Most people that are recommending the Rubi missed the part where PaintRock can't get a Rubi for the "base" price without a bunch of unwanted options.
Maybe I missed something but why not? Why not order it? That's how we did ours and chose the correct time and got $3k under MSRP in factory rebates and ended up paying less than many do for a Sahara. IMO, unless it is an immediate need to have a vehicle (which I would think in posting to this site this subject, it is not) ordering a vehicle to spec is a much better choice.
Since there is such demand for Rubicons, dealers don't negotiate much because they don't have to. Whereas you can get a stripped Sport S for near MSRP. Sure the Rubicon has better resale value (if that even matters to you), but standard JK's have one of the best resale values anyway. Although it wouldn't be enough to make up the difference here.
Again, I think ordering it to spec at the right time with some rebates would resolve this. Working the sales dance with (IMO) sleazy sales teams is a blood pressure riser I choose not to engage in. I also think what you are getting in axles and T case alone more than makes up the difference in acquisition cost if you were to put similar equipment in a JK. But, if you aren't rock crawling to the extreme, why even lift it in the first place? The lockers aren't the best, nor are the axles are sway bar disco setup, but it's already there, and my point is, cheaper than putting similar in, unless you have a line on a wrecked JKR.
Leather seats? In TX, I'd prefer cloth anyway. Harder to clean cloth seats? Get some nice covers like Wet Okole.
100% agreed. We opted for cloth as leather in a jeep just seemed wrong to us (as did a slush box) and that $800 paid for other stuff real quick.
Gearing should be fine, but it's relatively easy to swap gears and even the transfer case to a Rubicon 4:1. The only swaybar disco's and the D44 are cool, but shouldn't be needed for expedition type use with 33.5" tires.
No way. Your are in for $1500 just to swap gears (labor included- and assuming the OP isn't a total gear head, this is not an easy process, requires special tools, and I'd want to get it right in a brand new vehicle) and although I don't know the market on used 4 to 1 t cases, I bet it ain't cheap and would be hard to find. If you went to an Atlas, now you are in for serious $$$. My point is having used both 2.73 and 4 to 1, there is no comparison.
As mentioned, OEM GPS units are usually terrible, expensive, a theft target and not as easily upgradable, a portable GPS is better in every way. If you want, upgrade the stereo.
What's wrong with the OEM unit? No one will steal it as it is a well known fact that OEM head units turn into bricks unless you have a code for them- that's why it's not common for any car for a number of years. An aftermarket one I'd think would be a much bigger target, so that makes no sense to me.
Functionality wise, I don't see a problem. Fine, I can't load Pre programmed routes, or Topo maps or the like, but I spent $100 or so and have a handheld Garmin that I stick to the windshield for those purposes. The convenience of getting in the vehicle for day to day errands and the like, it is nice to just put an address into the OEM unit and go- no setup of an aftermarket unit or carrying it around when out of the vehicle.
Now I think there is a point of diminishing returns on this, which is why we got the 430n as opposed to the 730n as I couldn't justify an $1800 stereo in a Jeep.
If the best deal you can get real is $13k more than a Sport S, and money is at all a factory here, it's a no-brainer. When pricing Jeeps, I start with the base Sport (in sweet Commando Green or ExPo White), add A/C and a hardtop. I would also add the 5-speed auto, but that's a case by case thing. Everything else is unnecessary and has superior 3rd party solutions.
No question the aftermarket will be better. But to get GOOD aftermarket, it will eat that $13k almost instantly. We have an extra $3k in our rubicon and still have the stock tires. All that got us was a lot of armor, a winch, springs, shocks, and brake lines. I still need track bars, a rack, lights etc, but I DON'T have to get lockers or worry about grenading a front axle, or regear and have a slew of headroom when I need it.
