One Jeep for the Long Term – Seasoned Advice Needed

[roaniecowpony]

...
Prius comment is pretty funny.

But very true.

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[MSparks909]

I don’t see this ever getting old, gas mileage be damned I’m so impressed with the Hemi that I’m selling my current “practical vehicle” which is a 2014 F250 6.7 Powerstroke and I just placed a deposit/order on a Hellcat powered TRX. I will not miss out on a Hellcat before they’re gone! I figure between the 392/TRX I’ll get 20mpg combined…but I’ll also have nearly 1200hp between both vehicles. That’s so American I can’t say no

 

[R3TRO]

I'm not sure what there is to 'build out' a 392 XR or a loaded Rubicon XR?! How about you keep the Audi and get a base Willys or Sport and start from there. I think that would be way more fun to build since you will see more gains with each modification. Not to mention if it's your daily, I'd be real hesitant to make major changes with the pressure of only the weekend to do so and have it rolling on Monday!

 

[aldo98229]

Coming out of a S5 nothing less than a 392 will suffice.

Rationalizing the purchase of a Wrangler with a 6.4L HEMI is pointless. Just get it and post photos. We love Jeep porn.

Cheers!

 

[Jamrock]

Coming out of a S5 nothing less than a 392 will suffice.

Rationalizing the purchase of a Wrangler with a 6.4L HEMI is pointless. Just get it and post photos. We love Jeep porn.

Cheers!

True There is nothing practical about a Jeep unless you live in a remote location with little or no road infrastructure.

You will buy it because you want it and you can afford it. It is a toy for big kids.

All the threads trying to justify the purchase from a financial perspective are a waste of time.

 

[Boogey]

I would get a Fully Loaded Willys XR.

Engine Reliability/Maintenance/care less than 392.
Will do 99% of what a Rubi can do.

But if money is not an option as you said, i'd go with a Rubi XR.
That 392 is exciting and fun for sure, but for how long would it carry on, the loud engine drone, the mileage, the over attention/worry about care and maintenance. It is a Piece of ART , a true beauty but not a daily for sure.
I personally see it as i have the extra money and buy this because i can, like that extra special car.
You have your daily and then you have that special one where you take out when you need to feel great.
Once you start driving this 392 every day for everything it will slowly over time lose its special feel and that kick like anything that is overused. It would be the "norm"...

Then again, if you get anything less , you would always want to tell yourself oh i wish i had gotten that but in the end, according to your needs, you do NOT need a HEMI with all the needed attention/care/time .
You need something true and tested and reliable to keep you going when you are far away from home.

Take your time.
We always buy what we want, but seldom what we need.
Good luck in your choice, whatever it is, they are all great options.

 

[alksion]

They sold you a 392 without breaks?!?

Haha sometimes it feels that way! Especially towing.

 

[viper88]

The timing is right. ICE is will soon be extinct. Buy the biggest baddest engine now. Not just with a Wrangler. Any enthusiast vehicle. Buy BIG. Personally I feel the Hemi will be more desirable in the future with EVs on the horizon. It has more potential to be a collectable.

 

[Monster1926]

I would get a Fully Loaded Willys XR.

Engine Reliability/Maintenance/care less than 392.
Will do 99% of what a Rubi can do.

But if money is not an option as you said, i'd go with a Rubi XR.
That 392 is exciting and fun for sure, but for how long would it carry on, the loud engine drone, the mileage, the over attention/worry about care and maintenance. It is a Piece of ART , a true beauty but not a daily for sure.
I personally see it as i have the extra money and buy this because i can, like that extra special car.
You have your daily and then you have that special one where you take out when you need to feel great.
Once you start driving this 392 every day for everything it will slowly over time lose its special feel and that kick like anything that is overused. It would be the "norm"...

Then again, if you get anything less , you would always want to tell yourself oh i wish i had gotten that but in the end, according to your needs, you do NOT need a HEMI with all the needed attention/care/time .
You need something true and tested and reliable to keep you going when you are far away from home.

Take your time.
We always buy what we want, but seldom what we need.
Good luck in your choice, whatever it is, they are all great options.

Surprisingly there’s 0 drone.

 

[Kansas JL]

I have a 392 XR coming soon. I see why you are asking all your questions, doing research, and you will get a lot of different opinions. I have a lifted on 35‘s with skid plates 2018 JLUR with 3.6L. It gets 15.5 mpg. We love it, and sold it to my kid. We will love our 392xr just as much and probably a lot more!
To me, when I grew up in the 80’s, I was a teenage car nut, like all my friends. We talked about could you image getting a brad new Cuda or SS chevelle with the big block motor brand new of the showroom floor. Day dreamed about the good old car days. This second round of car good old days window is closing yet again. Probably in a few more years it will be the 1970’s but hybrid and/or electric. ( not bashing, I have an electric daily as well)
i am not going to miss my chance to live that dream, and own something unique and special! The pandemic has taught me life is precious and a lot of stuff happens that we can’t control.

Live it up my friend! You can always sell it later if your needs change!

 

[John VonJeep]

Great arguments presented throughout. Do keep in mind that the 392 is quite a bit heavier than the V6 and therefore less capable on the trail.

The ultimate factory trail rig, at the moment, is the Rubi XR.

 

[TX_Ovrlnd]

They sold you a 392 without breaks?!?

I'm sure they took breaks during the sale. Unless we're talking about brakes, they should try changing to a stainless brake line.

 

[Chief_Dan]

Well, here is my 2 cents. I was going to vote JLUR XR, but the more I think about it & you saying that initial payout of money is not a concern, I actually voted for the 392 XR.

I have a 2020 JLUR 3.6L automatic & it is awesome. But, I want to trade it for a 392, but since I'm close to retirement, I elected to put that extra $30,000 into investments instead as I build my JLUR. Practicality won out on my end.

If the gas mileage & initial cost is not a deterrent, then GET THE HEMI, before you can't!

 

[raj21747]

Hi all. Not a noob to these forums but am close – hours, not days – to making my first and perhaps only Wrangler purchase. (I know, I know. That last statement is a huge assumption!)

Quick background: I’ve driven tons of JLU and JLURs in the last 3 years on test drives and long-term rentals. I almost bought one 2 years ago until my wife convinced me to get another Audi instead. So I’m not going into this completely blind.

I need some advice from this forum’s members who have been around the block a few times. I’m ready to drop my ’19 Audi S5 for either a 392 XR or a loaded Rubicon XR. Its been on my family’s radar for several years to buy a Jeep and we are now in a position where the switch makes sense. We see this purchase as my near-term daily driver for a few years that transforms into a long-term project vehicle that the whole family will enjoy building out and driving.

What’s it going to be used for?

• Daily Driver - for the next 2 – 3 years only and I only drive about 7k miles per year
• Mall Crawler - the curbs and potholes at my Publix are vicious!
• Driveway Queen - because I have no shame
• Rock Crawler - but only a little
• Overlanding - hopefully a decent amount

An important factor in how this is likely to be used: As much as I can say we want to be overlanding / crawling once a month, its probably going to be more like four or five times a year at most. The desire to build out an overland / crawler Jeep are more about spending time with the kids, teaching them how to build stuff and to help them understand vehicles better. The actual trips are icing on the cake.

So what’s my issue with deciding?
I love everything about the 392: fast, big, loud, less ubiquitous than a normal Rubicon. However, I’m worried the vehicle’s negatives will be a huge pain in the ass over the long-term: fuel consumption, extra weight, loud exhaust that never shuts up, etcetera; especially as it relates to doing a (mostly) overland build.

The flip side is the Rubicon, which everyone knows and mostly loves. It’s just not a 392!

Price is mostly irrelevant. What I don’t want to do is buy a 392 because its cool and then sell it / start over in 2 – 3 years’ time.

What say you? Again, remind you that I’m looking for something we can live with for a long time. If enough 392 owners / testers can tell me that my concerns are overblown, then great! I’m on the fence for what I believe are valid concerns though.

TLDR: Near term money isn’t an issue, but long-term reliability and drivability are. Can’t decide between the 392 XR and a loaded Rubicon XR. I want something that my family can live with for the long term – perhaps 10+ years.

You know you want the 392XR. I recently sold my 3.6 for the 392 and couldn't be happier. If money is not an issue, go for the 392.
- deep inside you know you are here to have people convince u to get the 392.

You will love it and won't regret it. Get it before it's too late. It's a beautiful machine. Power and capability. Most others (non-392) will be just as capable but won't put as big of a smile when you use the skinny pedal.

 

[Dwightrerskine]

…
- deep inside you know you are here to have people convince u to get the 392.
…

you’re not completely wrong.

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