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JL or Bronco purchase in near future.

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Pike2350

Registered User
Location
Salt Lake City
So I may have finally convinced the wife I to buying a JL or a Bronco. I rented a Gladiator for the weekend to see how I would like it because that is what I have been leaning towards but as much as it is fine, I don't think I can replace my F150 with it, without replacing my wife's car as well because I like our F150 for road trips with the room it provides and the quiet cabin... and can't see the Gladiator working for that. My wife has a '17 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport...but it isn't very quiet and room isn't great but not terrible....but if I bought a Gladiator and replaced my truck I would want her car to become the quiet road trip vehicle that can tow a trailer. So rather then replacing both cars she said she would be cool getting a JL or Bronco and keeping the truck.

With all that said we are leaning more towards the JL just due to it being better off road and used pricing is WAY better on the JL compared to a Bronco. I am sure the Bronco would work just fine for most of the trails I really plan to do and it would likely be a better DD for the wife, but the wife srives VERY minimaly due to working remote and JL's are better priced used so it is lead.

Which would you pick and why? 2nd question regarding the JL...what engine would you go for? My FiL has a 2020 JLUR with the 2L and loves it...but seeing it as a newer engine I am not sure on reliability. I know the 3.6L is everywhere and pretty well tested...and the JT I am renting, even with worn 37's feels peppy enough (likely not regeared).

So which way would you go? Budget will be sub $50k...shooting for under $45k I do plan on 37's and other basic upgrades...so if I can find one with some done...great.

I like the 2024 JL but not seeing used low enough to work...and new, even with the bigger discounts, the MSRP is so high they are still above $50k...and I can't justify that

Thoughts?
 
moab_cj5

moab_cj5

Well-Known Member
Supporting Member
Location
The Village of Kay
Pike2350 said:
So I may have finally convinced the wife I to buying a JL or a Bronco. I rented a Gladiator for the weekend to see how I would like it because that is what I have been leaning towards but as much as it is fine, I don't think I can replace my F150 with it, without replacing my wife's car as well because I like our F150 for road trips with the room it provides and the quiet cabin... and can't see the Gladiator working for that. My wife has a '17 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport...but it isn't very quiet and room isn't great but not terrible....but if I bought a Gladiator and replaced my truck I would want her car to become the quiet road trip vehicle that can tow a trailer. So rather then replacing both cars she said she would be cool getting a JL or Bronco and keeping the truck.

With all that said we are leaning more towards the JL just due to it being better off road and used pricing is WAY better on the JL compared to a Bronco. I am sure the Bronco would work just fine for most of the trails I really plan to do and it would likely be a better DD for the wife, but the wife srives VERY minimaly due to working remote and JL's are better priced used so it is lead.

Which would you pick and why? 2nd question regarding the JL...what engine would you go for? My FiL has a 2020 JLUR with the 2L and loves it...but seeing it as a newer engine I am not sure on reliability. I know the 3.6L is everywhere and pretty well tested...and the JT I am renting, even with worn 37's feels peppy enough (likely not regeared).

So which way would you go? Budget will be sub $50k...shooting for under $45k I do plan on 37's and other basic upgrades...so if I can find one with some done...great.

I like the 2024 JL but not seeing used low enough to work...and new, even with the bigger discounts, the MSRP is so high they are still above $50k...and I can't justify that

Thoughts?
Click to expand...
I'm pretty biased against Jeeps after all the issues I've had with them so I'd reccomend the Bronco, but they've had their issues too.

I'd avoid the 2.0l Jeep personally. I've know way too many people that have had lots of issues with that platform. Fairly sure that's the platform @DAA has had some trouble with too. The 3.6 seems to be the more reliable option for Jeep.
 
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johngottfredson

johngottfredson

Threat Level Midnight
Location
Alpine
My wife wants me to sell our gladiator, she misses our bronco. It is night and day better as a road driving vehicle. Way more interior room, steady handling, I would drive across the country in it without a second thought. If you don’t care so much about road manners then the JL is pretty awesome, way easier to run 37’s, better for building it for rock crawling. Probably keeping the jeep because it’s a custom job and not so easy to trade in, and I do like it, but the decision should be about what you want out of the second vehicle. If the f150 is your distance vehicle then you’re good to go with the wrangler.
 
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rholbrook

Well-Known Member
Location
Kaysville, Ut
MotorTrend just did a comparison. The Jeep took last, the Bronco took first. The Land Cruiser took second. Why they put that in with the other two is beyond me. I have owned both the new Bronco and a JK Rubicon. I ordered the new Bronco and decided I would see which one I liked better. The Bronco didn't make it in my personal cut but I didn't take it off road. I just didn't like how you couldn't see over the front as well as I could in my JK. The Bronco did run well and drive nice though.
 
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Pike2350

Registered User
Location
Salt Lake City
My biggest concern with the Bronco is the tie rods and the expense up front. Finding a deal on a used Bronco is 45k+ and that is basically stock(well equipped but stock) where as a JL with lift, tires, winch can be had for that....or sub $40k stock for a JLUR.

So price comes into it. I think I need to rent a Bronco for a weekend and see how it is vs the JT (using that for my reference of a JL)
 
Ashcat

Ashcat

Active Member
Location
Wisco
We have an ‘18 JLU, purchased new. 2.0L

Things we dislike:
A bunch of feep jags waive at me when I drive it.

Strapping a kid into a car seat absolutely sucks, wife needs a smock in the winter because the fender catches all the slush and there’s no way to stay clean, kiddo has zero leg room and you cannot hear a child in the back at highway speeds.

The high idle lasts ridiculously long. Super annoying to the point we’re over it and just neutral drop it.

Open the door after it rains, the amount of water trapped on the door will soak your seat. Not a drop, a flood.

Things we like:
It’s been a fine vehicle, regular maintenance and no issues.

Endless supply of rubber ducks for the bathtub.
 
Ashcat

Ashcat

Active Member
Location
Wisco
You guys have a valid counter argument. 🤣

I don’t deal with it as much but wife travels North Dakota with it. Non stop wind. The constant huhs, whats, can’t hear you, speak up with a toddler makes her trip worse. Back seat is also very cold but we’re talking trips under 10* and sometimes subzero couple times a winter but even so local trips all winter long for grocery shopping in Minnesocold make it not a great vehicle.
 
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Pike2350

Registered User
Location
Salt Lake City
SO the wife has decided a JLU will be the vehicle of choice. 2 small reasons and 1 big reason. The 2 small reasons is visibility. With the top on, she felt the Bronco was harder to see out of and had more blindspots. 2nd small reason was the lack of direct air vents for our girls in the backseat. Apparently they have some vents under the front seats, but we had a hard time getting them to be noticeable and our 6yr old started complaining about being hot pretty quickly. The big reason is price. WE both decided we just can't spend the extra $8-10k for a Bronco right now, as it doesn't make sense.

So, with that decided, I'm now on the hunt for a JLUR. We do prefer a lifted one already, however, i'm also looking for some small creature comforts and while I know either can be added....it's hard to decide which one to add.

1st '21 JULR 2.0L turbo, lifted with new Ironman 37's. It has Teraflex Alpine(not sure which one) short/mid arms upfront that I can see and OME BP-51 resi shocks. It rode a little rough, but was actually smoother then I expected. It is the better deal overall, but it has been used a little more. the top has some small marks on it from being set on the ground....nothing drastic, but it is there.

2nd '20 JULR 3.6L loaded. It has color matched top/fenders, driven by an older gentleman in St. George it's whole life, has fewer miles as well. It has some of the creature comforts I would like such as headliner, tailgate support, and steel bumpers, and I generally prefer this engine for reliability...but I also haven't really read any major bad reviews on the 2.0L either.

Price between the 2 is within $1k. So if you were looking which would you go with?
 
DAA

DAA

Well-Known Member
Supporting Member
Location
West Bountiful, UT
I'd get the 3.6. And my wife loves the 2.0. After driving many models with both motors - loaners because problems with our 2.0 - she flat doesn't want a 3.6. So if I can talk her into letting go of the 2.0 JLU the replacement won't be a Jeep.

But I'd go 3.6 all day every day.

- DAA
 
1969honda

1969honda

Well-Known Member
Supporting Member
Location
Cache
I'm not well versed on which years come in a diesel, but maybe that would be an alternative to the 2.0?
 
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Pike2350

Registered User
Location
Salt Lake City
OK, well I had leaned towards the 3.6L as well. The 2.0L was peppy and the powerband was pretty smooth, but overall, I am just not confident on the dependability of it.

Now, I found another one that is now in the lead....the problem is, it's out of state in AZ. It's at a dealer in southern AZ. Has anyone bought a vehicle from AZ? I assume they have some reciprocity with Utah regarding sales tax and licensing? I assume they would/should either charge me sales tax and will report it all to UT, or not charge me sales tax and will send me title (assuming I pay cash for it).

I am leaning towards financing part of it, but not sure the best way to negotiate. They sent me numbers, but included "total taxes" amount over what Utah sales tax is, so I am waiting to get clarification on it....but thought I would see who/if anyone has purchased out of state and had a vehicle shipped to them.
 
mbryson

mbryson

.......a few dollars more
Supporting Member
Location
Bountiful, land of rocks
Don't pay the out of state sales tax. Pay the UT sales tax when you register it here (at least that's how it went when I bought from CA a few years ago). I drove mine home same day. I prefer to buy in person. I bought a round trip ticket so I could tell them I was done. Ended up buying it and driving it home. YMMV
 
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Pike2350

Registered User
Location
Salt Lake City
mbryson said:
Don't pay the out of state sales tax. Pay the UT sales tax when you register it here (at least that's how it went when I bought from CA a few years ago). I drove mine home same day. I prefer to buy in person. I bought a round trip ticket so I could tell them I was done. Ended up buying it and driving it home. YMMV
Click to expand...

This is so far the sticking point on the deal. Apparently AZ has a slightly different take on sales tax (tax privelage) the dealer is claiming that although I wouldn't be charged AZ state tax there is no way to skirt the city and county tax. They are correct if I picked it up or I arranged shipping, which is different then moat states. If they arrange shipping out of state it is supposed be exempt (or as AZ states it, the income can be deduxted from their tax liability) and I have found the code and everything to prove it. I found the info after they closed (at 6pm on Friday...wtf) so I will wait to hear back today. They obviously don't want to get in trouble with the state and I am sure, since it ONLY applies to out of state residents and if it is shipped/delivered out of state by the dealerships....otherwise they are required to charge city tax that they just are. Ot familiar with it.

Would $1200 kill a deal for you guys? I am irritated because it is BS and no real way to file back for it so I ultimately need to decide if that is a deal breaker for me or not.
 
mbryson

mbryson

.......a few dollars more
Supporting Member
Location
Bountiful, land of rocks
On my wife's Navigatir that I bought in Concord CA, I did pay the CA sales tax. When I went to register it here in UT, they then waned to charge me sales tax as well. We had a little discussion re: taxation and I ended up not paying UT tax. I think I was pretty close to being double taxed.

If the Jeep is a solid enough deal, is $1200 going to make or break the deal?
 
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