Is it Wrong……

[Conman]

You know the High Altitude comes from the factory with 20 inch wheels.

Sponsored

 

[Shark01]

From your post it sounds like you're leaning toward the Rubicon because that's what others expect... but you're leaning toward the High Altitude because it's what you want. Follow your bliss...

There is a bit of this as Chocolate Thunder would attest to, but I do genuinely appreciate that it is a better starting point for mods, which I don’t know how much I would do.

I have two classic cars, one of which I’m always messing with, the other I don’t stray from factory. They have similar values so it’s not like one is a pile, the car just strikes me as one I want to do stuff on.

Thanks for all the comments…..

 

[Shark01]

Have you ever owned a Jeep before?.

If you do end up offroading you are gonna end up modifying the high altitude to look more like the Rubicon and will regret not getting the Rubicon.

If your idea of offroading is going on relatively easy dirt roads (easy to slightly moderate) the stock high altitude will serve you just fine.

Keep in mind the stock Rubicon is very well mannered on the road and I really doubt itll be much different than the high altitude.

No, would be my first…..as I replied above, I have no idea if the mod bug will hit or not

 

[Shark01]

Go with the Rubicon because you'll be future proofed for most of the modifications that you might want to do. The stronger axles alone would be enough to push me to Rubicon. You'll get those, lockers, sway bar disconnect, steel bumper option...Please go Rubi.

You will buy a jeep. you'll start connecting with other jeepers and plan rides. you'll start considering mods, whether you need them or not. If you go with the High Altitude, best starting mods will be Rubi axles and maybe rubi fenders.

I have read a few sources that say the High Altitude does have the Rubicon axles…..is this not the case?

 

[Shark01]

Color-matched painted bumpers...

LOL, although that “mini G Wagon” look is something I really like. I hear people are not happy with how the black plastic pieces fade over time.

 

[Bocephus]

I have read a few sources that say the High Altitude does have the Rubicon axles…..is this not the case?

Wow - yes I think you’re right, sorry for the disinformation.

 

[John VonJeep]

High Altitude for you. Get it in something like Hydro Blue to piss off the haters. Really makes that painted front bumper pop.

 

[kah.mun.rah]

I have read a few sources that say the High Altitude does have the Rubicon axles…..is this not the case?

The H.A. has the same axle housing as the Rubicon but not the same gear ratio and does not have lockers.

 

[Shark01]

Have you looked at a Bronco?

Yes as a Ford guy (have two currently) they would take away my card if I didn’t consider them. But here are the issues:

1. I can’t buy one - Ford has clustered that whole program from the start, visited a dealer a couple of months ago and his wait list is 1.5 years long….this isn’t a Ferrari guys. Just last week, they stopped new order placement for at least a month

2. The long break between producing them makes me think Ford is in this for a cash grab, and letting dealers tack on rediculous market adjustments doesn’t make me feel different

3. They just look awkward…..

4. I can order a Jeep whenever I want at a discount….how cool is it that I can buy a new one with my specs at the same price as a 2 year old 25k mile one in a meh color at CarMax.

5. Finally , I have wanted a Wrangler since 2007 when I saw my first Unlimited. I have never felt that way about a Bronco….

 

[Shark01]

You know the High Altitude comes from the factory with 20 inch wheels.

Yes, and I HATE black wheels so they would get repainted or replaced. I have no problem issue with the size.

 

[entropy]

LOL, although that “mini G Wagon” look is something I really like. I hear people are not happy with how the black plastic pieces fade over time.

The high altitude look is not popular in the Jeep enthusiasts community because it has too many features that deviate the look from the original Jeep and some of them are detrimental to off-roading.

1) Painted fenders and bumpers. Jeeps "should" have metal bumpers. Even though standard bumpers aren't metal (on the outside), the black color matches a more classic, off-road look. Fenders on a Jeep are almost disposable as they get scratches easily on the trail and might even get ripped. Plastic black fenders are cheap and easily replaceable.
2) Painted tops. Jeeps traditionally had soft tops, so the black hard top makes it look more "jeep like".
3) Large wheels. 20 inch I think?. This is perhaps one of the worst features. In terms of performance, this leaves little rubber so the contact patch between tire and dirt is not optimal. This is bad for offroading, reduces traction and can cause more flats. In terms of looks a good rule of thumb is the tire should be about twice the diameter of the wheel. So to make a 20inch wheel look good and function well on a jeep you need a massive 40inch tire.

Now with this said. Painted fenders and tops are becoming much more widely accepted, not sure why the bumpers aren't yet. Just like 4 doors now are widely accepted. It is all kinda subjective because even the 2 doors are not THAT similar to the original willys. Big wheels are a tough one as they truly handicap the offroad capability of the Jeep.

Then, that is what the enthusiast community thinks. Not what you think, not what average person thinks. Your Jeep will still look great to many people. And if you like the looks of the high altitude, then who cares.

Now, money wise. The tires on the Rubicon, the 4:1 transfer case, the sway bar disco, and especially the lockers. You are looking at about 4~6k if you decided to ever add those aftermarket without including tires and differential gearing. And the difference between high altitude and rubi is $450? hmmmm.....

 

[Shark01]

High Altitude for you. Get it in something like Hydro Blue to piss off the haters. Really makes that painted front bumper pop.

Yep, that color with the silver seats is exactly what I keep building in the configurator.

For a Rubicon, I need to see the Reign color before I make a call but if the order bank is really closing in October, I may not be able to.

 

[Grumps]

Personally, I would say the Rubicon. It's what I ordered after all. As far as getting the mod bug, it's a jeep. You will get the mod bug to some level or another if for no other reason than to make it "yours".

 

[Shark01]

The H.A. has the same axle housing as the Rubicon but not the same gear ratio and does not have lockers.

Thanks for the confirmation, I am aware the HA has a 3.73 year set instead of the 4.10, but better than the 3.45.

 

[Steph1]

Lookwise to me, the Rubicon wins all the way. Function wise, a non-rubicon with the Selec-trac transfer case takes the palm if you live in a winter climate, and then modify to your liking.

That Selec-trac just can't be beaten in a winter storm, just like the Rubicon's rock-trac can't be beaten in rockcrawling.

Sponsored