The Wrangler is a niche vehicle. Very few people truly need one, and those who buy one are usually aware of its many shortcomings that are usually the result of the truck's inherent purpose and design. Chances are, if your heart is set on a Wrangler, then its foibles aren't going to matter much. Sort of like dating Colin Farrell. Sure, you know it's going to be rough ride, but you just can't resist those rugged good looks. (Um, not that I know from experience or anything).
Having said that, there are some points of serious consideration that may not be readily evident when wrapped up in all that Jeep puppy love during the test drive. In my earlier blog, I mentioned that those shorter than 6-feet-tall will struggle with the retractable roof. More serious though, are the Wrangler's security issues that mostly arise because of that roof.
As the top picture shows, the back window is a plastic panel zippered closed from the outside. You can lock the car all you want, but nothing prevents someone from easily unzippering that panel and boosting anything you have in the back. (Or climbing aboard if they're particularly flexible thieves). The two rear side panels also unzip, but they require opening the rear doors to completely unsnap and fall away. If you hurry through fastening the roof as the above two-door Wrangler's owner did, security (and weather proofing) suffers even more.
I realize I've just informed everyone on the World Wide Web how to easily break into a Jeep Wrangler (which we of course fervently do not indorse), but it's important that current and potential soft-top Wrangler owners are warned not to store any valuable items in the trunk or elsewhere in the interior. The lockable center console and glovebox (above) don't offer much secure storage space either, so I was compelled to bring along my laptop computer bag when I parked the Wrangler out in public. Of course, opting for the hardtop corrects the security problem (and presumably quiets the interior), but then lowering the roof becomes an even bigger annoyance. Again, this is a niche vehicle of compromises.
Another security issue is posed by the exposed gas cap. In 1974 when my father was living in Windsor, Ontario, some mischievous youths thought it would be funny to fill his 1969 Mercury Cougar with water from a nearby garden hose. The kids must have crossed over from Detroit since according to Michael Moore there is no crime in Canada. Nevertheless, the Cougar was never the same again and my father had to get rid of it. While our Wrangler's exposed gas cap may look rugged and cool (to whom I don't know), there's nothing to prevent similar juvenile delinquents from pulling a similar stunt or worse. Again, something current or potential Wrangler owners should be aware of.
And to all on the Web, we store nothing of value in our Wrangler and our gas cap is protected by a hidden compartment of killer bees, so don't try anything mister.
James Riswick, Associate Editor @ 3,364 miles
thebigal says:
07:11 PM, 06/11/07
In this day and age, I would think that a factory alarm system would be offered to help prevent that (of course alarms, in my opinion do not prevent anything), or that there would be a way to desing the top so that it couldn't be accessed from the outside.
On the gas cap issue, I think a locking gas cap would be far more useful, but on the other hand, this really isn't that much different than those caps behind a normal door. I guess it being in plain sight might be a temptation some juvenile hairaiser.
skisupreme says:
05:35 AM, 06/12/07
Genuine Mopar locking gas cap from Mopar.com - $15.37. Part # 05278655AB
skisupreme says:
05:37 AM, 06/12/07
Much cheaper than bees, or one would assume.
autoboy16 says:
10:56 AM, 06/12/07
That open area must be bad for aerodynamics... Then again, I don't see anything aerodynamic about a wrangler....
Yup i agree, the wrangler has many compromises... Then again, it is the ONLY convertible SUV for sale on the market. Its also the ONLY 4door5passenger convertible available for under $50k.
-Cj
skierx420 says:
03:34 PM, 06/12/07
I'm too much of a Jeep jukie I guess. I always give them a pass. But 'round here nobody wants to put anything in your gas tank. They just want the gas out. I also noticed that a locking gas cap is a factory option. My other assumption is that for top down fun your going to be driving it with the top down, then parking in a remote area where only a nutball would want your stuff. Or you can live in Iowa where Michael Moore really ment there was no crime. Don't mess with the guy in the Jeep he's got an NRA sticker. :p
heidis says:
09:25 PM, 06/12/07
The only people who love the Wrangler more than Jeepers are the aftermarket manufacturers. There is a veritable extravaganza of aftermarket security products out there for Wranglers. The new Wranglers in particular has tons of stuff already available.
On the gas cap thing, neither my Grand Cherokee or my husband's Accord has a locking cap or an internally triggered fuel door. There's lots of cars out there that are vulnerable to neighborhood kid shenanigans. Hardly a Wrangler specific problem.
Once you own a Jeep and you run without the hardtop, you learn to travel with very little stuff. Anything of value goes with you when exit the Jeep. It's a lot like riding a motorcycle that way.
jriz says:
08:51 AM, 06/13/07
What year is your Accord? My family's '91 Accord EX-R had a remote fuel door release as I recall.
mr_anton89 says:
04:19 PM, 06/13/07
My 07 came with a locking gas cap from the factory ($15 on the sticker). As I've found out myself if the windows are down and you try to open the locked doors from outside the car's alarm goes off. It has the two lockable compartments. There is the little area under the rear load floor which can only be opened when the tailgate is open (which goes with the alarm). Anything of value, including your laptop, would fit in any of those compartments.
desmolicious says:
02:40 PM, 06/19/07
After having my side windows slashed twice on my Wrangler (they coulda just unzipped them!) I now leave it unlocked but with a steering club. Now peeps can look around as much as they want and see that, like, before, there's nothing to steal!
Really, complaining about the top is a bit goofy. Get the hard top then..
As Heidi mentioned, treat it like a moto and no probs. Don't like this idea then the truck just aint for you.