MetalGator wrote:
jamesroadking wrote:
I guess Chrysler Jeep finally listened to me and too realized that the 5 speed auto was antiquated. Now, Lower Prices, Stop gouging your customers by charging one to two thousand dollars for a Hard Top. Not including A/C in the base models
Put the Rubicon Dana axles on ALL the Jeeps models. (The standard models come with junk axles).
The reason they couldn't put the 8 speed in the previous year Wranglers was because the transmission wouldn't fit in the 2 door models. The 2019 models are slightly longer to allow for the 8 speed. The current 5 speed is a very good/durable transmission but I agree the 8 speed will be much better.
I agree that Wranglers are a little pricey but they hold their value very well. Plus, they sell everyone they can produce so it's simple supply and demand. Why would they lower prices if they are selling at the current price? Doesn't make good business sense.
Never heard of the "standard" models having junk axles. The Rubicon does have a heavier duty axles but my guess is for most people the standard axles are more than enough. I doubt more than 10% of Wrangler owners are rock crawling with their Jeeps.
My wife and I both have Wranglers (Sahara JKU and Sahara JK) and neither of them have ever been back to the dealer for any issue except for oil changes. For our use, the Rubicon was overkill and not worth the extra money. Plus, they are so easy to hookup and tow behind a motorhome. I can hookup and be ready to roll in the motorhome in less than 5 minutes. No battery disconnect, unlocking steering wheel, pulling fuses, etc. Just hookup, put transfer case in neutral, transmission in park and away you go.
Burch
Burch,
As you can see and read, you're going to get whiners and cryers every now and then, no matter what the reason. As you've so adequately stated, Jeep sells EVERY ONE of their production. So, APPARENTLY there's no over pricing. And, Jeep sells ALL MODELS too so, APPARENTLY there's not too much thinking that there's "junk" axles on lower end units. Time, trial and error, experience and more govern how an automaker progresses in it's lineup.
When Jeep was taken over by Chrysler, they had a regular 3-spd auto for years and years. Must have worked well 'cause they were all sold when they were at the dealerships. Then, when the '04 model TJs came out, they were fitted with a 4-spd auto. Again, must have worked 'cause THEY WERE ALL SOLD. You don't see any graveyards of older, brand new Jeeps with 3-spd and 4-spd autos rusting away, 'cause they didn't sell.
Then, around the model year of '12, when Jeep/Fiat decided that the engine in the '07 - '11 Jeep Wranglers was not up to par, they created and installed the now used Pentastar 3.6L. And, along with that, they added a 5-spd auto. Progression! Both that engine and that 5-spd auto has been accepted quite well. Again, no bone yards with brand new JKs rusting away 'cause they're only sporting a 5-spd auto.
Now, for '18, Jeep decided it's time to upgrade AGAIN, and, install the 8-spd auto. Well, guess what, ALL the other manufactures have had the same progression, trial and error, experience for decades.
People buy what's affordable to them. It's pretty simple, if you think the price is too high, that's what legs are for, WALK AWAY! But, like other factors here, APPARENTLY they're not too high for the thousands and thousands that are out there, and especially being towed by RVers.
Scott
P.S. Early on in this thread/rant, a comment was made about "discounts" on F-150s and other truck makers in their pricing. Well, as stated, I've got a couple of buddies that paid in excess of $55,000 for F-150s in '17. Don't look like too much of a discount to me. And one other buddy just paid $70,000 for a used, 7,000 mile F-250 Platinum. Not a whole lot of discount there either.
Not to mention, you don't see (or I haven't anyways) any of those models out on the trails in Moab! How anyone could compare an F-150 or Chevy 1500 to a Jeep Wrangler is beyond me.
