Current Willys comes with 32" tires and 3.45 gears.
Pricing is definitely going to be interesting. Of course they'll probably wait until near last minute to release pricing.
This in a nutshell. I feel like I wasted money on my '23 Willys Sport. But still, an LSD with an aftermarket selectable front locker will get you through almost anything. But, in order to get there I have to install an onboard ARB single or dual compressor setup along with the differential work, which will have to wait until I install the lift, 35" tires, and regear. Why? Because who wants to pay a mechanic to open their differential twice when you can buy once and cry once? I guarantee that my aftermarket mods are going to come in higher than having a rear locker, a slight lift, and 33s from the factory, but only time will tell with that one.
Also minus the E-DiscoHere’s the Willys rear locker switch. It’s basically the same as the Rubi, minus the Front position.
Mine stickered for 56
Sure but that is not my point, the starting cost of the Willys is 42.6k today. Welcome to 50k starting price so maybe yours would be 66 now.
get a Torq mechanical front locker. no wiring or air compressor needed. zero issues. only $500 and you can install it yourself. thats what myself and a few friends are running. they work great. i have a stock lsd in the rear to pair with it. eventually ill change that to something else.
They just need black lug nuts and I would buy one! Definitely nice. I tried to order a 2023 but trans woes in production so I settled on a manual 2 door Rubicon that just came available. I would order a 2024 2 door manual Willys but after the plant stopping the manuals, and Covid shutting down the plant in 2020 just after I ordered a 4 door, I’m sure the plant would just burn down if they saw Another custom order from me. 0 for 2 so far!Well, well, well. The 2024 Willys suddenly looks like a damn nice package.
Full disclosure: I’ve always been a Rubicon guy. I’ve owned four Jeeps, and three of them have been Rubis. However, with all the new features and the full float axles, the 2024 Rubicon looks like it’s going to be expensive indeed.
Enter the Willys. With the new rear locker, the Willys could be the Wrangler to get next time. The devil will, of course, be in the details. If Jeep has neutered the Willys in some other way then forget I wrote this. But I rarely use the front locker on my Rubi (I use the rear a lot). I love the e-disco, but I could make do with manual disconnects.
I’m also digging the new gray seats and dash on the Willys. Looks like it has become a really nice package.
) and technology updates - These are things that I couldn't care less about, and IMO are one of the biggest factors that have ballooned vehicle prices industry wide. When I ordered, a big draw of the Willys Sport to me was the lack of all the bells and whistles while having a couple nice upgrades to the offroad capability from the factory.
But at this point I think I would probably go with a base sport optioned with the LSD... if it's still available as an option anyway, and build it up from there. I'd still have to deal with the screen and the grill, but at least the diff would be what I want.
You probably will realize you dodged a bullet with the manual in the end. The 8AT is amazing with the bonus that you get to avoid all the manual issues they're having. I love a good row your own gearbox but I just think the Wrangler unit is a poor transmission for the job.
