s Bronco down payment (my money anyways) and replenish that with the tax credit.

 

[Monster1926]

Haha well the 4XE can’t have the recon? At least it’s not listed. But if I did a 4XE I’d have to use my wife’s Bronco down payment (my money anyways) and replenish that with the tax credit.

You’re right it’s not available on the 4XE

 

[OldGuyNewJeep]

*I’m a 2 door guy, any perks to the 4 door besides access for crib midgets?

The 4 door guys will try to convince you that there are, but this 2dr, 6sp, Rubicon owner is here to tell you to go with your gut. Is there even a slight chance you’ll look at that 4dr and think it’s ugly, and that you should have gone with the 2dr? If yes, you have your answer.

I’m on my 4th summer with mine and I love it. The 6sp 2dr soft top configuration is as pure as you can get, and pretty soon it will be extinct. Europe already banned sale of the 2dr, and manuals have been dying a slow death for years. EVs will be the final nail in the coffin.

 

[392scat]

The 4 door guys will try to convince you that there are, but this 2dr, 6sp, Rubicon owner is here to tell you to go with your gut. Is there even a slight chance you’ll look at that 4dr and think it’s ugly, and that you should have gone with the 2dr? If yes, you have your answer.

I’m on my 4th summer with mine and I love it. The 6sp 2dr soft top configuration is as pure as you can get, and pretty soon it will be extinct. Europe already banned sale of the 2dr, and manuals have been dying a slow death for years. EVs will be the final nail in the coffin.

Good to know! Honestly, I’ve always said, “a 4 door Wrangler?!?”

But recently I’ve grown to not hate them. I have no use for the extra 2 doors outside of the fact it’s easier to unload dogs and a telescope.

 

[Badfish]

Haha that was the first one I got a quote for, I assure you as an electrician, I have nothing against electric ?

I’m slightly nervous about it being new, the exorbitant cost down the road for batteries and the initial cost. But I don’t plan on a lot of tight, technical trails, as of now!

some EV's have decent warranties on the battery (tesla 8yr/120k mi) so based on your usage this may not even apply on the cost of replacing a battery if you turn over vehicles rather quickly. I can't speak to the 4xe... being an EV owner I wouldn't do any hybrid system.

 

[392scat]

I came from a sports car + commuter to my Wrangler being my DD (Sports car got wrecked at a red light), so I might be able to offer a bit of insight.

No regrets at all. That being said, I'm waiting for the market to cool down to get another sports car. Cadillac's Blackwing is making me drool, but it is a bit out of my price range without putting our next house purchase in jeopardy. I would recommend the 2Door all day long. It is still huge. A 2 door is bigger than the XJ I had in college. The extra maneuverability on the trail is worth 2" of lift in my opinion. That being said, it can be squirrely on road. If constant road corrections will bother you (or drive your wife crazy after the fact), go 4 door. It's already gigantic, so if you're stuck with a 4 door you won't notice on the road.

Reliability, depends on your handiness. If you don't mind fixing things, there can be lots of problems, but they're easy to address. If you drop it at the dealer for every squeak or noise, it might drive you and the dealer crazy. Mechanically they're pretty good, and the dealer will address actual issues (anything with a dash code).

2 Vehicles is better than 1 on the trail, much safer. If you plan on joining a group, you'll have help that way. But if you're going out by yourself, this is an easy way to justify having 2 offroad vehicles so the not-stuck one can get the stuck one out. You can always leave 1 at the trailhead and go explore with the other, giving you a backup plan if something goes wrong. Also, don't knock rock crawling till you've done it. I was hooked when I had to negotiate lines in 3 dimensions, managing my cab tip and everything.

Other personal thoughts, consider sticking with a lower trim. I bought the Rubicon thinking I could enjoy 90% of what's out there and not have to dump more money into it. $10k in parts and driveway projects later, I can enjoy 90% of what's out there WITHOUT scraping my belly all over the place. That was the kicker. It might be a product of where I live(North of Seattle), but they seem to build all gatekeepers out here to try and keep stock vehicles out unless you're not afraid of body damage. I've almost ripped 2 fenders off, and countless frame/skid bolts have been gouged before I lifted and put on 39's. If I had to do it again, I'd buy a 2 door Willys or Sport S and slap 60's on it immediately. That would get me out of regearing, allow me to go big tires right out the gate, and not have to buy beadlocks twice. Also, don't buy beadlocks. You don't need them unless you're prepared to upgrade your steering. I learned that the hard way.

Finally, don't be afraid of offroading with the manual. It is WAY easier than I thought it would be. Any time you need to worry about the clutch, you're not touching the gas. You literally just let off the clutch enough to climb the obstacle and manage clutch/brake to start/stop movement as you revise your line. Gas only comes in between obstacles, or you'll already be in the proper gear (usually 2nd in 4L). Plus, you never overheat, unlike some of the torque converter idiots who's solution to everything is MORE SKINNY PEDALL!Z!! Most of them are smarter than that, so I'm mostly kidding. . . Mostly. My XJ was an auto.

Tons to take in here! I’ll have to drive both to see what I think. But, you wanting another sports car says it didn’t scratch the itch! Personally I haven’t done much car work but I have every tool imaginable for it so I doubt it would be an issue. I’m just not sure about rock crawling, the sound is awful in videos lol. I’m not one to want to beat up a 50-60K car. That doesn’t mean I don’t want to have fun in it, I just don’t think I want to scratch it to hell grinding on rocks lol. But I also said I’d never take my challenger to a track so everything changes in life! I have considered a Rubicon 4XE, Sahara 4XE, Rubicon in 2 and 4 doors and a Willys. It’s hard to choose because realistically as of now the willys is more than I probably need. But as a Jeep fan Rubicon means something and the look, hood etc I dig. So I think at the end of the day I’d see a rubicon and say, “why didn’t I do that?”

 

[392scat]

some EV's have decent warranties on the battery (tesla 8yr/120k mi) so based on your usage this may not even apply on the cost of replacing a battery if you turn over vehicles rather quickly. I can't speak to the 4xe... being an EV owner I wouldn't do any hybrid system.

Im trying to not turn them over quickly but I apparently have a short attention span. I think the 4XE is 10 years? Why wouldn’t you do a hybrid? This is kind of my thought too, I’m afraid of jumping into that so early. But it was the 1st model that made me want to switch. But 60K and you don’t know the reliability on it? ?

 

[Badfish]

Im trying to not turn them over quickly but I apparently have a short attention span. I think the 4XE is 10 years? Why wouldn’t you do a hybrid? This is kind of my thought too, I’m afraid of jumping into that so early. But it was the 1st model that made me want to switch. But 60K and you don’t know the reliability on it? ?

nothing negative from me on hybrids...I think they are great vehicles and you get benefits of both worlds. For me it just comes down to preference really. Part of me thinks of having two systems can have more to go wrong...or on the flip.. you always have a backup system!

 

[392scat]

nothing negative from me on hybrids...I think they are great vehicles and you get benefits of both worlds. For me it just comes down to preference really. Part of me thinks of having two systems can have more to go wrong...or on the flip.. you always have a backup system!

Gotcha! Life would be much easier if Jeep and Ford and Dodge and Chevy would just send me a ZL1 and a Corvette, Challenger redeye, Ram, Bronco on 35’s, Wrangler Rubicon and a Wrangler Rubicon 392 for free.

 

[Some Random Guy]

Tons to take in here! I’ll have to drive both to see what I think. But, you wanting another sports car says it didn’t scratch the itch! Personally I haven’t done much car work but I have every tool imaginable for it so I doubt it would be an issue. I’m just not sure about rock crawling, the sound is awful in videos lol. I’m not one to want to beat up a 50-60K car. That doesn’t mean I don’t want to have fun in it, I just don’t think I want to scratch it to hell grinding on rocks lol. But I also said I’d never take my challenger to a track so everything changes in life! I have considered a Rubicon 4XE, Sahara 4XE, Rubicon in 2 and 4 doors and a Willys. It’s hard to choose because realistically as of now the willys is more than I probably need. But as a Jeep fan Rubicon means something and the look, hood etc I dig. So I think at the end of the day I’d see a rubicon and say, “why didn’t I do that?”

I traded my commuter for the wrangler because the sports car was getting the same MPG on my new commute. Then I lost the sports car, so that’s where the itch is coming from. I had both for a period of time. The itch got bad while the wrangler was in the shop. Normally I’m too busy wheeling to miss the car!

 

[Pig-Pen]

If youre wife is nixxing the 392 wrangler than no bronco for her!

now you dont have to worry about two car payments, problem solved.

 

[Lightsped]

Had an Evo and S2000 since new (still have S2000). The turn in and grip on these cars is spectacular. Steering ratio is very quick as well. One thing I grew tired of, was everyone wanting to race or rev their motor when they would see the Evo. S2000 is rarely driven at 16k miles currently.

Now I have a two door Willys. I can comfortably drive in the slow lane on the interstate. No one bothers me about racing which is refreshing. My Willys is a 3.6 manual. I really do like this setup. I could have selected a Sahara or Rubicon, but I like old school roll-up windows and lack of tech in the Willys. All the screens and driver aids in many new cars is not for me. I have had no issues with this vehicle. The manual is fun to drive. I am not the typical commuter who has to have a phone in one hand and a Starbucks in the other. I enjoy driving. This Jeep will be used as a daily with occasional trail rides. Not interested in rock climbing at all.

 

[392scat]

Had an Evo and S2000 since new (still have S2000). The turn in and grip on these cars is spectacular. Steering ratio is very quick as well. One thing I grew tired of, was everyone wanting to race or rev their motor when they would see the Evo. S2000 is rarely driven at 16k miles currently.

Now I have a two door Willys. I can comfortably drive in the slow lane on the interstate. No one bothers me about racing which is refreshing. My Willys is a 3.6 manual. I really do like this setup. I could have selected a Sahara or Rubicon, but I like old school roll-up windows and lack of tech in the Willys. All the screens and driver aids in many new cars is not for me. I have had no issues with this vehicle. The manual is fun to drive. I am not the typical commuter who has to have a phone in one hand and a Starbucks in the other. I enjoy driving. This Jeep will be used as a daily with occasional trail rides. Not interested in rock climbing at all.

Thanks for your insight!! Yes to racing though, people think I want to race them everywhere. The only real perk is most people won’t even try and challenge me in a lane that ends because they know they’ll get obliterated. Which they always do. ?

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