In a dilemma: 2003 Wrangler X or Rubicon?

Agustin David said:

Ok I’m in a dilemma I have 2003 Wrangler X. I been looking around to get a Rubicon same year up to 2006 reason being the engine is bulletproof and I really don’t like the newer engine. Anyway I been looking I found one for 19,000 it has about everything I want. Now here’s the dilemma doing research I could get a Dana 44 front and rear for about 9000 G2. The higher I probably go is 3inches. The biggest I’ll go on tires is 35. And the bonus is I would put AC which the kit will round around 1200. If I do the math I will be spending about the same amount of cash if I buy the Rubicon. What is y’all advise?

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Buy the Rubicon

I personally consider the 2004 and older engines to have fewer issues. Like the OPDA issue on 05-06 4.0 engines. I wouldn't trade my 04 for an 05-06 if a gun was held to my head. I absolutely see no benefits with the 05-06 4.0 over the 04 and older 4.0.

Rubicon.

Rubicon

Rubi, why fool with adding A/C and lockers when for the same money. The Rubi will come with everything already working together, and you get the 4:1 TC as a bonus if you do rock crawling

If you plan on playing in the rocks I'd go for the rubicon since it has stock 44s, lockers, and 4:1. If you plan on mild wheeling I'd stick with the X and honestly stay with 31-33" tires.

As I'm sure you're aware a 35" build can be serious money. You may even be better off finding a built rig since you likely know what to look for being a current TJ owner.

Rubicon is better but if you have no plan to do some serious off-roading, the X is good enough.

Have you considered door #3?

For a couple grand you can put an S35 with Detroit locker in the rear & a lunchbox locker up front. Then, and this is the fun part, you can follow your buddy in his Rubicon on every trail he travels with the leftover seven grand stuffed in your pocket.

Rubicon. As you can see in my signature line I wish I had gone with the Rubi, it would be cheaper than trying to build one. You could keep your X and look for a set of Rubi axles and pumps though that would cost half what the G2s are. I found a Rubi rear for $1400 that came with Carbon axles in it.

Hell, that's too much money. Wait till fall/winter when Wrangler prices drop. Late spring/summer they get pricey with the good weather. At least up here in NY. Same vehicle can change $5,000 with the seasons. Enlarge your search area too. For that kind of money a short 2 day trip is easily justified. Finally, decide what you want first. That will help narrow the choices down to just what you want. If you are ok paying near $20G for a 15+ year old vehicle make sure it's the exact one you want. Many of us spent months, even a year or more to find the 'one'.

Rubicon!

I would have gone the Rubicon route if I had known better when I was buying. But, I don’t regret my 03 Sport at all. I added an ARB to the rear Dana 44 and I’m happy with it. But, I don’t do anything crazy hard either. I just like having as much capability as I can for those moments when you realize you’ve overdone it.

That's a hard decision. Honestly, I'd put a S35 and AC in yours and be done with it. You're still going to have to regear the Rubicon for 35s.

If you're going to build up an X to equal a Rubicon, Rubicon is the fastest easiest way to go.

If you're going to build up either to surpass a Rubicon, the X starts out, and most likely ends up, a lot cheaper.

You said the Rubicon you want is ready to go, with the mods you already want? Like 35's and all the assorted "stuff" to go with it? 19K seems spendy for a 15 year old vehicle, but really, it might not be bad. Good parts are expensive, and 35's are no small feat on a TJ. Takes a lot of expensive stuff to get there. I would want to know how it got to be running the 35's though. Did they just lift it and slap them in, or does it have the "right stuff?"

BUT, if you really wanna go after 35's on your X with a new set of axles, you'll have that money into anyway...and maybe more. You'll have stronger lockers, but a less desirable T-case. The AC is something to consider too. Factory air is always better integrated than aftermarket.

Like @JEEPCJTJ said. If you are going to stick with 35's, Its hard to beat the value of the Rubicon. You wanna go bigger? Probably better to strip and rebuild the X. Honestly, if it were me, and I were trying to build a monster TJ, I'd even sell the X. Then, I'd pick up the cheapest, low mileage, rust free salvage I could find with a 4.0. Strip it down and put new axles, suspension, T-case, etc into it. You're basically only buying the engine, transmission, frame, and tub at that point. Even if the tub is dented or it has crushed fenders...At that level of build, you're going to install armor and probably different fenders anyway.

$19K sounds like a lot if it is not already built quite a bit with the "right" parts and modifications. Vehicles that old have problems unless they were really well maintained. Getting parts can be an issue. My stock Rubi lockers are gone--replaced with ARBs. Stock steering? gone? I have a thick folder of receipts...

So if the PO has done a nice job then the Rubi can be a good path. There are "consensus" modifications on the forum. They will be a pretty good indicator of the build quality.

If not, I would not spend that kind of money.

If you don't need the 241 or 5.38 gears, then there is less of a compelling reason for a Rubicon. I've broken two rear Rubicon lockers, so I am less of a fan of those.

If somebody ever wants to sell the built X sport or whatever your going to get more for the Rubicon. This isn’t an opinion this is fact.