View Full Version : Test drive impressions...
They are finally here! :)
Well, I took a Manual Renegade Unlimited in Rescue green for a test drive today and overall was very impressed! Felt great, engine performed very well, much more refined than the TJ in terms of ride comfort, but still feels like a truck. Which is good in my opinion. Didn't get a chance to really open it up as it was very low on fuel (started to beep at me!) Will be going back for another test drive next week sometime.
Rear lic plate bracket is a bit impractical, won't last very long on the trail! Anyone know what the deal is with tow bars etc?
The front bumper dosen't look as bad as the photo's that I have seen on the net, It will be the first mod on mine but. I couldn't get over how great this Jeep looked! It really seems funny for me after over a year of looking at pictures, I actually see, sit in & drive it!
Well I'm sold, Been back and fourth to the dealership 5 times now! (obsessed) getting one for sure!... What does everyone else think?
Lucky you. The Tamworth dealership..acted like the car didn't even exist up until two weeks ago. As usual... anyone interested in the vehicle .. knows a lot more about the car than the salesman. I'm very interested in getting one in two door trim and the availability of the Rubicon.. (finally)...meant I wouldn't have to fork out $10-$15 thousand dollars to do all the mods in Australia. Unfortunately...I was looking at getting the CRD... and of course.. it appears that's not available in the Rubicon configuration. There are 'rumours' that it may happen...but nothing I've heard confirmed and certainly no time frame. With regard the tow package or tow group as it is called by Jeep. .. it appears to have a a different rear bar altogether with a straight or flat section under the spare tire and this is supposed to be mated to a Dana 44 rear diff/axle and 4.01 final drive. Truly a step in the right direction. This of course is Jeep USA... what the importers do is anyones guess.. and my dealership certainly had no idea. I guess a lot won't need the extra low gearing ..sway bar disconnects etc of the Rubicon...but it does have the 4.01 final drive in standard trim. As the diesel isn't (yet) available in the Rubicon... I wondered if a Sport or Renegade... CRD on 32" tyres ..with the 4.01 final drive 'tow group' would be a good compromise... but... once again, my dealer had no idea ..but at least he admitted as much. So...if anyone out there is 'in the know' about the Australian version of the 'tow group'...I'd be interested to know.
Wooders
19-03-2007, 09:17 AM
Had a good look at one over the weekend.....
The one thing that really stood out in a bad way for me was the centre hoop of the roll bar - it is too low.
Front the drivers seat It felt like it was looming right next to you.....but for an adult in the rear I though it was dangerous as in even the smallest fender bender an adult in the rear seat would wipe out their head on the sound bar.......
There were things I liked and things I didn't - but the roll bar was one thing I really did NOT like and I;m somewhat surprised it was built that way and even more surprised that it's passed safety regulations.....
Had a good look at one over the weekend.....
The one thing that really stood out in a bad way for me was the centre hoop of the roll bar - it is too low.
Front the drivers seat It felt like it was looming right next to you.....but for an adult in the rear I though it was dangerous as in even the smallest fender bender an adult in the rear seat would wipe out their head on the sound bar.......
There were things I liked and things I didn't - but the roll bar was one thing I really did NOT like and I;m somewhat surprised it was built that way and even more surprised that it's passed safety regulations.....
Have you ever thought of wearing seat belt in the back seat.
Wooders
19-03-2007, 04:47 PM
Seat belt? Nah these trousers have elastic and I don't need no belt to keep my seat covered......
Sitting in the back of the JK, I but the belt on and imagined the effect of a sudden impact - even with a seatbelt I bet anyone over 5'9" is due a mighty head ache.
Aside from my saftey concern it just felt crowded IMHO....Got into my TJ and it seemed there was HEAPS more head room.....
MATT_WESTER
19-03-2007, 05:35 PM
Lucky you. The Tamworth dealership..acted like the car didn't even exist up until two weeks ago. As usual... anyone interested in the vehicle .. knows a lot more about the car than the salesman.
Depending on the dealership of course!!
Depending on the dealership of course!!
...Of course.. but as quite a few have already found out..the lack of information is of some concern. Yes...I'm impatient to even see one at this stage... so the absence of a car...plus the absence of detailed information is a little annoying to say the least. Now the Compass has arrived in the local car lot....but the Wrangler still conspicuous in it's absence ! I queried ARB on an aftermarket bar for the JK..but they said their test bed vehicle hadn't arrived either. ....Shame.
MATT_WESTER
20-03-2007, 09:37 AM
...Of course.. but as quite a few have already found out..the lack of information is of some concern. Yes...I'm impatient to even see one at this stage... so the absence of a car...plus the absence of detailed information is a little annoying to say the least. Now the Compass has arrived in the local car lot....but the Wrangler still conspicuous in it's absence ! I queried ARB on an aftermarket bar for the JK..but they said their test bed vehicle hadn't arrived either. ....Shame.
thats a little weird, because ARB were given a left hand drive wrangler from the states months ago, and full sized bullbars, winch bars, lift kits etc etc are all around 4-6 weeks away
Steve F
20-03-2007, 10:16 AM
Had a good look at one over the weekend.....
The one thing that really stood out in a bad way for me was the centre hoop of the roll bar - it is too low.
Front the drivers seat It felt like it was looming right next to you.....but for an adult in the rear I though it was dangerous as in even the smallest fender bender an adult in the rear seat would wipe out their head on the sound bar.......
There were things I liked and things I didn't - but the roll bar was one thing I really did NOT like and I;m somewhat surprised it was built that way and even more surprised that it's passed safety regulations.....
I hated that sound bar, with the sides steps and soundbar and the tiny rear doors I found it harder to get into the back of it than my XJ and that's lifted with steps/rockrails and is well know for it's small backdoor. It really really put me off the JK :( Honestly it took me a couple of twists and turns to work out a decent way to get into the thing without smacking my head and I ain't no giant.
Cheers
Steve
thats a little weird, because ARB were given a left hand drive wrangler from the states months ago, and full sized bullbars, winch bars, lift kits etc etc are all around 4-6 weeks away
..Yes...I was of the impression/ belief they already had the vehicle and were under way but that's not the story I was given. Probably of who you speak to... or perhaps 'who you know...rather than what you know'. It's all still academic for me.. Went to the dealership again today... knew nothing... about the vehicle or any delivery. I'm heading through Sydney on the weekend... at least I might see one at least ! ..Still curious though...some in the forum have mentioned an absence of a 'lift' on the Rubicon in Australia. Does it actually have a lift anyway in the USA...as I've never heard mention of it amongst it's diffs..ratio..lockers... disconnects etc ?
Brettski
20-03-2007, 03:46 PM
..Still curious though...some in the forum have mentioned an absence of a 'lift' on the Rubicon in Australia. Does it actually have a lift anyway in the USA...as I've never heard mention of it amongst it's diffs..ratio..lockers... disconnects etc ?
My understanding is that the TJ Rubicon had a lift over the other TJ models but the JK does not. Happy to be corrected but in all the reading I've done on the US sites the Rubicon does not appear to have a lift. It does have different shocks though (as does the Oz model).
B.
salesguy
21-03-2007, 03:44 PM
My understanding is that the TJ Rubicon had a lift over the other TJ models but the JK does not. Happy to be corrected but in all the reading I've done on the US sites the Rubicon does not appear to have a lift. It does have different shocks though (as does the Oz model).
B.
Bingo !
Greater ground clearance in Rubicon comes from the different tyre spec versus Sport/Renegade. I believe that the springs are the same, but Jeep tells us that the shocks are different.
PhilCJ10
22-03-2007, 06:19 PM
Hi there!
Well I test drove a auto Rubicon today and must say it was quite nice... definatly better compared to my 03 TJ auto. Would of loved to gave it a proper test but not many "off road" tracks in the CBD of Brisbane. So next test drive guess will be in late May when my 4door renagade arrives.
I quizzed ARB south side and they were not a lot of help and gave the impression that you may see some thing for the JK one day, just don't hold your breth! Which I would be surprised if that realy is the case and I feel would be a lost oppatunaty for ARB.
Phil...
CRDSTU
22-03-2007, 07:24 PM
I wonder how much a CRD Auto 4 Door Rubi will be - $60K by the looks. Might go drive one this Saturday.
PhilCJ10
22-03-2007, 07:29 PM
I wonder how much a CRD Auto 4 Door Rubi will be - $60K by the looks. Might go drive one this Saturday.
Well I guess if they did it it would $4000 extra like it is for the sport. And expect a long wait for it!
Phil...
PhilCJ10
22-03-2007, 07:30 PM
Ohhh and a extra $2000 for the auto over the manual!
Phil...
bilt4mud
23-03-2007, 12:22 AM
Drove the Renegade Unlimited in manual form today. Sure it's a hell of leap in terms of refinement over my TJ. But I wasn't so impressed with the engine's performance though. It doesn't feel it has as much torque as the old inline 6. Felt quite sluggish actually. Hmmm must try the CRD now.
Drove the Renegade Unlimited in manual form today. Sure it's a hell of leap in terms of refinement over my TJ. But I wasn't so impressed with the engine's performance though. It doesn't feel it has as much torque as the old inline 6. Felt quite sluggish actually. Hmmm must try the CRD now.
...Finally... a JK Sport has arrived in Tamworth and today ..after a little bit of a mexican stand off ..with the dealer... I was allowed a very brief test drive. The vehicle was in Red Rock colouring and looked quite nice.. although I'd prefer the khaki plastic trim and seats over the grey. Noticeably more quiet than the TJ but I certainly noticed the additional weight (300kg)..or at least the motor did. What I gathered would be 4.1 ratios helped it a lot but I expected a little more 'get up and go' ..even after all the reports I've read. I would hope the manual might be a better bet but given the diesel (on paper at least) ..is supplying 26% more torque than the V6, I'm very keen to try it. If it's as refined as most of the more modern diesels are...then it should be a 'weapon'. The ride of the JKwas good and up to 100kmh..(with soft top)..I thought was pretty quiet. The dash doesn't look as finished or integrated as the TJ...but it's growing on me and I don't mind it now. It's a shame the two door doesn't have a split rear seat but I don't think they had enough room to work with as compared to the four door. If I hadn't owned a manual TJ with 3.73 ratios ... I'd have gone for the petrol JK not knowing the difference... but the temptation to test the diesel is way too strong now... I'll be waiting a while. ...Now... a diesel Rubicon... that would be nice !
...Finally... a JK Sport has arrived in Tamworth and today ..after a little bit of a mexican stand off ..with the dealer... I was allowed a very brief test drive. The vehicle was in Red Rock colouring and looked quite nice.. although I'd prefer the khaki plastic trim and seats over the grey. Noticeably more quiet than the TJ but I certainly noticed the additional weight (300kg)..or at least the motor did. What I gathered would be 4.1 ratios helped it a lot but I expected a little more 'get up and go' ..even after all the reports I've read. I would hope the manual might be a better bet but given the diesel (on paper at least) ..is supplying 26% more torque than the V6, I'm very keen to try it. If it's as refined as most of the more modern diesels are...then it should be a 'weapon'. The ride of the JKwas good and up to 100kmh..(with soft top)..I thought was pretty quiet. The dash doesn't look as finished or integrated as the TJ...but it's growing on me and I don't mind it now. It's a shame the two door doesn't have a split rear seat but I don't think they had enough room to work with as compared to the four door. If I hadn't owned a manual TJ with 3.73 ratios ... I'd have gone for the petrol JK not knowing the difference... but the temptation to test the diesel is way too strong now... I'll be waiting a while. ...Now... a diesel Rubicon... that would be nice !
I would wait for the diesel. I thought the petrol was way under power for the weight of the Jk.
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