What is with the Wrangler tax?

I had a TJ. Loved it. It was totalled due to an end over end rollover and a son who wasn't as good of a driver as he thought he was. I I came out well financially, but no longer have a Jeep.

Mrs. T.J. likes the new ones.

Furious_E wrote: In reply to Ian F: Everyone keeps saying they're on the rise, but I still see them sub Challenge price all day every day around here. I need to know where these things are worth so much so I know where to advertise mine if/when I ever decide to sell it

I don't know... my ex- was looking for one and couldn't find a good one (clean, rust free, unmodified) for a price she felt was reasonable. She ended up buying a Grand Cherokee instead because they were cheaper and easier to find. Otherwise, I agree - I can go on Facebook and find a dozen under $2000. But living near the NJ off-road/mudding culture, they are generally beat to hell.

Toyman01 wrote:

mndsm wrote: From what I've seen, wranglers, especially 4 door ones, are the new douche de rigeur.

This. I'm pretty sure all the pricks sold their 3 series BMWs and bought Wranglers. They are the new mall crawlers.

there are a couple of them at work all tricked out in the latest and greatest If offroad gear. I have NEVER seen one of them so much as even dusty. There is a TJ with a tubular rack owned by one of the dealers, her jeep always has some mud on it.

stanger_missle wrote: When I was shopping for a Wrangler in 2012, the price people wanted for their 2007-2008 JKs were $3-$4k less than a brand new, unmolested JK. Plus they were still using the mediocre 3.8L oil dispersion device and old 4 speed auto until 2012. So I bought a 2012 Sport for $22k. 6 speed manual, manual windows, manual door locks manual HVAC with the base radio (no sub). The only options it has was uConnect, cruise and A/C. It now has just 36k on it (damn deployments) and does everything I ask of it. Except pull in the ladies

This is the exact reason we bought our Wrangler Arctic new in 2012. Once we saw the resale on the newish ones it was a no brainer. Ours now has 107k miles.

We also have a 99 XJ with 190k miles that's been a great rig and a 72 fj40 that's okay, but I honestly prefer the k5 from the same era.

Toyman01 wrote:

mndsm wrote: From what I've seen, wranglers, especially 4 door ones, are the new douche de rigeur.

This. I'm pretty sure all the pricks sold their 3 series BMWs and bought Wranglers. They are the new mall crawlers.

No no no that's the g wagon, remember? We are talking about replacing our Wrangler with a cpo g550, so I hope I can raise the douchiness level up high out in the sticks here west of Nashville and make you guys proud.

Earlier tonight I read a fluff piece about Jeep being the Apple of the automotive world in terms of branding status. I suppose. Something about "design language". The article was on Autoblog. They sure as heck outsell Chrysler and Dodge combined according to the numbers in the article. Here it is: http://www.autoblog.com/2017/04/03/apple-of-the-auto-industry-isnt-tesla-its-jeep/#slide-4965351

In reply to Cotton:

I love the Winter Chill color on the Arctic Edition. I tried finding one when I bought mine but I guess they didn't sell a whole lot of them in central Florida. My second choice was a similarly optioned Commando Green Sport but it was an auto. I sought out a manual but in hindsight, I think I would of been more than pleased with the 5 speed auto. I did get the third color on my list, Black Forest Green Pearl.

Was your Jeep affected by the cylinder head recall? I thought I was in the clear until the dreaded "Misfire in cylinder 2" DTC showed up at 35k miles. I have the letter from FCA somewhere. Not looking forward to that dealership visit

mad_machine wrote:

Toyman01 wrote:

mndsm wrote: From what I've seen, wranglers, especially 4 door ones, are the new douche de rigeur.

This. I'm pretty sure all the pricks sold their 3 series BMWs and bought Wranglers. They are the new mall crawlers.

there are a couple of them at work all tricked out in the latest and greatest If offroad gear. I have NEVER seen one of them so much as even dusty. There is a TJ with a tubular rack owned by one of the dealers, her jeep always has some mud on it.

The was kid at work has one that's all lifted, LED light bars and stuff. Here's the thing: There are no offroad/Jeep parks in central New York. So there is nowhere to actually use them. Meaning that every lifted Jeep in the area is just a poseur. As evidenced by the shiny paint and straight bodies

In reply to mndsm:

It looks like the connectivity package provides hands-free Bluetooth. Besides that, power windows, and a/c there aren't really any other options we want.

Pete Gossett wrote: In reply to mndsm: It looks like the connectivity package provides hands-free Bluetooth. Besides that, power windows, and a/c there aren't really any other options we want.

Does she like comfort and a quiet interior? Remember, wranglers are still bof, and designed to be taken apart and hosed out, even if their owners don't think so. If she wants one, sure. But it's probably the least comfortable option on the market today.

NickD wrote:

mad_machine wrote:

Toyman01 wrote:

mndsm wrote: From what I've seen, wranglers, especially 4 door ones, are the new douche de rigeur.

This. I'm pretty sure all the pricks sold their 3 series BMWs and bought Wranglers. They are the new mall crawlers.

there are a couple of them at work all tricked out in the latest and greatest If offroad gear. I have NEVER seen one of them so much as even dusty. There is a TJ with a tubular rack owned by one of the dealers, her jeep always has some mud on it.

The was kid at work has one that's all lifted, LED light bars and stuff. Here's the thing: There are no offroad/Jeep parks in central New York. So there is nowhere to actually use them. Meaning that every lifted Jeep in the area is just a poseur. As evidenced by the shiny paint and straight bodies

I'm not certain about Rome, NY, but a lack of off road parks does not mean no off roading. There may not be hard core rock crawling obstacles, but there are plenty of trails on state lands and no shortage of mud pits.

stanger_missle wrote: In reply to Cotton: I love the Winter Chill color on the Arctic Edition. I tried finding one when I bought mine but I guess they didn't sell a whole lot of them in central Florida. My second choice was a similarly optioned Commando Green Sport but it was an auto. I sought out a manual but in hindsight, I think I would of been more than pleased with the 5 speed auto. I did get the third color on my list, Black Forest Green Pearl. Was your Jeep affected by the cylinder head recall? I thought I was in the clear until the dreaded "Misfire in cylinder 2" DTC showed up at 35k miles. I have the letter from FCA somewhere. Not looking forward to that dealership visit

Ours is winter chill and we really like the color.

We did have the cylinder head issue, but even though we were out of warranty, they had extended the warranty for that particular issue, so we were covered. Honestly nothing to dread there...we dropped it off, they provided a loaner, and in a couple of days we picked it up. It was a very smooth process.

They are the MIATA for off road guys.

Advan046 wrote: They are the MIATA for off road guys.

But like Miata's, there are about a billion of them... But Miata's are cheap! WTF?

Pete Gossett wrote: So how are Wranglers(probably the Unlimited) to live with for someone who will likely never take it off-road? SWMBO has been wanting an Escape, but also likes the looks of the Wrangler, and now that you guys prompted me to check it looks like I can lease a slightly more expensive Wrangler with more miles for almost $100-less per month.

If you haven't been in a JK before, it's a quantum leap from the TJ (which in turn was a quantum leap from the YJ) in terms of refinement and livability. They still ride a bit rougher and the wind noise is a bit greater than your average vehicle, but it's completely livable, even after extended hours in the saddle.

My girlfriend has had her Wrangler for just over a year now and she LOVES it. 2 door automatic Sport model. It's her DD and never goes off pavement. Mind you, this is not not a person who typically tolerates quirky, uncomfortable, noisy, or otherwise less than refined vehicles very well, nor is she in any way much of an enthusiast. But that Jeep has really endeared itself to her. She'll take the front panels off the hardtop (there's a pair of t top like panels over the driver and passengers seats that can be removed without taking the whole thing off, which is rather cumbersome) just to go out cruising in it, which makes me happy to see her take some level of interest in car stuff.

mtn wrote:

Advan046 wrote: They are the MIATA for off road guys.

But like Miata's, there are about a billion of them... But Miata's are cheap! WTF?

It's an image thing. The Miata is a hairdresser's car, the Jeep is the embodiment of 'Merica (in the eye of the general public.)

Brian wrote:

NickD wrote:

mad_machine wrote:

Toyman01 wrote:

mndsm wrote: From what I've seen, wranglers, especially 4 door ones, are the new douche de rigeur.

This. I'm pretty sure all the pricks sold their 3 series BMWs and bought Wranglers. They are the new mall crawlers.

there are a couple of them at work all tricked out in the latest and greatest If offroad gear. I have NEVER seen one of them so much as even dusty. There is a TJ with a tubular rack owned by one of the dealers, her jeep always has some mud on it.

The was kid at work has one that's all lifted, LED light bars and stuff. Here's the thing: There are no offroad/Jeep parks in central New York. So there is nowhere to actually use them. Meaning that every lifted Jeep in the area is just a poseur. As evidenced by the shiny paint and straight bodies

I'm not certain about Rome, NY, but a lack of off road parks does not mean no off roading. There may not be hard core rock crawling obstacles, but there are plenty of trails on state lands and no shortage of mud pits.

Most of the good land is tied up in nature conservancies and owned by the DEC, which means they pretty much shoot on sight if you are driving a motor vehicle around in there. Despite the fact that I once watched them head in with 3 Hummer H3s (each with one person a piece inside) towing 3 ATVs in to check on the endangered sand flea population. No, seriously, that's why this land is cordoned off, some sort of sand flea.

With the Miata lift kits available you can offroad in your Miata, too.

I've owned a CJ5 and am well acquainted with the XJ.

Jeep doesn't make anything today I'm too terribly interested in because I like sleeping in my vehicle. Roof-top-tents don't interest me.

I'm kinda surprised that other manufacturers aren't trying to get in on the removable hard-top feature of the Jeep. I thought that was the biggest issue with the modern FJ Cruiser. It tried to compete with the Jeep in terms of character but missed the removable top.

Toyman01 wrote:

mndsm wrote: From what I've seen, wranglers, especially 4 door ones, are the new douche de rigeur.

This. I'm pretty sure all the pricks sold their 3 series BMWs and bought Wranglers. They are the new mall crawlers.

Plus you have the ones that can't buy a new Hummer any more.

In reply to Furious_E:

The only Jeep I've ever been in was a friend's mother's back in grade school, so that would have been an early-80's model at the latest. We talked at lunch & she wants to check one out, though we're probably not realistically going to do anything for another 6-months.

Pete Gossett wrote: In reply to Furious_E: The only Jeep I've ever been in was a friend's mother's back in grade school, so that would have been an early-80's model at the latest. We talked at lunch & she wants to check one out, though we're probably not realistically going to do anything for another 6-months.

This is coming from someone who has enjoyed many different kinds of cars; I've DD'd a Miata in the snow, autocrossed a Crown Victoria and a SAAB 95, and commuted in a Pickup.

I've driven a TJ, two YJ's, and a CJ. For an around town runabout or offroader, fine. But they suck as a DD (IMHO) and they suck with the top on/doors on. Take them off, and it makes it a wonderful experience. Otherwise, I just don't understand it.

In reply to mtn:

Seriously, drive a JK. Huuuuuuuuuuge leap in refinement. I would (and have) considered a TJ as a potential DD, but even they're a bit marginal by most people's standards. I would say most people would be absolutely fine DDing a JK. Like I said, Furious_She loves her's and she is NOT one to tolerate discomfort.

Also, hard top is a must, IMO.

Furious_E wrote: In reply to mtn: Seriously, drive a JK. Huuuuuuuuuuge leap in refinement. I would (and have) considered a TJ as a potential DD, but even they're a bit marginal by most people's standards. I would say most people would be absolutely fine DDing a JK. Like I said, Furious_She loves her's and she is NOT one to tolerate discomfort. Also, hard top is a must, IMO.

I eventually will. I don't see a Jeep in my near future though.

Furious_E wrote: In reply to mtn: Seriously, drive a JK. Huuuuuuuuuuge leap in refinement. I would (and have) considered a TJ as a potential DD, but even they're a bit marginal by most people's standards. I would say most people would be absolutely fine DDing a JK. Like I said, Furious_She loves her's and she is NOT one to tolerate discomfort. Also, hard top is a must, IMO.

Yeah, you can't compare unless you drive a JK. I had an old soft top 87 Wrangler at one point and when my wife said she wanted to DD a Wrangler I just kind of chuckled and said 'okay, we'll see'. Then we test drive a new JK with a hard top and I shut up. They are really nice and make a good DD. Like I mentioned earlier hers has the Arctic package and was fully loaded with nav, heated seats, 3 piece hard top, power everything...even has a sub.

So my wife has DDed it for over 100k miles and loves it, could care less about off-roading and likes it because it sits up high, has the boxy look she likes, etc. I have taken it off-road and it does very well, but it's primary purpose for us is her commuter and sure, taking her to the mall when she wants to go. She likes it and that's good enough for me. Not every jeep has to be on the trails every weekend and we all know not every Miata slays the autocross course 24/7.

Seriously some of you guys are basically saying don't buy an f type jag because an old e type wouldn't make a good DD. Maybe try the new one first?

Pete Gossett wrote: In reply to Furious_E: The only Jeep I've ever been in was a friend's mother's back in grade school, so that would have been an early-80's model at the latest. We talked at lunch & she wants to check one out, though we're probably not realistically going to do anything for another 6-months.

I had to go back to the first page to clear up who you were talking about.