Jeep Rubicon
- Thread starter Nik H
- Start date
I've been keeping an eye out for an M1083. One of these days!
But I really should get that FJ40 frame off completed before I die. https://forum.ih8mud.com/threads/1980-frame-off-resto.108807/
But I really should get that FJ40 frame off completed before I die. https://forum.ih8mud.com/threads/1980-frame-off-resto.108807/
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Rubicons are legit. Locking front AND rear lockers. 4:1 transfer case. Auto disconnect sway bar. Dana 44 front and rear axles. Not bad for a factory offered, fully warrantied, off the lot ready 4x4.
I'd personally go w/ the 4Runner Off Road. My wife has one and we like it a lot.
I've dabbled in the off roading thing.
I'd personally go w/ the 4Runner Off Road. My wife has one and we like it a lot.
I've dabbled in the off roading thing.
I really appreciate all of the great inputs. I had a Jeep 30 years ago and loved it. Yes it had issues but it was really a great vehicle.
I made my decision earlier today
I made my decision earlier today
I bought my wife a new Rubicon 4 door back in 2015. That was the last year they offered 100,000 mile powertrain warranty. OUR ROOF HAS NEVER LEAKED. However we have never opened it up during the summer. My wife would rather have a Grand Cherokee for comfort, but Wrangler resale is crazy high. We tried to buy used, but for $2,000 more we could have brand new. For whatever reason it is a deer magnet. When we studied our purchase you can get the Rubicon in different gear ratios, but I think almost all are geared low. They are a good buy and if you don't like it they are easy to resale. I say do it.
I wish I had gone this route. I drive way too much and loved the way my Jeep Grand Cherokee, drives, rides etc. so it was a compromise. I wanted a real Jeep but already have 4 cars in the family I have to take care of and I knew if I got a full fledged Jeep that I would be upgrading the shit out of it which would not be economical or good for long trips/drives. I looked that the 4Runner but honestly thought they lagged way behind on the interior finesse compared to the Jeep GC and it rode like shit and I’m used to a bad ride, if that tells you anything. In the pat I’ve had tons of sports cars, some highly modified/customized but as I get older I’ve noticed the less I like to ride on the ground with a horse and biggie ride. Needless to say i just wasn’t impressed with the 4Runner which is hard for me to say because I’ve always been a Toyota guy. Unfortunately, the Raptor was outside of my budget. I love my Jeep but I’d seriously wonder about longevity. I’ve had two Toyota’s that I ran the shit out of, both with over 400,000 miles on them when I got rid of them. The only thing I did maintenance wise was change the brakes, the fluids, tires, that’s it, ever. Ran like champs. Still running actually. I don’t see any American cars lasting like that. I took a chance on this one as all American cars I’ve had in the past were junk imo. So far I’ve been impressed with the Jeep GC but we will see how longevity is.
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I have a diesel Cherokee, its get 31 mpg and its loaded, the wife loves it. its a 2014 50k miles not one issue so far. Best SUV car we ever owned by far.
I’ve got 2 jeeps now, JKU and a 95 YJ which has almost 300k miles and only rebuilt the transmission at 275k. Had an XJ that had almost 400k when I traded it to a guy who wanted it for a hunting rig.
The JKU will be getting a 5.3 and tons in the near future. I’ll never be without at least one Jeep
The JKU will be getting a 5.3 and tons in the near future. I’ll never be without at least one Jeep
Bought a new JKU Rubi last year and it's a blast to drive. With that said I wouldn't even consider the JLU if I were in the market right now. They are way out of my price range. They are going for $48-52K out the door around my neck of the woods.
Forrestr or Outback?
Prius — Hot Pink
@SilentStalkr
Those Jeep GC have come a long way. Wife had two of them before we got together. I tried to get her into a 4runner TRD Pro but she said it lacked power and the pro had no sun roof so I know what you're saying. The Toyota dealer down here was also as bad as the Jeep dealer. She ended up getting a SQ5 which has been terrific. Sister is driving the Macan GTS which has also been flawless and shes run them to pretty high mileage.
The Raptor's back seat or the F150 in general makes it a nice daily with two kids.
Those Jeep GC have come a long way. Wife had two of them before we got together. I tried to get her into a 4runner TRD Pro but she said it lacked power and the pro had no sun roof so I know what you're saying. The Toyota dealer down here was also as bad as the Jeep dealer. She ended up getting a SQ5 which has been terrific. Sister is driving the Macan GTS which has also been flawless and shes run them to pretty high mileage.
The Raptor's back seat or the F150 in general makes it a nice daily with two kids.
Dear Lord, my "Eleanor." My dad had one of those when I was about 14 and in line to take it over when I got my license. A '78 model CJ-7 Golden Eagle (this is actually a CJ-5 pictured here) with a 304 V8, hard top with factory gold-tinted windows, just a darker shade of metallic brown than this one. It was his (and my) dream Jeep. I 4-wheeled that thing all over the farm every chance I got. Just as I was about to get my learner's permit, Dad sold out his half of his business to his partner and went into business for himself. The first year was very lean and the beloved Jeep got sacrificed to make payroll for his men. Now, every time I see one it makes me want to cry all over again. I guess I'm just going to have to get another one to make the ghost go away.CJ7 Golden Eagle V8
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It takes quite a bit to impress me. I have been in some pretty impressive vehicles, 1000hp this, $200,000 that and for most part it is just HOHUM to me. I am sure I have busted a few peoples ego's with my lackadaisical attitude.
I have never really been a huge fan of Volvo, even when owned by FoMoCo. Can be a PIA to work on and build quality had never impressed me. There in lies the problem with me analyzing your ride (your=anyone) I can normally find a negative to your positive.
But I can admire a diamond in the rough.
The funnest car, the car that has left the longest lasting impression on me is a Volvo s60R (2004-2008 I believe, the one I drove was a 2007). I like "Sleepers", I have no need to impress anyone. For the time power was pretty impressive. Not earth shattering but did have a "holy shit" factor. You would swear it had a V8, the turbo was so smooth. The handling with the AWD, and electronic suspension was again, in the Goldilocks zone.
The electronic suspension is the first and still one of the few that I could tell a noticeable difference between all the settings. "Soft" was like a 1979 Caddy, "sport" was noticeably stiffer but not harsh and "race" was bone jarring. I just kept driving back and forth over the same pothole being amazed. A very good friend owned it, and he knew I like it. It remains the ONLY vehicle I have ever looked forward to coming into the shop.
Ford definitely raped Volvo for its two best technologies before dumping them like a cheap hooker, The Volvo AWD system is the bases for all of Ford's AWD systems on everything But the F150 and the Super-duty (F250 and up).
And The "Eco-Boost" engines would not exist without Volvo's turbo technology
Just giving credit to where it is due.
My Wife's 2013 Taurus SHO is about 65% 2008 Volvo S60.
A fj cruiser is not a real cruiser but a real fj stock for stock through 1997 Jeep ain’t got shit.
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Dude. It's a jeep. They are supposed to leak. Even with the roof on.
They all make fun of savage but none of them would stand in front of one even at 1000 yards behind a 3/4" piece of plywood.
I know warranties and service plans are a touchy subject. Anyway I usually keep my vehicles for about 10 years on avg before moving on but I plan on keeping the Jeep for a very long time. I'm glad I got in on their "lifetime" service plan before it went away on 11-30-18. I bought the Jeep knowing that issues will pop up eventually. It's not a warranty per se but covers bumper to bumper with a $100 deductible. It's backed by FCA and not a third party company. If the AC system shits the bed, the plan is paid for.
It had better not leak if im paying $35000 for it and its brand new. As soon as they put that in the sales brochure, I'll move closer to accepting it.
Dude I paid 56K and it leaks thats why theres holes in the floor so you don't drown.
Dude there isn't a curb at the mall I can't climb !!!
It was called the Mopar Maxcare Lifetime plan. They had tiered plans with lifetime being the top one they offered up until the end of November of this year. The new plans I believe are X years with X miles.
Again only worth it if you intended on keeping the Jeep for a VERY LONG time as in my case.
I ordered a JK when they announced it coming out in 2006, the 2 door Rubicon model.
Have upgraded whatever I broke or deemed inferior over the years but that's what JEEP stands for right " Just Empty Every Pocket " ?
They are a very capable vehicle for what they are designed for but have some quirks that some people can't get past.
For the most part it's usually just me and my dogs riding around in it out goofing off, the back seat hasn't been in it for a couple years now so cargo space usually isn't a problem but I pack light anyways.
The only serious mod I haven't done so far is a super charger but it does everything I want and more I'm just not breaking any speed records doing it.
With 4.88 gears it's turning 3000rpm at 70 mph in sixth gear.
Have upgraded whatever I broke or deemed inferior over the years but that's what JEEP stands for right " Just Empty Every Pocket " ?
They are a very capable vehicle for what they are designed for but have some quirks that some people can't get past.
For the most part it's usually just me and my dogs riding around in it out goofing off, the back seat hasn't been in it for a couple years now so cargo space usually isn't a problem but I pack light anyways.
The only serious mod I haven't done so far is a super charger but it does everything I want and more I'm just not breaking any speed records doing it.
With 4.88 gears it's turning 3000rpm at 70 mph in sixth gear.
I'm going out right now to drill holes in my Jeep roof. I can't stand it not leaking anymore!
Damn. I’m kind of pissed now. I was offered no such thing and even used warranty as some of my negotiation! I think the standard warranty with mine was 3 years/36,000. I was like dude Toyota was like 10 years or 100k, which nobody offers anymore. So I negotiated an extended warranty to 7 years/75,000 Miles but I don’t believe it’s FCA only. They never even mentioned a warranty like you are talking about and I didn’t see such a thing anywhere online either as I researched the hell out of mine before I bought it.
I usually don’t buy/sell cars either but about every 10 years. Hell my last one I had for 17 years lol. I just can’t bring myself to buy new cars like they are candy. My neighbor buys a new car every other month. I think he is stupid but to each their own. Im doing pretty good but I ain’t rolling like that and my wife put a limit of $40k on it. So, I bought the Jeep GC for several reasons and only paying $35k for it out the door was nice to.
The caveat is that the deal is a plan and not a warranty so any mods deemed the cause of the issue can cancel the plan. The Magnuson-Moss warranty act does not apply at that point when the plan kicks in after the factory warranty expires. So to keep things kosher I've been keeping good service records. I'm not giving FCA an excuse not to cover my Jeep. I know the fun in owning a Wrangler is modding it. My modding days are pretty much over. Every time I've modded a vehicle something fucks up on it. I bought the Rubi to drive as is. It has taken me where I wanted to go without fail. Yeah I know, LAME. Also, the fine print says they will not cover a lift kit over 2". Funny thing is the Mopar 2" lift kit almost gives you 3" when installed but on paper it's 2" so that's a bonus.
Yeah, my only issue with the service records is that I service mine myself. The last two times my wife’s Jeep went to the dealerships it magically wound up with stuff like a small pinhole in the transmission cooler. Imagine that. My theory is that the less people that touch your ride, the better off you are.
And I totally agree. One thing that some Wranglers have been plagued with were oil filter housings that were cracking and leaking oil. Dealers were quick to point the finger at DIY'ers for over-torquing the filter housing cap. I am aware some of the techs doing oil changes at the dealer can over-torque them as well and have them crack. Your saving grace is that you can easily point the finger. You guys touched it last..
The Jeep is my first vehicle where I haven't removed the oil drain plug myself.
I bought one of the last JK models this past spring. Love it. Rubicon is a lot of $$$ for a Jeep. Especially since you will no doubt want to do a lot of stuff to it yourself. I bought the most base model they had. Sport with manual and soft top. 26k off the lot. Then put on the stuff I wanted... and didn’t feel bad about spending a bit of money on goodies.
Downsides... not a long distance highway cruiser, but that is not it’s forte. Upside, great convertible driving.
Best modification I made was cutting off the factory gear shift lever and welding on a 3” extension with a big 1950s style ball type Jeep shift knob. Now it is like the CJs I grew up on.
Cheers, sirhr
PS. Guys don’t recommend Subaru’s to other guys... just sayin.
Downsides... not a long distance highway cruiser, but that is not it’s forte. Upside, great convertible driving.
Best modification I made was cutting off the factory gear shift lever and welding on a 3” extension with a big 1950s style ball type Jeep shift knob. Now it is like the CJs I grew up on.
Cheers, sirhr
PS. Guys don’t recommend Subaru’s to other guys... just sayin.
If HD stands for “hundred dollars”... which you drop every time you go to dealer... Jeep stands for Just Empty Every Pocket...
Cheers, Sirhr
Oh and one other thing... things like Rubicon Wheels are dirt cheap on eBay. Because what do people buy the minute they get their high-dollar Rubicon? A new wheel kit... that sets them back another $3k! And they put their Rubicon bits on eBay.
Seriously, even the really high-end accessories these days are cheap... compared to what it used to cost to buy CJ parts back in the day. And there are a ton of things out there that let you do your Jeep your way.
As for the leaking... mine leaks. But I have soft door tops and soft top. I expected it. Though my old Land Rover Defender with a British Canvas and 1960's technology... never leaked a drop!
It doesn't leak while driving. Only while parked. And seemingly around the door tops. It's an annoyance I plan on trying to solve this spring.
Cheers,
Sirhr
Seriously, even the really high-end accessories these days are cheap... compared to what it used to cost to buy CJ parts back in the day. And there are a ton of things out there that let you do your Jeep your way.
As for the leaking... mine leaks. But I have soft door tops and soft top. I expected it. Though my old Land Rover Defender with a British Canvas and 1960's technology... never leaked a drop!
It doesn't leak while driving. Only while parked. And seemingly around the door tops. It's an annoyance I plan on trying to solve this spring.
Cheers,
Sirhr
Liar!!!!!! No fucking way the windows and ac still work.
98 here. Doors are coming off soon.
@Nik H I see you made your decision, but did you order the JLUR?
Been rocking a 98 TJ with spacer lift and 33s as my mall crawler, but its going to get a sweet retirement package on a private ranch here in 2019. I'm debating moving into a JLUR, and going balls out with a full Rebel Offroad King Coil suspension, Currie 70s, 37-42" tires, drive shafts, armor, super charger or diesel conversion, etc. The JLUR just seems so incredibly capable and I've been lusting over that damn 4 door since the JKU came along.
Been rocking a 98 TJ with spacer lift and 33s as my mall crawler, but its going to get a sweet retirement package on a private ranch here in 2019. I'm debating moving into a JLUR, and going balls out with a full Rebel Offroad King Coil suspension, Currie 70s, 37-42" tires, drive shafts, armor, super charger or diesel conversion, etc. The JLUR just seems so incredibly capable and I've been lusting over that damn 4 door since the JKU came along.
