I have a 4DR Wrangler for a week...any questions?

"cazzyodo" (cazzyodo)
06/04/2018 at 17:33 • Filed to: None

I’m in St. Paul for the work week and of all things I have a Wrangler for my rental. Oddly enough, it was the cheapest option.

So, I’m pretty happy because I fit a lot better in this than I do in the Sentra I had last time. Anyone have any questions about it?

My Jeep time prior to this was a 20 minute test drive of a 2015 4 door manual Sport trim during a torrential downpour so slight difference already. My daily is also a FoST so even bigger difference there. That being said, I really like this. It’s actually really cut down on the road noise vs the JK that I mentioned. It also just made me happy cruising on the highway (getting 22+ mpg) with the windows down.

DISCUSSION (23)

CRider > cazzyodo
06/04/2018 at 17:47

Have you taken off the top and doors yet? And since it’s a rental, screw it, take down the windshield too. I doubt any rental company has included a clause prohibiting windshield removal yet.

CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever > CRider
06/04/2018 at 17:57

When I had my Jeep rental in Nova Scotia, I removed all I could.

Future Heap Owner > cazzyodo
06/04/2018 at 18:11

I rented a JK Wrangler for a week and I felt like I had to really cajole it into going 55 on the highway, probably because aerodynamic efficiency was... not a primary concern for the car’s designers. Does the JL also feel like it’s working really hard just to stay at highway speeds?

hike > Future Heap Owner
06/04/2018 at 18:41

The issue with the JK is more the trans tuning. It really doesn’t like going past like 3500 rpm. There’s actually a green line on the tach for the “efficient range.” It’s plenty quick if you give it enough gas to get past that zone.

DipodomysDeserti > cazzyodo
06/04/2018 at 19:06

Have you affixed a light bar to it yet, and have you been waving at other people driving Jeeps?

Spasoje > cazzyodo
06/04/2018 at 21:50

Enjoy! I rented a couple of those myself – they’re tons of fun, even in everyday situations.

pip bip - choose Corrour > cazzyodo
06/04/2018 at 21:57

does it hoon?

dead body capacity?

cazzyodo > CRider
06/05/2018 at 08:29

Roof sections came off immediately. Taking them off and on because I’m parking overnight in a public garage. Love it.

cazzyodo > DipodomysDeserti
06/05/2018 at 08:30

Light bar won’t deliver on time...wasn’t Prime.

Ive been locked and loaded for the Jeep wave.

cazzyodo > pip bip - choose Corrour
06/05/2018 at 08:31

Back is small but seats down I’d say 4 full, comfortably. Maybe double that if pressed.

Literally.

cazzyodo > Future Heap Owner
06/05/2018 at 08:34

Im actually impressed by it in terms of the highway driving. It was a short jaunt from the airport to my destination but easy cruising at 65-70. Was quieter than the JK I drove so they definitely worked on road noise a bit. I threw the windows down after that and was quite happy going along at that speed. I’m still going to do a bit more testing on the highway cuz I was in no rush at that point and the pedal feel is completely different from what I’m used to.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > cazzyodo
06/05/2018 at 11:57

Is it something that would be tolerable for a daily driver long term?

Basically, how much does it suck inside? Wife loves them but I keep reminding her that unless she’s on a trail they typically suck.

cazzyodo > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
06/05/2018 at 14:01

I need to take it on a longer drive, to be honest. So far it’s just been airport to facility to hotel to facility. Not a lot of driving. But my immediate reaction was that they really worked on road noise from last generation.

My wife had a couple hours in a JK Rubicon with her boss for a vendor visit or something a couple years ago and she said it was intolerable. I found this ride to be quieter than the ST.

It’s noticeably heavy, particularly in the handling department but there’s been an improvement in pickup on my highway merges.

The thing that is keeping me grounded is that as much as I am loving the roof off and Jeep wave it is still an FCA product and they have no vision whatsoever for a sustainable future. That being said, it’s a blessing that they are so expensive for what you get because I really am loving it.

jkm7680 > cazzyodo
06/05/2018 at 14:27

Are you a sorority girl?

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > cazzyodo
06/05/2018 at 15:30

Ha, yeah I suppose if they were cheap we’d probably already have one. I don’t have a problem with FCA’s future, as long as you don’t bet on the Chrysler brand you should be fine!

I’ve been tossing around the idea of a used Charger R/T AWD as a future replacement for the Milan. More muscle and it’ll do fine in Michigan. The Durango is high on the list as well though.

Be a long time before that happens anyhow so who knows.

Spasoje > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
06/05/2018 at 16:03

I might be of service here – I rented a few of them in the past year, identical to this one, for a week each.

Long story short, Saharas get the most comfy suspension they offer (i.e. Sport, Sahara, and Rubicon all have different suspension setups). While you’ll never forget that it’s a truck, it’s very much comfortable enough to daily. Compliance over bumps is quite good, and there’s nothing harsh about the experience, at least with the Sahara.

The inside is actually pretty good! The facelift brought smooth plastic to the entire interior, which feels objectively nice (the cabin is much nicer than any new Toyota, for example). I didn’t find a single unfinished edge or poor-feeling surface anywhere. The pre-2012 units can’t compare to these.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > Spasoje
06/05/2018 at 16:41

Alright then, thanks. That is actually quite helpful!

She drives a lifted Commander right now, we had a stock 06 Liberty before it which was such a piece of shit I can’t believe I signed on another Jeep for her, but the Commander has been nice. She loves the Wrangler and I’ve been pushing her more towards a Grand Cherokee, but I’ll put it back on the table for whenever the hell it is we can get a new vehicle.

Spasoje > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
06/05/2018 at 21:26

Glad I could help! The interior will be miles better than either the Liberty or the Commander. It was done around the time when Fiat took over, making sweeping redesigns of anything they could. It’s both smooth to the touch and very easy to clean!

Also, they heavily revised the seats in 2013. They’re very comfortable, even for long journeys, and that’s coming from a Volvo owner!

From a reliability standpoint, the issues tend to be small and have either a DIY or aftermarket fix. This is probably because its basic design is from 10 years ago... It’s definitely less complicated than a Grand Cherokee, and is probably the only FCA product I’d trust to actually buy myself.

It’s worth mentioning that I was smiling all the time when I drove these things. I can’t explain it – it’s just one of those cars.

cazzyodo > jkm7680
06/05/2018 at 22:00

Yes.

Tehe.

cazzyodo > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
06/05/2018 at 22:02

I just went for a 1 hour drive to nowhere. I can say that this is exactly as Spasoje said. It was perfectly fine to be in. Averaged 18.4mpg if you’re curious, too.

It’s figuratively killing me right now how much I’m enjoying just cruising with the top pieces in the trunk.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > cazzyodo
06/06/2018 at 09:53

Wow. Alright then. I’ll stop telling the wife they’re a piece of shit. Hahaha

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > Spasoje
06/06/2018 at 09:55

Alright you guys have me convinced, I won’t fight her on it when we get to that point. I actually don’t might the Commander’s interior btw. We have the lowest trim level of it and it doesn’t try to be more than it is. Basic with a touch of rugged. Works fine even on long hauls.

cazzyodo > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
06/07/2018 at 16:09

I mean...I hate myself for saying it because while I love everything the Wrangler stands for and is, I just could never get myself to go after one seriously.

I mean...I’m fairly uncomfortable after longer rides in the FoST anyways so perhaps I’m conditioned to think anything with more space is better for me now.