Which model should I buy- Rubicon or?

[rocky4by]

Ok now that I have switched my order from a Gladiator to ordering a diesel Wrangler. I am trying to decide which model would be best.
Is it best to just go with the Rubicon or is it best to go with the sport or Willys or? if were going to be adding a lift and tires, shocks..... The main items by not going with the Rubicon are the wide axles, does 1.5" really matter/and the low range transfer case.
lockers can added later and gives me a choice. So the question is, do most build up from a Rubicon or a sport? Right now I think a diesel sport can be bought for around upper 30s low 40s that is around 10/15 k less then the Rubicon.

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[entropy]

Depends what you wanna do with your rig. If you are gonna wheel it hard and run 37s. get the rubicon. Even if wheeling it hard and run 35s, I would do rubicon. The axles are not only a bit longer but stronger. Better gears, bigger brakes. And yes you can add quick discos and lockers, but having them oem and under warranty helps.

I have a sport and I am telling you. Rubicon is 100% worth it. If you find a sport for a very good deal and are willing to spend time and work building it, go for it.

Sport makes sense if:
1) You get a crazy cheap deal.
2) You wanna get bigger axles, lift, air lockers, etc, looots of mods.
3) You wanna wheel with "small" tires (32s, 33s). Even though rubi comes with 33s I think a sport can save you some cash and you will have better lockers, like ARB and possibly a better or same suspension as rubi. The sport axles and gears can run 32s and 33s easily.

 

[jessedacri]

Rubicon - 4.10 gearing, 4:1 transfer case and stronger axles are worth it unless you're planning to go straight to 40s and want to put D60 axles under it or something. It's a cheaper starting point to build a capable rig to just have the D44s and proper gearing from the start, instead of having to drop tons of cash on a build, IMO. A Rubicon with a 2.5-3.5 lift and 35s or 37s can hit pretty much any trail in the country confidently with no other work done, and be comfortable on the way there and back.

If you don't plan on wheeling it at all, different story. But I see youre in the PNW. Plenty of adventure to be had on this coast to not be wanting to wheel it!

 

[Dkretden]

Three questions that you will need to answer for folks to help you decide:

1) what will you actually be doing with your Jeep? Daily driver or Parked M-F and really only weekend trail warrior? Never go on a trail? Or rock crawling every weekend? Or when you do offroad will you be sticking to forest trails and likely never need lockers?
2) which vehicle do you like the stock looks of better? Stock Sport or stock Rubi?
3) what is the largest tire that you will want to run 285s? 315s/35s? 37s? 40s?

I purchased a Rubicon because I liked the way it looked stock. For the daily driving I do along with the “easy” trails I take the stock Rubicon is a HUGE over kill. But I really liked the looks and I liked the fact that it Is more capable than I am. I also may keep the 285s Size forever or I may bump up to a 315 (Just for the looks..... I don’t need a tire that big) and the Rubi likely doesn’t need a lift or re-gearing to do that.

here are the type of trails that I do. As you will see, a stock sport would be more than capable to handle it..... but I liked the looks of the stock Rubi much more. Did I say that I liked the looks of the Rubi more? Well, I did. Good looking. Wife says that it “looks tough”. I like tough. Good looking.

https://www.jlwranglerforums.com/fo...a-“trails-for-pusses”-—-list-them-here.56846/

 

[Goin2drt]

All good replies but I would say answer this question first.

1. Can you afford the Rubicon. If the answer is yes then just get the Rubicon. You will then never regret your choice.

 

[kmmn]

I'm pretty much in the same boat... I started out comparing the Sahara Diesel to the Rubicon Diesel (I want painted fenders or I'd go Sport Vs. Rubicon). I don't need front and rear lockers and sway bar disconnects and with the Diesel they both have Dana 44s with 3.73 gears, so it's close. Now, I'm considering the 3.6 to get the full time 4WD (better for light snow). If I go with the gas model, it's the Rubicon without hesitation to get the stronger axles and lower gearing (3.45s would bug me, even if I couldn't tell the difference).

 

[JLJeeper]

All good replies but I would say answer this question first.

1. Can you afford the Rubicon. If the answer is yes then just get the Rubicon. You will then never regret your choice.

Absolutely!!!!!!!!
Couldn’t have said it better myself

 

[CT_LFC]

If you can afford to Rubi, go with it.

When i shopped for a Wrangler it was an easy decision for me to get the Rubi even though it is far more capable than i am and what i will likely use it for, but to me aesthetics are important as well as someone who generally prefers to keep cars stock and the look of the Rubi out of the factory is great.

Every time i walk or drive by a Sport or Sahara and their scrawny look i am reminded how happy i am i went with the Rubi with the much stockier / rugged look.

 

[blnewt]

Ok now that I have switched my order from a Gladiator to ordering a diesel Wrangler. I am trying to decide which model would be best.
Is it best to just go with the Rubicon or is it best to go with the sport or Willys or? if were going to be adding a lift and tires, shocks..... The main items by not going with the Rubicon are the wide axles, does 1.5" really matter/and the low range transfer case.
lockers can added later and gives me a choice. So the question is, do most build up from a Rubicon or a sport? Right now I think a diesel sport can be bought for around upper 30s low 40s that is around 10/15 k less then the Rubicon.

Only you can answer that question. Just make sure it's a 2dr.,

 

[72Blazer]

Rubicon because if not then you’re not a real Jeeper. /thread.

make sure to plan for 40s as well.

 

[MauiSteve]

It's easier to have capability you don't use than to put in capability it doesn't have.
Rubicons hold value
Rubicons are better all the way.

 

[entropy]

It's easier to have capability you don't use than to put in capability it doesn't have.
Rubicons hold value
Rubicons are better all the way.

sports hold value as much or even better than rubicons....

Adding capability to a Jeep is not only to make it like the Rubicon. It can be to make it something in between and save some money, or it can be to make it better than the rubicon. Things arent always black and white, and a Rubicon is not always the best choice.

 

[JeepJLU402]

I bought a Sport S with plans to add lift, wheels/tires, lockers, gears, etc. I only wanted 35’s so the D30/D44 would work for me. Life happens and I doubt that I will see any mods. I should have spent the extra and got the Rubicon and I would have been set. If you can swing the Rubicon then get it.

 

[aldo98229]

This “just buy a Rubicon” mantra reminds me of the mindset prevalent in 1980s and 1990s, when every time anyone asked what to buy, the standard response, from every car magazine down to uncle Abner, was “...just buy a Toyota/Honda.”

There was no attempt to understand each vehicle’s unique merits, or one’s individual needs or wants. It was a canned response everyone had been brainwashed to repeat, over and over.

 

[Tdurden032]

As many have already said - I’d go with the Rubicon - I spent hours running comparisons of the sport, willys, Sahara and Rubicon, and every outcome always pointed towards the Rubi.
Mine is mostly stock and I feel like it can handle almost anything that I can throw at it - if I ever get extreme on the trails then maybe I’ll start doing upgrading, but for now, I think it’s perfect for what I need and you won’t regret the decision!

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