Takes some getting used to...

[Reinen]

That's the Live Front Axle as opposed to Independent Front Suspension. You'll get used to it, it's the Jeep being a Jeep.

Remember, the charger was designed and built to be a fast highway vehicle. For the Jeep, highway performance always has been and still remains a completely "oh, that too" afterthought. It is a slow go over anything off-road vehicle first and foremost.

The JL's highway performance is actually remarkably good for a Jeep. I'm really pleased with how well it performs on the highway. However my reference point is a 1990 YJ, which was like riding a bucking bronco down the highway and keeping it in a straight line was like herding cats. It was really great back in the 55 MPH speed limit days because it seemed like you were flying at least 85.

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[old mike]

It's all relative.

Going from this to the Jeep, the Jeep feels like a Zen retreat.

Aldo, you have a beautiful spider, which sounds like a line from an Addams Family holiday special.

Without going into details, the dreams for my own Jeep build go back a number of decades and had the benefit of encouragement and inspiration coming from chats with past Fiat and Ferrari employees who were nostalgic about Enzo's apparent post-WWII infatuation with Jeeps.

I have integrated and will integrate many of their suggestions. But, I ended up being given a set of the little red Abarth scorpion center caps for those magnificent wheels; they're around here somewhere; and I like them. But, I can't find a use for them since there's no place for center caps on the wheels I'm using.

So, I just comment here. I've never sent a message to anyone and probably don't even know how to receive one if somebody sent me one. But, if you can tell me how to receive one and send me an address that isn't where you store your vehicles. I could probably find the center caps, put them in an envelope, and send them to you as spares or whatever.

 

[SDE]

I just seem busy in the Jeep. Always correcting to keep it from wandering in the lane. It's kinda like a helicopter, you are constantly busy flying that thing. I know it's a Jeep and I know Jeeps drive different.

My 2022 XR was like that until I installed an adjustable LCA. After that, it holds the lane just as well as any other car I had.

 

[aldo98229]

Aldo, you have a beautiful spider, which sounds like a line from an Addams Family holiday special.

Without going into details, the dreams for my own Jeep build go back a number of decades and had the benefit of encouragement and inspiration coming from chats with past Fiat and Ferrari employees who were nostalgic about Enzo's apparent post-WWII infatuation with Jeeps.

I have integrated and will integrate many of their suggestions. But, I ended up being given a set of the little red Abarth scorpion center caps for those magnificent wheels; they're around here somewhere; and I like them. But, I can't find a use for them since there's no place for center caps on the wheels I'm using.

So, I just comment here. I've never sent a message to anyone and probably don't even know how to receive one if somebody sent me one. But, if you can tell me how to receive one and send me an address that isn't where you store your vehicles. I could probably find the center caps, put them in an envelope, and send them to you as spares or whatever.

That is very generous of you, Mike!

My Spider actually got a set of Abarth center caps from a fellow Spider owner, from the Fiat 124 Spider forum --like those below.

If you want to privately share photos and dimensions of your center caps, I can offer them on the Spider forum.

 

[lowmpg]

Solid axle vs. not. For me personally I enjoy the feedback and actually having to drive, not just sitting there waiting for a commute to end. The only time I feel like I really have to work in any way driving a Wrangler is when I find myself in wind gusts over 25mph. Other than that, I don't feel like it is any level of work.

 

[Shark01]

But…..For me this is probably my last Jeep, my last stick shift, and something that I will pass on to one of my Grand Kids.

And they will say……..”Gramps, what the hell is wrong with this dinosaur? It has too many foot things. And where is D on this shift lever? And why doesn’t it have a 20” touch screen?”

 

[Ang1Sgt]

And they will say……..”Gramps, what the hell is wrong with this dinosaur? It has too many foot things. And where is D on this shift lever? And why doesn’t it have a 20” touch screen?”

LMAO! My 44 year old son looks at my very BASE Willys and says the same thing. Too Noisy, to much effort even though I take this places he would never in his 2017 Chevy Silverado with the Off-Road package!

 

[Deleted User 38384]

My wife has a 2021 Subaru Forester sport, and when I drive that thing the bucket seats on it are so narrow that long drives end up hurting my butt. I'm 6'5 and I have a pretty wide pelvis to say the least, I'm not fat, but I definitely got some wide hips. The Jeep is perfect for that. Seat is wide and comfy if you ask me.

I always like messing around with the Jeep on the highways and the amount of play in the steering wheel always makes me laugh. It's probably like 1/8 of a full turn I can go back and forth and the wheels won't move. It's pretty hilarious. Like the second poster, I knew what I was getting into when I bought a Wrangler. Personally I get great enjoyment out of the ruggedness and craziness of owning this beast.

I run my tires pretty high, 36 all around in the summer, and 38 all around in the winter. Winter in Texas lasts about 2 months on average with 60 to 80° days in between, currently running the 32 inch destinations that came with the Willys Sport EcoDiesel.
Honestly I think I've only ever aired down once when I knew I was going to be getting in the mud I took it down to 25 on my old OEM rims. The rims I have now are Icon Rebound Pros, so I'd feel pretty comfortable going down to 15 PSI or maybe even 7 if I was feeling really ballsy.

It's a pretty fun vehicle, I wouldn't ever trade mine in, EVER! But yeah to answer your original question, it's definitely a rough beast to drive around. Definitely lacking creature comforts, I mean even the Sahara which is their luxury trim has manual lumbar support.

 

[Dakota Jeeper]

I was quite concerned with how our jeep drove as well when I first got it. Really squirrely on the highway and super taxing on the interstate. Each rubicon will vary in its caster angle and I would say ours was on the low side. I put the longer LCA on from mopar and it made a huge difference. I am tempted to grab some adjustable at some point to get my caster around 7 degrees.

I have also gotten used to it a little more and I also run tire pressure at around 28 all the time. Feels more planted now and not nearly as stressful to drive on the interstate unless it is windy, then its a chore.

 

[CptFloridaMan]

It does take some getting used to but I’d never trade it. It feels fine to me.

However, at work we have a house car(work at a hotel), and it’s a range rover and whenever I drive it I find myself correcting the steering for nothing. So I self induce the wrangler feel.

 

[old mike]

That is very generous of you, Mike!

My Spider actually got a set of Abarth center caps from a fellow Spider owner, from the Fiat 124 Spider forum --like those below.

If you want to privately share photos and dimensions of your center caps, I can offer them on the Spider forum.

I found them. I have four. They are two inches in diameter and look exactly like the photo you posted, with one important difference. They aren't mounted on the black plastic center cap insert itself. They are just shiny red covers with the scorpion and the dashed line around the perimeter in silver. They have an adhesive backing with a layer of "peel off" slick membrane protecting the actual adhesive. They're brand new, never used.

I don't know whether they have or do not have any value; but, I want nothing for them. If someone wants them, has a real use for them, and sends me a valid address, I will put them in a USPS bubble envelope and send them.

 

[DaltonGang]

Well, you could always buy a Tesla, and have it drive you around.

 

[RAMSTEEL]

I first jeep wandered a lot and it was an effort to drive (21 Rubicon, new, 2" lift, 35" tires) but every jeep since then...invest in a quality alignment by a shop that knows offroad vehicles (specifically jeeps helps), balance the tires (again, a great shop, not a good shop), and a quality (don't be cheap) steering stabilizer (sorry, the factory is weak) and you'll be fine. The last two jeeps track straight and are a joy to drive. It's not cushy like the TRX but it's a quality ride that I feel like I'm driving the jeep and not fighting the jeep.

 

[Bryce]

My other 4 wheeled vehicle is a 2001 F-250 4x4 with 243K miles on it. I describe keeping it on the road like stirring a pot of soup. The Jeep is a pleasure to drive compared to it. It's all relative.

 

[Heimkehr]

Love my new Jeep! Not in love with the way it drives.

I just seem busy in the Jeep. Always correcting to keep it from wandering in the lane. It's kinda like a helicopter, you are constantly busy flying that thing. I know it's a Jeep and I know Jeeps drive different.

Anyone else feel like that? Maybe it's just something I have to get used to.

My stock JLU steers as sweetly as I could expect for a SFA vehicle.

That said, determining the correct tire pressure is critical, as many owners are aware of. My only quibble is that when I'm towing my loaded motorcycle trailer -- 1,300 lbs. all in -- driving at highway speeds in particular requires constant, if minor, course corrections. This can get a bit tiring over the course of an interstate trip, thus compelling a rest stop or three (which I should to anyway to stretch my legs.)

Once the trailer is unhitched, it's all good again.

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