Dear Jeep Wrangler owners: share with me your opinions on the Wrangler

ihavezippersihavezippers Member Posts: 3
edited June 2016 in Jeep
There are lots of 'expert' reviews on the Wrangler, more than half of which are of a negative tone---but in those negative reviews, I see a lot of fault-finding in attributes which are inherent in a hardy, off-road vehicle...pretty stupid to read reviews like 'it's not a very smooth ride'. So that jades my perspective of those reviewers. More generally, I prefer user reviews to 'expert' (paid/incentivized) reviewers anyways (e.g., Amazon reviews are usually useful).

I am interested in the Jeep Wrangler Unlimited (or whatever the 4 door version is called). I have interest in (light-medium) offroad activity, but more so that I can camp in more remote locations, not for the thrill of driving over rocks or doing anything dangerous. But this would only be 10% of its usage---40% of its usage would be hauling two kids around and running errands. The other 40% would be for long-hall commutes I have to do weekly, from San Diego to LA.

The primary attribute I am looking for in my next vehicle, and something that concerns me a little when I see Wranglers, is how the body would hold up in a high speed collision (e.g., my long-haul commute on the interstate). The body of the Wrangler seems to have less robustness than other SUVs ---maybe that's all purely cosmetic design stuff. Anyways, interested in owners thoughts on this.

I'm also interested in reliability and cost of upkeep. I am moving from a Honda which I've had since 2004 with 167k miles and no major problems. Before the Honda, I had several 'American' vehicles (car, SUV, crossover), and all of them had mechanical issues.

Lastly, just interested in your impressions in general, whether you love it or wouldn't do it again, etc. Fuel efficiency seems ok with me --- it isn't as great as some other vehicles, but fuel efficiency with a vehicle like this should not be expected to be great. I'm a fairly big size guy, so I can only know if I fit without feeling crunched (especially height) once I test drive it.

Thanks in advance

Comments

  • ihavezippersihavezippers Member Posts: 3
    *edit - 'hall' should be 'haul'
  • isellhondasisellhondas Member Posts: 20,342
    Our son has a Wrangler Unlimited that he just loves!

    I hate it! It's hard to climb into, it has limited leg room inside. It's loud, it bounces all over the road and it is the most underpowered car I have ever driven! I don't feel safe riding in it as a passenger.

    To each his own I suppose!
  • ihavezippersihavezippers Member Posts: 3
    thanks, limited leg room is a red flag for me. and if you don't feel safe, also a concern --- looking at them from the outside, as hardy as they seem to look, they don't look like tanks that could really take/absorb impact from another vehicle...
  • isellhondasisellhondas Member Posts: 20,342
    Again, he loves it and Jeep Wranglers have a very loyal base and they do have excellent resale values.

    I just don't appreciate their fine points I suppose. It seems almost as primitive as the old Army Jeeps I remember riding in.
  • steverstever Guest Posts: 52,454
    edited June 2016
    I really enjoyed tooling around in my Jeep, and commuting in it. But that was back in '74 when I was a whole lot younger.

    A decade ago I went camping with family and drove an hour in my nephew's Wrangler. Couldn't talk to him and the road noise wore me out - rode back in a different car.

    I think you'd enjoy it for a while @ihavezippers just to get it out of your system, if nothing else. Your kids would love it. Safety ratings leave a lot to be desired though (safercar.gov).


    Resale is pretty good on Jeeps so you could flip it if you hated it. But you may just wind up driving it forever.
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