How does the dog feel about this?
Woody (Forum Supportum) said:
So, while they are obviously newer, do JKs rust they way that every Jeep before them did?
We had a 2007 JKU for 5 or 6 years. Got driven every winter on salty PA roads. There was the obvious surface rust on the chassis and suspension components but I never saw anything on the body other than on the exposed hinges - and I would just mask those up and paint them once a year or so.
With a 2010 JK Wrangler in Florida, no, there is no rust. Not helpful, I know.
But, I'm always a champion of the much maligned "mini-van" V6. With a manual tranny, it's just fine.
Edit: I think in 2012 the Merc engine arrived. Uhh, 80 more HP? Something like that. If you want auto I would recommend that.
In reply to Shadeux (Forum Supporter) :
I’m far too cheap to go that new.
I have often wondered about the "rusty jeep" thing. Of the ones I have seen that Rusted compared to those that didn't, I think it comes from abuse. I am talking about the people who off-road them and then never clean the gunk out of the chassis. The Mall crawlers never have rust, the off-roaders that get washed before coming to work on monday never get rust, the ones that are always dirty rust away to nothing.
Watch out for oil consumption issues on this era of Wranglers with 3.8l engines.
Around here Wranglers are beach vehicles which is a salty death for most cars. There are plenty of early JKs that have been here their whole lives and don't look worse for it. I don't think there's a clean TJ on the island.
