Thinking of going with a "bare bones" model

[salt_crawler]

*Sigh*
The days of building a sport into a rubicon are gone... This is coming from someone who actually has been through the process. Rubicons are really cost effective when you actually compare the two dollar for dollar. Plus, the rubicon comes with way more than 44s and a transfer case. Actually, do the numbers... And good luck finding a rubicon transfer case. You and everyone else is hunting for one along with axles. These posts always make me laugh. Listen, if you want to buy a sport and throw tons and 40s on it, I'll buy into that. That actually makes sense.
As far as buying a base just know what you're getting. I've had one. I've also had the 6MT. My advice would be to avoid at all cost. That 6MT is about the worst MT you can purchase and I don't care what anyone thinks. Theres no amount of convincing that you could do to talk me into that "it's not that bad". You're right, its horrid. If you plan to use 4lo at all, I'd get the auto. The 2.0 and 8 speed are a great combo and you'll find that out easily with some light research. The JL manual is dead as it should be unless they revamp it. You'll find way more threads on manual issues and hate over the 8 speed which is surprising considering how many 8 speeds are sold over 6MT. Jeep got one thing right with the auto. You won't find many manuals on the trail and the ones you do find all you smell is clutch burning. I'm not trying to beat someone down who has a manual but my experience was awful and I hate seeing guys buying such a poor product. I wish I had done my research before I made a costly mistake but we live and we learn. Few will say its great, many will tell you otherwise. You want to enjoy your jeep and keep it on the road. No need to be a chest pounder all over a manual transmission.
If you want a base, great. Get a 2.0 auto if you're going 2 door. Don't expect to turn it into a rubicon for cheaper. Know it's limitations and weigh out what's the priorities for your build.

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[Wbino]

At my age I wanted all the options, I didn't get a Rubicon because I don't off road but every other box was checked.
I only wish I had heated seats and steering wheel when I worked and left the house a 4AM.

 

[SadRobot]

*Sigh*
The days of building a sport into a rubicon are gone... This is coming from someone who actually has been through the process. Rubicons are really cost effective when you actually compare the two dollar for dollar. Plus, the rubicon comes with way more than 44s and a transfer case. Actually, do the numbers... And good luck finding a rubicon transfer case. You and everyone else is hunting for one along with axles. These posts always make me laugh. Listen, if you want to buy a sport and throw tons and 40s on it, I'll buy into that. That actually makes sense.
As far as buying a base just know what you're getting. I've had one. I've also had the 6MT. My advice would be to avoid at all cost. That 6MT is about the worst MT you can purchase and I don't care what anyone thinks. Theres no amount of convincing that you could do to talk me into that "it's not that bad". You're right, its horrid. If you plan to use 4lo at all, I'd get the auto. The 2.0 and 8 speed are a great combo and you'll find that out easily with some light research. The JL manual is dead as it should be unless they revamp it. You'll find way more threads on manual issues and hate over the 8 speed which is surprising considering how many 8 speeds are sold over 6MT. Jeep got one thing right with the auto. You won't find many manuals on the trail and the ones you do find all you smell is clutch burning. I'm not trying to beat someone down who has a manual but my experience was awful and I hate seeing guys buying such a poor product. I wish I had done my research before I made a costly mistake but we live and we learn. Few will say its great, many will tell you otherwise. You want to enjoy your jeep and keep it on the road. No need to be a chest pounder all over a manual transmission.
If you want a base, great. Get a 2.0 auto if you're going 2 door. Don't expect to turn it into a rubicon for cheaper. Know it's limitations and weigh out what's the priorities for your build.

The part rarely mentioned is the other costs associated with making your Sport a Rubicon. If you are doing that there is a reason and that's to go on more difficult trails. With more difficult trails things start to break. So then you are upgrading parts, replacing parts and adding accessories. If all I wanted to do was put some fenders, axles and lockers I think I would be under stock Rubicon cost. It's the domino effect that has caused me to sink more into my Jeep than the original 32k I paid for it.

 

[Terrymo]

The part rarely mentioned is the other costs associated with making your Sport a Rubicon. If you are doing that there is a reason and that's to go on more difficult trails. With more difficult trails things start to break. So then you are upgrading parts, replacing parts and adding accessories. If all I wanted to do was put some fenders, axles and lockers I think I would be under stock Rubicon cost. It's the domino effect that has caused me to sink more into my Jeep than the original 32k I paid for it.

Other than unforeseen repair costs, knowing what you know now, what would you buy today? Did you always intend to wheel at the level you are today or did your interest evolve? Would you change your mind about the manual trans?

 

[SadRobot]

Other than unforeseen repair costs, knowing what you know now, what would you buy today? Did you always intend to wheel at the level you are today or did your interest evolve?

If money was no object and I could go back in time I would tell my 2019 self to buy a 2dr auto Rubicon. Knowing me though my 2019 self would probably not have listened and bought the manual Sport anyway because I'm both stubborn and often refuse to learn a lesson.

I never intended to go offroad or modify at all. I wanted a manual because I've only ever had manuals. My Jeep Patriot died on a Friday and I needed to buy a car over the weekend to get to work on Monday.

And here I am 6 years later, about 60k in the hole, had a ton of fun experiences/adventures and met some great people because of the Jeep and it's many fails. So I guess that's worth something in the end.

 

[AmericanPatriot100]

Easy up there, Trigger. Just asking. It's a common route to get to a big axle rig.

Oh I know. Seen it plenty on here!

 

[AmericanPatriot100]

I’m not planning to make my sport into a rubicon. The take offs are a cheap and easy lift for the sport for me because stock height I was scraping on obstacles and not able to do a mild trail because of the big rocks. I added the take offs and 35s and did that same trail with no assistance. The only reason I’m considering the AEV dual sport lift is because the springs will handle the gear better than the stock rubicon springs. I also didn’t do my research with this transmission. Just heard it was updated. Took that as “upgraded” and didn’t even bother to drive an automatic because I wanted the MT. It has served me well in 12k miles. I don’t find it to be any harder to drive on the trail. It took some getting used to. But it wasn’t hard.

 

[salt_crawler]

If money was no object and I could go back in time I would tell my 2019 self to buy a 2dr auto Rubicon. Knowing me though my 2019 self would probably not have listened and bought the manual Sport anyway because I'm both stubborn and often refuse to learn a lesson.

I never intended to go offroad or modify at all. I wanted a manual because I've only ever had manuals. My Jeep Patriot died on a Friday and I needed to buy a car over the weekend to get to work on Monday.

And here I am 6 years later, about 60k in the hole, had a ton of fun experiences/adventures and met some great people because of the Jeep and it's many fails. So I guess that's worth something in the end.

I remember when I owned my first sport how much I had wished I had gone rubicon. Then dumb me bought another sport thinking I was going to rubicon it out. After the fact, pricing out the build, there was no denying I should have went rubicon. Even if I pull the axles which I'm debating, at least I know they're a hot ticket item I can recoup in the future. Sports are great for a mild build, I don't hate sports. But if you're really into building a nice rig, I don't see how anyone justifies building a sport up that isn't on tons. One of the nice things about a rubicon is it's a very capable rig with just good tires and a winch.

 

[SadRobot]

I remember when I owned my first sport how much I had wished I had gone rubicon. Then dumb me bought another sport thinking I was going to rubicon it out. After the fact, pricing out the build, there was no denying I should have went rubicon. Even if I pull the axles which I'm debating, at least I know they're a hot ticket item I can recoup in the future. Sports are great for a mild build, I don't hate sports. But if you're really into building a nice rig, I don't see how anyone justifies building a sport up that isn't on tons. One of the nice things about a rubicon is it's a very capable rig with just good tires and a winch.

I've wheeled with a lot of folks with a stock auto Rubi on 33s and they can do what my lifted 2dr manual on 37s can do and sometimes make it up things I can't. So I agree if you plan on wheeling just start with a Rubicon.

 

[Reflektr]

My only complaint about the manual is it’s noisy and inconsistent. Good luck getting a perfect “slap-less” shift unless you do a little jig and hold your mouth just right. The backlash in the driveline will make you think you are straight-up murdering it until you figure out the quirky way in which it “wants” to be driven. Would I do it again? Probably lol. Like Sadrobot said, old me wouldn’t listen to new me anyway

 

[SadRobot]

My only complaint about the manual is it’s noisy and inconsistent. Good luck getting a perfect “slap-less” shift unless you do a little jig and hold your mouth just right. The backlash in the driveline will make you think you are straight-up murdering it until you figure out the quirky way in which it “wants” to be driven. Would I do it again? Probably lol. Like Sadrobot said, old me wouldn’t listen to new me anyway

Even before I went aftermarket and was still on the stock clutch my Jeep would have good shifting day and bad shifting days. No rhyme or reason to it. Some days would just be smoother than others.

 

[salt_crawler]

Even before I went aftermarket and was still on the stock clutch my Jeep would have good shifting day and bad shifting days. No rhyme or reason to it. Some days would just be smoother than others.

I had the same experience. Along with having to sit god awfully close to the steering wheel so I could have a clean shift. That clutch pedal is so bizarre to me and why they would manufacture it like that. Just seems so off to me.

 

[mwilk012]

There is no good reason to buy the manual transmission in a JL. Just not worth the problems.

 

[SadRobot]

There is no good reason to buy the manual transmission in a JL. Just not worth the problems.

but then what would we have to talk about the forums? The weather?

 

[Terrymo]

I've wheeled with a lot of folks with a stock auto Rubi on 33s and they can do what my lifted 2dr manual on 37s can do and sometimes make it up things I can't. So I agree if you plan on wheeling just start with a Rubicon.

Next thing you know you’ll be shopping for a JLU

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