Opinion on 2008 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited?

[Tbirdkid]

Ive read review after review on edmunds, etc. I am looking for real world personal thoughts on this vehicle. I am interested in the 4 door model, with the 6 cylinder engine. I am planning on using it for going back and forth to work, probably tow a boat and a bike with it, and be able to put the kids in the back when needed. It is not going to be the family vehicle as I have a Yukon for that. Opinions please...

As for those people that are all about the gas use etc, i dont really care to hear from you. Not that I want to offend anyone, i just dont care if my vehicle eats up too much gas. I have a large family, and we love to live. Thanks for looking, and I appreciate any feed back...

 

[Throckmorton]

That V6 engine is not very powerful, and it's a heavy vehicle. Your boat would have to be pretty light. It would be a good truck if you were going to hit the trails, but you didn't say you were. Sounds like the wrong vehicle for you... and it sounds like the Yukon you already have is the right one.

 

[Jumpem]

Originally posted by: Throckmorton
That V6 engine is not very powerful, and it's a heavy vehicle. Your boat would have to be pretty light. It would be a good truck if you were going to hit the trails, but you didn't say you were. Sounds like the wrong vehicle for you... and it sounds like the Yukon you already have is the right one.

This. The Yukon would be a better tow vehicle.

 

[Bignate603]

If you're staying on pavement I wouldn't bother. You wouldn't need the strong points of the jeep and if you're towing you hit on its big weak point, the V6 engine. Your Yukon or another similar vehicle would be better. If you want a jeep for towing take a look at the grand cherokee, the V8 would be good, the diesel would be great.

 

[SoulAssassin]

what size boat? The 6 cyl is very capable. The TJ doesn't have a high rating for towing mostly because of the short wheel base and brakes. It can pull a much higher than it's rating, but controlling it is another thing. The longer wheel base of the JK 4 door eliminates some of those weaknesses. Personally, I love my Jeep but they aren't for everyone. Reliability isn't the best but they are very easy to work on. Friend of mine has a 4 door sitting on 35's.

Oh, and you can't take the top off a Yukon in the summer.

 

[LTC8K6]

3500 pounds with the trailer tow group.

 

[SickBeast]

My brother in law just got one and loves it.

You can take the roof right off and swap it for a soft top which I found pretty interesting. Apparently you can take the doors right off as well. Also, I think it has some sort of t-roof arrangement. The roof was unlike anything I have seen before.

They bought it as a drive to the beach in style type of thing, and just to have fun with.

The thing looked pretty nice to me. It must be alright; they already have a Chevy SUV of some sort.

SUVs aren't my thing. If I were to get one, I would probably go with the Acura or else the Nissan Murano.

 

[cheesehead]

If you want to do proper off-roading, the Wrangler is all right. A friend of the family has one - it's not very comfortable (especially in the rear seats), and build quality leaves something to be desired. Reliability is poor.

If you want a big SUV, get a big SUV - a Chevrolet Suburban or Honda Pilot, for example. The Suburban can haul a huge amount of stuff and should be a good tow vehicle, but the Pilot is much more comfortable and more reliable.

And if you really want an off-road capable SUV with chunky looks, massive power, and reliability and economy can go stuff themselves....how about a Land Rover Defender with a V8?

 

[SoulAssassin]

Originally posted by: LTC8K6
3500 pounds with the trailer tow group.

It should do that fine. Wouldn't hurt to get the D44 axle with 4.10 gears for a little extra power but base is fine.

Originally posted by: Cheesehead
If you want to do proper off-roading, the Wrangler is all right. A friend of the family has one - it's not very comfortable (especially in the rear seats), and build quality leaves something to be desired. Reliability is poor.

The Wrangler Rubicon is the best offroading vehicle you can get straight out of a factory. Alright is probably an understatement. True, it's not very comfortable but the newer JK's are miles ahead of my TJ. Try fitting 4 in mine and it gets cramped quickly, the JK's, especially the 4 door the OP is looking at will do 4 or 5 comfortably. I was in a 2 door JK in Hawaii and found 4 old people stranded miles from a road and we managed to fit 6 and get them back safely. Build quality is often meh but, as I said, parts are cheap and easy to fix/replace.

 

[cheesehead]

Originally posted by: SoulAssassin

The Wrangler Rubicon is the best offroading vehicle you can get straight out of a factory.

He's not using it as an offroader.

Originally posted by: SoulAssassin
Build quality is often meh but, as I said, parts are cheap and easy to fix/replace.

"easy" is relative. You might think that replacing a cylinder head is easy. Then again, I think that centrifuge casting of molten silver is easy. I just want the !@#$ thing to work.

I'm not so sure of the reliability on the Suburbans, but they're dirt cheap right now (I know a fellow who bought an '04 for under $5k!) and are extremely popular as tow vehicles.