Discussion
pcn1 said:
I'm just back from a 2 week holiday to America. Those 4 door Jeeps are bloody everywhere out there. Must be a good money earner for Jeep.
I think Jeep sell as many Wranglers in the US per month and Land Rover sold Defenders world wide in a year.Which boggles the mind that LR have not introduced a vehicle to compete with the Wrangler for the US market.
pcn1 said:
Although I still don't quite get the attraction myself.
It's a proper Jeep. The Wrangler can trace it's linage directly back to the WW2 ones, just as the Defender can to the 1948 Series 1 Land Rover.pcn1 said:
If you need 4 doors get the Grand Cherokee ???
New Grand Cherokee is a Chelsea tractor by comparison.The Wrangler has live axles and a proper ladder chassis. You can also remove the roof, and the doors, fold the windscreen down, hose out the interior (it has drain plugs in the floor).
It's a proper recreational 4x4 that can make an ideal daily or family transport while adding loads of fun into the mix.
And they do get used off road too, there is a simple massive aftermarket for them.
pcn1 said:
Id like a CJ7 for a project one day !
CJ's are cool. But a bit like comparing a Series III Land Rover with a 2.2 Puma Defender 110.pcn1 said:
What are the engine choices these days ?
The JK Wrangler was a new clean sheet design for the 2005 model year. It uses a ladder chassis and live axles, but it's all new, unlike the Defender. This means modern hydroformed chassis, all the modern safety and luxury items, strong axles and so on.At launch for the US market it was offer with a 3.8 V6, which iirc was something like 210hp. This replaced the 190hp 4.0 Straight 6 found in older Jeeps.
For the UK/EU market starting circa 2007 the Jeeps where offered with a 2.8CRD engine with 174bhp. I think it's an Iveco based engine and works pretty well. Certainly as nice and more powerful than any diesel fitted to a Defender. The Unlimited (the 5 door long wheel base) weighs less than a Disco 3, so despite less power offers the same performance as a Disco 3 TDV6 diesel. The 3 door (short wheel base Wrangler) even better.
The Rubicon is the top off road model with lots of off road goodies. For the UK this was offer with the 3.8 V6. But only in very very limited numbers. I think Jeep UK imported only 7 of them originally for an entire years quota.
In 2011 the range got a refresh and the 2.8CRD now makes 200hp with a 6 speed manual or 5 speed auto. A nice engine and good performance for what it is and good mpg for a proper off roader.
The 3.8 V6 was replaced with a 3.6 direct injection V6 with 286hp. And is a seriously rapid vehicle. This engine is again available in the UK, but only on very select variants and I should think is like rocking horse poo to try and find.
veccy208 said:
Think I put on another thread about the lack of utility 4x4s, this could be the answer? wonder how much of a beating it would take in a farm/quarry situation. still a bit prestige for that though.
In theory they should be very good. But Jeep artificially restrict their use at this.In the US Jeeps have a pathetic tow rating, something like 3500lbs (1591kg). Older Jeeps were rated at only 1000lbs, which is crazy.
In 2007 the original UK brochure said 3500kg. I think they simply swapped lb for kg. But this matches the Defender and some pick up trucks/SUV's.
The vehicle is certainly capable, the engine, gearboxes and axles have all been used on vehicles with such tow ratings.
I suspect Jeep UK must have got their wrists slapped however, as the current tow rating something in the 2600kg range. Better than the US market (for the same vehicle), but not as good as in 2007 (for the same vehicle).
My hunch at this is, it's all political. Jeep are owned by Chrysler, who also own Dodge and produce the Ram trucks and smaller trucks and vans. I suspect the deliberately rate the Wrangler low, to stop it taking sales from the Ram line up. As there is no technical or mechanical reason why they aren't capable.
All UK Jeeps come equipped with Dana 44 axles front and rear. These are super strong, way way stronger than a Land Rover axle. In the USA via MOPAR you can also spec some Dana 60 axles if you want (used by the rock crawling guys with 37" - 42"+ tyres). These are the sort of axle you'd find on much larger lorry type trucks.
In short. I suspect they would be very good. But UK pricing has also gone a bit stupid sadly.
I think when launched in 2007 the Wrangler was £19k for a 3 door and £21k for a 5 door. With heavy dealer discounts. Reports of new Wranglers leaving the lot for £17k.
Today they are £30-35k
old info. Jeep are owned by Fiat who are planning a new pickup on the my17 wrangler. You can buy a mopar conversion to a pickup, but it turns a 4 door JK into a 2 door pickup, if you are really flush just go and by an AEV brute conversion, its one of my lottery cars. UK wranglers have a crap tow rating as they raised the diff ratios to gain mpg. You can spec the lower ratio diffs to get a better towing weight. Main reason I only took a 2 year lease on my Ranger is to coincide with a jeep pickup in the UK again. Dodge did do for the Comanche pickup in the 90's as it was a direct competitor to the Dodge Dakota, still really regret selling my Comanche
pcn1 said:
Maybe when there 10 years old I'll be able to afford one..... 
This is what I've been hoping. But no luck, they seem to hold their money very well. You'll need around £11k to buy an early JK in the UK. But remember these where retailing for £19-21k (as low as £17k). I don't think there are many vehicles able to claim such residuals.
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