Looking to buy a Rubicon - advice please.

[DanW]

It is the golden age for engines in Jeeps. They are the best ever offered. They each have advantages, and I don't think any have a real downside.

I went 3.6 because I wanted the manual transmission and being that I ordered on the first day they opened it up, the V6 was proven and the 2.0 was not only new, but still months away from production. Today, the 2.0 has a track record and it is very good. TIme will tell, but I think it has shown to be strong out of the gate. It has handled hard off-roading and is outstanding on the road, getting mileage that was unimaginable for a Jeep not too long ago. (The V6 is close, but can't match it.)

If I didn't love manuals so much and I were buying today, I'd go with the Jeep on which I could get the best deal.

Btw, where I live, you couldn't test drive both because they don't have any. People are buying them literally as the truck unloads. All they have are a few Gladiators.

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[Stormin’ Moorman]

I went 3.6 because K.I.S.S

 

[viper88]

And after that... when they put the supercharged Trackhawk one in there

Wishful thinking!

 

[Creeker]

A lot of the decision is based on usage.
For the trails, a 3.6 is more advantageous.
Concerned with reliability of a 2.0. That 4cly motor has to push a bunch of weight.
The 3.6 just keeps everything simple and is tried and true.
Rented a 2.0 Sahara once. Did fine on the hwy.
For me, a 3.6 is the way to go

 

[viper88]

I went 3.6 because K.I.S.S

I agree..a lot to be said for simple. In a ideal world anyway. Problem is both engines have complex components that the engines rely on to run. I don't think the engine choice is as important. Actually it's more the peripherals, everything attached to the engines. It's much more probable a vehicle is inoperative from a faulty peripheral then a failure from a actual engine component. A chain is only as strong as it's weakest link. FCA has problems with it's ESS system, software, charging, batteries. There's a problem somewhere and they need to fix it. Weird things happen when the batteries are bad. Many rigs get stranded with a bad ESS battery.

Ironically cars are much more complex and complicated today but are actually more reliable then cars from just 5-6 years ago. The dependability/relibility gap between brands is closing. According to JD Powers anyway.

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