Moving down to a Sport

[HungryHound]

Buy an old TJ and build it up. Probably last longer than a JL.

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[Capricorn]

I’m thinking of trying to swap my 4-dr Rubicon to a 2-door JL Sport (not S). My Jeep is generally not a daily driver. I will have a car during good weather, and carpool with my wife during bad weather or during winter. That being said, anytime I need to go my own way outside 40+ and dry, I’ll be driving the Jeep. For anyone that’s moved down to the stripped down version from any higher trim or a more luxurious vehicle, did anything bother you? I’m a bit excited for a simpler vehicle. At first I thought the manual locks/windows would bother me, but in a 2 door I’m thinking they won’t. It will get built up quickly to 60’s or 70’s with at least 39’s.
Only option I’m definitely getting is A/C (and thus upgraded radio). HD electrical would be cool, but there’s one locally without it.
I’ve gathered unless it comes with factory half doors, the wiring is not present to add power locks/windows later if I realize I made a mistake. If anyone knows different I’d appreciate the correction. No car payment might be worth the risk though. Katzkin seats might get added.
Anything else I should consider when pondering this?

I did for a few months - went from a fully loaded Rubicon to Willys Unlimited Sport. Three things did bother me which I initially thought that it wouldn't - minor issues but gets on your nerves.

1. Manual door locks: Initially thought I can live with it but locking and unlocking doors when you run two to three errands a day gets to be painful.

2. U-Connect: If you just listen to the radio - no issues. But I always play Pandora, YouTube Music or listen to audio books from my phone. Every time you shut off the engine, you have to go through a ritual of starting all over again by waiting for bluetooth to connect, press the "Media" button and play your files.

3. Off Road Pages: Can't live without it - I run tire pressure display in the dashboard console and monitor coolant/oil temps among other things on Off Road pages on U-Connect.

 

[Some Random Guy]

I did for a few months - went from a fully loaded Rubicon to Willys Unlimited Sport. Three things did bother me which I initially thought that it wouldn't - minor issues but gets on your nerves.

1. Manual door locks: Initially thought I can live with it but locking and unlocking doors when you run two to three errands a day gets to be painful.

2. U-Connect: If you just listen to the radio - no issues. But I always play Pandora, YouTube Music or listen to audio books from my phone. Every time you shut off the engine, you have to go through a ritual of starting all over again by waiting for bluetooth to connect, press the "Media" button and play your files.

3. Off Road Pages: Can't live without it - I run tire pressure display in the dashboard console and monitor coolant/oil temps among other things on Off Road pages on U-Connect.

Great! I’m looking at dropping to a 2 door. Do you think manual locks would be less of a problem there? I’m 6’2”, so reaching the passenger door isn’t a big issue.
As for U connect, I use Carplay. I don’t think it’s an issue for me if I upgrade radio which comes with the A/C.
Finally, I currently monitor tire pressure via my dash. Am I understanding I lose this without the 8.4” stereo? My Hutchinsons do require monitoring.

 

[Some Random Guy]

Buy an old TJ and build it up. Probably last longer than a JL.

Probably right! I have considered a JK so I can go Atlas. It just seems a bit too much work to get where I want.

 

[Capricorn]

Great! I’m looking at dropping to a 2 door. Do you think manual locks would be less of a problem there? I’m 6’2”, so reaching the passenger door isn’t a big issue.
As for U connect, I use Carplay. I don’t think it’s an issue for me if I upgrade radio which comes with the A/C.
Finally, I currently monitor tire pressure via my dash. Am I understanding I lose this without the 8.4” stereo? My Hutchinsons do require monitoring.

Less painful with manual locks for a 2 door I guess but then there is the swing gate too.
I don't think you can do CarPlay with the basic Uconnect but you can play your media with either bluetooth or aux cable.
You don't lose TPM option on your dash. But without Off Road pages on the Uconnect 8.4" screen, you would have to constantly toggle on the dash if you would like to see oil pressure or oil temp etc as you can only see one thing at a time.
And one more thing - there is no "auto" option on climate control.

Edit: And other painful thing are the sideview mirrors. You have to adjust them manually. Not a problem on the driver side - you can adjust them sitting behind the wheel but the passenger side will require getting down and adjust taking a few attempts to get it right, or you would need another person to do help you out.

 

[The Last Cowboy]

No, you get a tire pressure reading with the base infotainment.

The only PITA of manual locks is that there is no lock button on the tailgate. You have to unlock and relock with a key every time you open and close it. With my 2013, I learned to unlock and then twist to lock after I opened the gate. That way when I shut it, it was locked and I didn’t have to get the key out and turn it again. Don’t know if you can still do that.

 

[rcadden]

Man Jeep folks are so funny. Is there any other community where it's not crazy to want to go *down* in features?

My first car was a '99 Hyundai Accent. Base as base could be, lol.

After driving that for 8 years, I swore I'd never drive anything with manual locks/windows again.

My Sahara Altitude has damn near every option they offered and I love it.

I also can't fathom why anyone would voluntarily drive a 2-door anything.

But the great thing is we're all Jeepers. Power (or manual) to ya!

 

[dsgrey]

Welcome to the world of the lowly sport. Granted mine's a 4-door with some options. I originally wanted a 2-door almost 3 years ago but I vaguely recall the 4-door was only about $2k more so the wife talked me into a 4-door. It's seen beaches and plenty of mountain trails without any issue.

 

[GATORB8]

Man Jeep folks are so funny. Is there any other community where it's not crazy to want to go *down* in features?

My first car was a '99 Hyundai Accent. Base as base could be, lol.

After driving that for 8 years, I swore I'd never drive anything with manual locks/windows again.

My Sahara Altitude has damn near every option they offered and I love it.

I also can't fathom why anyone would voluntarily drive a 2-door anything.

But the great thing is we're all Jeepers. Power (or manual) to ya!

You should check out the high end packages on 911s, gets expensive to delete conveniences.

There’s something special about bucking practicality for performance. Just like driving a manual, automatics are more practical in every way, but rowing your own gears changes your engagement in the driving experience.

 

[Beach Bum 89]

I just picked up my 2 door Willys Sport last week. Base model with Willys package. Got a/c so upgraded the U-Connect. Yes it does have Apple car play. I got the half doors so it changed to power locks & mirrors. You can pull up the tire pressure & cycle thru several things in the instrument cluster. I got the tow package so larger battery & alternator as well as the aux switches. I didn’t downgrade from a higher end Jeep, just thought I’d give some info about what a base model has

 

[Pinky Tuscadero]

You are not wrong, and I am considering just cashing out the Rubicon and ordering a Sport S. I’ll also be weak and order more options if I go Sport S. I guess it comes down to instant gratification, lol.
I also think my trade-in value dropped quite a bit since Jan and a Sport S may have to wait 6 months to stay out of loan territory. And who knows what happens in 6 months. As @GATORB8 said, that also eats into axle upgrade timeline.
Just noodling through it, and as always appreciate different perspectives from the members.

If your "cashing out" start looking today - these gas prices may just be starting to go up and regardless of Wrangler resale values the fear factor of our dinosaur cars will drop the resale at least short term very quickly so grab the cash while its available before we see $5 a gallon (or more) and anything less than 40 mpg will seem undesirable to the sissy desk jockeys at the dealerships
Oh yeah, just get the stripped one if your thinking about it, why do you even need the ac ? won't the doors and top be off when its warm enough to use it ? get the stick too - goin low tech ? - then go low tech !

 

[Some Random Guy]

If your "cashing out" start looking today - these gas prices may just be starting to go up and regardless of Wrangler resale values the fear factor of our dinosaur cars will drop the resale at least short term very quickly so grab the cash while its available before we see $5 a gallon (or more) and anything less than 40 mpg will seem undesirable to the sissy desk jockeys at the dealerships
Oh yeah, just get the stripped one if your thinking about it, why do you even need the ac ? won't the doors and top be off when its warm enough to use it ? get the stick too - goin low tech ? - then go low tech !

It’ll be a stick. Can’t go back to high school and not have A/C, for that I’m too spoiled.

 

[Minilla]

Ok...so I don't know why no one has mentioned this to you. The controls are linked to the radio options you choose, not whether you have AC or not.

The 5 inch radio which is standard in the base has ALL AIR controls on the three big knobs below the radio. The knob closest to driver in the fan speed, middle knob is temp (and if you AC it adds the AC button to the center of that knob) the passenger knob changes from legs all the way to windshield defrost. Also the instrument cluster is the base version. Giving you a very small window for information and ANALOG fuel and temp gages.

When you upgrade to the 7 inch radio all three knobs change functions below the radio. Middle is volume for example. The instrument cluster also becomes upgraded to what you were used to in you old jeep.

The biggest change you will see is the changing around for where your AC controls are. Just keep in mind that selecting AC alone will NOT get you the bigger screen and instrument cluster.

I have the base sport. I've played with everything the rubicons have and honestly prefer the controls with the sport 5 inch radio. I do not like touch screens in vehicles. Honestly I am looking for ways to completely remove the stock radio and have a extremely basic and simple radio with Bluetooth capability, and a tiny little screen and install a communications system in the place of the radio...

I'm old school personality though. Drove humvees and MRAPs in afghan for 2 years.

 

[Pinky Tuscadero]

It’ll be a stick. Can’t go back to high school and not have A/C, for that I’m too spoiled.

Its a slippery slope you know, once you check off one small thing like ac... soon you'll be ordering a loaded Hemi 392 - lol ?

 

[LarryB]

I went from a loaded sports sedan to a Sport. The lack of power windows only bugs me if I need to put down the passenger window to talk to someone. I don’t care about power seats (never move them anyway) and most other things. To me, it just feels like a Wrangler should.

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