Oppo Confessions: I don't really like my new car

"sellphones2493" (sellphones2493) 03/15/2016 at 00:29 • Filed to: None

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We’re going on 5 months/3,000 miles, and I’ve come to the conclusion my brand-spankin’ new, custom-ordered 2016 Wrangler is not the car for me. I’ve spent the past month or two waiting for the Wrangler-bug to rub off on me, but it’s just not happening.

I honestly bought it looking for something more versatile, fun, something I care less about than my (dearly missed and !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! ) S60R, and also to slow down a little (I drove the R way too fast).

It’s a lot less maintenance...I don’t mind when it’s dirty, I can do speedbumps above 5mph, etc. Plus it’s a great mountain car, and the ownership base is great.

However , I realize I’m way more of a performance car guy than an offroader. It’s kinda hard feeling like you made the perfect shift in a Wrangler. Also, I really regret not getting the 4-Door...this thing is so tiny.

The last reason I bought the thing was because of the resale value! Sadly, I’ll probably be putting it to use next January. I’m not saying it’s a bad car, but it’s just not the car for everyone. My only real complaint that I didn’t know before buying it is UCONNECT. It’s terrible.

HammerheadFistpunch > sellphones2493 03/15/2016 at 00:34

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I think you are the first person ive met that hates uconnect...do you have the 8 inch uconnect or the smaller system?

As for getting the wrangler...i dont get it either and its not for a lack of a love of off roading, i just dont like they way they feel.

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > sellphones2493 03/15/2016 at 00:35

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It’s a new Jeep, so this strikes as a pretty expensive regret. They do have great resale value so maybe if you can’t ever love it you can just replace it?

CCC (formerly CyclistCarCoexist) > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 03/15/2016 at 00:42

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Well, else than the offroader audience, they do have a major “lifestyle”audience....so yes..maybe put ads around the local college?

sellphones2493 > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 03/15/2016 at 00:42

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I’m looking for replacing it with something less-expensive and German (oxymoron) in December. I won’t make it out too badly when I do sell it. Since it’ll have maybe 10K on it, I’ll probably be out $4k..it’s a lot but it’s not the end of the world.

sellphones2493 > HammerheadFistpunch 03/15/2016 at 00:44

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This guy:

The voice control works, but the iPhone integration is absolutely terrible. It drops my iPhone three times a day, and can’t recognize it half the time.

HammerheadFistpunch > sellphones2493 03/15/2016 at 00:45

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Oh yeah, that thing sucks...my inlaws have the same one and it drops their phone alp the time, its not uconnect

valsidalv, reminding you that infiniti is an option > sellphones2493 03/15/2016 at 00:49

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Coworker has a 2-door Wrangler and says he absolutely loves it. In the summer he takes off the doors and roof and drives around in the open air. Have you had a chance to do that? He did complain about the lack of space, though.

I rented a 4-door on a recent ski trip. Drove about 600 km in it into a ski town. I like the feeling of sitting in the driver’s seat of a Jeep but the car does leave a bit to be desired in terms of performance.

TheOnelectronic > sellphones2493 03/15/2016 at 00:51

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I feel the same way for different reasons about the BRZ. Except in my case it’s lost about $10k in six months according to the Ford Dealer.

PetarVN, GLI Guy, now with stupid power > sellphones2493 03/15/2016 at 01:04

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the important thing is you tried it, and realized it’s not for you now. good thing you didn’t buy a fully loaded one!

E92M3 > sellphones2493 03/15/2016 at 01:57

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I can understand that. I borrowed my sisters Jeep one summer when I was in college. At first I loved it, and even thought about getting one myself. After 3 months I was so over it though.

Doug DeMuro > sellphones2493 03/15/2016 at 02:10

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You aren’t alone. I’m consistently surprised by how many people DO drive and enjoy these daily.

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > sellphones2493 03/15/2016 at 02:26

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I’ve driven a few different generations of these things and always felt that way about them (and anything above a base model G-wagen). But I love defenders, which confuses me to no end.

At least you will be able to get must of your money back. What are you thinking of replacing it with?

JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder! > sellphones2493 03/15/2016 at 06:55

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We are having a similar Jeep urge right now. Dad really wants a Willy’s Wheeler Unlimited. But for some reason, we just can’t pull the trigger.

It seems like a really fun toy. But as a daily driver, I think it’ll be miserable very quickly. Especially coming from an S60 (which we’d trade in) and our V60. We like luxury cars. This isn’t.

RedlineZ bought an SV (And is getting rid of the z) > sellphones2493 03/15/2016 at 07:10

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Ive had my z for 4 years now but I still wish I had my old jeep every time I see one on the road. I had it for 4-5 years and had to get rid of it when gas broke $4 a gallon. I miss that thing as stupid as it was for a daily driver

jkm7680 > sellphones2493 03/15/2016 at 07:28

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Welcome to the club, haha. I’m not the biggest fan of my new car either.

KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs > sellphones2493 03/15/2016 at 07:54

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My father has a four door Wrangler. At least he isn’t stupid enough to lift it and put awful wheels on it. (Mom has mobility issues, so she would kill him if he did that)

My mother hates it with a passion. She loved his old Lincoln Navigator (but one too many faults with the air suspension ended that)

I hate it too. One main reason is that it feels utterly flimsy. The second is the road feel. It’s not heavy like a truck, and doesn’t give you a bunch of feedback that is useful. It will throw excess tread noise, wind noise, and various not-nice sounds from the Pentastar V6 (the exhaust note is crap, like they were deliberately trying for an AMC 4.0L with holes in the exhaust)

It’s more tiring to drive than my Silverado, and Mom finally stole Dad’s wallet and bought an R230 SL500.

Dad claims that it’s a Jeep thing and that we don’t understand.

Yeah, Just Empty Every Pocket and say screw this and bring on the Land Cruisers (or FJs or 4Runners).

Tripper > sellphones2493 03/15/2016 at 08:25

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+1 to getting rid of cars you don’t like. It might not be the best move financially but life is short. There’s no sense in driving something that you’re not that fond of especially if you’re an enthusiast. I took a $4k bath on a 2013 jetta that I bought as a commuter car. 10 months, 18k miles, one job, and one foot shaped dent, later I traded it for an E90 M3. It’s all about the smiles.

Somethin' 'bout a truck > sellphones2493 03/15/2016 at 09:11

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I think it’s great of you to admit. I don’t think the off road trucks are for everyone because of the refinement you give up to get the go everywhere abilities.

Now for me personally I love a go fast car but at the end of the day there is just something that draws me more to the off road trucks and SUV’s of the world.

Vimto > sellphones2493 03/15/2016 at 09:24

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I had a pristine 2005 Volvo S80 T5 that I absolutely loved. I intermittently struggle with depression and, in a weak moment, traded it on a new ‘15 Sentra th

inking the new car would bring me happiness and I wouldn’t have to worry about anything breaking, even though my S80 had never let me down.

I put up with the Sentra for 6 months before realizing that my heart lies with the Volvos, because they truly do feel and drive like tanks. A month ago I traded my Sentra for a 2009 C70, took a very heavy loss financially, but its worth it to enjoy my drive again - an expensive mistake that I won’t make again.

The Ghost of Oppo > sellphones2493 03/15/2016 at 09:37

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I wanted a Wrangler for the longest time but discovered the seating position/ergonomics and clutch length does not work for short people. Sorry about your disappointment though! Got any ideas on what you would like next?

Nymphicus Hollandicus > Tripper 03/15/2016 at 10:03

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I’m facing that dilemma with my free Honda Pilot, it’s a decent car and it hasn’t broke down but I really don’t like it. I want to replace it with a compact manual car but I really don’t know how I can go about it.

Rico > Nymphicus Hollandicus 03/15/2016 at 10:05

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Sell it? Pilots get pretty bad mileage anyway.

Rico > HammerheadFistpunch 03/15/2016 at 10:06

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That’s UConnect? Looks more like “radio”.

Nymphicus Hollandicus > Rico 03/15/2016 at 10:10

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I’ll probably try to do it this summer after I finish this semester. Besides the fact I’ll only get $6,000 (optimistic) for it, my parents aren’t too thrilled about getting rid of it and they don’t like used cars.

Rico > Nymphicus Hollandicus 03/15/2016 at 10:13

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Didn’t they give you a used car?

Nymphicus Hollandicus > sellphones2493 03/15/2016 at 10:14

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I honestly don’t get the point of these unless you off-road them.

Rico > Doug DeMuro 03/15/2016 at 10:14

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Congrats on your engagement, just saw it on IG.

Nymphicus Hollandicus > Rico 03/15/2016 at 10:16

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We’ve had it since new. It’s a hand-me-down.

Rico > Nymphicus Hollandicus 03/15/2016 at 10:16

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Lol it’s not new though! You should’ve told them you didn’t like used cars either haha

Tripper > Nymphicus Hollandicus 03/15/2016 at 10:20

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Haha my first car was a free, hand me down Ford Explorer. I quickly traded it + some cash for a Mazda Protege 5. The easiest way to get out of your current car is to find a car that you like at a dealer.

Nymphicus Hollandicus > Rico 03/15/2016 at 10:24

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Although a new car would’ve been nice as a first car, I didn’t want one since I was a new driver and didn’t want to feel bad about scratching it. The Pilot still feels pretty new even though the interior is missing a few panels here and there. I just don’t like how horrible it is on gas.

Nymphicus Hollandicus > Tripper 03/15/2016 at 10:27

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Because of my car’s age (11) and mileage (135k), it’s easier said than done as I’ve only been offered $4k. Most of the cars in my budget are 6-9k and I don’t have any extra cash so I’d have to rely on my parents whom aren’t totally on board with it since they love the car and think I’d miss having a large car.

Ross Kraz > jkm7680 03/15/2016 at 11:04

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TDI?

RyanFrew > sellphones2493 03/15/2016 at 11:08

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If you’re only out $4k, you can think of it like a $333 monthly lease - that’s really not bad. Plus, your Volvo would’ve probably had something break this year at 90k+ miles. So the number is even lower if you factor in the hypothetical...

chris209 > HammerheadFistpunch 03/15/2016 at 11:23

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I hate it too, but I’ve only used it on test drives.

The Stig's former college room mate > sellphones2493 03/15/2016 at 11:34

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no one should ever by a wrangler as their DD. It is probably the worst driving massed produced vehicle ever sold. It excels at offroad driving, which 90% of them will never see. it’s slow. it feels like it wants to tip over. The soft top is a chore to put up and down and feels like you’re driving a tent down the road. it rattles. it’s loud. it wanders at highway speeds. it guzzles fuel like a muscle car. And i own one. And on warm summer days with the top and doors off, it’s magical. but otherwise it’s usually parked. it should only ever be a second vehicle. A weekend toy.

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs 03/15/2016 at 11:47

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“it’s a jeep thing” is the best answer to every problem lol. I am still unsure if it’s denial but I believe it. I find the character of 2 door manual wranglers to be the allure of it.

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > Somethin' 'bout a truck 03/15/2016 at 11:51

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I bet the key for a non-truck person to enjoy a jeep or other off road centric vehicle would be to not daily the vehicle. Like I bet I could definitely enjoy a Jeep if I only used it for its intended purpose and never tried to drive to work with it. Use a sports car for daily driving and home Depot runs for sure. But the truck on a weekend camping adventure! Something about using the right tool for the job.

Matt Kirsch > sellphones2493 03/15/2016 at 12:00

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I wrote this a while back, and still feel the exact same way about my JK.

http://oppositelock.kinja.com/an-ownership-e…

I’m at a stage in my life where I don’t need a practical vehicle and can put up with quirks to have a unique ownership experience. I’m pretty sure that I will never sell my JK. That being said, I get where you’re coming from. I’ve always said that I understand that they might not be for everyone, but think that every car guy/gal should spend some time in one.

In your remaining time with it, take the top off, take the doors off, wave to every wrangler you see, try to make it off road, and park on that monster snow pile in the grocery store parking lot because you can. See if that changes anything. And try not to call it a car ;)

WiscoProud > sellphones2493 03/15/2016 at 12:00

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I still see snow on the ground. For me the main draw is being able to take the doors and top off in nice weather, so you may want to wait until summer to see how you feel. In full disclosure though, I would only get one as a second vehicle, not my DD.

Somethin' 'bout a truck > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) 03/15/2016 at 12:33

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Exactly, I think thats the best option. And just make the newer of the two the thing you enjoy driving the most. For me, I could do a brand new jeep/truck and have a first gen miata for some spirited driving.

sellphones2493 > AMGtech - now with more recalls! 03/15/2016 at 14:29

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I think I wanna go with the a 10-12K limit, and get a new (used) car every year or so. There’s so much out there I want, and I actually enjoy the whole chase of car buying, so these are a few I have in mind:

540...not M5.

BMW X5...Manual

sellphones2493 > PetarVN, GLI Guy, now with stupid power 03/15/2016 at 14:30

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The funny thing is, I would have actually made out better in the long term if I got a Rubicon Unlimited...those things hold their value like nobody’s business. Also, my financing rate would have been .5% less with an Unlimited too.

sellphones2493 > jkm7680 03/15/2016 at 14:32

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I don’t regret buying it. I figure, if I never did it, I’d always have this looming curiosity to own one...Safe to say, I’m getting Wrangler-ownership out of the way!

sellphones2493 > The Stig's former college room mate 03/15/2016 at 14:47

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I wouldn’t say it’s necessarily slow...with the Pentastar, it sees a reported 6.5 to 60...I wouldn’t say mine is too far off. However, if I had the 3.8 this thing used to sport, it’d already be gone.

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > sellphones2493 03/15/2016 at 15:06

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You’re brave! Should be real easy to find nice examples of those in that price range, and have money left over for repairs!

jkm7680 > Ross Kraz 03/15/2016 at 15:45

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Nooo, I like the car. It just doesn’t suit me as well as my previous cars have.

The Stig's former college room mate > sellphones2493 03/15/2016 at 16:05

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Mine is an 11, so last year with the 3.8. 0-60 is measured with a calendar. my father has a 14 with the pentastar, and it doesn’t feel anywhere near as fast as they claim it is. i think it’s the absence of low end torque. gotta get the revs up before it starts making any power. same thing between my hemi durango and the wife’s cherokee trailhawk. on paper, they’re both about 6.5 to 60, but the butt dyno says the durango is faster.

Ross Kraz > jkm7680 03/15/2016 at 16:07

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I just assumed from your avatar lol

sellphones2493 > The Stig's former college room mate 03/16/2016 at 00:21

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No low-end torque at all...probably why I can only get 15.8MPG in city driving.

hike > sellphones2493 04/06/2016 at 06:29

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That's not really uConnect. That radio design is probably close to ten years old. Pretty much ancient in tech years.