Neophyte here

[4thekids]

Hi All,
Looking to buy (or lease) my first JL (any Wrangler for that matter). I've been doing a lot of research and found this forum to be very helpful. I think I'm ultimately looking for a JLUS with Altitude package (heated seats and remote start are high priority for my wife). I also need it to be an automatic as she doesn't drive stick (and no way she is cool with me getting jeep that she cannot drive).
Anyway, I want to make sure I'm not missing out on a key feature. Truth be told I will not be climbing mountains with it. I live in NNJ snow I need something solid for snow, but we love OBX in NC and I'd love to drive it on the beach in Corova (northern tip of OBX). Side note: my daughter has ASD - we've done some jeep tours and have taken her in friends' wranglers with doors/tops down and she LOVES it. Truth be told this is what ultimately convinced my wife to get on board. I've wanted a Wrangler since I was 14.

I've spent many hours on this forum and it's super helpful. I just didn't find many (some-yes) first-timers like me. I guess my fear is....what am I missing out by not going for a Rubicon or even Sahara? And I still can't seem to lock down an answer on what exactly is a Willy's (I mean, I see the spec differences and different look, but is there a "theme" to it)? Oh- I' have been eying the Islander as well but my wife does not like the interior.

Last, I'm willing to travel far and wide for the best deal. I've seen a few suggested dealerships on here, including one in MD. Just curious if anyone has experience in Delaware with the zero sales tax? I've also heard NC tends to have a few known dealerships that are great to work with. Any suggestions there? Perhaps I can plan my next OBX trip to come home with my first JL!

Many thanks and sorry for the lengthy post.

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[Maller]

Last, I'm willing to travel far and wide for the best deal. I've seen a few suggested dealerships on here, including one in MD. Just curious if anyone has experience in Delaware with the zero sales tax? I've also heard NC tends to have a few known dealerships that are great to work with. Any suggestions there? Perhaps I can plan my next OBX trip to come home with my first JL!

Many thanks and sorry for the lengthy post.

Welcome to the Wrangler world. I'm on my 5th, my wife has a 4XE on order which will be her 1st. I've always done sport or Sahara, she's getting the Rubicon. It's all about what package has the features you want for the price you're comfortable with paying. Most things can be added later, but can be far more expensive and complicated. Tow package for instance will cost significantly more to add after compared to the factory installed price.

On the 0 tax topic, you would need to look at your state laws for registering a new vehicle purchase out of state. In CT, they look at the sales tax paid in the state you purchased the vehicle. If it's less than the tax owed in CT they charge you the missing amount. If you paid a hirer sales tax, you're out the overpayment.

BTW...we ordered from Craig Benner at Koons...5% under invoice...no local dealers would touch that on a 4XE.

 

[4thekids]

Welcome to the Wrangler world. I'm on my 5th, my wife has a 4XE on order which will be her 1st. I've always done sport or Sahara, she's getting the Rubicon. It's all about what package has the features you want for the price you're comfortable with paying. Most things can be added later, but can be far more expensive and complicated. Tow package for instance will cost significantly more to add after compared to the factory installed price.

On the 0 tax topic, you would need to look at your state laws for registering a new vehicle purchase out of state. In CT, they look at the sales tax paid in the state you purchased the vehicle. If it's less than the tax owed in CT they charge you the missing amount. If you paid a hirer sales tax, you're out the overpayment.

BTW...we ordered from Craig Benner at Koons...5% under invoice...no local dealers would touch that on a 4XE.

Thanks, Mark! Indeed one of the biggest tips I found here reiterated your point that aftermarket add-ons can be pricey. I want to make sure I'm thinking of everything as I don't want to be penny-wise and pound-foolish. The Tow package is a great call that I should include.

And I appreciate the contact at Koons. He will definitely be on my list to call and I'll make sure to reference you

 

[cgagnon99]

Hi All,
Looking to buy (or lease) my first JL (any Wrangler for that matter). I've been doing a lot of research and found this forum to be very helpful. I think I'm ultimately looking for a JLUS with Altitude package (heated seats and remote start are high priority for my wife). I also need it to be an automatic as she doesn't drive stick (and no way she is cool with me getting jeep that she cannot drive).
Anyway, I want to make sure I'm not missing out on a key feature. Truth be told I will not be climbing mountains with it. I live in NNJ snow I need something solid for snow, but we love OBX in NC and I'd love to drive it on the beach in Corova (northern tip of OBX). Side note: my daughter has ASD - we've done some jeep tours and have taken her in friends' wranglers with doors/tops down and she LOVES it. Truth be told this is what ultimately convinced my wife to get on board. I've wanted a Wrangler since I was 14.

I've spent many hours on this forum and it's super helpful. I just didn't find many (some-yes) first-timers like me. I guess my fear is....what am I missing out by not going for a Rubicon or even Sahara? And I still can't seem to lock down an answer on what exactly is a Willy's (I mean, I see the spec differences and different look, but is there a "theme" to it)? Oh- I' have been eying the Islander as well but my wife does not like the interior.

Last, I'm willing to travel far and wide for the best deal. I've seen a few suggested dealerships on here, including one in MD. Just curious if anyone has experience in Delaware with the zero sales tax? I've also heard NC tends to have a few known dealerships that are great to work with. Any suggestions there? Perhaps I can plan my next OBX trip to come home with my first JL!

Many thanks and sorry for the lengthy post.

welcome! I'm a newbie myself. I've driven sports cars the last 15 years, and I'm finally making the jump to a Wrangler. I always viewed them as a perfect second car (more a TJ than anything else), but my working arrangement makes it so I can justify a JLU!

I'm getting a JLU Sport Altitude as well. The Altitude is a nice "in between" for the Sport S and Sahara since it has the better Sahara brakes, the Sahara suspension (supposedly a bit "cushier", though whether it is or not I can't say for certain). You lose out on the 110v outlet, options to add leather, and some softer touch materials, painted fenders and available LEDs in the fender lights, and optional painted hard top, and included running boards (I bought a Sahara take off set for $70 on FB, so that was easy). You also miss out on (in my opinion) much uglier wheels and silver accents for the black versions on the Altitude. You also gain the MOPAR hardtop headliner for free

I built a ton of different models, and the Sport Altitude made the most sense financially. If I need a 110v outlet I'll buy an inverter. I'll source painted flares with LEDs if I get desperate.

I did the Sport Altitude and added: 6MT/V6, Cold Weather Group, LED Group, Anti Spin Rear Axle, Tech Package, 8.4" Radio w/ Alpine, Tow Package, Dual Top Group, and Safety Group. If you want the best deal, give Leon a call at Criswell, tell him Cole sent you from JL wrangler forums. He gave me 7% under invoice, take 2% off that 7% if you bring your own financing.

As others said, you need to understand laws in NJ, but I'd venture to say you're going to pay sales tax regardless when you register it! I lucked out and I'm living & buying in MD so it's not as confusing.

Good luck! Waiting is the hardest part!

 

[Rob97RR]

Hey there, welcome to the forum!

I just wanted to mention that I have purchased 3 separate vehicles from out of state in the last few years (We bought two from Virginia when we still lived in NJ, and we bought one from Wisconsin, shortly after we moved here to IL.)

In all 3 cases, the dealership calculated and collected the sales tax that we would owe in OUR home state, not the state we were buying the car from.

This policy may not be the same for every state, though, so as mentioned you definitely should ask your local DMV and the selling dealer if this is how it works there.

Good luck with your purchase!

 

[4thekids]

….
I did the Sport Altitude and added: 6MT/V6, Cold Weather Group, LED Group, Anti Spin Rear Axle, Tech Package, 8.4" Radio w/ Alpine, Tow Package, Dual Top Group, and Safety Group. If you want the best deal, give Leon a call at Criswell, tell him Cole sent you from JL wrangler forums. He gave me 7% under invoice, take 2% off that 7% if you bring your own financing.

As others said, you need to understand laws in NJ, but I'd venture to say you're going to pay sales tax regardless when you register it! I lucked out and I'm living & buying in MD so it's not as confusing.

Good luck! Waiting is the hardest part!

Hey Cole,
Thanks so much for all the info! This is very much what I had in mind as well. The Criswell dealership has been mentioned up and down this site and I really appreciate you giving me a direct contact. Leon is on my call list this week! Mind if I ask what you paid all in? When I call I might just ask to match it exact if the price is in my range. Otherwise I might have to knock off a package or two...

 

[4thekids]

Hey there, welcome to the forum!

I just wanted to mention that I have purchased 3 separate vehicles from out of state in the last few years (We bought two from Virginia when we still lived in NJ, and we bought one from Wisconsin, shortly after we moved here to IL.)

In all 3 cases, the dealership calculated and collected the sales tax that we would owe in OUR home state, not the state we were buying the car from.

This policy may not be the same for every state, though, so as mentioned you definitely should ask your local DMV and the selling dealer if this is how it works there.

Good luck with your purchase!

Thanks Rob great tips! I will definitely ask the dealer if they will incorp the NJ taxes accordingly. I'll likely buy in MD or VA and one of the known dealerships on this forum so I'm hopeful they will be well versed in what to do. Many thanks again.

 

[UTES]

One of the best heated items the Wrangler has now is the steering wheel. It comes on automatically when the temps are low - but I use it quite a bit more. It's got a button on the dash that's easy to reach and engage as well. My wife likes it so much she ordered a Mercedes GLC with a heated steering wheel too.

Hunter

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