Test drove a JK today

[JackJones]

Wife and I test drove a JK Unlimited today. Auto V6 hardtop in rescue green. Miss 11 rode along on the back seat. Wife doesn't like it at all - while she could live with the outside styling, she decided that the inside was too agricultural for her. Rear tailgate nearly knocked her over (why doesn't it have a hold-open device or a gas strut?), and miss 11 reckons the rear seat leg room is less than what she has in the Subaru Outback.

Salesman wasn't up to speed on how to remove / replace the hardtop panels and couldn't tell me if the softtop could be removed from the cargo area.

Went for a short drive around Holland Park (~ 20 minutes) and then parked it back at the dealership. Discussed it with the wife and have decided not to go ahead with buying a JK. Wife does like the Grand Cherokee Limited CRD, but it's far too expensive for our budget.

While we were at the dealership, another couple traded their WJ V8 on a new Commander. The WJ is a red 2000 limited with alloy Mopar bullbar, IPF driving lights, towbar, sunroof, auxillary fuel tank (? LRA), cargo barrier, roof bars, OME suspension, rear airbag suspension, and a cargo area power outlet for dual battery / fridge. It had around 170,000km on the clock, and looked like it's had a reasonably hard life towing a camper trailer off road (spoke quickly to the previous owner about it). Underneath it had lots of off-road rub marks / gravel chips and the auxillary fuel tank has a noticeable dent on the leading edge. Windscreen is stone chipped.

The WJ was traded for $19,000 and while I'm not interested in buying it, someone on the forum might be.

[fish]

i was pokeing around that car today too.....still undecided on the whole thing

[Daz7]

I also had a look around a couple of sport models the other day, is the rubicon any better spec'd inside? just they felt a bit low rent inside with all of the exposed bodywork. The TJ felt much nicer to climb back into afterwards.

Suppose you have to remember its the first version of the new model and they have to have something to improve upon every few years.

[Wolfe]

no offence jack, but are you sure your in the right place ? you think a 07 jk is agricultural, most of us drive older model xjs, tjs and cjs. We think a radio is extravagence.
Its great to get road tests and thanks for yours
ps I love my 96 xj for its agrarian functionality

[JackJones]

Originally Posted by Wolfe

no offence jack, but are you sure your in the right place ? you think a 07 jk is agricultural, most of us drive older model xjs, tjs and cjs. We think a radio is extravagence.
Its great to get road tests and thanks for yours
ps I love my 96 xj for its agrarian functionality

I hear what you're saying, but the wife is comparing the inside to our curent Outback and she doesn't want to buy a vehicle which in her view is a step backwards re comfort, styling and features. Hence her interest in a Grand Cherokee Limited.

Seeing as she'll be driving the new 4x4 most of the time around town as a shopping trolley, I think it's fair that whatever vehicle we get has her approval.

I normally drive the Brumby. With it's carbied engine, 4 speed manual box, old fashioned suspension and armstrong steering rack, it isn't too far removed from a some early model Jeeps.

If I was single, I'd have already bought a SWB Rubicon.

[Nigel]

To criticize on the car for the exposed metalwork inside and the 'agricultural' look and feel of the controls is to miss thepoint entirely- it is designed to be that way- in the modern day and age with crash safety etc it is harder to create that exposed look and still pass safety standards. So you are criticizing the car for something that the designers went to a lot of trouble and effort to ceate...

If that is your issue then I daresay the Wrangler is not the car for you or your wife, why not look at a Cherokee, same sort of money much more car-like in its design brief.

Features wise I would be surprised if there is any more on your current Suby ( or any other 4by) than what is, and will be available (luxo-gizmo wise) on a Wrangler Renegade

[flasho13]

JackJones, PM sent.