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The 2008 Jeep Wrangler and the 2008 Wrangler Unlimited

Riding rough for over 60 years has just become a family affair.

Jeeps are truly unique anachronisms of the American highway and the recipe for its success has remained fairly consistent for well over 6 decades. Tough, utilitarian, capable, fun as hell – they shout, “I can go more places than you can!” Some Jeeps (like the regrettable Compass) do not adhere to any of the real Jeep formula and are not worthy of the badge – regardless of the cachet some may think they possess.

The Wrangler brothers, on the other hand, keep to the rugged credo more than any vehicle in their lineup. With up to 4 doors to choose from and a new, very cool modular hard top which is fairly easy to remove, we have never had so much to choose from in the Wrangler. Despite being fully redesigned just over a year back, the Wrangler is just as capable as the model it replaces with a few welcome additions.

The classic looks of the two-door Wrangler still reminds us of its grandfather, the Willys Jeep. The new Wrangler is much more spacious and contains better ergonomics than its predecessor. You can opt for a power convenience package that provides power windows and door-locks (a first for the venerable Wrangler!) and you can easily approach the mid $30,000 mark with upgrades and packages. Check out these standard features like an Electronic Stability Program, Traction Control, 4-Wheel anti-lock disc brakes and a limited slip rear differential – much more comprehensive than the model it replaces.

Comparing Wranglers to other vehicles is to a lesser extent, pointless. These vehicles are not built for timid commutes, leisurely highway travel or taking the kids to T-Ball (don’t let the 4door Unlimited fool you; it is not a very suburban/urban family friendly transport). What the Wrangler represents is the potential for no compromise off road capability, with a tiny bit of on road usability. Yes, it is way more sophisticated than equivalent Jeeps of the past, but it is not made to everyone’s taste.

The reason I said “potential” is that a 2-wheel-drive Wrangler Unlimited is available (which makes little sense to me). You can add components and packages to this Jeep to morph from what looks like a Jeep to the most capable, mass produced, non military, off road personal transport you can buy. Meaning: If you buy the Jeep Wrangler Rubicon with all the bells and whistles, I sincerely doubt any factory built competitor can keep up with you, off road.

I have sampled the competition which roughly consists of the Hummer H3, Toyota FJ and the Nissan X-Terra. There are a few other automakers that make excellent off road vehicles (Land/Range Rover come to mind). These vehicles offer similar size, engine/transmission options, transfer units, capacity and ball-park prices which are competitive with the Wrangler. They are excellent choices for those who want a truck that can be tolerable as a commuter and second as family transport (the Nissan X-Terra is the most logical for all-around family usefulness). Yet, none of these machines offers the ability of the Wrangler off road. The Hummer is close, but it has an independent front suspension, poor outward vision, a mediocre break-over angle and a low, closed cockpit –

hindering its off road prowess.

If you are thinking of becoming a first time Wrangler buyer, I highly recommend that you borrow or rent a Wrangler to sample for a few days before you buy. A regular test drive will not be enough and you rarely get to sample the strongest attribute – off road domination. Also, a ten minute test drive of a Wrangler is exciting and you might not consider the practical issues of the vehicle while you’re slinging the machine around and feeling the wind in your face. Drive it three or four times, take it home, load it with family or friends, try parking and merging. This ain’t your old Camry!

Living with the Wrangler is an adjustment for families. If you must get a Wrangler, then I recommend the new Wrangler Unlimited which has a real back seat, back doors and useable back loading space (along with the acceptable towing figures of up to 3,500 Lbs). In many ways, this is the best way to tour the family through hairy off road obstacles to secluded locations. No other vehicle made today has the potential of being a 4-door convertible!

Keep in mind, the Wrangler is a real truck and rides like a real truck. It bounces, tilts, shudders and makes a loud racket from the driver’s seat. Steering is slow, passing/merging/takeoff power is poor and the driving position is difficult for some to ever get used to. If you think there is any economy to the Wrangler, consider its brick like shape and chunky off road gear. It’s doubtful that you’ll ever exceed 20 MPG on the highway. The door sills are very high and make loading people a chore. The rear seats, though spacious, are a tad uncomfortable.

Front seat comfort is fair but takes some getting used to. I do not recommend these seats for any long term travel. Unlike car based, cross-over SUVs, the handling takes real effort and street movement is slow at best. If you want to load long items, keep in mind that the tailgate swings out and not down like most conventional trucks. The swing out tailgate provides a rather narrow opening and the lift over height is so big that items are a hassle to load.

By now you’re probably thinking I hate the Jeep Wrangler. Nope, I LOVE the Jeep Wrangler! The only reason I bring up these points is that there is a disproportionately large number of people who buy a Wrangler to look cool and never use it for their amazing abilities. The posers tend to lose interest and run off to buy something easier to drive that still makes them look cool.

I am a Coloradoan who knows what it takes to tackle nasty weather and serious off road excursions. The Jeep Wrangler is purposely built for maximum off road torment and it is one of the only vehicles on the market today that provides useful factory options for serious off highway use.

When you drive either model, you get the overwhelming sense that it would move even better in the dirt. Once there, every piece of the Wrangler’s layout makes sense. The seats work better and the uncomfortable street ride transforms into a rather comfortable perch to observe nature passing you by. It’s normally anemic engine now rewards you with good torque and plenty of easily modulated power that will carry you over many obstacles. What was slab sided and un-aerodynamic becomes tight and logical for lurching your way through narrow canyons, spiny bushes, giant boulders and tiny goat paths.

The unsophisticated suspension and running gear begin to make sense as they articulate and keep as much of the meaty tires on terra-firma as possible. By simply straightening your back and craning your neck, you can figure out where each wheel is placed and what it is about to touch – especially easy when you remove the roof.

If off road travel is all you want to do, the regular Jeep Wrangler is a slightly better choice as it is shorter, has a better turning radius, it’s lighter and quicker than the 4-door Unlimited, but not by that much. In fact: I had a better experience driving the Unlimited Sahara than the two-door Sahara on sand and mud. The longer wheelbase and greater weight seem to make for a more compliant ride and better isolation from outside noise.

On my trail ride, I did discover an unusual flaw (but it could have been me). I bounded through two massive dips and unexpectedly dropped into a deep rut on the side of the trail. No biggie, the Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Sahara clawed out after I engaged 4-low. Unfortunately, when I was jostled to the side, my right index finger got temporarily caught in one of the AC vents! I think the vents were sourced from the PT Cruiser’s parts bin and it closes in a tight, flat fashion – ouch! Still, the interior was a great environment to rough-ride in.

One welcome addition that I highly suggest to anyone who gets either version is the Freedom Top(TM) 3-piece modular hard top. This includes a rear window defroster, rear window wiper/washer with the security and warmth of thick, composite panels. It’s an expensive option (well over $1,500), but if cold weather ever arrives, you will be grateful. The modular roof can be partially removed for those who want a giant sun roof as well.

The bottom line for the Wrangler brothers is this: will you use it? If the answer is an overwhelming, “yes!” then you are buying a hell of a truck. If your answer is, “maybe” then I might suggest the aforementioned competition. Finally, if you do not intend to go off road and just want the Wrangler for its image, I might suggest you get your head examined.

Tags: Car Reviews //