I feel in agreement with you on a lot of these, but I will try to play devil’s advocate here. My understanding might be flawed so feel free to correct.
A body on frame is essential to any truly “off-road vehicle” because it allows the flex between the body and frame. The fact they’ve kept that feature means this is supposed to be an “off-road vehicle.”
It’s not “supposed”, it is a GREAT offroad vehicle. The most capable one available in the US.
Here’s where I get confused. Jeep owners asked for a V-8 and Diesel options for decades without seeing one. Now they come out with an V-8 and it’s $120,000. Whatever. I guess I’ll do it myself.
More like $100k, not that that’s any less crazy.
And yet people are buying them. I would bet these 392s will hold their value very well long term.
Can they make a Jeep that doesn’t ride like a brick? SWB is no excuse. They now make 4-door versions and they still ride like bricks. I don’t remember Jeep owners saying, “Can you make it ride like shit?” But they do a great job making them ride like shit. I don’t like that shit. I know it can be done because people on here do it.
What year/models have you driven? My mom’s stock ‘24 4XE Sahara drives AMAZING, better than some German sedans I’ve driven.
I am skeptical on the importance of factory installed high-end shocks on all JLs, for the same reasons we don’t see factory oneton axles. But that’s a topic for another discussion.
Where is some actual badass stuff? My GC Overland has air suspension. I just touch a button and it raises the suspension 1.1”. I hit it again and it raises it another 1.1” When I get on the highway it drops the suspension for what they call aero mode. It’s got 360hp and 0-60 in 6.5sec. Why were they putting a hemi in the GC more than a decade ago and just now doing it for the Wrangler? We were the one’s crying for that decades ago when XJ’s were still cool.
IMO, an airbag-only suspension doesn’t belong on an offroad vehicle. But for street only use, I don’t see why not. I know Jeep had a concept JL with airbags a year ago, not sure if that has moved forward at all.
On the Hemi, I think government regulations must be a part of Jeep not bringing it out earlier.
Had the Bronco not come out, we might’ve never seen a V8 Wrangler.
Why can’t they go back to the way they listened when they came out with the Rubicon in 2003 and added lockers and the 4:1 TCase?
I wish they did this too, like how Ford does it with the Bronco. You can add the Sasquatch package to a lower trim, and that gets you lockers, gears, lift, beadlocks and more.
They did just add a rear locker to the Willys model? So at least they’re heading in the right direction somewhat.
I know…they’re shutting down trails. Just buy the Tesla Stainless Steel Overland POS. Why can’t they make them simpler since wrangler people in this market like to modify, and not just bolt on junk. They are probably in bed with Rough Country and Shittybilt.
I get that it’s about money, but Jeep has NOT been making money.
Where did you get that? Yes sales have slowed, but Jeep was Stellantis’s most succesful brand up until very recently.
Why does it have to get BIGGER? Is this another mall crawl thing or EPA? What about being nimble on trails? I don’t need bigger. I need the right size. I don’t need heavier.
Again, regulations.
Crash safety regulations make it impossible to sell a TJ-like vehicle in today’s day and age.
Also, emissions standards. Bigger vehicle means less stringent emissions rules to follow.
I need performance. Rant over.
Are we talking offroad performance? If so, a JL would absolutely destroy a TJ offroad for a variety of reasons, size notwithstanding.
