JK longjevity question

[JIMBO]

:sombrero: Heh Heh, thats why you're confused--you just can't make a choice !

I'm confused. Why does it have to be a choice? I have all three.

Just kidding--

We were just in Coeur-D' Alene for a week with my wifes brother, he built a house looking down on the lake--ASPEN ESTATES, I think it is-

That is one beautiful area, I might get some property up at Spirit Lake--kewl summer area-

Hayden has some great resturants to-congrads

:costumed-smiley-007:wings: JIMBO

 

[CRolandLJ]

There's mark up on anything but I think good vendors can be found that aren't taking you to the cleaners just because they think they can... and the JKU has more aftermarket support than just about any vehicle on the market. The XJ has plenty of support (in addition to it sharing parts with the TJs) but it will only shrink over time since they haven't made the XJ for over 10 years.


If i had 60k... i'd be keeping my LJ and getting a late model TLC or maybe a new Grand Cherokee (although aftermarket support is minimal if you're trying to go all out modifying it). Plenty of room for people and plenty of capability if you're not rock crawling, as you said.

 

[jscusmcvet]

Today I drove a 2012 JKUR for the first time. It is owned by a girl who works for me. She felt like something was "wrong" because it drove different after having a 3" Rubicon Express lift installed. :ylsmoke:

About 20 seconds into the ride, I said, "You can NEVER let Ann (my wife) ride in this Jeep! It will cost me too much money to upgrade to one of these!"

Seriously, that thing drive like a dream... nothing about it felt like a jeep and I found myself thinking, "I could cruise in this rock limo for a long stretch..." I am quite sure that if I put Ann in one and we could afford it (no go at the moment with 2 in college) she would be advocating for it.

However... it did not feel like a jeep... at all... rode better than any CAR I have had, except for a brief flirtation with a Lincoln...ahhh... the Town Car.... now THAT is a nice riding vehicle...

I digress...

My conclusion is, if you have the cash... need the room and want the limo drive feel... go for a JKUR... I would skip the lift, slap on some 33's and enjoy...

John

 

[schmugboy]

So, I've owned both, and if I had to do it again, I would've kept my 2nd XJ. It had as much room, towed a trailer better and was trouble free after 8yrs of owning it. I "upgraded" to the JKUR, and after a lot of money modifying it and losing focus, it just doesn't feel right to me. I love the off-road capability, I just wish I wasn't being passed by little tiny cars every-time I get on the freeway. Supposedly that's fixed with the 12' and above. The other thing that concerns me is the heat generation under the hood, I've melted some wire loom (cheap stuff) and wire (not secured correctly), so who's to say how electronics will handle that over time.
Good Luck

 

[squareaffair]

im on my third xj, and im a huge supporter of the cherokee. you can also build one hell of a cherokee for the price of a jku... also yes, pass on the rustys stuff, theres many more higher end aftermarker manufacturers. i have driven a jk and its a hell of a lot more comfortable - im with you on the longevity of the electronics and all the bells and whistles - but you're also talking about a minim 12 year old car vs a brand new one.... if you can afford it then the new jk probably going to last at least as long as the xj you buy, wether or not that is 15 years

 

[GetOutThere]

I own a '12 JKUR and love it. Obviously can't speak to longevity, as it's only a year and a half old. So far no issues however :elkgrin:

I don't understand your decision making process... already have an LJ, which you are keeping... and $60k for the new build.

What purpose is the LJ going to serve if you're dropping that kind of money on a heavily modded XJ?

If the LJ is then your DD and the XJ is your trail rig, I'm seriously confused as there are so many better vehicles for both applications that fit into your budget.

If you just want an XJ then all the power to you, but you asked for opinions, so I'm curious.

 

[irish1371]

the issue is getting three kids in the back seat and one of them in a booster. Have you ever tried to fasten a booster seat harness in the back of an LJ lifted 4"? it is a B#tch.

My daughter is now 10 and wants to bring a friend when we go out. two kids in the back of the LJ is ok but add a booster seat and a third kids and forget about it.

So then the question is which jeeps have enough room for 3 kids in the back seat, to be able to sit comfortably enough to take extended drives to get to the trail head.I came up with XJ and JKU. I can currently afford to do what I want with either, but which one is right.

I do prefer to do the lions share of the vehicle mods myself so I am leaning twards the xj. just simpler for me to mod and upkeep/repair.
I was thinking 33" tires on an xj but drove one with 31" the other day and was surprised how well it did

 

[brianjwilson]

The JKU works fine with child seats and booster seats. We have driven around with my friends in the back seat and their child seat in the middle. A couple weeks ago I strapped his latch booster seat in as well, no problem.
It's been a long time since I've had a Cherokee but I don't recall the seat being any wider, and it definitely had less leg and foot room than my jk. The rear seat in my JK actually works for adults on longer trips. Nothing like my crew cab f150 but way better than the XJ.

 

[jarmentrout]

Go with the jku if you have to stick with a jeep. The latest xj you can get is a 2001. And you say you want to put kids in the back seats. It has no rear head restraints, no split fold rear seat and no side air bags and is getting older. Don't get me wrong, I really liked mine but it was getting dated in 2001, more than 12 years ago.

If you have that much cash though there are other brands that might fit. Land rover lr3 or new xterra pro4x come to mind, both will be safer and plenty of power.

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 2

 

[twiisted71]

... nothing about it felt like a jeep
... it did not feel like a jeep

This is the sentiment my friend who owns one (JKU-slightly modded) tells me all the time. In the beginning it was said as a good thing. Now it sits in the garage/shop, while he chooses his CJ-7 or even his '80s beater station wagon for DD duties. Seems like previous Jeep owners find the "new" wears off owning a JK wears out pretty quick compared to their old rides. I like the look of a JKU topless with the cargo netting and tube doors and wide 33-35's. Any other look and theirs 20 of them on the road with you every time you go out....."Stocker Mom" or "Catalog Commando" or the weird yuppie who needed a "truck" (2 dr 2wd base model) for weekend trips to Lowes for bird seed!

I'm not slamming the JKs or their owners-I live in an urban area now and have noticed a funny trend here. I lived in Miami for a while and if you saw a "ride" there it was individualized usually. Here they copy-cat magazines and the poster in the tire shops! And its not just Jeeps-You see atleast 2-3 Raptors everytime you are on the road! Not even going into the ricers and diesel monster trucks. I always chuckle and point it out to my wife when you see one of the JK minion, who have called Quadatec and ordered one of everything, pointing and oohing at a beefed but battered xj or Grand C next to them in traffic. We have a huge Jeep population here because of our climate but there isn't much here except private/commercial wheeling/mudding parks and IMO they are too overpriced.

All that rambling leads me to say if you want a Jeep-you have the LJ (IMO the best modern platform Jeep offered) so get the "family hauler" that will serve best not just look the look. I have seen some really nicely equipped WJs if you want some plushness, otherwise the XJs are light, tough, and offer room and toys. Drop a Supercharger into the picture and towing the pop-up on the highway becomes a non issue for a lot less than a JK just for the V6! If you don't have to have a Jeep since you get to keep the LJ there are MANY cool suvs. Toyota LC, 4Runners, Rodeos, Troopers, Monteros, pre- '92 3/4 ton Suburbans, Excursions, and the like. All can be had in tough versions that will last a long time and haul serious gear. 4 cylinders to V8 Diesels, and straight axles and aftermarket options galore, some even would allow you tow bring the LJ along as a dinghy!! But if stuck on the Jeep brand...get the XJ, dump some money into it, take the remaining budget money and buy some Guns, Archery gear, canoes, (anything else you can think of to engage the kids in things that they will enjoy and you can teach them responsibility with), trick out your trailer, Badminton sets, whatever. But Do it and post up some pics!

 

[brianjwilson]

Hah, yeah most of the JK crowd sucks. So many at home with the "quadratec" special too. Then the occasional 4" lift with bushwhacker fenders and 35s. I've asked a few of them about suspensions in parking lots, and the usual response is "oh I don't know it's fine I guess, I don't know what brand it is, I never take it offroad...?"
The soccer moms and everyone in a jeep waves but I'm not into it. Lol

So anyway I do hate to be part of the jk crowd as well, but I bought it for my use and modify it for my needs. And I use it. I needed something with a back seat, capable off road, small enough for trails, and largely because I wanted the j30 top. Sure it sucks about the soccer moms and mall crawlers but I don't let it ruin my time.

Great point about the lack of head rests in the XJ. After getting rear ended 4 years ago by a car traveling 60mph, I would never want to be in a seat (especially not have a kid in there!) without a head rest.

 

[heehawhardy]

Hah, yeah most of the JK crowd sucks.

So many at home with the "quadratec" special too.

So anyway I do hate to be part of the jk crowd as well, but I bought it for my use and modify it for my needs.

These three statements sum up 90-95% of the JK market.

 

[bdp1978]

This is the sentiment my friend who owns one (JKU-slightly modded) tells me all the time. In the beginning it was said as a good thing. Now it sits in the garage/shop, while he chooses his CJ-7 or even his '80s beater station wagon for DD duties. Seems like previous Jeep owners find the "new" wears off owning a JK wears out pretty quick compared to their old rides.

Hahaha, yeah....................OKAY. Somebody is choosing an old CJ7 or 80's wagon as their DD over a new JKU . Ive owned a boattload of Jeeps and compared to the JKU, everyone of them rode like ********....except my WJ. Ive had the JKU for over 2 yrs now......I still love it and you couldnt pay me to switch back to an older jeep.

I will admit I HATE the friggin Jeep wave now though.

 

[JIMBO]

:sombrero: You guys evidentally have a much diffferent SOCIAL CROWD/friends/environment--

It's just the basic truth--if you want a JK/JKU jeep, get one and either modit/ornot--it's your jeep-

Kinda like getting a corvette, you either REALLY want one/ornot-

A new JKU will probably do everything you want and still goto the mountain top-

Good luck

:costumed-smiley-007:wings: JIMBO

 

[JCMatthews]

A lot has already been said. I had an XJ for 13 years. I loved it, and if I had more of a budget, I'd still be driving it. I hauled my three kids, and filled it with boy scouts on a monthly basis. My brother has a '12 JKU Rubicon, off road it is superior to anything else out of the box. However, they are not designed for three in the backseat. There is zero support in the bottom middle of the back seat, I mean zero not bar no springs nothing. My brother has four kids, so we added a jump seat (which would be an option for the LJ). After their first trip to Moab we had to wire a board under the foam in the middle of the back seat so it would not sag. Before we did, even his kids would sink until they were touching the floor. He was afraid they had stretched the leather and ruined it after three full days. Luckily it returned to its former size. Now that we have fixed the back seat, they love it for family off reading, and his wife loves it for dd duties.