Jeep snobbery - RANT

[Montanabound]

I just wave, I don’t even look if someone waves back. Probably just flipping me off lol

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[dragoneggs]

I bought this guy back in August. It's a 2020 with 30K miles and I know absolutely nothing about Jeeps. People ask me about the mods, and I tell them I bought it like that and that's when I get the snub. Like if you didn't build it yourself then you're obviously not a real Jeep enthusiast. Maybe I like the looks and had a little bit of money and didn't want to hassle with the build. Maybe I want to learn about Jeeps (which is why I'm here) and maybe I don't want to go rock crawling but I do want to hit some decent off road trails. Who cares what Jeep you have, I'll wave at you anyway.

Looks great… and you seem to be well outfitted up front. Play around with the winch if you don’t have experience. Using a winch for the first time when you really need it and don’t have others around is not the best.

The best part of owning a Jeep for the first time is you can bet it is far more capable than you. Enjoy and ignore the snubbers.

 

[Whaler27]

Think of it is way: if you truly only cared about meeting needs, a used Toyota RAV4 would do the job. It’d take care of your “needs” a lot more cheaply, efficiently, and reliably.

But what'd be the fun in that, right...?

Well, I agree with that, kinda — but I never suggested that my jeep purchases were “needs”. They’re clearly “wants“.

Heck, my unmodified jeep would have taken care of any unmet vehicle needs and most wants, but that doesn‘t mean the jeep or the subsequent mods are a search for status or the admiration of others. I often do ghings just because I think they would be fun.

 

[Whaler27]

Interesting thread! Back in 1997 a 16 year old me with a part-time job in retail used to fantasize about owning a green w/tan top Sahara. By the time I could afford one (maybe), I let people convince me they weren't safe (rollover), or that I didn't need one. In the mid 2000-s I became good friends with a guy who sold Subarus, and it was all over from there.

Now, on an overseas deployment, I ventured into Military Auto Sales to see what's what. After talking myself out of a Challenger, then a Mustang, then a new Harley, I finally pulled the trigger on a Jeep. I'd love one of the latter, but doesn't make sense where I live to garage a 50k sports car, or a 20k motorcycle most of the year when there are other fun options around (Yay adulting!). I thought about a Willys or a Rubicon, but, there isn't much of a trail scene where I live, so not paying for features I'll never use. My Sarge Green JLU Sport S was supposed to go into production 12/23, and I can't wait. Yeah, it may never see trails, but it's my $$$ and what I want.

I've been haunting the forum for a while now, and the snobbery was something I noticed pretty much immediately. That, and the way some members consistently jump on folks (deserved or not) when they ask questions. My Jeep probably won't make any trail runs (but, who knows), and you can call it a "mall-crawler" all you want. I don't go to malls anymore, and all I do is work, so maybe "work-crawler" is more accurate. To me, it's about the heritage, something cool, and a check-the-box I wanted to check.

I'm pretty curmudgeon-y, but I'm sure I'll wave to fellow Jeepers, and, if I keep it longer than a few months, maybe start passing out these ducks I keep hearing about. Everyone here, you do YOU, especially if it's what YOU want, and it makes YOU happy.

Oh, I'm still debating a new Harley too...

????

This is great.

I want a Sarge green two door too.

For me, your post was made even better due to your reference of deployment. One of my sons is still deployed as I write.

Thank you for your service. God bless all of you who carry the freight for the growing proportion of our population that lacks the gratitude, duty, commitment, and gonads to serve.

 

[Whaler27]

The Jeep waive is a fun tradition, but as I think more about it, we rural folks tend waive at everybody, just as we generally say “good morning” or “hello” when we pass on the sidewalk. The UPS guy, the neighboring farmer, the Garbage guy, the teenage kid in the lifted 70s highboy… Nobody needs special vehicle credentials to get a waive from me.

The first time I visited New York it was like being inserted into a Twilight Zone episode. Everybody seemed pissed, nobody made eye contact, and people on the sidewalk looked right through you. If I lived there I probably wouldn‘t see a waive unless I drove a jeep. ?

 

[Shibadog]

I just wave at all Jeeps. I don’t pay a lot of attention to mods or models. A plain old Sport is more capable than most drivers are. My limited slip “S”with decent tires and a winch goes everyplace I want to take it, and frankly that is All that matters to me. Over the years I’ve drug a couple Rubi’s out of places they shouldn’t have got into in the first place. Spend your $$ on what makes you happy. I’ve seen a lot of heavily modded “off road” Jeeps that are basically mall queens, and it’s always fun watching the new guy with “lockers” on an icy road?. (Found out myself decades ago the lockers (ARB’s on a TJ) may leave a bit to be desired on ice ?). Learn your Jeep, and enjoy it. If somebody doesn’t like it, it’s no problem-their opinion won’t change what you have for supper tonight. Oh, and for the record I’d have a Sahara with limited slip and the full time option if they built a 2 dr.

 

[bigfishbobby]

This is going to ruffle some feathers, but here it goes nonetheless.

I have owned 9 Wranglers over a 12-year period; a mix of Saharas and Rubicons, 2-doors and 4-doors, soft tops and hardtops, manuals and automatics. I have taken them to the beach, to the mountains, to the desert, to work, to the mall and to National Parks. I have driven them in snow, in the rain, over ice, rocks and sand dunes; in July 120 degrees in Death Valley and in -25 degrees in January in Colorado.

Eight of those Wranglers were JKs. My first one was a 2008 2-door Sahara I bought used: it was a base with a 6-speed manual and a soft top, but I was hooked. At one time I owned two of them side-by-side: one was a 2-door Rubicon for the trails; the other was a 4-door Sahara for long road trips in winter. What I have always loved about Wranglers is that I can pack and go at any time, any time of year, without concern for the terrain or the weather; I just know my Jeep will get me there and back.

My last JK was a top-of-the-line 2018 JKUR Recon. It was the most expensive Wrangler I ever bought but it was a disappointment: the assembly quality was terrible; it rattled and squeaked; the body panels were grossly misaligned; the ride was harsh. To make matters worse, my local dealer was a total dickhead with the warranty. Hardly what you expect from a $52,000 price tag —even after having owned several JKs before. In hindsight, it was a mistake buying that last Rubicon.

When I shopped for a JL I test drove a dozen of them; a mix of Rubicons and Saharas, 2-doors and 4-doors; manual and automatic. I had relocated from California to Washington so I found myself doing less extreme off-roading, but more extreme weather. The availability of Selec-Trac was more appealing than a swaybar disconnect or lockers; and after the harsh ride on that JK Recon, comfort grew in importance.

I found a sweet deal on an unsold 2018 Sahara sitting 1,000 miles away. I picked it up a year ago: the Selec-Trac is just awesome in the snow; the drive and ride is refined and comfortable; it can tackle the off-road trails around here with ease; the fit-and-finish is excellent, and it’s been totally trouble-free so far. I am tickled happy with it.

However, I find something’s fundamentally changed with the advent of JL. Perhaps the new prices make JLs too “precious.” Or JL is attracting a greater number of first-time buyers who don’t know the Wrangler “code” yet. Or FCA has gone overboard and turned Wrangler into a status symbol. Whatever the reason, I find it is now common to be looked down upon for not driving the “right” type of Wrangler. I now feel I have to justify why I drive a Sahara, something I never had to before. Some may not realize this, but Sahara owners regularly get accused of being poor drivers, bad off-roaders, mall crawlers, even poseurs, all because we drive a Sahara. Ironically, half the time we get lectured by Rubicon owners who never even take their Jeeps off-road. I try not to be oversensitive to it, but it is just weird.

Do Sport owners get this too?

One of the nice things of being part of the Jeep community was the feeling of close camaraderie, no matter what Wrangler you drove. I never felt I had to justify why I drove a Sahara, or whatever. A Wrangler was a Wrangler and that was that.

Feel free to reply, agree, disagree, joke, flame, share your hypothesis, but please let’s keep it civil.

As a relatively new Jeep owner (4 within the last 2 years including 2 392’s), and someone who is completely hooked, I appreciate your honesty. The knowledgeable people see our 392’s out and about and gawk over them rambling about the features and I basically say “yea it’s fast”. ? Sure, I’m a dumbass newbie and probably have a few more bucks than brain cells, but I always listen, learn, and ask questions to learn from the people nice enough to educate me. There are those out there that basically snicker and roll their eyes though. Simple fact is that I’m not too interested in the wiring diagrams and torque configurations at 5k above sea level in a foot of snow. I live in Florida, take my Jeep on what I feel are adventures (for me at least), and appreciate a pretty Jeep that hauls ass. That should be enough to be accepted by the community. I have found a few people that are really cool and helpful with my stupid questions as I have added some stuff to my Jeeps and I am super grateful for that. My job is to do the same for someone else if I can.

 

[wibornz]

Well, I agree with that, kinda — but I never suggested that my jeep purchases were “needs”. They’re clearly “wants“.

Heck, my unmodified jeep would have taken care of any unmet vehicle needs and most wants, but that doesn‘t mean the jeep or the subsequent mods are a search for status or the admiration of others. I often do ghings just because I think they would be fun.

doing things because of it being fun is way better than doing things because of needs.

you get it. Many don’t.

 

[TX_Ovrlnd]

The first time I visited New York it was like being inserted into a Twilight Zone episode. Everybody seemed pissed, nobody made eye contact, and people on the sidewalk looked right through you. If I lived there I probably wouldn‘t see a wave unless I drove a jeep. ?

Worst state I have ever had to live in, by far. I was lucky it was only two years. Almost the whole place is like that, except for some pockets in the upstate area.

 

[The Fixer]

The first time I visited New York it was like being inserted into a Twilight Zone episode. Everybody seemed pissed, nobody made eye contact, and people on the sidewalk looked right through you. If I lived there I probably wouldn‘t see a waive unless I drove a jeep. ?

This is more of an NYC thing, because everyone is in a rush and on a mission to get somewhere. I think anyone on here from the City would tell you the same.

Also, the Jeep drivers in NYC don't generally wave either . I've driven in from Jersey a few times in the last year with my Mojito JL and no one waved back at me. I get some waves here in NJ; more so in PA and when we travel up through upstate NY into VT.

 

[NewJLU2019]

Good morning Jeep World. Hope everyone had a safe and good Holiday.

Said this before Jeepers are a different breed I have found out. Whatever Jeep you have is yours so enjoy.

I have been waving at Jeeps around DFW and most wave back and others might not see or go about their business or just don't wave. So be it, their loss. I know I waved.

The other day driving down the road by home saw a Jeep ahead which I have learned to spot a Jeep way down the road. Getting closer and we both waved and it was my wife running to the store. We both got a good laugh from it.

All Jeepers have a great year and be safe.

 

[Cllowe]

I'm 58 & never had a Jeep (any model) bout to take delivery of a 21 sport. First snobbery I noticed was sharing with some of my friends, and none of them have ever had a Jeep either. "you should have gotten a Rubicon". I asked why & the response was "cause they are badass". I did my homework & got the right model for me & I'll likely never see anything more than snow & a gravel road with it.

Rubicon’s are greatly overpriced and half the functions you can only use when ever Jeep decides you can. I bought a sport and put a little $ in it and it’s just as if not more capable of any rubicon.

 

[Sparty]

Rubicon’s are greatly overpriced and half the functions you can only use when ever Jeep decides you can. I bought a sport and put a little $ in it and it’s just as if not more capable of any rubicon.

 

[InVinoVeritasty]

Rubicon’s are greatly overpriced and half the functions you can only use when ever Jeep decides you can. I bought a sport and put a little $ in it and it’s just as if not more capable of any rubicon.

Define "little"

 

[Jeep Dude]

Rubicon’s are greatly overpriced and half the functions you can only use when ever Jeep decides you can. I bought a sport and put a little $ in it and it’s just as if not more capable of any rubicon.

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