JLU to JL?

[bthomp]

I've seen threads on JL vs JLU and JL to JLU - but I don't recall seeing a JLU to JL topic. This is something I am thinking about. Brief context; I bought a 3.6 JLUXR 3 years ago and love it - great vehicle. Then I bought the 392XR and I love it - great vehicle - plus it's fast. Both are built exactly like I want.

Living in Colorado, I drive them both the way they're meant to be driven, and I actually like driving the 3.6 on trails a bit better because it's lighter and I love the crawl (it has 4.88 gears). I really love both of my JLs, so here's the problem - I am rarely ever driving the 3.6, because why would I? Same car, the right answer is always the 392. Even though I like the crawl better, driving up the Colorado mountain roads it's never actually the choice I make. Why not be able to accelerate up the passes like I'm driving a muscle car?

So that got me thinking - maybe if I had a two door with the turbo 4 - I would have a second jeep that I would actually drive. It would actually be a different experience and when I drove the turbo 4 before, it was pretty fast. The other thread on the 2026 seats not folding forward aside (as that is annoying), it's something I've been thinking about. The JLX seems like it would be alot of fun.

If anyone has any helpful insights, or real world experience making the switch, would appreciate the perspective. I really do thoroughly enjoy both of my Jeeps, they look like I want them to look, but the 6 rarely gets driven.

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[cripton805]

Keep the 392 and invest the rest of the $$$. lol

Seems like you're happy with what you have and you will ignore every other car. Just drive the hell out of it.

 

[2nd 392]

You answered your question within your question. Why keep the 6 paying ins, license and maintenance on it when the V8 is the Right one the vast majority of the time ? Find a good used reasonably priced JLR if you must have an occasional toy to play with and insure accordingly.

or put 4.88’s in the 392 so it will crawl better. It’ll burn a little more gas but nowhere near the second vehicle expense.

 

[y2kcbr600]

I've seen threads on JL vs JLU and JL to JLU - but I don't recall seeing a JLU to JL topic. This is something I am thinking about. Brief context; I bought a 3.6 JLUXR 3 years ago and love it - great vehicle. Then I bought the 392XR and I love it - great vehicle - plus it's fast. Both are built exactly like I want.

Living in Colorado, I drive them both the way they're meant to be driven, and I actually like driving the 3.6 on trails a bit better because it's lighter and I love the crawl (it has 4.88 gears). I really love both of my JLs, so here's the problem - I am rarely ever driving the 3.6, because why would I? Same car, the right answer is always the 392. Even though I like the crawl better, driving up the Colorado mountain roads it's never actually the choice I make. Why not be able to accelerate up the passes like I'm driving a muscle car?

So that got me thinking - maybe if I had a two door with the turbo 4 - I would have a second jeep that I would actually drive. It would actually be a different experience and when I drove the turbo 4 before, it was pretty fast. The other thread on the 2026 seats not folding forward aside (as that is annoying), it's something I've been thinking about. The JLX seems like it would be alot of fun.

If anyone has any helpful insights, or real world experience making the switch, would appreciate the perspective. I really do thoroughly enjoy both of my Jeeps, they look like I want them to look, but the 6 rarely gets driven.

The two biggest detractors of the two door are space and smaller fuel tank. Other than that, the 2d 2.0t is fun with 4.10s.

 

[Skeethree]

I've seen threads on JL vs JLU and JL to JLU - but I don't recall seeing a JLU to JL topic. This is something I am thinking about. Brief context; I bought a 3.6 JLUXR 3 years ago and love it - great vehicle. Then I bought the 392XR and I love it - great vehicle - plus it's fast. Both are built exactly like I want.

Living in Colorado, I drive them both the way they're meant to be driven, and I actually like driving the 3.6 on trails a bit better because it's lighter and I love the crawl (it has 4.88 gears). I really love both of my JLs, so here's the problem - I am rarely ever driving the 3.6, because why would I? Same car, the right answer is always the 392. Even though I like the crawl better, driving up the Colorado mountain roads it's never actually the choice I make. Why not be able to accelerate up the passes like I'm driving a muscle car?

So that got me thinking - maybe if I had a two door with the turbo 4 - I would have a second jeep that I would actually drive. It would actually be a different experience and when I drove the turbo 4 before, it was pretty fast. The other thread on the 2026 seats not folding forward aside (as that is annoying), it's something I've been thinking about. The JLX seems like it would be alot of fun.

If anyone has any helpful insights, or real world experience making the switch, would appreciate the perspective. I really do thoroughly enjoy both of my Jeeps, they look like I want them to look, but the 6 rarely gets driven.

I have 2 JLU's and recently added a 2 door to the fleet with the intent of keeping it at a vacation home in VT. The change in driving dynamics is like switching from a limousine to a go-kart. The two door is really fun to drive, can make a u-turn in my driveway and gets great gas mileage. Now my plan is to leave one of the JLUs in VT and bring the two door down to NJ. Take the top off and keep it in the garage for all the nice days. As long as you don't need a place for "stuff" or need to frequently carry more than one passenger, you'll love the 2 door. Driving it immediately takes me back to the '70s, having a '75 Renegade CJ-5 as a daily driver pre-marriage, pre-kids, although I do not miss the zipper windows from those days at all.

 

[3TV]

I've got two JLURs right now, both 392s. And I've got a JLR as well. They each have their purpose. The first 392 is the most built, on 40s, so it is the one that is taken on the most difficult trails. The second 392 is my wife's daily driver and is stock. It is super smooth and comfortable on road trips, but still capable enough offroad that if we see a dirt road heading off into the distance, we can explore it if we want to. The 2-door was purchased for a towed vehicle to ride on a trailer behind a pickup and slide-in camper. The 2-door is pretty well built as well, on 39s. The 2-door with a 2.0T is really the most fun to drive around town and on moderate to difficult trails, so for me it is a perfect toad. The 2-door just feels more like a Jeep should feel, and less like an SUV should feel. It is much nimbler on trails, and with 4.88 gears it is fairly peppy, even with 39s. I think your plan is a good one. Lose the 3.6 4-door and get a 2.0 2-door.

 

[Wabujitsu]

JLU to JL - the definition of shrinkflation.

 

[bthomp]

I've got two JLURs right now, both 392s. And I've got a JLR as well. They each have their purpose. The first 392 is the most built, on 40s, so it is the one that is taken on the most difficult trails. The second 392 is my wife's daily driver and is stock. It is super smooth and comfortable on road trips, but still capable enough offroad that if we see a dirt road heading off into the distance, we can explore it if we want to. The 2-door was purchase for a towed vehicle to ride on a trailer behind a pickup and slide-in camper. The 2-door is pretty well built as well, on 39s. The 2-door with a 2.0T is really the most fun to drive around town and on moderate to difficult trails, so for me it is a perfect toad. The 2-door just feels more like a Jeep should feel, and less like an SUV should feel. It is much nimbler on trails, and with 4.88 gears it is fairly peppy, even with 39s. I think your plan is a good one. Loose the 3.6 4-door and get a 2.0 2-door.

Really helpful insight. Thx!

 

[kah.mun.rah]

https://www.jlwranglerforums.com/forum/threads/4-door-to-2-door-jl.157762/

 

[Stetson]

I had a ‘19 Sahara that was my daily and our tow behind for our RV. Fantastic jeep, loved it. I decided a few months ago I wanted to try something different so I got a 2 door Willy’s. Also fantastic.

We tow the new Willy’s behind our RV and I took the back seat out so the dogs had a place to ride when we were out and about.

I found the 2 door is really a 2 seater…for us anyway. I keep the backseat in the basement so the dogs can ride. In hindsight, I would probably have gotten another 4 door as being able to take a couple of extra people is nice and still have room for the pups.

My wife has a 392 so we just said if we ever need to bring extra people we’ll take her jeep. One of those things that sounds good, but doesn’t work as well in practice.

I do love the 2 door, short turning radius, drives sporty. If I had to do it again, I would buy a 4 door Willy’s for the extra room.

 

[Heimkehr]

In hindsight, I would probably have gotten another 4 door [in lieu of the JL Willys] as being able to take a couple of extra people is nice and still have room for the pups.

My wife has a 392 so we just said if we ever need to bring extra people we’ll take her jeep. One of those things that sounds good, but doesn’t work as well in practice.

Why can't the 392 serve the mission brief that you allude to in the first sentence?

 

[Stetson]

Why can't the 392 serve the mission brief that you allude to in the first sentence?

I don’t always have access to my wife’s jeep. Little things like a couple of us going to lunch at work. I can’t drive. When we go camping we now have a small vehicle we tow. In the past we had a bigger one that could carry 4 people plus the dogs.

Nothing that is a show-stopper or cause for me to get rid of my 2 door, but if I had to do it again I would probably get a 4 door.

Just my 2 cents

 

[gato]

JLRX with the 4.56 gears and 2.0T is light and fast, and ready for most Colorado trails out of the showroom, with decent crawl ratio.

 

[bthomp]

JLRX with the 5.56 gears and 2.0T is light and fast, and ready for most Colorado trails out of the showroom, with decent crawl ratio.

I imagine so. I'm looking at a couple MY26 here locally and most have 4.56 gearing. Unfortunately my favorite one has 35's and only 4.11... Likely 'fine', but who wants 'fine'? Would lack some punch off the line and be a noticeable drawback when crawling.

 

[Ramboy]

I've seen threads on JL vs JLU and JL to JLU - but I don't recall seeing a JLU to JL topic. This is something I am thinking about. Brief context; I bought a 3.6 JLUXR 3 years ago and love it - great vehicle. Then I bought the 392XR and I love it - great vehicle - plus it's fast. Both are built exactly like I want.

Living in Colorado, I drive them both the way they're meant to be driven, and I actually like driving the 3.6 on trails a bit better because it's lighter and I love the crawl (it has 4.88 gears). I really love both of my JLs, so here's the problem - I am rarely ever driving the 3.6, because why would I? Same car, the right answer is always the 392. Even though I like the crawl better, driving up the Colorado mountain roads it's never actually the choice I make. Why not be able to accelerate up the passes like I'm driving a muscle car?

So that got me thinking - maybe if I had a two door with the turbo 4 - I would have a second jeep that I would actually drive. It would actually be a different experience and when I drove the turbo 4 before, it was pretty fast. The other thread on the 2026 seats not folding forward aside (as that is annoying), it's something I've been thinking about. The JLX seems like it would be alot of fun.

If anyone has any helpful insights, or real world experience making the switch, would appreciate the perspective. I really do thoroughly enjoy both of my Jeeps, they look like I want them to look, but the 6 rarely gets driven.

I’ve had 3.6 pentastars (3), a 392 Rubi and two 2.0 turbo 4 cycl hurricanes. I have one 3.6 and one 2.0 now. Compared to all of the above, the 2.0 hits the sweet spot for me in terms of performance and reliability. You can really get some cruising speed out of the 2.0 however on a long trip I recently took, my mileage would typically dip to around 14 MPG. But with normal everyday driving it hangs around 17-18. In retrospect I didn’t really get bad mileage with the 392, around 15 MPG in town and when cruising with the cylinder shut off it would be better plus the muscle car performance is nice, but the 2.0 gets up and goes (0-60 in 6 secs). Plus when I drove my 392, all of the muscle car enthusiasts on the road wanted to race me. Just my $.02 worth.

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