Finally got to see one in person - brief review

[FrenchSSGTMike]

Cause you use more of the engine breaking to manage your vehicle’s speed, and don’t use your breaks as much, so :
1 - People following you don’t think you’re about to stop everytime you use your breaks just to slow down a bit (I sometimes follow these stupid drivers who hit their breaks every 10 seconds, and don’t get that they could just stop accelerating instead of breaking)
2 - Going downhill, chances to get your breaks overheating are close to none with a manual, so are your chances not to be able to break eventually
3 - Chances to see a guy driving a manual eating or using his phone are much lower than with an auto too lol

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[Rambeaux]

Test drove a JLUR today. MAAAN, freakin' NICE!! I can really feel the 4.10's in it. I knew I was gonna like it but, I didn't think I'd like it THAT much. This one had the infotainment. I'm gonna have to have that in mine as well. Come on Sting-Ray!

 

[thenewrick]

I'm looking forward to the local dealership getting a 2-door with a manual to try out.

I'd really like to race one with my Baja and see what happens. If the Wrangler had everything taken off and street tires I bet it wouldn't be too far off.

 

[thenewrick]

I got to drive a manual transmission Sport Unlimited today. Shifter was pretty easy to use, ultra light clutch pedal. It had AT tires so didn't drive well on the road. Was difficult to keep it straight. No dead pedal for left foot is rough. Was tight on my feet and knees too. I have big feet and I'm a big guy.

Felt pretty cramped. Left arm couldn't rest on window which is a bummer but normal in modern cars with the B pillar pushed forward for safety. Engine definitely not powerful no matter which way you slice it. Gearing and torque are set up for rock crawling, and that's okay. But, really needs another 50 hp. Surprisingly long gearing too. Really set up for rock crawling and MPG which makes sense. Played with the 4 wheel drive shifter some. It was more difficult to get into gear each mode than I expected. For people who want a traditional, old-fashioned feeling vehicle this is it. It really drove a lot like a 2000 Wrangler. Lots of wind noise at 50 mph.

There's really nothing else like it. It's a single purpose vehicle for sure. Since I don't have any rocks to climb over I'm looking at a Ram 1500 and a Ford Bronco now. I don't like that the Ram has the old 5.7L Hemi though.. and the Bronco isn't out yet. I'm just being patient and hoping for an all new Hemi, or refreshed 392 with eTorque as an option for the Ram 1500. And I might just get a Bronco if it has the Ecoboost 6 and lives up to the hype. Tried a 4Runner and it was awful. Felt old, sloppy, wobbly, and super slow as well.

 

[Sean L]

There's really nothing else like it. It's a single purpose vehicle for sure. Since I don't have any rocks to climb over I'm looking at a Ram 1500 and a Ford Bronco now. I don't like that the Ram has the old 5.7L Hemi though.. and the Bronco isn't out yet. I'm just being patient and hoping for an all new Hemi, or refreshed 392 with eTorque as an option for the Ram 1500. And I might just get a Bronco if it has the Ecoboost 6 and lives up to the hype.

Believe me the "Old" 5.7 hemi is no joke, It'll shove you in the back of your seat even in a crew cab truck. I am looking forward to the numbers of the ETorque version whenever that comes out sometime this year.

BTW, you've got a great buddy in your profile pic.

 

[thenewrick]

I've driven a few 5.7 Hemi's and I was thoroughly unimpressed. 400hp/tq just isn't enough for a 6k lb truck. The Mustang weighs almost half as much and has an extra 60 hp and it's still a pretty mild muscle car in stock GT form. I guess I'm of a younger generation and used to big power.

Thanks, he's a real sweet golden retriever.

 

[Sean L]

I've driven a few 5.7 Hemi's and I was thoroughly unimpressed. 400hp/tq just isn't enough for a 6k lb truck. The Mustang weighs almost half as much and has an extra 60 hp and it's still a pretty mild muscle car in stock GT form. I guess I'm of a younger generation and used to big power.

Thanks, he's a real sweet golden retriever.

Well with a Tesla like yours, I don't think much can really come close except for maybe a Hellcat. lol But 400 Hp in a truck is much better than 175 in the ones I first owned.

I have a Golden too, he's the best!

 

[thenewrick]

I don't expect the moon but options are nice. I like the 392 in the Scat Pack Challengers. Throw that in the Ram 1500 with eTorque and it would be swell.

I guess for me, If I can floor the throttle in 2nd and it feel like nothing and not scary or exciting at all, then it's not enough power. I like having just a little too much power. The Hellcat is excessive and I don't even desire 700 hp. 500 for a big Truck and 400 for the Wrangler would be acceptable.

Goldens are the best for sure.

 

[Dynomite1371]

I got to drive a manual transmission Sport Unlimited today. Shifter was pretty easy to use, ultra light clutch pedal. It had AT tires so didn't drive well on the road. Was difficult to keep it straight. No dead pedal for left foot is rough. Was tight on my feet and knees too. I have big feet and I'm a big guy.

Felt pretty cramped. Left arm couldn't rest on window which is a bummer but normal in modern cars with the B pillar pushed forward for safety. Engine definitely not powerful no matter which way you slice it. Gearing and torque are set up for rock crawling, and that's okay. But, really needs another 50 hp. Surprisingly long gearing too. Really set up for rock crawling and MPG which makes sense. Played with the 4 wheel drive shifter some. It was more difficult to get into gear each mode than I expected. For people who want a traditional, old-fashioned feeling vehicle this is it. It really drove a lot like a 2000 Wrangler. Lots of wind noise at 50 mph.

There's really nothing else like it. It's a single purpose vehicle for sure. Since I don't have any rocks to climb over I'm looking at a Ram 1500 and a Ford Bronco now. I don't like that the Ram has the old 5.7L Hemi though.. and the Bronco isn't out yet. I'm just being patient and hoping for an all new Hemi, or refreshed 392 with eTorque as an option for the Ram 1500. And I might just get a Bronco if it has the Ecoboost 6 and lives up to the hype. Tried a 4Runner and it was awful. Felt old, sloppy, wobbly, and super slow as well.

I don't know how big of a guy you are so to those comfort issues I can not comment. But to about everything else you said, I would disagree. I was just on 95 South for 30 minutes, cruise set at 68 MPH and one finger on the wheel. (those tires were over filled you drove, my guess) If I get on the accelerator my JLUR from a stop with the wheel turned at all, (like banging a right from a stop) , it will break the tires! The transmission NEVER SEARCHES for hearing, ever, not even with cruise control activated. The JL is not smaller than the JK, so I'm not sure what modern Jeeps you've driven... Or some of these things are just vastly different from one to the other because mine does not feel like anything you described, and I'm freaking Ocd as hell.

 

[Chemy350]

When people complain about the sound in the new JL, do they realize it is adjustable? Turn the bass down or treble up... The alpine sound system is actually very nice for the money.

 

[Dynomite1371]

At $1295 when I ordered, that system and screen are a steal!

 

[thenewrick]

I think with all-season tires, properly inflated, and maybe an alignment, it would drive quite a bit better.

The overwhelming sense of driving a Wrangler is that it's super expensive for how cheap it was to engineer and build. It's hard to get over that style premium. I imagine if the Bronco is a success and there are other competitors we'd see a big leap in Jeep engineering quality.

 

[Dynomite1371]

I think with all-season tires, properly inflated, and maybe an alignment, it would drive quite a bit better.

The overwhelming sense of driving a Wrangler is that it's super expensive for how cheap it was to engineer and build. It's hard to get over that style premium. I imagine if the Bronco is a success and there are other competitors we'd see a big leap in Jeep engineering quality.

Why was it "cheap" to engineer?

 

[thenewrick]

They basically took a 20 year old car, made a couple minor body tweaks, threw in an old engine and called it a day and marked it up 50% because some people thing Wranglers are cool. Pretty much. Cool factor and lack of competition does wonders for profit margins!

All trucks fit into this category. They're inexpensive to engineer and build and sell for bunches. They're the money makers for companies, that's why Porsche makes SUV's and Lamborghini. It is what it is.

My opinion on vehicle purchases is buy what makes you happy. If it's a Lux truck or a sports car, it doesn't matter how well engineered, or safe, or fast, or techy it is. Personal preference is king.

 

[kylebw7]

It isn't cheap or easy to develop/engineer the Cayenne or Urus. I'm on the engineering side wrt tires and those two vehicles have insane engineering. I'd almost call them a steal at their price. The JL on the other hand I agree with. I wish they would have gone up another ten thousand and moved it a little higher end.

To the guy talking about the 392 I have it in a charger and it's a fun motor. Only "mod" I've installed is cutouts and it's my favorite sounding obtainable vehicle I've ever heard in person (Koenigsegg ccxr my favorite overall). Wish they'd offer the 392 from factory in the Wrangler. Screw gas mileage. I don't care if my vehicles get 1mpg my fuel is always free

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