My Jeep Wrangler hit 50,000 miles this week
Discussion
They are odd beasts, Wranglers.
I bought it off the lot in 2011. There were hundreds of Jeeps lined up on the. lot and the rep drove me around. I knew what I was looking for- 4 door Wrangler in green, Sport version ( just above stripper), add running boards.
"That one there" said the rep. $35000 new, just add running boards.
Picked it up next day.
They are kind like Penguins. Awkward when out of their natural element but great when they are in it.
On the highway the Jeep is slowish, steering is like waving your arm around in a warm room, lot of wind noise, headlights are so weak that I thought I needed to go the the optometrist. It is not an SUV as there is absolutely no S to be found. Normally it is a RWD with the 4x4 option only for off road and below 50 mph, though there is also an ultra low gear.
Interior is basic, no headliner in the plastic roof, oddly placed controls but simple ebough. No nav, bluetooth, no Apple car play or the like.
Good news is no horrible plastic touch screen. Seats are OK for short journeys though the rear seats were designed in Lubyanka prison for the torture in inmates and it is very difficult to balance heat on a cold winter day when we visit the Grand Canyon in winter, so you can fry the front seat occupants while the rear seat shelf sitters freeze in the dark.
Than being said, it is a perfect fit for the American SouthWest with its proliferation of dirt tracks, strange twisty roads and remote places to visit. They are a common sight here.
So far I have had four windshields, a new set of running board which were broken rock climbing, a new fuel tank, ( leak caused by a rock and it is illegal to repair them, new thermostat, some new A/C sensors, tires of course. Not that bad for 11 years of ownership.
I bought it off the lot in 2011. There were hundreds of Jeeps lined up on the. lot and the rep drove me around. I knew what I was looking for- 4 door Wrangler in green, Sport version ( just above stripper), add running boards.
"That one there" said the rep. $35000 new, just add running boards.
Picked it up next day.
They are kind like Penguins. Awkward when out of their natural element but great when they are in it.
On the highway the Jeep is slowish, steering is like waving your arm around in a warm room, lot of wind noise, headlights are so weak that I thought I needed to go the the optometrist. It is not an SUV as there is absolutely no S to be found. Normally it is a RWD with the 4x4 option only for off road and below 50 mph, though there is also an ultra low gear.
Interior is basic, no headliner in the plastic roof, oddly placed controls but simple ebough. No nav, bluetooth, no Apple car play or the like.
Good news is no horrible plastic touch screen. Seats are OK for short journeys though the rear seats were designed in Lubyanka prison for the torture in inmates and it is very difficult to balance heat on a cold winter day when we visit the Grand Canyon in winter, so you can fry the front seat occupants while the rear seat shelf sitters freeze in the dark.
Than being said, it is a perfect fit for the American SouthWest with its proliferation of dirt tracks, strange twisty roads and remote places to visit. They are a common sight here.
So far I have had four windshields, a new set of running board which were broken rock climbing, a new fuel tank, ( leak caused by a rock and it is illegal to repair them, new thermostat, some new A/C sensors, tires of course. Not that bad for 11 years of ownership.
Edited by RDMcG on Saturday 31st December 18:00
The Southwest gets very remote very quickly, so there is a full survival kit in the vehicle, and now that Apple has satellite emergency in the US is is easy to stay in touch in the event of trouble, People die out in the desert all the time. I did discover to my cost that a flat tire could be a problem. I had a spare of course but the standard Jeep jack is too short for hard uneven ground. I did hook up with a well equipped local guy who mentioned that this was well-known and lent me a bottle jack to do the job. I bought one the following week. The ground out here is rock hard when dry and can be as slippery as ice when wet.
Edited by RDMcG on Saturday 31st December 17:58
Overall I would not have one of these as a DD or as a city vehicle but over 50,000 miles it has been more reliable that I expected. No failures that caused it to need a tow, and it seems to fit handily into the landscape. The colour is not for everyone ad was not popular, but gave me that chance to put on an appropriate plate
One very good thing about it is that depreciation is very slow. I have mulled replacing it for a later one, but the improvements are just not worth it to me so I will hang onto it, warts and all.
One very good thing about it is that depreciation is very slow. I have mulled replacing it for a later one, but the improvements are just not worth it to me so I will hang onto it, warts and all.
Tlandcruiser said:
Lovely Jeep and lovely colour, I have a fire cracker x edition JKU. I love my Jeep and during the summer it spent most of the time without the doors or roof!
It gets more comments and attention than my lotus
The colour was not at all popular and is the rarest colour on a JK. ( Many might applaud that)., but it works for me. They do look good without the doors/roof and this is common in AZ. I believe that JL that replaced this model makes roof removal much easier. Being in the desert Jeeps are very common so it does not get much attention apart from the plateIt gets more comments and attention than my lotus
Very cool, following with interest.
I recently picked up a 2011 JK as a project. Really fun little motor, kids love it!
I’ve yet to venture out into the desert but will be doing in the coming months. I treated it to some 392 wheels, some slightly chunkier tires and a rubicon bumper. I love how accessible parts are for these cars. The options are endless!
I recently picked up a 2011 JK as a project. Really fun little motor, kids love it!
I’ve yet to venture out into the desert but will be doing in the coming months. I treated it to some 392 wheels, some slightly chunkier tires and a rubicon bumper. I love how accessible parts are for these cars. The options are endless!
Well, a bit on an unexpected adventure today.. decided to try a track ups to some Indian wall art about 20 miles North and 20 miles along a dirt track. The track is classified as "unsafe for passenger vehicles", and is unpaved but generally supposed to be an easy trip for a Jeep.
Unlike typical desert sunshine. there was a lot of rain about.
However,heading down the track the ford was quite shallow and the track was rocky; passed a farm or two at the lower levels. Even in the wet the track was rocky and had good traction.
Until we hit the grasslands on top of the butte. Driving up up a shallow incline. I got about two kilometres up when I felt the traction give up completely. The track was soaked and had turned to slick slippery mud. There was nowhere to turn safely so I had to use gravity and minimal brake pressure, see carefully steering as the Jeep yawed from side to side at less than walking pace.
The pic below does not show the incline,but you can see my tire tracks in front as I reversed. An hour of my life to get it done- it was about the traction of black ice, so the slightest movement caused the Jeep to slide.Looks very innoccuous
but was one of the more scary experiences, as if the Jeep gathered momentum there was a very long slide down.
Eventually I had enough grip lower down to be able to turn around.Will note that this track should not be tried in wet conditions.
No more offloading till things dry up
Unlike typical desert sunshine. there was a lot of rain about.
However,heading down the track the ford was quite shallow and the track was rocky; passed a farm or two at the lower levels. Even in the wet the track was rocky and had good traction.
Until we hit the grasslands on top of the butte. Driving up up a shallow incline. I got about two kilometres up when I felt the traction give up completely. The track was soaked and had turned to slick slippery mud. There was nowhere to turn safely so I had to use gravity and minimal brake pressure, see carefully steering as the Jeep yawed from side to side at less than walking pace.
The pic below does not show the incline,but you can see my tire tracks in front as I reversed. An hour of my life to get it done- it was about the traction of black ice, so the slightest movement caused the Jeep to slide.Looks very innoccuous
but was one of the more scary experiences, as if the Jeep gathered momentum there was a very long slide down.
Eventually I had enough grip lower down to be able to turn around.Will note that this track should not be tried in wet conditions.
No more offloading till things dry up
Mikebentley said:
I’m surprised the conditions defeated you. The pictures may be deceptive but I reckon my 2022 Defender would breeze through that obstacle.
I’ve always liked your colour choices.
I was too but there is a kind of very slick desert mud that you can get in heavy rain.it is not deep but you would immediately slip if you tried to walk on it.I’ve always liked your colour choices.
I had it one other time in the Painted Desert and was lucky to still have rear wheel purchase on my old Cayenne before we slid in.
Gassing Station | Readers' Cars | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff