Is it worth the $$$?

[StrobeNGH]

I put this in chit chat b/c I'm not sure how much tech there will be . . .

My wife's car is starting to die, and she wants us to look at 07 Wrangler Unlimiteds. Poor me.

The question: Is the Rubicon model worth the extra $$$, or am I better off getting a base X model and building it up from there?

From what I've seen about the 07 models, the Rubicons have:
- Electronic disconnect sway bars
- 4:1 rock track
- front D44
- STANDARD 32" tires ( that's HUGE!!! Just kidding)

These all seem like easy upgrades . . . so is the Rubicon worth the extra $6k you pay?

FYI: My wheeling is mostly trails. Some rocks, lots of ruts/ravines/streams . . . but I've never crawled over house-sized boulders.

Discuss:

 

[SICK99TJ]

i think that they have air lockers and 4.10 gears as well... unless they have changed some thing for the new 07. imho i would price out what you want to do, to the new rig and see if it can be done for less. if it is the same or more i would pay the extra 6k and have all of it covered under the factory warranty.

 

[mbryson]

i think that they have air lockers and 4.10 gears as well... unless they have changed some thing for the new 07. imho i would price out what you want to do, to the new rig and see if it can be done for less. if it is the same or more i would pay the extra 6k and have all of it covered under the factory warranty.

I think they're electric lockers now. I'm not sure about the gears, but I'd think they stuck to 4.10 with the 32" tires. Dunno.....

Good advice on the pricing out. I like the 4:1 case and the installed lockers (that's probably about $3000 give or take a little $$$ in the aftermarket). I'm not sure I like the D44 (D34?) and am not sure what value I'd assign to that. If the 'X' model is reverse D30 (again, dunno), I don't know that there's a lot of difference in strength there.

I'm not sure what else you'd get with the Rubicon vs. the 'X'...... I drove the 'X' and thought it was pretty cool other than the hardtop 'flapped' while I was driving it. I wasn't impressed with the top, but thought the 'Jeep' was pretty respectable.

 

[BCGPER]

I think for a straight off the showroom floor wheeler, nothing can compare to the Ruby. If you're not looking to stuff 37's under it and go rockcrawling I think they're a bargin. As stated, 4.10 gears, 4 to 1 T case and the 44's. On top of that, they include the slip yoke eliminator, transmission skid, and a slightly higher stance than the "X". Best part is probably all those goodies have the factory warranty, something you're not going to get modifing an X version.

 

[StrobeNGH]

I think they're electric lockers now. I'm not sure about the gears, but I'd think they stuck to 4.10 with the 32" tires. Dunno.....

Good advice on the pricing out. I like the 4:1 case and the installed lockers (that's probably about $3000 give or take a little $$$ in the aftermarket). I'm not sure I like the D44 (D34?) and am not sure what value I'd assign to that. If the 'X' model is reverse D30 (again, dunno), I don't know that there's a lot of difference in strength there.

I'm not sure what else you'd get with the Rubicon vs. the 'X'...... I drove the 'X' and thought it was pretty cool other than the hardtop 'flapped' while I was driving it. I wasn't impressed with the top, but thought the 'Jeep' was pretty respectable.

Sorry, forgot about the lockers . . .

What do you mean "flapped"?

I've heard that the new hardtops have a leak as well.

I'm hoping that they offer a diesel or v-8 by the 2008 model year. Maybe they'll also fix the top.
:-\

 

[StrobeNGH]

Regarding the front and rear axles:

Front Axles
Improvements have been made to the front axles to improve ground clearance,
reduce NVH and improve durability.
The driveshaft attaches to the axle at the top instead of at the bottom as on
previous front axles to provide greater gear strength when driving in the forward
direction. Relative to the prior axle, the housing is stiffer and stronger, and the
pinion bearings are larger to handle added torque requirements created by a
heavier vehicle with larger tires. Above-centre mounting also reduces the offset
between the pinion and the output shaft of the transfer case, thereby reducing
driveshaft joint angles for smoother, quieter operation.

The Dana 44 also features an above centre pinion mounting and features a heavier shaft, stiffer housing and a larger pinion than the 2006 model for improved
durability and performance. The axle shaft size is also larger; it went from a 1310
series joint in 2006 to a 1350 series joint for 2007.

Another improvement for both front axles is the hub bearings are now pre-formed
and preloaded where bearing preload is no longer a function of the wheel nut. New lubed for life ball joints reduce maintenance and improve service life.

The Dana 44 maintains the drain plugs and they are added to the Dana 30 and
Dana 35 for ease of service by allowing the axle fluid to be changed without
removing the cover.

Rear Axles

The Dana 35 rear axle has been upgraded for 2007 and has a much larger pinion
and unitized wheel bearings. The prior design had an on-shaft bearing. The axles
shafts have been strengthened to more appropriately handle higher torques and
with unitized bearings for improved durability.

Unitized bearings are also included on the Dana 44. The Dana 44 upgrades include
a larger 226 mm ring gear from 216 mm in 2006, a larger pinion and a larger,
stiffer axle tube outer diameter increased from 66 to 80 mm.

Also, what are the drawbacks to having CV joints, instead of U joints?

 

[mbryson]

.........What do you mean "flapped"?

I've heard that the new hardtops have a leak as well.

I'm hoping that they offer a diesel or v-8 by the 2008 model year. Maybe they'll also fix the top.
:-\

Just that.......... You could tell where the seams were in the one I drove. I don't know that the modular top thing is feasible, at least how it is currently. I rolled the window down and you could tell the top was having issues. The top 'flapped' with the air underneath it like a soft top would. I'd rather have the soft top, I think. That was on a NEW (obviously) 200 mile Jeep. I can see how it could leak. I wouldn't be surprised if you see a 'traditional' one piece hardtop available soon. Don't know if it'll be aftermarket or OEM, but I expect one available.

The 3.8L was surprisingly more powerful than I expected. The 2 door will be FINE with that motor, but I don't know if the added weight of the 4 door, some miles and an 8000 ft. summit will be a good mix. The V6 is kinda squeezed in there so I don't know if you could fit a V8 in there. I'm not sure of the 4.7L V8 profile, but if you did try to fit a V8 in there, it'd be kinda tough to fit a traditional small block Chev in there. Maybe a Mustang type 5.0L F*rd would fit, but it'd be kinda tight. If the 4.7L is similar size and profile to the 5.0L F*rd (hopefully smaller), it'd work great in there. My bet (not that I know anything about the 3.8L) is they will bore/stroke the minivan motor to 4.3L or so and have what they need for power for the 4 door. I'd be interested in a diesel version as well (I put my F*rd in low range for the first time this past weekend. LOVED the torque and low gears....).

 

[StrobeNGH]

Just that.......... You could tell where the seams were in the one I drove. I don't know that the modular top thing is feasible, at least how it is currently. I rolled the window down and you could tell the top was having issues. The top 'flapped' with the air underneath it like a soft top would. I'd rather have the soft top, I think. That was on a NEW (obviously) 200 mile Jeep. I can see how it could leak. I wouldn't be surprised if you see a 'traditional' one piece hardtop available soon. Don't know if it'll be aftermarket or OEM, but I expect one available.

That sucks. The early reviews said that the hard-top had no wind noise, and that it was solid.
I guess Jeep made sure that they had the "working" model to test . . . :-\

It's a novel concept, but I think that it should have been left to the aftermarket to make a 3 piece hard-top for the Wrangler . . .

The 3.8L was surprisingly more powerful than I expected. The 2 door will be FINE with that motor, but I don't know if the added weight of the 4 door, some miles and an 8000 ft. summit will be a good mix. The V6 is kinda squeezed in there so I don't know if you could fit a V8 in there. I'm not sure of the 4.7L V8 profile, but if you did try to fit a V8 in there, it'd be kinda tough to fit a traditional small block Chev in there. Maybe a Mustang type 5.0L F*rd would fit, but it'd be kinda tight. If the 4.7L is similar size and profile to the 5.0L F*rd (hopefully smaller), it'd work great in there. My bet (not that I know anything about the 3.8L) is they will bore/stroke the minivan motor to 4.3L or so and have what they need for power for the 4 door. I'd be interested in a diesel version as well (I put my F*rd in low range for the first time this past weekend. LOVED the torque and low gears....).

Diesel in Low gear =

The pundits are droning on about how the v-6 will be plenty of power for the 4 door, but I'm with you. I think that at the very least the 4.7 should be in there . . .

I don't know about boring out the motor though. IIRC people have been having trouble modding it.
Although, I don't know that the demand for modded mini-van engines is too high. Is it?

Edit: some aftermarket people are already swapping the engines out for SEMA . . . one guy is shoe-horning a 6.2? HEMI in it.
He claims that the 4.7 would easily fit.

 

[mbryson]

.........The pundits are droning on about how the v-6 will be plenty of power for the 4 door, but I'm with you. I think that at the very least the 4.7 should be in there . . .

I don't know about boring out the motor though. IIRC people have been having trouble modding it.
Although, I don't know that the demand for modded mini-van engines is too high. Is it?

Edit: some aftermarket people are already swapping the engines out for SEMA . . . one guy is shoe-horning a 6.2? HEMI in it.
He claims that the 4.7 would easily fit.

The pundits don't live at 4500 ft. They live at sea level where a 3.0L in a Taurus is fine. (just a rental car reference I have......drove a 3.0L Taurus for a rental in the bay area for a while.....plenty of motor. Drove my in-laws a couple of times after that and that thing is a wheezer.....) Mini-van motor or not. Now it's in a Jeep and people will look to modify it. I kinda think that will be the avenue Chrysler will take to get the displacement up and make everybody happy.

 

[JoeT]

I put this in chit chat b/c I'm not sure how much tech there will be . . .

My wife's car is starting to die, and she wants us to look at 07 Wrangler Unlimiteds. Poor me.

The question: Is the Rubicon model worth the extra $$$, or am I better off getting a base X model and building it up from there?

From what I've seen about the 07 models, the Rubicons have:
- Electronic disconnect sway bars
- 4:1 rock track
- front D44
- STANDARD 32" tires ( that's HUGE!!! Just kidding)

These all seem like easy upgrades . . . so is the Rubicon worth the extra $6k you pay?

FYI: My wheeling is mostly trails. Some rocks, lots of ruts/ravines/streams . . . but I've never crawled over house-sized boulders.

Discuss:

You suck! That is all! :greg: I'd love to get one myself in about 1-2 years, a diesel would be awesome!

 

[StrobeNGH]

You suck! That is all! :greg: I'd love to get one myself in about 1-2 years, a diesel would be awesome!

She actually wants to get one before we move back to SLC, but I've always been afraid of first year models . . . the leaking roofs seems to confirm my suspicions.
That, and I think I would HATE the v-6 in the 4 door.