If you've spent time behind the wheel of a new Jeep Wrangler recently, I'm wondering what your impressions of it were.

I haven't driven one since before I bought my Patriot in 2011. It was a base model soft top. I was surprised at how civilised it was on the highway, even with the soft top, I was able to BS with the sales kid in a normal tone. And the new engine has copious amounts of grunt.

I'm curious because of two things.

- It is the only 2-door SUV left.

- It offers a manual.

Just took a spin through the local lot: One manual Wrangler @ $33k

Sounds like a Rubicon at that price, or at least a Sahara. The base model (I'd have to have the hardtop with easily removable sections over the front seats) can be had for about $25-$26k I think.

It was a Rubicon.

The cheapest I saw was a soft top with an auto @ 30k

Not many base offerings around here on lots.

I wouldn't want an auto nor a soft top.

Ah, I haven't done an inventory search for Wranglers lately online.

I have a cousin who has new car-itis like I do, only she buys a new Wrangler every 12-18 munts. She currently has an orange 4-door. She loves 'em.

I totally despise the 4-door - it just looks so... wrong.

I'm clutching at straws a bit here, just trying to find something new that I can even be marginally interested in.

Interestingly, same dealer also had a Ram 1500 shortbed 4x4 and a Challenger R/T also in the low-mid 30s.

I'm guessing that the long wheelbase 2-door "Unlimited" no longer exists, right?

Correct, it does not.

Too bad.

I liked that configuration.

You should find a low mileage 4-door, then use the JK-8 kit and convert it into a 2-dr SUV.

You should find a low mileage 4-door, then use the JK-8 kit and convert it into a 2-dr SUV.

That would get very expensive very quickly.

At this point, I only have a mild interest in the Wrangler.

I just know that in the near future my life is very likely to fundamentally change. Probably in just a very few years, everything will be different - and I'll be wanting different vehicle(s).

Did a couple of quick builds on the Jeep site.

A Wrangler-S that came in at 28+k, and a Rubicon that was 35K.

Curiously, you get stuck with 4.10 gears with a manual, the 3.73s are automatic only.

Edited March 3, 201312 yr by Camino LS6

That's odd, i am able to click on 3.21 and 3.73 for the Wrangler S with 6 speed manual and anti-spin axle. I don't even see 4.10s listed for the S.

That's odd, i am able to click on 3.21 and 3.73 for the Wrangler S with 6 speed manual and anti-spin axle. I don't even see 4.10s listed for the S.

Sorry, should have noted that it was the Rubicon that forced the option.

ah, didn't get that far.

I'd have to take a bit more time to spec them all out, but it looks like what I'd want would come in at around 30k.

Which happens to be the "average" price of a new vehicle in 2013.

I suppose so.

Not sure if a Wrangler is worth that much to me

I wanted a Wrangler when I was in my teens, I especially liked the late 90's models when they went back to round headlights. I'm a fan of the Wrangler still but to me the 4 door model is just wrong, the Liberty and Grand Cherokee fill that niche. The Wrangler should have remained a 2 door. I remember sitting in a dark green Wrangler in '97 or '98 at the NYAS, dark green, with tan interior and tan soft top, I practically begged my father to buy me a Wrangler after that. Aside from the Wrangler I always liked the XJ Cherokee's, my father had a Laredo and my cousin a Sport. The 5.9 Grand Cherokee's looked great too.

I've driven those Wranglers, and let's just say I don't have much appreciation for their quirks (though they looked good).

I also drove a newer one (circa 2005 or so) that was much better.

I remember people telling me horror stories of how easily a Wrangler could flip over, trying to convince me to stop wanting one. It didn't, but once I got my Ninety Eight in senior year my mindset changed, and I was dead set on restoring it and the Wrangler kind of fell by the wayside in my mind. I've never driven a Wrangler now that I think about it, I know the older models weren't known for their ride and handling.

Lets just say that their street manners left something to be desired.

In 2000, I drove a 1998 model (4-cylinder, auto) that the dealership I worked at took in on trade. I felt cramped in the driver seat, since the door panel left little "elbow" room, and the 4-cylinder at the time was peppy but left me wanting the 6-cylinder. Other than the buck board ride, I enjoyed taking it on dealership errands. It was a fun little runabout and left me wanting one even more (I had already wanted one before this experience). The only other ones I've been in the past 2-3 years were in the auto show Jeep Camp test drives, mainly as a passenger, so I can't really say much.

I will agree with you that these are just about the last two-door off-road SUVs (Land Rover Evoque comes in a 3-door model). I still want one, the only non-GM vehicle I desire and would seriously consider for a purchase. I don't share your disdain for the 4-door Wrangler Limited, as I find it a very good looking SUV too (I'd still want the 2-door though). I could probably lease a basic family hauler cheap and purchase a Wrangler for my 3^rd "fun" vehicle, but the desire I have for a new 2014 Sierra outweighs the admiration I have for a new Wrangler. I just hope the current Chrylser leadership don't mess with the Wrangler redesign (2015?) as they have with the upcoming Cherokee

Oh, I almost forgot back in the mid-'90s I worked a part-time job and two co-workers, both females in their early 20s, had Jeep Wranglers as their daily drivers. Both absolutely loved them, and for opposite reasons. One was a Jersey Shore girl (Mara) and loved the open top beach cruising when she was home for summer (college). The other was a down and dirty Bucks County girl that went off-roading/trail riding with her boyfriend and his Jeep. Before I left the company in '97 Mara traded in her early '90s Wrangler for a new-for-'97 model that she loved even more. It was a sharp looking Jeep for sure.

Dammit Bob- now you got me looking (online) at Wranglers!!

I really love these new-for-'13 aluminum rims on the Wranglers:

And I'm really digging the Sahara model too:

I like how that gray one gives me an old '60s Ford Bronco vibe too.

I'm sure sometime today I'll be finding my way to the Jeep website

Edited March 4, 201312 yr by GMTruckGuy74

Neat how you can get the roof panels in body color...I usually seem them in matte black.

Oh, I almost forgot back in the mid-'90s I worked a part-time job and two co-workers, both females in their early 20s, had Jeep Wranglers as their daily drivers. Both absolutely loved them, and for opposite reasons. One was a Jersey Shore girl (Mara) and loved the open top beach cruising when she was home for summer (college). The other was a down and dirty Bucks County girl that went off-roading/trail riding with her boyfriend and his Jeep. Before I left the company in '97 Mara traded in her early '90s Wrangler for a new-for-'97 model that she loved even more. It was a sharp looking Jeep for sure.

In the early to mid '00s a friend of mine had a first-gen Grand Cherokee and an '00 Mustang GT convertible, and his girlfriend had an early '00s Jeep Wrangler for a daily driver...the 3 of us used to go off roading quite a bit in the mountains in Colorado. Alas, they got married, had kids, and the fun vehicles went, replaced by family-type vehicles--a Prius and a Sienna.

This is a pretty close match to the one I sat in at the autoshow that really made me want a Wrangler, same exact trim and color combo minus the chrome grille. In retrospect I would opt for the hard top though.

I'd want the hardtop for summer here in the Valley of Doom and the hardtop for winter elsewhere.

Neat how you can get the roof panels in body color...I usually seem them in matte black.

Yeah, I'm liking that look.

If I ever got one, it would have the hard top and the top would stay on all the time.

I'd take the top off in the summer (normal place)/ winter (AZ)....the open air experience is a key part of what a Wrangler is all about...otherwise, it's just another SUV.

Edited March 4, 201312 yr by Cubical-aka-Moltar

I'd take the top off in the summer (normal place)/ winter (AZ)....the open air experience is a key part of what a Wrangler is all about...otherwise, it's just another SUV.

I know, but it isn't my thing. If I wanted that, I'd buy a convertible performance car.

And I hate riding in a soft top Jeep with the top on.

Ah, I haven't done an inventory search for Wranglers lately online.

I have a cousin who has new car-itis like I do, only she buys a new Wrangler every 12-18 munts. She currently has an orange 4-door. She loves 'em.

....gee...she buys a new car every 12-18 munts and you buy one every 12-18 minutes....what a coincidence....just kidding, pal...

Built a couple more on their website. If I did this, I'd probably opt for the "S".

That would mean no body color top or new fancy wheels.

Pretty basic, priced out below 28k.

Lets just say that their street manners left something to be desired.

Big time...

Built a couple more on their website. If I did this, I'd probably opt for the "S".

That would mean no body color top or new fancy wheels.

Pretty basic, priced out below 28k.

...

It would make an infinite amount of sense for you...although I thought you were out of the car loan thingie forever...

I test drove a soft-top Wrangler back in '00 when I bought my GC...it was ok, but too noisy and stripped down inside for highway use, IMO. I wouldn't mind one for an off-road rock crawler/mud plugger weekend toy, though.

Ah, I haven't done an inventory search for Wranglers lately online.

I have a cousin who has new car-itis like I do, only she buys a new Wrangler every 12-18 munts. She currently has an orange 4-door. She loves 'em.

....gee...she buys a new car every 12-18 munts and you buy one every 12-18 minutes....what a coincidence....just kidding, pal...

That's funny....I'm in my 12th year now since buying a new car... the Jeep just keeps going and going...

Edited March 4, 201312 yr by Cubical-aka-Moltar

Lets just say that their street manners left something to be desired.

Big time...

>Built a couple more on their website. If I did this, I'd probably opt for the "S".

That would mean no body color top or new fancy wheels.

Pretty basic, priced out below 28k.

...

It would make an infinite amount of sense for you...although I thought you were out of the car loan thingie forever...

I don't know about infinite, but it might make some sense. And, yeah, no loan. That's why I'm checking them out now, so I can plan a cash purchase a couple of years down the road.

Lets just say that their street manners left something to be desired.

Big time...

>Built a couple more on their website. If I did this, I'd probably opt for the "S".

That would mean no body color top or new fancy wheels.

Pretty basic, priced out belo

w 28k.

...

It would make an infinite amount of sense for you...although I thought you were out of the car loan thingie forever...

I don't know about infinite, but it might make some sense. And, yeah, no loan. That's why I'm checking them out now, so I can plan a cash purchase a couple of years down the road.

I do the same thing....

I like the 4-door model myself and would buy it if I were getting a Wrangler, but then I prefer the looks of crew cab pickups, I prefer the longer look, especially with the body color hard top.

I would think the 4dr would probably drive better on-road than the 2dr due to the longer wheelbase. I'd probably go for the 4dr also, been there done that w/ 2dr SUVs w/ my old Bronco II back in the day...4drs are just more useful.

I hate 4-doors generally, and the Wrangler especially, but it does look a bit better with a body-color hardtop. Looks like ass with the soft top though.

That's all academic anyway, since I wouldn't buy any 4-door short of a real wagon or a Suburban.

Don't need the extra doors, and hate the look.

One major drawback is just how tiny inside the Wrangler is. I'm very used to my Tahoe 2-doors that can carry lots of stuff.

They are damn-near perfect for me all around - too bad no one builds such a thing today.

I agree, I wish GM would build a 2door full size SUV. I still believe there is a demand for this type of auto.

I agree, I wish GM would build a 2door full size SUV. I still believe there is a demand for this type of auto.

They really work for me, but they aren't getting any younger.

They were nice back in the day...when I had my Bronco II I looked pretty seriously at getting a full size Bronco.

If any of the old "Big Three" still made one, that's what I'd be looking at.

They are just so damn versatile.