Tough buying decision

[alphawolff]

So happy to hear your daughter is safe!

Depending on the year, an e-Torque 3.6L could be an engine option you might run into as a choice. Someone who knows more than I do about the differences, pros/cons between the 3.6L and the 3.6L e-Torque, please chime in! @Heimkehr @alphawolff

To the OP: if she didn't already have a Sky-One Touch (SOT) top, now is the time to get one! I've been driving Jeeps for 35+ years, and the SOT has been a game changer!

e-torque is being discontinued across all our models and parts have become increasingly hard to find. we replaced two MGUs last month on trucks and they took like 45 days to show up

the system is fine but as i've been saying it's a niche hold-over engine that was designed while the 4xe was being built. in 10 years finding parts will be almost impossible

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[TKY]

I traded in a 2016 JKU Sport looking to upgrade to a newer model towards the end of the 2025 model year. I was considering a 4xe and the sales person at the dealership talked me out of that model due to the ongoing hybrid battery issues. I ended up with a '25 JLUR with the 3.6L. I'm very happy with it. I'm at just over 9,000 miles and I just got home from a 550 mile road trip that averaged 20.7 MPG.

 

[ChadM0512]

So happy to hear your daughter is safe!

Depending on the year, an e-Torque 3.6L could be an engine option you might run into as a choice. Someone who knows more than I do about the differences, pros/cons between the 3.6L and the 3.6L e-Torque, please chime in! @Heimkehr @alphawolff

To the OP: if she didn't already have a Sky-One Touch (SOT) top, now is the time to get one! I've been driving Jeeps for 35+ years, and the SOT has been a game changer!

I keep looking at the sky top models. How is it in the winter months? Same process as the 3-piece hardtop to remove?

 

[dac219.9]

Personally, unless I’m slapping on turbos to a performance engine a Coyote or LT6, I’m not a fan of turbos for daily driving or off-roading. This is why I skipped the Bronco (it’s also hideous with an atrocious engine bay).

For me, it’s the naturally-aspirated 3.6L all day. Literally millions of 3.6L made, and the track record is pretty good at this point.

 

[pipincan]

I keep looking at the sky top models. How is it in the winter months? Same process as the 3-piece hardtop to remove?

I have a Sky Top on my 2020 Sahara 2.0L, and have had no problems with it whatsoever. In the winter it's just like a normal top and I've had no rain or snow leaks. For the summer, you don't remove the top. Just push the button to open / close the power top and remove the side windows (and store in the supplied bag) for that fresh air feeling.

I wouldn't go back to a hard top again.

 

[Prot]

I keep looking at the sky top models. How is it in the winter months? Same process as the 3-piece hardtop to remove?

‘The Sky One Top is not meant to be removed. You press a button to open and press a button to close it. You can remove the rear quarter panels easily with the latches.

Yes, some people do remove it but it is not meant to be removed except for repair.

Don’t over think it.

 

[Opus]

If the 2.0 your daughter had was trouble-free before the accident, no other engine option is going to give you anything better. I'd stick with a 2.0.

 

[kah.mun.rah]

Find a 3.6L or 2.0L with the best service record. As I have said in other threads, regular past oil changes mean more for reliability when it comes to buying a used Jeep than the number of liters or cylinders.

 

[SmokyMtnsJeepGirl]

I keep looking at the sky top models. How is it in the winter months? Same process as the 3-piece hardtop to remove?

That's the beauty of it! It never comes off, and you can go "topless" at the touch of a button! I drive my Jeep much like your daughter - some country roads, gravel roads, light mud trails, but for the most part, city driving.
I live in suburbia, so I'm really close to everything I need. So, it's really nice to push a button and be topless (I always put the front and passenger windows down, too) for the quick 15-minute drive to the store. Super easy! If I'm driving around town all day, I'll often take the doors and quarter storage area windows off too and go naked!
It hasn't seemed cold to me in the winter. But, I've had soft tops on all 5 of my previous Jeeps, so I can't really compare the warmth or lack thereof to a hard top. I can say that I've never been cold. The seat warmers keep you toasty if you go for leather seats!
I'm not much for a bunch of electrical stuff in any Jeep, but I have come to love my heated seats, blind-spot safety feature, and proximity unlock feature. My last Jeep ('08 JK - RIP sweet girl) had manual roll-up windows and no power locks- lol.
I've had the Sahara trim as long as it's been available on a Jeep. But, I've always made sure to have the tow package, limited-slip differential (not a deal-breaker if looking for a used Jeep and all your other boxes are checked), and immediately upgraded to steel Rubicon bumpers and skid plates in my current '21 Sahara. Never had leather seats before until now, but not having them wouldn't be a deal-breaker for me unless you live in a really cold climate and need the warmth. I love my heated seats, but after having leather, I've come to prefer the cloth seats I've had in the past.
Happy Jeep hunting and GET THE SKY ONE-TOUCH! She will LOVE it! It's a game-changer!

 

[2nd 392]

I keep looking at the sky top models. How is it in the winter months? Same process as the 3-piece hardtop to remove?

The SOT is very convenient, but be warned. When they break they are expensive to repair. I am about $400 ahead with my first 8/85/100 Max Care claim due to this little plastic piece.

$1,730 repair, mostly labor.

 

[SmokyMtnsJeepGirl]

The SOT is very convenient, but be warned. When they break they are expensive to repair. I am about $400 ahead with my first 8/85/100 Max Care claim due to this little plastic piece.

$1,730 repair, mostly labor.

Yikes! What happened? I want to be proactive in keeping mine in good working order!

 

[2nd 392]

Yikes! What happened? I want to be proactive in keeping mine in good working order!

With I knew. That’s a track bar end of one of the many 2 section cross bars - one on the track, the other folds up. The top was never hit from either the top or bottom to my knowledge. My only wild guess is the car wash jet force blow dryer, and they hand wash before their no touch tunnel. They will hand dry only but it costs extra and no spray wax. Anyway, I’ll pay the extra now. …. 3 years 2 months Max Care left.

 

[SmokyMtnsJeepGirl]

With I knew. That’s a track bar end of one of the many 2 section cross bars - one on the track, the other folds up. The top was never hit from either the top or bottom to my knowledge. My only wild guess is the car wash jet force blow dryer, and they hand wash before their no touch tunnel. They will hand dry only but it costs extra and no spray wax. Anyway, I’ll pay the extra now. …. 3 years 2 months Max Care left.

I know exactly where you're referring to! Thanks for the heads up about the automated car wash. I've taken mine through one once. It kinda freaked me out thinking about what *could* happen, so I haven't been back. My old soft tops seemed indestructible - lol. Seen several threads here, though, about folks having had no problems for years with those car washes and their SOTs, but they do make me a bit nervous. I'll be the one person whose top peels completely off while in one Happy I've got a Max Care warranty as well!
Thanks again for the explanation

 

[2nd 392]

I know exactly where you're referring to! Thanks for the heads up about the automated car wash. I've taken mine through one once. It kinda freaked me out thinking about what *could* happen, so I haven't been back. My old soft tops seemed indestructible - lol. Seen several threads here, though, about folks having had no problems for years with those car washes and their SOTs, but they do make me a bit nervous. I'll be the one person whose top peels completely off while in one Happy I've got a Max Care warranty as well!
Thanks again for the explanation

Yes, but having eliminated the impossible, the blow dryer, no matter how improbable, was all that remained . … it is a hand wash, before the brushless spray tunnel.

 

[linux_guy]

My daughter recently totaled her Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Sahara. It was a 2020 with the 2.0L turbo motor and ran great. She’s now looking for a new to her Wrangler and I am struggling with going with the 2.0, the V6, the 4xE or the diesel model. Let’s hear everyone’s opinion on what model they think. Keep in mind, this Jeep will more of a country roads pavement princess than an off-road rock crawler. Thanks in advance!

P.S. the attached photo shows her Jeep after it rolled. The cage and seatbelt did exactly as they were designed to do. Blessed that she walked away unscathed!

I think it's referred to as a sport bar rather than a roll cage by the manufacturer. Likely so they don't get accused of not making a sturdy enough roll cage.

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