Wbino
Well-Known Member
- First Name
- Walter
- Joined
- Mar 15, 2021
- Threads
- 96
- Messages
- 1,728
- Reaction score
- 3,203
- Location
- Monmouth County NJ
- Vehicle(s)
- 2021 Wrangler JL H.A. -- 1999 SLK 230
- Occupation
- Retired
I would bet that angry grill is more likely one of your serious off roaders.Surprised it hasn't been said so I'll add what my take is from discussing such things with my local jeep group.
The "iconic" grill that has been mentioned is the root of it... but it is more about the mall crawler thing. There is a hate or distaste for mall crawlers in the jeep community among the serious offroaders. And the angry grill signifies the mall crawler and Fab Fours jeeps where people do modifications to their jeep just in order to do mods; the mods don't improve the function and often actually hurt performance. This is where the hate come from, it is a distaste for different goals.
In short it is an attitude that plagues the jeep community where the guys who do harder offroading look down upon those who don't. The wrangler wouldn't be around if it was only the hardcore guys who bought jeeps, let alone the excellent aftermarket. The mall crawlers and casual offroaders buy the wrangler because it is a cool vehicle and they may want to feel good about what their purchase says about them or want to do harder stuff (even if they don't do it). But the percentage of jeep owners who actually need the wranglers capabilities for what they put their jeep through is a lot smaller than the people who buy them because they're cool and could do what they do with a vehicle that is a lot nicer to drive on pavement and better built (like a 4runner). But I'm glad so many people like wranglers because it makes it what it is.
I personally don't have a problem with mall crawlers, but it is not a look I like. And as hard as I try, I cannot help but look down on those jeeps and owners. I try to not to, but I can't help it. My interest in getting to know or wheel with that owner is not that of one that looks purposefully built. It doesn't mean I wouldn't be friendly or friends with them. But if there was a group of people where I didn't know many of them, my priorities in making sure I connected with people would be on the jeep owners who look like they go offroading.
Most of us mall crawlers have another vehicle to look stupid in.
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