I am more and more impressed with the Jeep Wrangler Unlimited's ride each time I drive it. It's all about the long wheelbase. I keep expecting it to bounce and roll and practically tip over around corners, but it handles really well. I specifically drove it down a street with a couple deep dips, and it didn't knock my fillings loose...
It aborbed the dips very smoothly, much better than I expected from a 4WD suspension.
And this morning, I took a corner much faster than usual, and it cornered a lot more flatly than I expected. It's incredibly tall and bare-bones, but who cares. You don't buy a Wrangler for luxury.
Doug Lloyd, Senior Copy Editor @ 5,109 miles
freshzilla says:
03:04 PM, 08/24/07
(posted on earlier blog entry but got no responses - sorry if I bore you again)
I really like the idea of the new Jeep Wrangler, and went to the dealer to check it out. My main concern is quality - how do these things hold up? I don't want to be left stranded in the boondocks. I noticed that the Jeeps on the lots had a lot of small quality issues (foam insulation squeezing out of some under body panels, lame black electrical tape to cover wire ends, excess plastic flashing on some panels), but these could just be considered cosmetic. I don't care about that kind of stuff if the basic drive train is very reliable.
firstwagon says:
04:07 PM, 08/24/07
The drive train in Wranglers is very reliable and has been since the demise of the 4.2 and the Peugot trans back in 1990.
The 3.8 V6 is new to the Wrangler but has been around since the late 80's and has no chonic flaws unlike Ford and GM V6's.
The 6 speed manual has only been around for a few years but I have yet to hear of one failing.
The axles are simular to the old ones but with some improvements. Should last the life of the truck if left stock..... with big tires and lockers? ... it will depend on how you drive.
My brother has abusing his 1990 2.5L YJ for 10 years now and it just keeps going (drivetrain is all original, 4 inch lift and 33's, 400,000km). He has been on many off road trips into the mountains of BC (many lasting for days on real trails, not dirt roads) and it has never left him stranded.
Jeeps will never match the fit and finish of a Toyota but they are tough, easy to work on (and modify) and they have more character then anything on the road these days.
funkymunky says:
04:16 PM, 08/24/07
Freshz:
This is a relatively new car, but check out Edmunds' consumer ratings (http://www.edmunds.com/jeep/wrangler/2007/consumerreview.html)and see what people have written about it so far. Hope that helps.
hondacura4 says:
01:18 PM, 08/25/07
These things must be selling well as Im seeing a lot in my area.
freshzilla says:
07:36 AM, 08/27/07
Thanks everyone for the info!