The "hate" on Jeeps + Speed

[Zandcwhite]

My comment was, relative to what’s out there, a Jeep isn’t fast, and in my opinion, isn’t a good choice as a starting point to go fast. Driving a vehicle “fast“ for the conditions doesn’t make it truly fast in my mind. We can both pick scenarios where a vehicle isn’t designed to be but that doesn’t change what I interpret fast to be. The other scenarios in your can of worms list don’t seem relevant to my definition of a fast vehicle. But on that we will disagree it seems.

If truly fast isn't relative to the conditions, then no car is fast compared to a fighter jet.

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[Terrymo]

If truly fast isn't relative to the conditions, then no car is fast compared to a fighter jet.

Pretty sure we could both play this game all day…no hard feelings, you raise some good points, but not interested in a debate involving fighter jets or whatever follows.

 

[Reaper-1]

Why is it that a lot of people somewhat throw "hate" or "shade" on people who want a Jeep, but also want to drive fast? I've seen it in this forum, on YouTube, all over the internet. I get it, most Jeeps are used for exploring the scenery of the trails, and I am all for that. However, when the Jeep was originally created it was used to transport soldiers over any terrain, and as fast as possible. Key words there: any terrain and as fast as possible. I've dug deep into the "prerunner" scene and can say without a doubt that if a big ole boxy truck can do it, so can a Jeep Wrangler. FOX advertised their 3.0 Race shocks in a stock Jeep Wrangler, drifting and kicking up dirt like any other prerunner. There are a plethora of Gladiator owners who are slamming the dirt roads at high speeds, comparable to even a WRX or Tacoma. Cassie Currie, Debertti, KebbeTech, all of these are some examples of Jeeps going to high speeds and yes they are modified but they have the potential even with limited or minimal mods. I am not saying that a Jeep Wrangler Sport is going to be a podium finish in a rallycross, but at the same time, its not always about the car but the driver. So, yes a Jeep Wrangler *could* enter and win a rallycross. Sure independent suspension is better, but solid axles aren't impossible for fast offroad (or even on-road) travel.
Basically, TL;DR:
From what I have seen in my life, and online, and in person - The Jeep Wrangler is the vehicle that *can* go anywhere, and, in most cases, do anything. It can be a prerunner, and enter rallycross AND can overland or take the trail slow and explore.

Just my thoughts - no hate , no wanting to argue, just wanting to explain why Speed + Jeeps aren't a bad thing.

Dude lol it’s 2026 and everyone is going to complain about anything….hell people now a days don’t even know what gender they are ….so while the world keeps turning into the movie “idiocracy” make your jeep how you want it. If you want a jet engine in it….a lt4….a Harley 114 ci….cut the floor out and turn it into a flintstone mobile….DO WHATEVER YOU WANT…..at the end of the day YOU bought to make YOU happy. Who gives a fukkk

 

[Ratbert]

Pretty sure we could both play this game all day…no hard feelings, you raise some good points, but not interested in a debate involving fighter jets or whatever follows.

I'm gonna go ahead and say that no fighter plane is as fast as a photon before someone else takes it!

 

[Whaler27]

I've spent a good portion of my life trying to go fast in the desert. My first AMA National Hare & Hound desert racing trophy and my last are 30 years apart. Most of that time was racing the open class on dirt bikes. My best finish was 13th overall (first in class) out of a race with 400+ bikes. So, definitely not the fastest, but not too bad either. As I got older, I changed to UTVs and raced those for several years. I enjoy fast driving offroad but have mellowed with age. Two summers ago, there was a desert race held just 15 miles from where I live. I think the sanctioning body was S.N.O.R.E (Southern Nevada Off Road Enthusiast). They had the full gamut of race vehicles, all the way up to trophy trucks. As was usual for me in those years I was on call at the hospital and couldn't go on race day. The next weekend on Saturday I took our Gladiator Mojave that was stock except for 35" tires and followed the racecourse. I tried to push it as much as I could without beating on the truck too badly. It was a very rough course, and I can't count how many times the front suspension bottomed out badly while doing that. It took me 1 1/2 hours to make it to the first check point. On the next day, Sunday, I took our Can Am Maverick X3 XRC out to run the same course. The Can Am was also stock. I pushed it as much as I could in that machine. It took me 20 minutes to get to the first check point. Some of the spots that required me to slow to 15 to 20 mph in the Mojave just to not wreck it, could be taken at wide open throttle without even lifting off the pedal when in the Can Am.

Speed is so relative and is dependent on what a person has to compare speed to.

100%.

Your CanAm was built for that mission. The Gladiator, not so much. The hot-rod-lawn-tractor, even less. I used to enjoy high-speed driving in properly designed/prepared/maintained vehicles.

Unfortunately, the vast majority of people have no training and no idea when the vehicle they are driving has exceeded its safe performance limits. Most can’t even tell you the speed rating on their tires. Most have no idea how well or poorly their vehicles brake, or how their modifications will affect braking or other performance characteristics. For most people, if they’re not aware of steering loss, vibration, floating, or some other unusual sensation, they think their vehicle is “fine” doing whatever they‘re doing. That’s been true of about 90% or more of the high-speed crashes I’ve responded to where intoxication wasn’t an issue. They were “fine” right up until they weren’t, and then they lost control because, they say, “the vehicle overreacted”.

I’m sure the likelihood of a lawn tractor “overreacting” goes up exponentially at speeds over about 25 mph, but I’m sure some folks are convinced the tractor is “just fine” at 60 or 70 mph.

 

[James Westfall]

Because it's not fun. Going fast in a Jeep isn't remotely entertaining. Kinda like full-size trucks...100 feels like 50. Blah.

 

[LAM]

Great entrepreneurial opportunity to stage a Jeep Grand Prix. The 4xe class should be especially exciting with exploding vehicles on the course.

 

[Ratbert]

Because it's not fun. Going fast in a Jeep isn't remotely entertaining. Kinda like full-size trucks...100 feels like 50. Blah.

Wait, going fast isn't fun in a Jeep???? Fortunately I missed that memo.

 

[James Westfall]

Wait, going fast isn't fun in a Jeep???? Fortunately I missed that memo.

Hey, if it's enough to keep you happy, then lucky you.

I suppose it may have a lot to do with just how fast one has gone in their lifetime.

 

[Rubi SoHo]

Wait, going fast isn't fun in a Jeep???? Fortunately I missed that memo.

I don’t think it is….

It’s entirely the wrong vehicle for someone whose goal is to drive fast/spirited/what have you. My opinion of course.

It’s the perfect vehicle for people who want to drive in terrain where 90% + of other vehicles can’t.

 

[2nd 392]

Since you opened the can of worms, everything from the muscle car era was slow period. The '67 corvette L88 and '68 charger R/T 426 were the only 2 to break 5s 0-60 at 4.7 and 4.8s respectively. And yet the 392 does it in 4.5s on 35" all terrains? Yes there's been 60 years of advancement, but that's a Jeep not a sports car or muscle car.

Thanks for the warning, if my Jeep comes up against one of the 20 67 L88’s built I’ll take the spare off to be sure of the win, like I would do against the 1359 Boss 9’s built that run a 12.3 sec 1/4 mi. … the L88’s required 103 octane is tough to get here in Ca anyway… no worries

 

[Wbino]

Pretty sure we could both play this game all day…no hard feelings, you raise some good points, but not interested in a debate involving fighter jets or whatever follows.

 

[Terrymo]

LOL An African or European Swallow?

 

[Ratbert]

I don’t think it is….

It’s entirely the wrong vehicle for someone whose goal is to drive fast/spirited/what have you. My opinion of course.

It’s the perfect vehicle for people who want to drive in terrain where 90% + of other vehicles can’t.

Going fast can be fun in any vehicle. You've never gone 50+ in a go kart? That feels insanely fast, significantly bumping up the fun factor.

 

[Ratbert]

I don’t think it is….

It’s entirely the wrong vehicle for someone whose goal is to drive fast/spirited/what have you. My opinion of course.

It’s the perfect vehicle for people who want to drive in terrain where 90% + of other vehicles can’t.

Driving fast isn't the goal in these things (at least for most of us...cough, cough, @Tredsdert), but that doesn't magically make them not be fun at speed. It's a vastly different experience than a supercar or other sports cars at speed, but it's still fun.

Maybe I'm simply not old enough to be bored with speed yet? That'd blow.

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