Willys Wheeler Wrangler

[The Last Cowboy]

Based on some of the logic here, this how a Willys edition ought to be configured.

Four cylinder
No top
No doors
No back seat
Bare floors
No A/C
No power steering/brakes

Actually, I'm sure some (very few) would buy a Wrangler equipped like that

Note that it is a Willys edition, not an MB edition, so the inclusion of pioneer tools would not required.

This particular sticker package costs Fiat nothing to build other than the cost of the decals themselves. Every other part is on the shelves already. The previous TJ Willys edition at least got unique seat covers.

The aftermarket support for Wranglers is extensive. It's probably the most heavily supported single vehicle out there. Jeep already works closely with AEV. There is no need for Jeep to build fully outfitted and modified Wranglers. They are available, turn key, from AEV and others. The rest of us buy base models and adjust them to our liking.

The vast majority, however, are bought by those who will never use them as intended. The transfer case lever will never be pulled and they will never leave the pavement or an improved road. And that's just fine by me. There will be many near perfect used examples for years to come. High sales numbers will keep Wrangler in production until the bureaucrats kill it for good.

 

[SouthPawXJ]

I do not think you understand how crash testing works. Just because you swap out a fender flare does not mean you have to crash test that vehicle. Jeep probably only crash tested 1 of it's current models. For instance, GM was only required to crash tested one of it's new Silverado Pickups for the NHTSA. The only model that was crash tested was 4 door crew cab, 4x4 with the 5.3L engine. These tests satisfied the NHTSA for all models including regular cab, extended cab, 2wd etc. Crash testing is not as complex as you may think.

There's more to it than just crash testing. When I said "(Among other tests)", that's kind of what I meant. Testing isn't cheap. NVH and Durability testing are just a few examples of additional tests besides crash testing. Testing is actually just part of the total cost too... Refer to this: https://www.allpar.com/forums/topic/152855-an-jeep-wrangler-willys-wheeler-shown/?p=11385736 Bob is a former Chrysler Engineer (Jeep Truck Engineering, specifically) who is still an engineer in the auto industry. Something to think about when we're making demands.

EDIT - I will say, the one thing I wish they would've put on this was black steelies. If you're going for the cheapest possible off road machine, the Sport model's steelies would've been just right.

 

[Ace Brown]

Bring back the original Willys? Good god no! My first vehicle was a 46 CJ-2A purchased in 1960 at the age of 17. Got it for $300 but had to add engine and seats so that brought it up to $650. It was a cool toy for a teenager and it started a life long addiction to playing in the dirt. BUT it had no power, no brakes, horribly rough suspension, rock hard seats, leaky gas tank right under the drivers seat and on and on. It was about as primitive as that Sopwith Camel mentioned earlier. If I had one today it would be used to putter around the ranch only. Well, if I had a ranch.


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[IKE2013]

The new Jks and 4 doors are by far the nicest riding Jeep Wrangler I have had the pleasure to own. My Yj and Cj would cause whiplash going down a newly paved road, my god the leaf spring suspensions were Brutal!!! The Tj was better but I can't complain about the longer wheelbase and the comfort in the JKU. It is when we start screwing with the supsension that they become testing.

 

[GetOutThere]

I honestly don't think the Willy's edition is that bad, all things considered.

I would have liked to have seen it with an open front D44 to match the rear semi, and the moab bumpers. Also take off that stupid bumper cladding.

 

[RoyJ]

RoyJ, you're missing the whole point and if you don't understand what we are saying then I am afraid you never will. Jeep had a chance to knock this out of the park and they failed. Jeep could have gone in several different directions but they went with a simple bolt on package. I would have liked to have seen them at least go with some flat fenders. Other nice little touches would have been a side mount tire, shovel, ax jerry cans, manual hubs etc.

Instead of the side mount tire they could have chosen to go with the spare offset to one side and a jerry can on the other side of the rear of the vehicle. So many styling cues and the only thing they chose to do is add a sticker. At minimum they could have had the Willy's stamped into the hood, grill and tail gate.

Afraid I "never will" understand, your point.

So Jeep failed because they chose to: add some mud tires, re-gear the diff, put on some rock rails, and then finished off with some stickers.

But they would "knock this out" if they were to bolt one a side spare tire, shovel, axe, and jerry cans instead?

Let's take a second and analyze which path is more logical and useful. And as mentioned, good luck passing all the modern safety requirements with all those bits and pieces hanging outside.

I'm not stupid, I get what some people are trying to say here. But face it, there's simply no way to build a modern classic exactly like the original. It'll be so unpractical, crude, and dangerous that only 1% of people would even consider buying.

Is the Queen Marry II an embarrassment because it isn't steam powered?

 

[SamM]

I thank God, Jeep and yes, even FIAT for the new JK Wranglers!

Since I was a kid, my family owned Jeeps. Once I was out on my own, I too gravitated to the brand. My first was a 70's model CJ-5, then a CJ-7 later. My Dad had several Jeep vehicles from a CJ-3B, and CJ-7 to a Jeep Honcho pickup. He even had a FC pickup at one time. He really preferred '77 and earlier Ford Broncos and Ford pickups but we always had a Jeep on the farm. After getting married, I had a brief fling with an FJ-40 but sold it for a TJ and then bought a Jeep Liberty for my young wife. We still have the Liberty, our college aged daughter drives it daily. It has over 177K miles on it. I recently sold the TJ after it rusted in half, seeming overnight as I never saw it coming with 145K miles.

In July, I purchased a new Sahara MOAB but really wanted a Rubicon. I fell for the AEV parts and the MOAB leather interior. This Jeep has proven to be capable enough for me and my planned Daily Driver/Overlanding use. It's easily the best Jeep that I have ever driven. We like Jeeps so much, that we bought a Compass as a family vehicle and my wife's new DD. Is it a real Jeep? Probably not by some people's standards. But she likes it and it gets great mileage. The Liberty is much more capable.

To sum up, I wouldn't want to go back to the Willy's days. Those vehicles were farm implements at best. Awesome vehicle for the time and even now for what they were. My grandfather actually had a CJ-2 that he used to plow his rather large garden with. It was perfect for that. I love my JK and wouldn't trade it. It's perfect for me just like pap's Willys was.

 

[Rubicon John]

Geez, so many options these days, but I'm gonna hold out for the special edition AMC package with wood-grain panel decals, a peugeot tranny, and retro square headlights. :wings::bike_rider:

 

[jscusmcvet]

I would like to see Jeep offer a stripped down version of the Rubicon. Leave off all the fancy do dads and stick to the meat and potatoes. Have all the mechanical benefits and limit options to things like carpet, rear seat, radio, heat and A/C (near a must in the sweaty south). Do a stripped down version of the interior, bumpers,etc...

Maybe it would have to be special order and you would have to wait for it....

I know it would be unfeasible from a financial standpoint, but wishing is OK, consider it a package for jeepers... rather than the rest of the public.

 

[apalmer]

Leave off all the fancy do dads and stick to the meat and potatoes.

I see this sentiment on pretty much all the Jeep boards, and I'm curious to know:

What exactly is "fancy" about a Jeep JK, and why do people think that they have too many "doodads"

jsc, I'm not picking on you, I'm just curious. My JK is the most bare-bones vehicle I have ever owned.

 

[jscusmcvet]

I see this sentiment on pretty much all the Jeep boards, and I'm curious to know:

What exactly is "fancy" about a Jeep JK, and why do people think that they have too many "doodads"

jsc, I'm not picking on you, I'm just curious. My JK is the most bare-bones vehicle I have ever owned.

No problem with the question. That's what discussion is about.

Even when it comes to comparing my son's (formerly mine) 2000 TJ Sport, the JK's have a plethora of added plastic, etc... that just did not used to be there. This is even the case when comparing my 2005 LJ to his 2000 TJ. I would just like to be able to buy a new jeep with all the mechanical benefits of the Rubicon package in a stripped down version, without any of the interior upgrades, limited ability rocker guards, silly bumpers, etc... make a rubicon that was primed for someone who was going to build it anyway and give them the ability to not pay for the things they don't want...

No question at all on the JK level of comfort and ability in comparison to older models... just preference for simplicity combined with that capability.

John

 

[The Last Cowboy]

You can buy a Rubicon like that. Even with just a soft top and half doors. It will come with A/C and the Alpine radio standard though.

 

[Dan Grec]

You can buy a Rubicon like that. Even with just a soft top and half doors. It will come with A/C and the Alpine radio standard though.

You can't buy a Rubicon anymore without power windows and door locks, which I'd like to delete.

If it was any cheaper, I'd delete the backseat, all the carpet, all the padding on the roll cage, all the plastic trim around the roll cage.

Obviously legalities are a concern, but it would be pretty cool if they would make a Jeep with no bumpers/wheels/tires/shocks/springs etc. Then a dealer *must* put on all those before it can actually be sold to a customer as a complete vehicle. That way we avoid throwing out all the stuff when we upgrade in the first week anyway.
Or maybe to get around legalities they have a program where it goes to the dealer complete, but the dealer takes all that stuff off and sends it back before the Jeep even has 2 miles on it. If that got me $500 off I'd do it - but of course it's much more work and hassle for Jeep to do all that, so financially they probably never will.

-Dan

 

[BuffaloFunk]

You can't buy a Rubicon anymore without power windows and door locks, which I'd like to delete.

You can get the half doors...

If it was any cheaper, I'd delete the backseat, all the carpet, all the padding on the roll cage, all the plastic trim around the roll cage.

Jeep isn't just selling cars to the small niche market that is pretty hardcore off-roaders. They are trying to sell as many cars as possible.

Obviously legalities are a concern, but it would be pretty cool if they would make a Jeep with no bumpers/wheels/tires/shocks/springs etc. Then a dealer *must* put on all those before it can actually be sold to a customer as a complete vehicle. That way we avoid throwing out all the stuff when we upgrade in the first week anyway.
Or maybe to get around legalities they have a program where it goes to the dealer complete, but the dealer takes all that stuff off and sends it back before the Jeep even has 2 miles on it. If that got me $500 off I'd do it - but of course it's much more work and hassle for Jeep to do all that, so financially they probably never will.

-Dan

They are in the car market, not the non-street legal rock crawler market.

 

[HARDTRAILZ]

I certainly would not give up bumpers/wheels/tires/shocks/springs etc for $500. Those items easily resell for more than that and fund the better parts to put on.