One thing, though, the 4 door Wranglers have TERRIBLE reliability ratings according to Consumer Reports. It has the worst rating on the planet of any SUV. The 2 door models score above average, but the 4 door is in bad shape. What gives? This does not make sense?

Google “Jeep Gladiator Concept” and see what you get. DCX decided not to go forward with it, which, IMO, was a mistake.

If the Wrangler Unlimited is a big hit (and I think it will be) then expect the aftermarket to come up with inserts for the rear doors and a half-cab to turn the Unlimited into a small pickup. A true tailgate would also be good, but it would neccessitate remounting the spare (maybe to the side like the old CJs)

I saw an 8-door Wrangler “limo” in Yosemite last week. Time to ask the question again.

I bought my last Jeep in ‘87. (Two weeks before Chrysler bought out AMC) It was an 87 Comanche w/a 2.5 I 4.Super piece of equipment.I put 125,000 completely trouble free miles on it.I would love to be driving a Jeep pickup again.Why doesnt DCX bring back the old CJ-8 (Scrambler) concept and build a small pickup on the Commander/Wrangler platform ?Maybe not with the roll/light bar,but a functional pickup bed and tailgate,rugged looks and option the 4 and 6…That might be enough to get me to abandon my Toyota pickup for Jeep again.(No wait,I’ll just have one of each).Anybody ?

Hey, I resemble that remark! I’m maybe starting to come around to accepting the YJ as a Jeep now that it’s nearly 20 years old. It took me a very long time to even accept the 1976-1985 CJs as Jeeps, as I preferred the pre ‘76 models. I don’t know why I have such an irrational hatred towards change and updating, but sometimes maybe you just shouldn’t mess with a good thing. At least I can save money by always buying on the used market :)

/now you kids get off my lawn!

First, the reason that DCX has released a 4-door has little to do with the Wrangler and everything to do with the Cherokee/Libery change-over. If you were an off-roader with kids, you typically had to look past a Wrangler, which meant the (original) Cherokee (cheaper and less ‘city-fied’ than the Grand Cherokee). When the Liberty replaced the Cherokee, DCX discovered they’d abandoned one market (off-roading families) and gained a new one (women who want to drive a Cute-Ute). (Disclaimer: my wife drives a 2WD Liberty. Never goes off-road. Never wants to.) The 4-door Wrangler is an attempt by Jeep to fill the demand left unsatisfied after the departure of the Cherokee from the lineup. I predict it will bring a lot of those off-road families back into the Jeep fold.

What’s interesting are the spy pics of the 08 Liberty and the photos of the badge-engineered Jeep Patriot. They both bear a striking resemblance to the Cherokees of old. I can understand why they’d take the Caliber and create the Patriot out of it, espeically if it is to be trail-rated (how, I dunno), but if the Liberty appeals to the female side of the market, why mess around with a good thing? Apparently, the Liberty is #1 in the small SUV crowd. Why risk that market with a testosterone-makeover? Curious.

Now about the engine…
I, too, look forward to a day where Jeeps all come with a Diesel option. The reason the Wrangler doesn’t have a Diesel option this model year is because of the new emisions standards, courtesy of the Feds. The Liberty, too, loses it’s 4-banger CRD. Ironic, because that engine is a Hell of a lot more eco-friendly than any gasoline-powered ride. DCX plans to bring a number of Mercedes Diesels across the pond sometime next year. I hope one will be destined for the Wrangler, as I think a Diesel would be a perfect mate to what most people look for in an ideal SUV destined to be used OFF road.

Now the trick will be to try and find one. The dealers I know tell me that they don’t expect more than a handful of either Wrangler on hand until well after the first of the year. They’ll get a minimum allocation in now, but the DCX factory evidently shuts down in November for a month or so (Thanks, UAW!), and so will the supply. I’d be surprised if there were any Wranglers available at anything less than the sticker price before late Spring/early Summer of 2007. (Maybe by that time, I’ll be able to afford one).

Clearly, Jeep has treated the Wrangler with the respect it deserves. Of course, the CJ-fanatics will whine that the TK is “not a real Jeep” just like they did for the TJ, and the YJ. None of that will stop the Wranglers from selling to their core market – the REAL off-road crowd, where cute-utes need not apply.

The rear cushion is flat and small, and the seatback is overly upright. But kid seats will fit.

My site’s page for the Wrangler, with links to pricing, price comparisons, and my full review:

http://www.truedelta.com/models/Wrangler.php

BimmerHead said:

Hmmmm… I was about to go off on a tirade about the new availability of a 2 wheel drive Wrangler… But apparently you can only get 2 wheel drive on the 4 door model… if you choose the 2 door model, you are forced to get 4 wheel drive… as it has forever been and should always be.

Would it surprise you to know that there have been 2wd Jeeps since right after WWII? And that AFAIK, there was never a year that a 4wd Jeep was sold when a 2wd Jeep wasn’t available? Some buyers (the Postal Service, to name one) appreciates the simplicity and ruggedness of the design without needing off-road capability.

Steve_S:
October 23rd, 2006 at 11:31 am
Isn’t the Cherokee Trail Rated? If you have very small kids I’d think that would be the better option. Are you really going to do some serious rock humping with a 2 year old in the back? That said this would be good for a young person who likes to do some serious off-roading but wants to more easily get someone in the back since it’s their only vehicle.

I am currently driving my second Jeep Cherokee. The first was a ‘93, this one is a ‘99.

The Cherokee (XJ) is indeed a fine vehicle for my purposes, but not available new. My youngest is 6 years old and she (along with the 8 and 10 year olds) get out to watch the REALLY hairy stuff. Heck, my wife gets out to watch sometimes!

All of this said – the JK is still a Jeep and there are plenty of SUV’s that are more comfortable and get better mileage. But as stated above – the offroad prowess, and the softtop flexibility put it at the the top of my list…. Now if they’d only re-route some of those Euro-bound JK diesels to Seattle!

I’ve been a Jeep fan all of my 22 years and I have ALWAYS wanted a Wrangler but I am a drummer in a band and could never get my kit into a 2 door Wrangler. I’ve got a Liberty now and it BARELY fits. Jeep made this for guys like me that want the off road ability and the drop top that the Wrangler provides but need the cargo space that a larger SUV has.

I’ve already placed my order for a six speed Steel Blue Rubicon Unlimited. This kid is excited.

When my current Beast (99 TJ) dies, I’m getting either one of these or an FJ. I think the final determination will be based on how easy/convenient it is to get a child seat into the back of each…has anyone tried that yet?

Actually that’s a good thing, since the highest “mountain” in the country rises a respectable 321 meters above sea level, so the nearest thing you can get to real offroading is drive on the beach…if you own an ice cream stall and you REALLY REALLY have to be there thus have a permit.

Great car though.

As far as alternative family cars there are many and this one would qualify but the ride would be pretty stiff for small ones. A few other alternative family cars that come to mind are:

RX8 – can fit even rear-facing baby seats
M3 – Very easy to get kids in the back of if they are forward facing. Personally had a car seat installed in under 2 minutes (oh if used M3’s were only 5 grand cheaper, sigh)
A4 Vert – Great for when it’s warm just pop the top and plop them in (or most any four-seat vert. I find the Audi, BMW and Volvo verts seem to have some good room in the back).
Mini Cooper – It’s a tight fit and you have to be careful on what seat you use but they fit, again as with any two-door front facing only.

The rides in these are also very nice although the M3 is a tad stiff and would probably be easier on small occupants than the Wrangler.

Q: What effect, if any, does the stretched wheelbase have on torsional rigidity? Not that it matters, practically, but will all four doors open when perched on two points at opposite corners? I’m sure the ride is improved a bit, but if that compromises the dynamics of the vehicles purist m.o., then it is indeed a step in the wrong direction (although with the Compass out, “this is not the brand dilution you were looking for.” Wave hand in front of customers’ faces.)

C: As soon as DCX puts a Diesel in this vehicle, capable of 20 city/30 hwy, I will seriously consider owning one. Until then, it’s just not practical as a combo daily driver/offroader. I just feel like they’re SOOO close, but it’s still just a specialized gas hog with poor aerodynamics…and two extra doors.