Edmunds Wrangler one year wrap-up

[haven]

Edmunds.com bought an entry level 2012 Wrangler Sport, and proceeded with a mild build. Then they lived with the Jeep for a year, recording all expenses. A few numbers:
Purchase price: about $22.5 K
Upgrades: about $8600, including wheels, tires, a 3 inch lift, front bumper and winch
MPG: 17.3 before the taller tires, 16 mpg afterwards

http://www.edmunds.com/jeep/wrangler/2012/long-term-road-test/wrap-up.html

This article provides one answer to the "should I buy a Rubicon or build up a Sport" question. A two door Rubicon costs about $31K, less than Edmunds spent on their Sport plus upgrades. The Rubicon has stronger axles, locking diffs, better body armor, and better gearing, plus much better resale value than the homegrown model.

 

[X-plorenow]

Interesting read. Thanks for sharing haven!

 

[gregaf3]

Thanks for sharing. I am curious if all of the off road time is included in their overall mpg calculations.

 

[Espo78]

They sold it for 17 grand!? Around here you can't find a newer Wrangler anywhere close to that.

 

[BADDANDY]

A two door Rubicon costs about $31K, less than Edmunds spent on their Sport plus upgrades.

Realistically a Rubi will be 31K + the 8.6K of the same mods they would have done to one if they bought one. A Rubi is 8.5K more than my Sport. If I bought a Rubi, I would have bought and spent the exact same items I have on my Sport onto a Rubi. After upgrading my rear and replacing my front axles, I'll have Rubi capabilty for 1/2 of the difference. I can go cheaper with takeoff stock Rubi parts, or alot stronger with aftermarket still for less than 8.5K including a xfer case. If I had had the dough though, I would have bought a Rubi, added the 4K in tires, wheels, and lift I have now and called it good. BTW, they must have had 3.21 gears, cause mine with 3.73s and 35" tires gets 20mpg avg. 19 Hwy/21 city.

 

[redthies]

$31k is not more than $31,100. (22,500 + 8,600 = 31,100). Would I want a lift and tires on my Ru? Sure. Would it go more places stock than a lifted but non locked Sport? Probably. Would you have less arguments with your service manager about warranty issues? Definitely!

 

[nwoods]

Yikes, reading their off road comments, wondering exactly how they are driving the thing. I'm not familar with that MOPAR lift kit, but it looks pretty legit:

Before:

After:

 

[Septu]

I'm pretty sure those Fox shocks and the Fox speed bumps are not part of that kit. Nothing against the Mopar kit, but there's better kits that cost less out there.

Yikes, reading their off road comments, wondering exactly how they are driving the thing. I'm not familar with that MOPAR lift kit, but it looks pretty legit: