Thinking about buying a Jeep Rubicon

I bought my youngest son a Mustang GT for his graduation gift. He loves the car but due to inclement weather here in my home state he can’t drive it year round and that worries me. I’m thinking about buying him a Jeep Unlimited Rubicon with the hard rock option and some 35’s. My question is; are the newer Wranglers better (reliability and safety wise)than the older TJ, CJ 5&7’s). I had a CJ 5 with a Modified V8 with a fiberglass body and that thing was a death trap.

 

Definitely safer than a mustang in my humble opinion.

 

Buy me one too?

 

What’s been happening is I worry about him so I loan him my Tundra. He had my Tundra for two months last winter and that leaves me with the Mustang. I’m thinking about buying this Jeep so each of us have a 4 wheel drive. I should have never sold my 2016 Tacoma TRD Off Road.

 

Yes, at least for the near future.

 

subaru ? safe and AWD

 

Why not just buy him his own tundra.?.

 

Subaru impresa STI. Faster then the mustang, turbo, AWD and super fun to drive

 

I left a life’s worth of Jeeps for big T.
CJ,TJ,JKUR and the beloved Cherokee.

 

Last Rubi..

 

Wonder if there is GT?

 

Dear God.. What is that obamination....

 

If you are going for safety, I think you would be better off with a different model 4x4 or AWD.


http://www.iihs.org/iihs/ratings/vehicle/v/jeep/wrangler-2-door-suv/2017

 

I'd say get that boy a very basic cheap ass FWD economy car with snow tires, aka a car that is at least 7-10 years old, Chevy Cruze or Cobalt, a Toyota Corolla or Yaris, Honda Civic or Fit, Hyundia Elantra or Accent, Kia Soul/Forte/Rio, aka some sort of FWD shitbox that will really make him happy to drive that powerful Mustang when the seasons cooperate.

 

Notice I didn't mention any Fords. If you happen to go Focus or Festiva, the automatic transmissions are absolute junk, buy one with a manual. And Chrysler, well you just might as well go to a casino with your $$$$.

 

Or maybe the best option is to buy your kid a set of 15" or 16" steelies with proper snow tires for that Mustang. Tell him to grow a pair, near death will give him some nice chest/ass/facial hair and "character lines" on the face.

 

I traded my 15 hard rock for my Tundra. My wife had the 14 Rubicon X. Since you said it was a hard rock I’m sure you will get the right engine since they changed in 13 and the hard rocks started in 15.
Gearing is important. 4.10 never had an issue moving mine even with the lift and bigger tires but it was a stick. It was fun to drive without the doors and top. You can’t really get in a hurry. Someone on a Jeep forum complained about getting a ticket in a school zone and a construction zone. Probably the only 2 places you can speed in one. Since you said it’s on 35s find out what lift they put in and do some research. Some are much better than others. Mine was reliable. Maintenance is pretty simple. Make sure you check the torques on the lift when you change the oil. Gas mileage with mine was around 17 with the lift and tires. Most around town driving. I never felt unsafe in it. Just slow but the off-road capability, aftermarket choices and open air fun made up for that.

 

God... I WISH I GOT 17MPG. I was on 35 kevlar MTR at about 26 psi per the chalk test on 4.88s. She was quicker with the doors and roof off in town but an absolute pig on the highway and horrible on long grades like the Grapevine. Did 60 all the way up and she squeeled all the way up, heated up, and threw a misfire code for a second. Family packed in like sardines, nobody to wheel with as everyone was busy and kids were grown... Eh...
I sold it for a mint and bought the CrewMax. Damn near made orbit on the Grapevine, adult "kids" all sprawled out... Tons of room for all my wife's crap.. Yep..

 

Yeah not roomy but all but two of mine were driving when I had it. Now my son is the last one not driving. He jumped in the back of the Tundra and said it was so much better.
And resell is awesome. I got a surprising trade in offer. Asked for more because if they were starting with that much and they gave it. I pulled a lot off it and have made just shy of a grand selling the extras to other jeepers. Helped a lot with my Tundra mod budget.

 

All of buddies are running the WRX. I was just thinking some more off-road worthy for those hunting adventures.

 

I wouldn’t even consider the regular Wrangler because in my mind their a death trap and ride like a wagon. I know because I had two of them including one built to the hilt that would pop wheelies at the most inopportune time.

 

I like the Suby but it's so fast that kids are dying out west with em.. Even the high school kids are noticing. That WRX turbo is too much car for most.

My older son leased a Infinity twin turbo (he has to learn his own lessons sometimes) and I drove it. Too much HP and torque for the car. Front end felt darty and light under hard acceleration. Our corvette of yesteryear felt planted.

Idk.

Tough call when it comes to your kids.

 

Gotcha, yeah the bigger 4 door offers more protection.

It's early yet but I would like to buy a project vehicle for my kids and I to work on as they get older to teach them some things and to learn some things. I think a regular Jeep is the best option for simplicity sake, but they don't offer much crash protection. I feel like I would have a rules like no one in the back seat and no highway travels in the Jeep. I'm a bit paranoid regarding crashes.

 

Here you go... These are easy to work on and live forever.. Get him this SOB!
If he ever has an interest in being a cruise ship captain, Carnival may give him experience credits towards his own command.

 

https://youtu.be/QpfnpE1NqL4