Topic: Test drive: 2012 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon 4X4

[Autos_Editor]

With the Hummer H1 now gone, the surprisingly livable Wrangler has regained its off-road champion crown.

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[airbalancer]

H1  I think it would closer to a H3 in size

[Thinking Out Loud]

I just picked up my dream since a teen, a Wrangler - a 2012 2dr Sahara, black.

There were a handful of 2011's wih the new interior but the old 3.8/4sp auto kicking around I could have likely got a better deal on, but the Pentstar/5speed is like transitioning from a schooner to the Starship Enterprise. Too bad you can't fuel it with antimatter though, would be cheaper!

That said, the 'fallback' dream car was a Mustang convertible.  I checked out the fuel economy of both and they were essentially identical.  Both convertible.  Wintertime, tho, I could earn money pulling Mustang converibles out of the ditch in snowy conditions!

Can't wait for the summer!!!

[Mike]

H1  I think it would closer to a H3 in size

I was talking purely in Off-Road Ability.  Only the H1 could go places a Wrangler couldn't

[Mike]

I just picked up my dream since a teen, a Wrangler - a 2012 2dr Sahara, black.

There were a handful of 2011's wih the new interior but the old 3.8/4sp auto kicking around I could have likely got a better deal on, but the Pentstar/5speed is like transitioning from a schooner to the Starship Enterprise. Too bad you can't fuel it with antimatter though, would be cheaper!

That said, the 'fallback' dream car was a Mustang convertible.  I checked out the fuel economy of both and they were essentially identical.  Both convertible.  Wintertime, tho, I could earn money pulling Mustang converibles out of the ditch in snowy conditions!

Can't wait for the summer!!!

Until the Fiat 500 arrived, I believe the Wrangler still held the crown as 'Cheapest Convertible on the Market' 

[Thinking Out Loud]

I just picked up my dream since a teen, a Wrangler - a 2012 2dr Sahara, black.

There were a handful of 2011's wih the new interior but the old 3.8/4sp auto kicking around I could have likely got a better deal on, but the Pentstar/5speed is like transitioning from a schooner to the Starship Enterprise. Too bad you can't fuel it with antimatter though, would be cheaper!

That said, the 'fallback' dream car was a Mustang convertible.  I checked out the fuel economy of both and they were essentially identical.  Both convertible.  Wintertime, tho, I could earn money pulling Mustang converibles out of the ditch in snowy conditions!

Can't wait for the summer!!!

Until the Fiat 500 arrived, I believe the Wrangler still held the crown as 'Cheapest Convertible on the Market' 

Still cheapest (only?) 4WD convertible tho!  My wife is 4' 10" so I get your comment about ingress egress.  I'm 5'7" and even I am still finding a system  that isn't akin to a chimpanzee climbing a tree.

[OliverD]

I was talking purely in Off-Road Ability.  Only the H1 could go places a Wrangler couldn't

The opposite was true too, due to the sheer size of the H1.

Love the Wrangler and have been contemplating picking one up in that great new "crush" (orange) colour.

[D70]

A great vehicle for off roading

http://www.flickr.com/photos/d70w7/4614385429/

[SaskSpecV]

"You’d be forgiven for confusing it with a giant blue-bin recycling box"

Nice line Mike. 

I always loved my university buddy's Wrangler.  Great for yearly extremes - getting through blizzards in the winter, and cruising around with the top off in the summer.  Unfortunately, the ride (and fuel economy) was terrible all year round.  And not great for camping (no room if more than 2 people), though Wrangler unlimited fixes that I guess.

Still, if I could have one vehicle just for fun, it's easy to throw a Wrangler in there with a Miata or S2000 - very different types of fun, but fun nonetheless...

[AP]

Wrangler has an appeal to me as, say, a fourth vehicle.  Somewhat surprising, though, that my Supercrew 4x4 F150 makes more power and gets better fuel economy.  And $45k?  You kidding me?  I wonder whether transaction prices are really that high?

[Fobroader]

This will be a great vehicle 5 years from now...that way I can pick it up for a song and not be sad when I remove paint or a fender wheeling the crap out of it. This is by far the best, and most affordable, out of the box wheeler ever available to the general public. Good article!!!!

[Thinking Out Loud]

My Saraha's MSRP was about $33 before destination, included the remote start, heated leather, dual tops, auto tranny, one up from base radio (not these touch screens that I felt were redonculaously expensive and likely illegible with the top down), connectivity/bluetooth....would have to go get the window sticker.

EVERYTHING I need for off roading or on.  Likley would have been $36 same equip on the Unlimited version.  Unless you are hard core, Rubicon is a very exepnsive level to have (plus the rougher driving experience).

[Thinking Out Loud]

This will be a great vehicle 5 years from now...that way I can pick it up for a song and not be sad when I remove paint or a fender wheeling the crap out of it. This is by far the best, and most affordable, out of the box wheeler ever available to the general public. Good article!!!!

I looked at the 2009/10's used - the X's and Sport editions are everywhere and an amazing bargoon.  Take off the steelies on the X and put on some decent rims that will improve the looks alone 10-fold. 

[Fobroader]

This will be a great vehicle 5 years from now...that way I can pick it up for a song and not be sad when I remove paint or a fender wheeling the crap out of it. This is by far the best, and most affordable, out of the box wheeler ever available to the general public. Good article!!!!

I looked at the 2009/10's used - the X's and Sport editions are everywhere and an amazing bargoon.  Take off the steelies on the X and put on some decent rims that will improve the looks alone 10-fold. 

Yeah, but then you have that sad sack 3.8 Caravan motor.....my fiance has an 07 and I love the Jeep, but I HATE that engine. I would go for a an X myself, it would be cheaper to build a rig that way more capable then the Rubicon for cheaper. Besides, with the way Chrysler Corp. is, if you take your Jeep on a rougher gravel road, your warranty is null and void because you took it off road, I couldnt care about a warranty.

[airbalancer]

H1  I think it would closer to a H3 in size

I was talking purely in Off-Road Ability.  Only the H1 could go places a Wrangler couldn't

c&d thought back in 08  H3 gave it a good run for the money
http://www.caranddriver.com/comparisons/2008-hummer-h3-alpha-vs-2008-jeep-wrangler-unlimited-comparison-tests

[blur911]

I wonder how many Jeeps are sold to women who had a Barbie Jeep when they were little girls?
Probably will never ever go off-road, but they'll take the doors off so people can see them looking cool while driving their Jeeps to the mall.
(I'm not making this up, a friend is contemplating a Jeep purchase for these very reasons)

[Thinking Out Loud]

This will be a great vehicle 5 years from now...that way I can pick it up for a song and not be sad when I remove paint or a fender wheeling the crap out of it. This is by far the best, and most affordable, out of the box wheeler ever available to the general public. Good article!!!!

I looked at the 2009/10's used - the X's and Sport editions are everywhere and an amazing bargoon.  Take off the steelies on the X and put on some decent rims that will improve the looks alone 10-fold. 

Yeah, but then you have that sad sack 3.8 Caravan motor.....my fiance has an 07 and I love the Jeep, but I HATE that engine. I would go for a an X myself, it would be cheaper to build a rig that way more capable then the Rubicon for cheaper. Besides, with the way Chrysler Corp. is, if you take your Jeep on a rougher gravel road, your warranty is null and void because you took it off road, I couldnt care about a warranty.

I joined Jeeps Canada blog and there is a guy who got a chip for the 3.8 and (after comparing to the 2012) noted that although not as good as the Pentastar, the old motor redeemed itself OK.  I would have likley considered the 2011 if I were going manual to max the drivability...family needed an auto, so the Pentastar was a no-brainer esp with the new auto.  I rented a 2010 Sahara and is was ashamedly lethargic.

[Fobroader]

I wonder how many Jeeps are sold to women who had a Barbie Jeep when they were little girls?
Probably will never ever go off-road, but they'll take the doors off so people can see them looking cool while driving their Jeeps to the mall.
(I'm not making this up, a friend is contemplating a Jeep purchase for these very reasons)

Those are the kind of used JKs to look for, mall crawlers with owners too stupid/ignorant to figure out how it goes into 4x4 and what the diff locks are for. That way you can get a cherry, low mileage one thats never seen even mild offroad.

[Fobroader]

This will be a great vehicle 5 years from now...that way I can pick it up for a song and not be sad when I remove paint or a fender wheeling the crap out of it. This is by far the best, and most affordable, out of the box wheeler ever available to the general public. Good article!!!!

I looked at the 2009/10's used - the X's and Sport editions are everywhere and an amazing bargoon.  Take off the steelies on the X and put on some decent rims that will improve the looks alone 10-fold. 

Yeah, but then you have that sad sack 3.8 Caravan motor.....my fiance has an 07 and I love the Jeep, but I HATE that engine. I would go for a an X myself, it would be cheaper to build a rig that way more capable then the Rubicon for cheaper. Besides, with the way Chrysler Corp. is, if you take your Jeep on a rougher gravel road, your warranty is null and void because you took it off road, I couldnt care about a warranty.

I joined Jeeps Canada blog and there is a guy who got a chip for the 3.8 and (after comparing to the 2012) noted that although not as good as the Pentastar, the old motor redeemed itself OK.  I would have likley considered the 2011 if I were going manual to max the drivability...family needed an auto, so the Pentastar was a no-brainer esp with the new auto.  I rented a 2010 Sahara and is was ashamedly lethargic.

We taken her 07 Unlimited X from Alberta to Manitoba a few times, Im almost ashamed that I had to go into 4th gear sometimes because the "hills" in Saskatchewan were too much for 5th gear. 6th gear in that vehicle is useless, maybe a flat highway with a tailwind or something. I dont know, the 3.8 killed the deal for me for that generation of Jeep......saying that, I saw in a magazine that theres a company that has the whole wiring harness, radiator and motor mounts to stuff a GM LS motor into a JK....hmmmmmmmmmm.

[Thinking Out Loud]

This will be a great vehicle 5 years from now...that way I can pick it up for a song and not be sad when I remove paint or a fender wheeling the crap out of it. This is by far the best, and most affordable, out of the box wheeler ever available to the general public. Good article!!!!

I looked at the 2009/10's used - the X's and Sport editions are everywhere and an amazing bargoon.  Take off the steelies on the X and put on some decent rims that will improve the looks alone 10-fold. 

Yeah, but then you have that sad sack 3.8 Caravan motor.....my fiance has an 07 and I love the Jeep, but I HATE that engine. I would go for a an X myself, it would be cheaper to build a rig that way more capable then the Rubicon for cheaper. Besides, with the way Chrysler Corp. is, if you take your Jeep on a rougher gravel road, your warranty is null and void because you took it off road, I couldnt care about a warranty.

I joined Jeeps Canada blog and there is a guy who got a chip for the 3.8 and (after comparing to the 2012) noted that although not as good as the Pentastar, the old motor redeemed itself OK.  I would have likley considered the 2011 if I were going manual to max the drivability...family needed an auto, so the Pentastar was a no-brainer esp with the new auto.  I rented a 2010 Sahara and is was ashamedly lethargic.

We taken her 07 Unlimited X from Alberta to Manitoba a few times, Im almost ashamed that I had to go into 4th gear sometimes because the "hills" in Saskatchewan were too much for 5th gear. 6th gear in that vehicle is useless, maybe a flat highway with a tailwind or something. I dont know, the 3.8 killed the deal for me for that generation of Jeep......saying that, I saw in a magazine that theres a company that has the whole wiring harness, radiator and motor mounts to stuff a GM LS motor into a JK....hmmmmmmmmmm.