I've Driven My Affordable Jeep Wrangler For Exactly 1 Year: Here Are The Things I Love & Hate 

He talks about the same shit we all think about. Not stuck on 0-60times and G forces on the track. Genuine real world things!

Thanks for the very kind words! I still have a lot to learn -Tommy

@@TFLcar I HAVE A 392 WRANGLER TO REVIEW JUST LET ME KNOW WHEN WORKS GOOD FOR YOU GUYS

We’ll said! I agree 100% excellent presentation!

He's also the cutest. Just sayin. 🤷‍♂️

more insane people pay twice that for a rubicon

37 over in my area…

Jeep. Just Empty Every Pocket.

26k MAX. This is Silly Overpriced.

in EU used ones are 50k

‘98 TJ Sahara, manual, 76,000 miles, hard top, soft top, bikini top. The prior owner put at least $20k into it in suspension and wheels and tires and the Warn, jacks, etc. etc. sold it to me for $10k so his soon-to-be ex-wife wouldn’t have it. I was out three nights a week and at least one full day on the weekends. So many great memories.Taught me a lot then, and I’ve learned ton since.

The first vehicle I bought with my own money was a 2000 TJ and I kept it for six years before selling it. I regretted it and immediately hated driving. Fast forward and I got rid of my car after nearly 6 years and got back into a Wrangler and began enjoying driving again--especially in snow. I don't think I'll own anything else, hopefully.

Let me guess, you have no kids / wife

I agree 💯 percent.

My wife bought a 21 Sahara with cloth seats, V6 manual and unpainted top. Otherwise she bought all the options. 26,000 trouble free miles. Sixth gear is tall but usable at sea level. Gas mileage is really good and we average 18-24 depending on temp and city/highway balance of use. Your 7k miles isn't really broken in yet.

No problems 7k miles in?? I would hope so lol

@@Jay-rg5mt 7k trouble free miles? I guess that's pretty good for a Chrysler product. 1st and 2nd gen Toyota Tacoma owners: 😆🤣😂🤣🤣😂. Yes I know, but in 2019 the new frame was FREE, took less than three days to install and at the same time I purchased a bunch of new OEM parts for my 2010 TRD Offroad and Toyota installed them at no or greatly reduced labor cost because almost everything was apart anyway. Toyota had me covered and I'm a very happy camper.

Oh no. They are comped nicely by Jeep.

Bad thing about a wrangler, is once you actually own one. Then there is no going back to anything else. I've tried. Just bought a 2022 unlimited sport auto ,hard top of course, and everything but 4 goats and a servant. slip differential, turbo diesel, you name it it's got it. Butt opposite of his plain jane. Peace.

Thank you for pointing that out, the loose folded rear seat thing was bugging me lol.

I have a barebones 2020 JL Wrangler exactly like this one and have driven it for 6 months and was wondering how he didn't know about those straps. I used bungee cords after I first bought it until I found out about the velcro straps. As long as you securely strap the back seat, no more annoying noises. Like a lot of things on this Jeep, it's a little time consuming and manual, but as he said at the beginning about the manual windows, it's actually nice to have a simple, primitive vehicle in today's highly automated world. I don't mind the extra work and it gives me something to delegate to my son, daughter, or wife when they ride with me.

My old TJ came with a strap that looped around the sport-bar and held the seat when folded. Simple and easy.

Why would it flop back and forth. Wow

@@DarylRagland-ds1op because with the seat folded forward the way they designed it, that can happen. I've had it happen. That's why they put the velcro straps in it.

Who cares.. go bash the other ones.

Or just replace it with the spare and then use the scrapped up one as your spare.

Or just get on Craigslist and buy all 5 stock wheels never used for $250 like I did. Stock jeep wheels are cheap because everyone gets aftermarket wheels.

Ours is Sting Gray too. Awesome color.

@Toasty 13.5 on the commute

@Toasty Highway mileage is basically the same. Full-size spare, winch bumper, mud terrains, roof rack with 7-gallon water tank, and a solar panel. This thing is about as aerodynamic as a barn door. The price I must pay however to drive my dream wagon. I actually don't drive that much, I fill up 2-3 times a month which is less than $200. I have had it for years and still doesn't have 100k on it.

@Toasty Ok that is a lot of driving. I daily mine but my work and kids' schools are close by. I had my land lease expire and I live in Texas so there are basically zero public offroad lands. I try to go to Colorado once or twice a year to get in some wheeling. Having a twin gas can basket is really nice. I don't necessarily use it for me, the peace of mind is great, however, but I have bailed out quite a few stranded folks with it. I run 5 gal gas and 5 gal water. Wish when I lived in Colorado I had made it over to Utah but there was just so much to do close by that I never made the trip.

My wife's 2 door sport with the 2.0 gets 26 MPG highway also. Hers is an automatic.

@@rlovell383 11 year truck driver and been thoroughly trained to keep rpms low when driving. Diesels operate between 1100 rpm and 1500 tops. Low rpms = more money in my pocket.

Keep in mind, this guy lives in CO at near 6k feet. I also live in CO and being at high altitude, you lose at least 20%.

@@mikekenner9218 You don't lose anything with a turbocharger :)

WTF! How do u get 26? My 2018 Moab averages 10

This thing's interior is hideous.. I paid a little over 20k for my 2015 jk rubicon hard rock and I would never downgrade from those features. There's no justifying paying more than 20k for this jeep but to each their own 😅

@@marcelocruz9047 so you're comparing the cost of your 7-8 year old used jeep to a jeep someone bought new a year ago 🤔 and you may have more features but the JL interior is way nicer than your JK everything you touch is nicer in the JL and it's significantly more quiet and comfortable than a JK

@@ChrisH421 I guess it's an objective observation. If compared to the top trim rubicon jl to the top trim jk you would have something to compare, but you don't. Rubicons are all leather so. My point though is that paying anything over 20k for this jeep brand new is highway robbery

@@marcelocruz9047 what are you talking about? You are comparing what you paid for a used car to a new car msrp. A Rubicon hardrock cost 41k plus in 2015 about 47k in 2021 money. Your car was about 15k more to buy new than his it should have more features. You can always get more features buying used vs new, but the point still stands JLs have nicer interiors than JK and the price you paid for a used car has nothing to do with the price of a new one.

Miata, BRZ, or Mustang were my cross shopping vehicles 😂

During this upcoming 2022 Christmas sale season, you just need to goto your local Best Buy and get a Pioneer or Panasonic Car Multimedia Centre which can be had with a screen or use the in-car one with an adapter. Pioneer AND Panasonic have been doing GREAT things with in-car multimedia plus navigation systems for older cars and trucks. For less than $200 with installation, you can get a sweet high end system with decent AM/FM/Sirius Radio plus good speakers, Android and Apple carplay connectivity and multiple USB-3 Type A/C inputs/charging which will do WONDERS for your driving experience! Highly recommended! V

I installed an Apple CarPlay enabled head-unit in my 20 year old Toyota and I totally agree. It’s really one of those features that’s hard to live without once you’re used to it

Probably just a powdercoat, right, Jeff?

Love the 6 speed 👌

@@auduffer That I don't know...but I know there is bound to be wheel repair specialists in that area that can machine & refinish a wheel like that.

@@jefweb5043 For sure; they all looked so superficial, but you're right about refinishing especially because they don't look bad at all.

Mine are black and the shop i take it to charges 100$ to fix and repaint and they look better that factory hell they charge 200$ to change 4 silver rims to black so its super cheap and a really well done job like i got black with red pearls.

i’m not really a fan on limited slips but there cheaper than lockers if you don’t have the money

@@landon5990 my Sport S has the LSD and it does really well off road. Don't have to worry about engaging lockers before an obstacle. I had thought about putting a Detroit in the front but decided against it for two reasons. One, the auto locking hubs on the JL cause the front axle to spin even in 2wd, and it would be annoying as hell to have that thing locking and unlocking on the highway. And two, it's hard to find a Detroit locker for the Dana 30 with the 3.45 gears, if not impossible.

@@backwoodstherapy oh, we have custom axles with ARBs and it’s nice to have the control and precision with front and rear lockers while rock crawling but i bet they still do good, i was a little harsh in my previous comment😂

I have a 2021 JLU Sport S with the 3.6. Yeah, you really don't get power in it unless you're at 3500 rpm or higher. Trying to go up a steep hill in 4th gear at less than 50 mph and the transmission starts complaining. It'll do it. But it won't like it.

@@backwoodstherapy I totally concur! I tow a 2,000lb pop-up, too, and that makes things even more interesting. Wish we had the 4.10s like in the Rubicon.

My coworker shares the same sentiment as you all, very lucky to have found a 2022 JLUR with the 6 speed and the factory 4.88 option and that is a totally different vehicle from the 3.45 equipped sport.

@@chriscon8463 4:10s would be a game changer but I'm tryina do a "budget build" with this jeep. I got tired of seeing all these channels buying $60k+ Rubicon's and then putting another $40k in mods on them. I wanna show that you can have fun without breaking the bank. A Sport S with a mild lift, some bigger tires, and maybe a winch and some steel bumpers can be hella fun if you're not doing extreme rock crawling.

@@backwoodstherapy That’s cool! Good luck! My JLU Sport is essentially stock; a limited slip-diff, AT tires, & hard top came with it, but that’s about it.

Just picked mine up this week. Below invoice, no paperwork, no deposit, sold for the promised price. No haggling, no intimidation, no upsale attempts. Smoothest process ever.

@@JoshuaTootell Yeah there are still decent dealerships out there but the vast majority of them are ripping people off. Honestly it's the peoples fault though. The dealerships wouldn't be charging ridiculous markups if idiots weren't paying it...

What is the axle gear ratio on your Jeep? I think the problem with Tommy’s Jeep and 6th gear is the axles probably having the 3.45 gear ratio.

You should be regearing. I'd probably put in some 4.56's before adding the 35's.

I’d force it to run in 6th gear at 1000 rpm at 70 mph. I’m cheap and don’t like buying gas.

I think its awesome that you can get an LSD. I've had lockers, which are useful but if I had a choice I would choose an LSD everytime.

You’ll be paying 40k for that.

@@CarnutMM Nope. I buy used.

@@MidwestFarmToys I have a multi-mount winch. When it's not on my vehicle, it doesn't have much effect. 8000-9000lb Winches are also generally under 100lb, especially with rope instead of cable, and hawse instead of roller fairleads. Anti-swaybar? What are you even getting at about that? All Wranglers have come with anti-swaybars. Even my '78 CJ and '95 YJ had front bars. The barebones Sport Unlimited with max towing pkg tows the same 3500lb as a loaded Rubicon Unlimited or Sahara Unlimited with the max towing pkg. 100lb of winch doesn't change that. What CAN change is payload or combined weight.

@@MidwestFarmToys Have you ever even OWNED a convertible Jeep? Have you bought a winch in the last decade? Winch rope has now gotten more popular than cable in some places. It's generally safer and more user-friendly. Anti-swaybar disconnects were also around long before JK Rubicons, and they don't weigh much more than the factory endlinks that they replace. I had disconnects on my YJ. 3500lb is the towing capacity of a Wrangler Unlimited with the towing pkg. It doesn't matter what trim level. The GAWR and CVWR aren't even close by adding just a 100lb winch up front and some factory options. Given a towing pkg, an Unlimited Sport can tow 3500lb, as can a Sport S, a Sahara, Rubicon, and even 392. The Wrangler Unlimited is probably more limited in towing capacity by the wheelbase, cooling capacity, and the trackbar-dependent, untriangulated, upper suspension linkage more than any other factors, seeing as how XJs and KJs could be equipped to tow 5000lb with Wrangler-similar Dana30 front axles, Wrangler-similar Dana44 or Chrysler rear axles, and Wrangler-similar coil, or indy, front suspension. Base Gladiators use the same powertrain/drivetrain as Wranglers, with better cooling, and similar suspension, to tow 4000lb. Rubicon and Max Tow Gladiators can tow 7000lb or more. The payload capacity is affected by having a winch mounted, but using a multi-mount is a way of avoiding that too. It also unblocks the airflow through the grille. Have you never seen a front receiver on a 4WD? A multi-mount winch? Show us a JLU 4x2. AFAIK, the JKU was the last Unlimited produced without 4WD. Even the narrower LJ was rated for 3500lb towing, Rubicon or not.

Which is why I never leave anything of value in my '05 TJ Rocky Mtn.

Most any new vehicle will make it a year, or even 50-100 thousand miles. It’s what happens after that that determines real reliability.

If you put 35s and puts average quality lift kits your wrangler will wear out pretty fast

I have a 2009 2 door Rubicon with 125k miles and have had 0 issues.

@@phild9813 Try 150k - 300k miles.

@@CarnutMM Sure you have 😏 with that 3.8 mini van engine.

The LED's come standard on the Willys, but not the Willys Sport as it's the budget model. You can order them as an option for about $1,000.

I can't do new cars with incandescent headlights. Too dim plus they make any vehicle look old and obsolete.

Don't see the need. Three doors, passenger side & rear stay locked, only the driver's door needs to be locked on a regular basis. Cheaper and simpler than having central locking. Has worked great for 20 years and 200,000 miles.

You can order a 2 door rubicon for just a bit more than that

You might want to add about $5K to $10K to that price for the "market adjustment" dealer price gouge.

@@mattbrew11 You can, but you better like how it comes. It's a soft top, incandescent lights ($1500 for LEDs), and the Extreme Recon Package is only available for the 4dr. Jeep's full time 4WD requires you to get the automatic which is a $2k option. Basesquatch gets you 2dr, MT, hardtop, LEDs, 35in tires, both lockers, full time 4WD, and a lift. $41k OTD. To get a 2dr Rubicon with hardtop, LEDs, full-time 4WD, plus automatic transmission. $51k OTD. Cut the LEDs, $49.5k. We don't get 35in tires or a lift.

@@TheCapn23 35s fit perfectly fine on a stock rubicon. You can order a rubicon from certain dealers for 13-14% below msrp so thats about $44k

@@TheCapn23 also fwiw im not some ford hater I have ordered a whole bunch of F series for my business over time. I don’t understand why the vinyl seats and rubber floor aren’t on the base. Can they be added?

I've had several Jeeps. I also ride motorcycles. Safety rating? BWAAAAAAAHAHAHAHA!

I've never understood why people get hung up on the safety rating on these things. They're built for a purpose. If you have need of or want for a vehicle that can go almost anywhere, then buy one. If your main concern is safety, then go buy a Subaru. Safety seems to be Subaru's only focus any more. Their vehicles are increasingly less capable and uninspiring to drive, but goddammit are they ever safe.

I wouldn’t bother much with safety ratings unless passengers are regularly with me.

@@thenotsoguitarguy9429 Its pretty easy to understand: one day, the life of your kids (and you) might depend on it. That's why it's worth considering.

@@dekkerlundquist5938 Right. I never said that safety should never be a concern. There is, however, a certain amount of risk involved in doing the kinds of activities that these particular vehicles are designed for. If safety is a bigger concern for you (and your kids) than the capability of performing particular risky activities, then, again, don't buy one. Generally speaking, the safer a vehicle is on the road, the less likely it will be to climb a 30° rock face.

The way things are currently you get much better value with the Bronco across all trims, imo. Base Bronco has way more features included versus this base Jeep

In LA they are marked up above 42.

Get a TJ, CJ or YJ for $8k - $15k and build it up. Today's heeps suck. Get a real Jeep and save a kings ransom.

Everybody gangsta until the 30s, 40s, and beyond hit. Then those power features are a must have! 😂

@Kevin Barry I have an '05 TJ Rocky, manual windows and locks. A true utilitarian rugged Jeep. Today heep is targeting a very soft pansy demographic. All these bells and whistles never meant for a pre Wrangler or Wrangler. I just don't see anything made after '06 as a true Jeep.

I love my diesel JT. Mine is nacho but Snazzberry with some bronze wheels was a very close second

@@mattbrew11 my gladiator does have bronze KMC wheels