Standing almost alone in the fray of pretend SUV's saturating the market of today, the Jeep JK Wrangler soldiers on, an anachronism of sorts, carrying ever onwards in a world that has long since technologically passed it by. One of the last true "Body on Frame" hard-core trucks left in production.
It is this simplistic, tough and durable persona steeped in battle history that keeps this wonderful machine selling in record numbers. The Wranglers primary opposition the Land Rover defender has sung it's swan song and resided itself to the history books. The Jeep Wrangler continues to soldier on in one iteration or another, seducing consumers for its adventurous ownership prospects and dreams of wild exploration.
2007 saw the replacement of the wonderfully popular and ever reliable TJ Wrangler, with that un-killable 4.0 inline six we all came to love. The new Wrangler dubbed "The JK" was as much of a step into the 21st century that Chrysler group could muster for a blunt instrument of terrain destruction. What really wowed the world though was for the first time the addition of 4 doors, unleashing the Wrangler into a whole new market segment. Overlanding and family duties were now a realistic proposition and the JKU (U for unlimited, indicating the 4 door over the 2 door) has now been outselling the 2 door counterpart considerably.
I would however caution prospective buyers from buying any JK from the years 2007-2011 unless they are equipped with a Euro/Australian only 2.8 diesel. The standard 3.8 Litre V6 is an absolute piece of junk, not even worthy of anchoring a boat, along with that, the 4 speed automatic is too dated and the interior was more plastic than could be considered durable and borders on flimsy. There was a 6 speed manual which is still available that is very good though.
Enter Fiat groups take over of the Chrysler/Jeep/Dodge brand and Enter the 2012 complete refresh of the JK. This is where the Wrangler turns into a star. Not only was it given a complete interior refresh at the end of 2011 but for the 2012 model year was equipped with the utterly superb 3.6 Litre Pentastar V6 which was used across the brands line-up. This engine produces 285 horsepower, nearly 100hp more than the previous 3.8 and returns significantly better fuel economy. To cap it all off, a wonderfully durable 5 speed touch-shift automatic gearbox was thrown in too, courtesy of the old "Daimler-Benz" divorce. A gearbox that saw use in almost every single Mercedes-Benz from 1995-2004. Obviously being in the Wrangler it is significantly lower geared for off road manoeuvres and low speed torque delivery.
With the cosmetic and mechanical refreshments the Wrangler Unlimited in my honest opinion is utterly untouchable for the price range. There are two main trim levels to consider; Sport and Rubicon. The Sport is usually more than enough for everyone in terms of capability and makes mince meat of any situation. Should the consumer desire complete world dominion then the Rubicon trim offers uprated Dana 44 axels over the Dana 30 found in the Sport and includes the addition of two electronic locking differentials for even greater low range traction, as well as a disconnecting front sway bar for more front suspension/axel articulation.
If you want my recommendation, a Jeep Wrangler when first purchased is a blank canvass awaiting your creativity. Don't buy a Rubicon, buy the Sport and slowly as finances allow add your own enhancements and modifications from the worlds largest aftermarket parts catalogue. That way you can build it to suit your own requirements whilst not immediately parting with an additional 10 grand that separates the two trim lines. That said, there is one thing I can not stand and that is a bone stock Wrangler, even if you just add fog lights....do something to make it your own and personalise it.
Endemically ride quality and handling characteristics are not why one buys a Wrangler. Jeep does it's best job without compromising ground clearance or durability, although let's face it, the JK wallows like a hippo in corners and has a very firm straight line ride and can be somewhat twitchy at high speed. Fear not, I would implore all buyers to install a mild to heavy duty lift kit, subject to their terrain and ride requirements. A 2"-2.5" should be more than enough for most. The best would be the 2.5" AEV (American Expedition Vehicles) which comprises of Bilstein shock absorbers. The kit eliminates body roll and softens tarmac undulations superbly. Similar kit's of high calibre are Terraflex, Fox and Old Man Emu. I personally run a 3.5" AEV on my own JKU. The bonus of a lift kit aside from ride and handling qualities are a Jeep that is all the more imposing, capable and able to be shod with meatier tyres.
Overlanding or even interstate trips can be taxing in any vehicle, I recently completed a 17 hour jaunt in my lifted JKU on 35" tyres and clambered (Yes you will have to exert yourself getting in and out of a lifted Wrangler.....buy some aftermarket grab handles) down at the end of the journey not feeling too bad at all. Being built like a brick shithouse the Wrangler does tend to get very noisy over 115kph but comfortably sat on 110kph (The Australian standard speed limit on highways) all day long and returned me a wonderful 12L/100 kilometres on the highway and a very decent 15L/100 around town. Some may bawk at those figures......This is not a VW Jetta! For comparisons sake I know that the wonderful Landcruiser 100 series returns somewhere in the early 20s around town. Pay to play and that will be enough of that topic.
There is something very rewarding about how mechanical the Wrangler is, something innate that kindles an affection for the vehicle that consumers either understand or completely don't. Those who miss the point expect the Wrangler to act like their Subaru Forester trade-in and walk away bitterly disappointed (For those folks, see the Grand Cherokee...a superb vehicle in it's own right). The 4wd system is engaged by firmly pulling a manly lever into either high or low range, down from 2wd that the vehicle is usually driven in. On that note, do not move your Wrangler from rear wheel drive to 4wd without being situated in difficult terrain or climatic circumstance. The Wrangler can not be driven in 4wd on Tarmac unless it is seriously wet and even then only for a short period. The reason being for this is due to the open differential and the occurrence of "Binding" which will end up breaking the Jeep. Engage 4wd in the Snow, gravel, dirt, sand, mud or serious wet. No other occasion!
It is almost impossible to keep up with the number of special edition Wranglers FCA release, they are numerous from Call of Duty editions to military inspired ones, you can bet your bottom dollar there is a trim line for you .One trim level that slots between the Sport and the Rubicon that I forgot to mention is the "Overland" trim. Believe it or not this yields sumptuous leather heated seats, enlarged chrome wheels, matching colour hardtop and fender flares, a navigation system with hard drive for music storage and the absolutely free shameful looks from all other Wrangler owners that you bought the softy poser trim line. You won't be receiving the compulsory Wrangler wave in this.
If you can accommodate the numerous quirks of the Wrangler then you will appreciate all it's benefits, It is probably the only vehicle you could drive through a deep river and have factory installed drain plugs in the floor awaiting the inevitable. Driving it in the city as I do may seem illogical to some but it has become a sort of urban assault vehicle that I am very fond of. Medium strips and curbs pose no concern, nobody cuts you off and if their is no parking spaces....make your own. The driving position enables me to survey all that is before me, unhindered. The heft in slamming the doors is the closest feeling to solidity I can get short of a Mercedes G Wagen and when I get it down at the snow or on the fire trails, nothing can touch it. To cap it all off, it remains a 4 door convertible with a killer sound system for under 50 grand. Quirks be damned.
I drive many vehicles each week with my day job and this remains one of my favourite. I have had my JKU for two years now, I would be utterly bored with most vehicles after that length of time but not the Wrangler. This agricultural, antiquated and entirely unsophisticated vehicle should have no place in the automotive world, and yet it does and that is exactly why I love it and hope to keep it for many years to come. I fell in love with the Wrangler as a child when I saw Jurassic Park, my parents were kind enough to get me a red miniature electric ride on one in about 1993 and the vehicle in the photos above is the day I picked mine up. Still red. Below is how it looks as of this writing...with a little, ok a lot of help from the AEV parts catalogue. It is dubbed "The General".
No comments:
Post a Comment