SeaRubi
Explorer
Man, what is all this belly aching about the V6? Are people here to use these things as they were intended, or complain about not keeping up with a Tahoe over the interstate?
I thought the 3.8L was fine in my '08 with a 6 speed and 3.73's. towing a loaded u-haul up great divide from west heading east at 60mph in 4th gear and some ungodly RPM it was STILL getting 12mpg, and not once did it even look like it was going to over heat. The key with the 3.8 is to drive it like you stole it and keep the oil changed. I've chased BMW's at ~100mph bouncing off the speed limiter. I've driven across country doing the same, twice.
In my opinion, I believe that folks are expecting a lot of off-idle torque of a V8 and want that "easy" feeling of cruising at higher speeds - characteristics known in full size SUV's and pickup trucks. They think "truck" when they think of Jeep, and then seem to be disappointed after getting behind the wheel. It's not a truck! It's a Jeep!
And how quickly folks forget the feat that was pulled off with the 2007's - that little 3.8L still holds the record for climbing to the highest altitude ever recorded by an off-road vehicle - 21k feet. I can't find it now, but the drivers were talking about having to rely on the engine to get them down off the mountain after brakes were long gone - bouncing off the rev limiter at 7k RPM for hours and hours, and clutching through the gears with no brakes. I hope that Pentastar everyone is so wound up about can stand up to the same abuse.
It saddens me that the Jeep community has been so down on the 3.8L engine for reasons associated to on-highway characteristics when it has proved to be tough and appropriate for the vehicle and it's chronically "underpowered" lineage.
Like all of my vehicles, I beat the tar out of that thing and it never skipped a beat. I say rock on for 2011 with the 3.8L and the spiffy new interior, and cheers to more muddy, dusty, rocky trails with the JK moving forward.
my .02
cheers,
-ike
2008 Unlimited X 24S - sold 2010.
I thought the 3.8L was fine in my '08 with a 6 speed and 3.73's. towing a loaded u-haul up great divide from west heading east at 60mph in 4th gear and some ungodly RPM it was STILL getting 12mpg, and not once did it even look like it was going to over heat. The key with the 3.8 is to drive it like you stole it and keep the oil changed. I've chased BMW's at ~100mph bouncing off the speed limiter. I've driven across country doing the same, twice.
In my opinion, I believe that folks are expecting a lot of off-idle torque of a V8 and want that "easy" feeling of cruising at higher speeds - characteristics known in full size SUV's and pickup trucks. They think "truck" when they think of Jeep, and then seem to be disappointed after getting behind the wheel. It's not a truck! It's a Jeep!
And how quickly folks forget the feat that was pulled off with the 2007's - that little 3.8L still holds the record for climbing to the highest altitude ever recorded by an off-road vehicle - 21k feet. I can't find it now, but the drivers were talking about having to rely on the engine to get them down off the mountain after brakes were long gone - bouncing off the rev limiter at 7k RPM for hours and hours, and clutching through the gears with no brakes. I hope that Pentastar everyone is so wound up about can stand up to the same abuse.
It saddens me that the Jeep community has been so down on the 3.8L engine for reasons associated to on-highway characteristics when it has proved to be tough and appropriate for the vehicle and it's chronically "underpowered" lineage.
Like all of my vehicles, I beat the tar out of that thing and it never skipped a beat. I say rock on for 2011 with the 3.8L and the spiffy new interior, and cheers to more muddy, dusty, rocky trails with the JK moving forward.
my .02
cheers,
-ike
2008 Unlimited X 24S - sold 2010.
