Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 15 of 18

Thread: New Jeep

  1. #1
    Join Date
    10-15-01
    Location
    HAL Laboratory, Urbana, Illinois
    Posts
    11,668

    New Jeep

    I bought a new Jeep and have really been enjoying it. It's a 2014 Wrangler Sport (basic Jeep 2dr).

    It's not my first one, that one was a 1974 with a small V8 that could have crawled to to the moon if I could have piled the rocks high enough.

    Will post a pic later and a new vs old comparison. It's totally stock (at the moment).
    Avowed Contrarian / Occasional Jingoist / Politically Incorrect
    ...

    “The world seems full of good men, even if there are monsters in it.” -- Bram Stoker

  2. #2
    Join Date
    10-22-01
    Location
    All Over
    Posts
    38,159
    "A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity, an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty” ---Sir Winston Churchill
    "Political extremism involves two prime ingredients: an excessively simple diagnosis of the world's ills, and a conviction that there are identifiable villains back of it all." ---John W. Gardner
    “You can’t go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending.” ---C. S. Lewis

  3. #3
    Join Date
    10-21-01
    Location
    San Antonio, Tx.
    Posts
    18,387
    Nothing like having a Wrangler when you can use one. I used to drag one behind the motorhome so when I spotted a trail, it could be put in service for what it was designed. Cheers.
    ...............
    “You can vote your way into socialism, but you have to shoot your way out.” — Too fundamental to have an attribution


  4. #4
    Join Date
    11-14-01
    Location
    Apache Junction, AZ
    Posts
    25,666
    Well since there's no pics, I guess I'll chime in that it might be better than the the old 46 Jeep Station Wagon and the 48 Jeep Sedan Delivery that I had back in the day.

    But then the Olds and 4 speed in the Station Wagon were fun to play with on the road.
    Fred

    "Everyday I beat my own previous record for number of consecutive days I've
    stayed alive."

    'Take care of yourself, and each other.'

  5. #5
    Join Date
    10-22-01
    Location
    All Over
    Posts
    38,159
    I have to confess a lack of love for the little buggers---despite a few attempts at warming up

    I was "transitional" in the Army---going from the old Willys M39A1 to the Ford M151.

    After I got back I thought I might buy a civilian Jeep; being certain they would be vastly better than the M39A1---they weren't

    Then about 20 years ago I got the urge again. We owned a used car dealership at the time and we had a Jeep sitting on the lot for longer than I liked and I thought I'd use it for an "airport beater"---so I took it home one Saturday. It took all of about 3 miles to make the decision. When I walked in the house my 18 year old son was all a glee---and then I tossed him the keys and told him to take it back to the lot

    But---each to his own and I hope it is everything you hope it will be and have a ball with it
    "A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity, an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty” ---Sir Winston Churchill
    "Political extremism involves two prime ingredients: an excessively simple diagnosis of the world's ills, and a conviction that there are identifiable villains back of it all." ---John W. Gardner
    “You can’t go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending.” ---C. S. Lewis

  6. #6
    Join Date
    10-15-01
    Location
    HAL Laboratory, Urbana, Illinois
    Posts
    11,668
    Well, I don't have any place to host the image, but this link shows basically what I got.

    mine is black, and is the sport, not the rubicon. It does have a hard top like this one.

    Dave, Jeeps aren't for everyone. They do require a sense of adventure and a disdain for comfort. However, this one is actually pretty comfortable.
    Avowed Contrarian / Occasional Jingoist / Politically Incorrect
    ...

    “The world seems full of good men, even if there are monsters in it.” -- Bram Stoker

  7. #7
    Join Date
    01-21-04
    Location
    Crescent City CA. where the redwoods meet the sea.
    Posts
    15,119
    You guys sure know how to hurt an old man, always wanted one but couldn't justify it. Pretty much always had a four wheel drive of some kind, but not a toy like that. Does that new jeep have the all wheel drive like our SUV's have now?
    Old redneck hillbilly borned and raised on a redwood stump.

  8. #8
    Join Date
    08-05-05
    Location
    Deep inside the Central Scrutinizer.
    Posts
    21,021
    Awesome sauce ..

  9. #9
    Join Date
    10-21-01
    Location
    Columbia, S.C.
    Posts
    14,620
    What's the difference in the Rubicon besides cosmetics?
    This is your mind on drugs!

  10. #10
    Join Date
    10-21-01
    Location
    Columbia, S.C.
    Posts
    14,620
    Never mind I found the "options" The rubicon is loaded but there's really not a lot of difference generally speaking. It has a rock climb button and heated seats. Most of the main parts, engine, tranny, suspension, except for shocks is the same. Less crome and leather on yours it appears.
    This is your mind on drugs!

  11. #11
    Join Date
    10-15-01
    Location
    HAL Laboratory, Urbana, Illinois
    Posts
    11,668
    Quote Originally Posted by mgrist View Post
    Never mind I found the "options" The rubicon is loaded but there's really not a lot of difference generally speaking. It has a rock climb button and heated seats. Most of the main parts, engine, tranny, suspension, except for shocks is the same. Less crome and leather on yours it appears.
    In some of my research the rubicon comes with better tires, better gearbox, and a 411 gear. I think mine is a 3:73.
    Avowed Contrarian / Occasional Jingoist / Politically Incorrect
    ...

    “The world seems full of good men, even if there are monsters in it.” -- Bram Stoker

  12. #12
    Join Date
    10-15-01
    Location
    HAL Laboratory, Urbana, Illinois
    Posts
    11,668
    Ok, here are the old (relatively) vs new jeeps I've owned.

    Looks: about the same. My '74 was a CJ-5 so it had the notched doors, but this one is more like the CJ-7 of yesteryear in looks and wheelbase length.

    Interior: the new jeep is much nicer inside, but that comes at a price. It takes longer to dry out when it gets wet and it's not practical to hose it out like the old one. Of course, I understand I could have gotten one with rubber floor covers so that might be a moot point. I doubt the electronics can stand up as well to the elements as the mechanicals in the old jeep. Seats are more comfortable and have headrests. Back seat is more of a seat as opposed to a death trap. The new back seat actually comes out easier than the old one, and flips up for carrying loads. The hard top is dry (for the moment, I understand they can be leaky after a couple of years of off and on) and quiet.

    Performance: have not been off-road yet, but the 'feel' seems to match the old one. I don't have to leave the cab to put it in 4WD. Once I switched to free-wheel hubs on the '74 I had to slosh through the muck to engage it. Originally it was full time engaged (which wore out the parts sooner). The old one had a V8, and because of AMC's Javelin, I could add performance parts at will. The '74 was dangerously fast and powerful, and often found itself on two wheels when my 17 year old dumbass self was on the road, and upside down on two occasions off the road. In its defense, it was easily righted with four strong guys and the fenders were a snap to bend back into place. Of course it also twisted axles in their hubs like no ones business, but that was an AMC design flaw. The new jeep has a VVT 6 and is about the most powerful six you can get. It is fast enough for me, but I do miss the rumble of my old V8 (sigh). I have doubts that a rollover in the new one would turn out as well as the old one, but perhaps we'll see.

    Functionality: basically the same. The windshield in the old one had two paddle screws on the dash and you could have the windshield flat on the hood in a couple of minutes ready to hunt in place, or yell at girls on the seawall and pick bugs out of your teeth. The new one is ridiculously hard to lay flat and is so complicated it is simply not worth doing. The factory bumpers are superior to the old ones but as they eventually get replaced it doesn't matter much. Gas mileage is no contest. The old one was a hog and I had a functional jerry can just to get to North Padre. This one gets about 20 all around so far. Of course gas was cheaper back then.
    Avowed Contrarian / Occasional Jingoist / Politically Incorrect
    ...

    “The world seems full of good men, even if there are monsters in it.” -- Bram Stoker

  13. #13
    Join Date
    03-13-03
    Location
    Gratis, Ga
    Posts
    1,720
    Rubicons have selectable lockers and electronic sway bar disconnects. A nice upgrade to open axles and no disconnects. Rubicons in the the TJ version had dana 44's front and rear versus dana 30/35 or dana 30/44. Not sure what the regular JK's like you have come with. My TJ has dana30/44. Looking at about 3k to upgrade to selectable lockers (arb's) with a gear change (456's). When you have 35's on it that 20mpg will be gone too....lol
    John

    ______________________________

    You are slower than a herd of turtles stampeding through peanut
    butter.

    It's hard to make a comeback when you haven't been anywhere.

  14. #14
    Join Date
    10-15-01
    Location
    HAL Laboratory, Urbana, Illinois
    Posts
    11,668
    Yeah, I figure that mileage will drop the more stuff I hang off it. Do you know a source for speedo gears when I go the larger diameter route. In the old days we would get them from a transmission shop, don't know if they can help or if it is a programming thing with the new electronic speedometers.
    Avowed Contrarian / Occasional Jingoist / Politically Incorrect
    ...

    “The world seems full of good men, even if there are monsters in it.” -- Bram Stoker

  15. #15
    Join Date
    10-14-01
    Location
    TEXAS!
    Posts
    14,569
    Nowadays, it is usually just a program change at the dealership........

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •