If you're getting the Sport and are thinking of putting on bigger tyres then look at getting the optional lower diff ratios (whether you can just order the ratio on it's own anymore for an extra hundred bones or so or if you now have to specify the heavy-duty tow pack to get it I'm not sure) as the Sports come from the factory with very tall diff gearing purely for fuel economy reasons. With the stock 32" tyres the petrols are approaching the limits of driveability (the 2012's with the new motor & 5-speed auto aren't as bad as the previous models with the old 3.8L) however if you want to lift it & go above 33s then you'd probably need a diff re-gear.
As far as I understand, the Rubis still come here with the lower 4.10 ratio diffs as stock (though there seemed to be some suggestion on the US forums that unless specifically ordered then some of the 2012 Rubis over there are coming stock with the 3.73s) and a lower crawl ratio in the transfer case so with a Rubi you should be right to go up a few tyre sizes without the expense of a re-gear.
The front & rear lockers & remote swaybay disconnects on the Rubi are nice to have however even a bone stock 2-door Sport is a pretty capable offroader & will outperform many lifted & locked vehicles of other makes offroad; all depends on what you'll be using it for & how extreme your offroading will be. Regardless of the model you choose they are a good vehicle for the price (many Jap 4X4 wagons with offroad capabilities any where near the Wrangler's are well over $70K these days) and what other 4X4s currently on the market let you take the top down, pull the doors off and even fold down the windscreen if you really want to?
Last edited by jklad; 07-01-2012 at 07:39 AM.
|
