[hans2]

I kept reading up reviews about how bad the Wrangler is as an everyday ride.. about how noisy it is, how crude the suspension is etc...

I'm an 04' EX owner and I just rented an 09' Wrangler X Unlimited in San Francisco and took it up to Yosemite and the Owens Valley on a 4 day road trip.

My verdict? It compares very well against my Element on things like 1) ride quality, 2) cabin noise. Things I much prefer the Wrangler over are the firm frame and the suspension. The Element going over bumps would bang and groan but the Wrangler just glides over them and the heavy duty (relatively speaking) suspension simply swallows them up and the entire vehicle just felt stiff and durable..

Of course the Wrangler is much more thirstier than the E. But I walked away with a very positive experience. Coming back to the E, it doesn't feel as fun anymore... I don't think I'll settle for a Wrangler because the interior configuration isn't very practical. Something like a Tacoma V6 would be very good.. I think I'm addicted to the truck frame now.

 

[ApriliaGuy]

Yeah....but you're talking about a brand new Jeep.

Try a late 80's Wrangler sometime! Even late 90's (TJs) are a bit rough.

 

[scorsone]

Not to mention you are comparing a brand new jeep to a 5 year old E! Try a 5 year old Jeep to a new Jeep.

The two were never designed to truly compete. The Jeep is, was, and always has been a true OFF-Road vehicle. It will be much more solid for rough trails. Was your Jeep a hard top or soft top?

 

[hans2]

It was a hard top.. so I guess that helped with road noise as well?

I'm not talking about reviews for 80s or 90s Wrangelrs.. I'm saying reviews for current generation of BRAND NEW wranglers where the reviewer complained about on-road drivability... I'm saying that even in a brand new state, there's nothing to complain about coming from an E! my E is 5 years old but it drives just as it did when brand new. The new Wrangler drives no worse than the E.. I know the JEEPs are typically not as reliable so it doesn't say much how the JEEP will be 5 years down the line.. but like I said, this is my first long term experience with a body on frame vehicle and I'm hooked! I love the robustness. E is a marshmallow by comparison.

 

[ApriliaGuy]

, this is my first long term experience with a body on frame vehicle and I'm hooked! I love the robustness.

Its ok.....I like 'em too. :wink:

 

[Bowzer]

As a former Jeep owner...they are very addictive. Definitely a labor of love with them...almost like a boat.

I think part of the points made were that the Jeep in new status will not maintain that great driveability very well. They, uh, "loosen up" quite a bit and pretty darned quickly. That's when they become much less tolerable as a daily driver. Throw in increasing number of trips for repairs and they become the monster sitting in the driveway much more often.

But I'd still part with cash for a good ole CJ in running condition with very little pushing. It's a Jeep thing...

 

[elementbryon]

I still miss my 98' TJ Wrangler. I got to the point of addiction where I would look forward to breaking parts so I could upgrade them. For about a year the little soft top was my daily driver. Not to many people are willing to carpool in a vehicle that snows inside when it's below zero. So I rode solo all winter and I was never late because the roads were not plowed yet. If I had not been t-boned by an unlicensed, uninsured illegal immigrant on Christmas Eve 2002 I would still be driving that Jeep.
I would buy another Wrangler in a heartbeat if I had the extra money.

 

[Zorak Jones]

I love the look of new jeep wranglers, actually. my only experience with jeeps is with the liberty - lemon from the start. spent more time in the shop than on the road.

 

[jurneez]

I loved my jeep wrangler sahara.
I drove it for 18 years.
Just took it of the road (6 yrs. ago)to get my 03 E. Was sad to see it go, but The gas mileage sucked, so it's better to be in my 4cyl E. Feeling a little more green.

At least it's not a huge SUV. With todays economy I prefer 4cyl.
The jeep was rugged off road though.

jurn

 

[hans2]

As a former Jeep owner...they are very addictive. Definitely a labor of love with them...almost like a boat.

I think part of the points made were that the Jeep in new status will not maintain that great driveability very well. They, uh, "loosen up" quite a bit and pretty darned quickly. That's when they become much less tolerable as a daily driver. Throw in increasing number of trips for repairs and they become the monster sitting in the driveway much more often.

But I'd still part with cash for a good ole CJ in running condition with very little pushing. It's a Jeep thing...

Well the rental had about 11K on it.. so you're saying quickly overtime, that robustness will slowly decrease to the point of a loose, rattling thing?

 

[Bowzer]

Well the rental had about 11K on it.. so you're saying quickly overtime, that robustness will slowly decrease to the point of a loose, rattling thing?

An inherent "quality" of the Jeep...Yes, they tend towards devolving to high speed quivering boxes with meandering steering onroad and an increasingly stiff ride. Offroad, they'll still get you out to the middle of nowhere, but you need to bring a toolbox and parts to assure you can make it back.

Obviously, these are some exaggerations. Any heavy 4x4 will have more issues by the nature of more stuff to go awry. Can be argued the same point for a luxury car. But with a 4x4, most of the stuff that goes out will keep you from going anywhere vs just a bad power lumbar motor. Add that to the average weekend of some robust fun and you're sure to have some duties on hand to keep her going. Nature of the beast...

Count on:
- They will be much more expensive to keep running in top condition because of how they are used and what they have on board
- They will do what they are built to do with a ton of fun and provide lots of memories
- They have some of the craziest and most intense followers you will ever find
- You will always look cool driving one

I used to think of both of mine as really good looking but very unpredictable girlfriends: They were a ton of fun to be with but you just couldn't count on them to always be ready on time or even show up for the date.

 

[ElementaryEd]

I had a 91 Wrangler that I loved for the fun to drive aspect of it. As a daily driver it sucked however just for the rough and loud ride. I would have a hard time talking on the phone or listening to good music in a Jeep on the highway.

With that said its kind of like owning an E. You fall in love with it so it quirks are often overlooked.

 

[ncgrl1]

I traded a 08 Wrangler for my Element. I loved the Wrangler. My only complaint was the lack of power and the horrible shifting automatic transmission. I had it for 2 years and it was never in the shop for any repairs. I would still have it but after 3 surgeries this summer, it was very hard for me to climb into. The new ones are great vehicles...

 

[hans2]

I traded a 08 Wrangler for my Element. I loved the Wrangler. My only complaint was the lack of power and the horrible shifting automatic transmission. I had it for 2 years and it was never in the shop for any repairs. I would still have it but after 3 surgeries this summer, it was very hard for me to climb into. The new ones are great vehicles...

lack or power? My E feels just as indadequate in the power department. At least the 6 cylinder in the wrangler doesn't get as loud as it the engine in the E.

The 09 Wrangler unlimited Hardtop I drop was as quiet as the E.. Engine noise was lower. Road/Wind noise was about the same.

 

[ncgrl1]

Buy it if you like it! I have already stated that it was a great vehicle...