I'm sure 4Rescue is a great guy and his misspelling of Klaus was unintentional, maybe just an abundance of testosterone. Sometimes emotions get the best of us all when talking about our preferred vehicles. The question was the build quality and satisfaction of new jeeps. I have a 2014 JKUR with 10,000 miles on it and am pleased so far. A couple trips to Death Valley and one each to Arizona and Utah has proven it to be comfortable on and off road. Had three Toyotas by the way, including an 82 FJ40, and liked them too. Also currently have a 68 Bronco which is a blast. Anyway good luck in which ever you choose. No disrespect to 4Rescue.
None taken mate... I've got "enthusiastic opinions" to say the least aye. Although I would point out that while
YES, this was in fact a question about JK build quality, the Toyota/Jeep comparison was part of the OP's question/phrasing and hence why the conversation turned down that familiar path.
Yes, I mis-spelled KLAUS unintentionally (sorry) and honestly I wasn't even trying to have a go at him in any way shape or form and feel bad if it was taken that way. I think he's had good info and a good perspective in this thread what with owning both vehicles being compared. I simply disagree with the specific statement I pointed to and that's all there is to it. I apologize to Klaus if I made him feel like I was attacking him over it and anyone else reading this because that's not "The Portal way". It's hard to convey sentiment and tone through the keyboard and that was never my intention...
Rubicon John" or whatever, well he chuffed me a bit with his attitude and I sunk to his level and for that I apologize as well...
Interior styling is a personal choice thing, you either like what's become of the Jeep's interior or you don't usually, and that's been going on since the CJ turned into the YJ and will always go on... but the fit and finish is not, and it's not
terribly good on the JK IMO, esp. when companies like Kia and others are where they are today. Not really a big deal to me, but it is an indicator as to some of the ways they make them so affordable... As "into the scene" the Jeep engineering guys are, they're just engineers and the bean counters rule the company at the end of the day. Another indicator of build quality, to me, are the relatively light duty suspension pick-up points in various places (not everywhere, but there are known issues for some folks), as several JK owners here have already pointed out, and the thin body panels. That said, I have also seen folks who manage to keep 2x Locked stock D30/35 combos and old AMC20's alive with 35+" tires so it may be that some never come to the limit of some of these things I see as "issues" with the build quality. That's down to the driver and how they go about driving/what they do with the rig. I also feel the stock JK's are a little under sprung for hauling any serious payloads. That's a simple fix, but as a stock vehicle, it's still a factor IMO.
{OT, but on the subject of the JK overall: I'm kinda miffed in general with Jeep for putting a small Diesel in the KJ, the GC, now the 1500 Ram, rumors of another Fiat Diesel in the Renegade/Cherokee and even the Dart platforms, but NOT in the Wrangler for the US which IMO they know folks would eat them up like all things Wrangler. Could have saved them two attempts trying to make a more fuel efficient power-train then the old Tractor Engine 4.0L (which I still love, although not the fuel econ but... Still love that engine). That just makes no sense to me, but then I can't exactly point to any other company who IS doing that in the US yet so that's not really a "Jeep thing" and not relevant to the OP's question... Sorry, I'm bitter.}
There's no doubting that the Rubicon is, esp. in the USDM where we don't get those ROW trucks I've had the pleasure of being able to compare to the JK, a very special and capable vehicle. I love the fact that at least ONE company will (twice even counting the Power Wagon as a "cousin" to the JK(U)R) in the US is willing to go to this level of outfitting for a stock, dealer sold 4wd rig. That's no in question here and I'm not saying "Jeeps are crap and nobody should buy one", but as others have said, the JK isn't
really a direct, "level comparison" to the 80-series as a complete vehicle. Drive-train wise, sure, it's fairly comparable, but overall they're very different rigs n so many ways. On the positive side of the JK, you can take the top off, it's certainly a "fun" rig to drive and does well on the road, esp. for how well it performs in the dirt. Fuel econ wise, I've never driven a loaded down/built JK long enough to evaluate that for myself, but I doubt it's gonna be worse then the 80-series. They're cool looking and I love that they still LOOK like a Jeep after all these years and generations, that's cool cause I love 'old" trucks and, to me, the jeep looks a lot like an old truck. There's also every kind of mod/doo-hicky and thing-a-ma-bob available for the Jeep... If it exists in the aftermarket 4wd world, it's 99.9% likely to be available for the JK and that gives you tons of options (although Toyotas likely 2nd to jeep in that respect). And, even though I knocked the "thin body panels", I have to say that with the top and doors on, they're really not noisy inside and are quite comfortable driving position wise IMO.
Maybe ask some of the service Techs on the QT what they see in the dealership bays and if they have any glaring concerns or consistent repairs/known issues... You may not get answers at first, but usually there are some guys who will tell you straight on, what they see and what they have issues with.
Cheers
Dave
