LJ or Rubi ?

**TheBoogieman** · 11-22-2008, 03:57 AM

I have one more day to decide since the Rubi guy finally got the title,but my choices have changed.Choice #1-I can get the 05' Orange Rubi,1 owner auto,42,000 miles that has scratches,a couple chips,a dent behind the license plate and the windows may need replacing because of the scratches.Choice # 2 now is an 05' LJ,auto,31,500 miles,auto,no scratches,bad windows but dealer will replace windows and top if needed before I buy.Both are $12,000,but the LJ would be in perfect condition.KBB puts the Rubi in fair condition at $14,775 and the LJ in excellent condition at $14,565.Opinions? before I spend my cash.Thanks.

Moses2564 · 11-22-2008, 04:02 AM

Do you do any towing? Do you have kids? Do a lot of camping? Anything that would require more cargo space really.

With the LJ you would get the Dana 44 rear axle, and a stock limited slip, plus the extra wheel base makes it a great comparison to the SWB Rubi. I don't know, it's a tough decision, but if I had to make it myself, I would say go for the LJ, that Rubi sounds like it's seen quite a bit of trail use already, and god only knows what's going to fail down the road from the abuse, ie: clutch and seal issues.

**03_X** · 11-22-2008, 04:19 AM

i would go with the LJ.... just for the extra space and the condition its in... like Moses said, you don't know if that Rubi has been wheeled hard and what the TRUE condition is.... good luck!

**TheBoogieman** · 11-22-2008, 04:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 03_X

i would go with the LJ.... just for the extra space and the condition its in... like Moses said, you don't know if that Rubi has been wheeled hard and what the TRUE condition is.... good luck!

Thanks.It's a hard decision mainly because the Rubi is worth more in fair condition than the LJ is in excellent.The guy said he "wheeled it on light trails" (the tree branch scratches on the windows and front).The dent behind the rear plate is from his wife backing into something.My neighbor has a new sailcloth top with windows I can get for under $200.I'm thinking hard about this one.I just don't know and time is running out to decide.

**RogueSpear2023** · 11-22-2008, 04:40 AM

I guess this comes down to what do you plan to do with it? Trail Use? DD? Towing? Do you have a large family? It would be nice if we had pics to help make the decision.

dawnskaybug · 11-22-2008, 04:59 AM

Windows are on Ebay all the time for cheap..
What are you going to use it for???
The rubi is locked 44s
The LJ limited slip is a joke..
And what you some consider "wheeling lightly" Is what I do without putting it in 4wd..

JohnP · 11-22-2008, 05:34 AM

It would be an easy decision for me. I would have to need extra space an awful lot before I chose an LJ over a Rubicon. Others would disagree, but I would go for the Rubi in a heartbeat, assuming their condition is somewhat equal.

~John

**TheBoogieman** · 11-22-2008, 05:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RogueSpear2023

I guess this comes down to what do you plan to do with it? Trail Use? DD? Towing? Do you have a large family? It would be nice if we had pics to help make the decision.

It will be my DD with trail use,some mud,nothing crazy.I have no family in this state(exwife and kid are in FL.)Plans in the near future will be lifted with 33's or 35's like my 98' I just sold.Both are stock and I don't have any close up pics of the rubi.

LJ

**TheBoogieman** · 11-22-2008, 06:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dawnskaybug

Windows are on Ebay all the time for cheap..
What are you going to use it for???

It has the rare 05 gray color top.

luk4mud · 11-22-2008, 07:23 AM

LJ and then build it beyond the Rubi. If I had it to do all over again, that would have been my choice.

txboy72 · 11-22-2008, 07:36 AM

i would go with the LJ i have an 05 LJ and love it. i like the longer wheel base and its perfect on the trails. they also look better than other jeeps with equal lifts on them

robncar · 11-22-2008, 07:46 AM

From the pics, something that stands out to me is half vs full doors. What's your opinion on that?

The rubi is going to come with 4:10's and a transfer case that is 4:1. Is that important to you? They are both autos so the rubi is geared better for that 4-speed overdrive out of the box. Front and rear lockers in the rubi too.

If you plan to regear anyway and the 4:1 is not an issue, nor the lockers at both ends get the LJ.

Decisions, decisions...

By the way, I should have started with a rubi just for the ability to go to 5.13's in that front D44.

**TheBoogieman** · 11-22-2008, 08:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by robncar

From the pics, something that stands out to me is half vs full doors. What's your opinion on that?

I prefer the full doors because I never had them on my other Jeeps.

**scotiez** · 11-22-2008, 08:16 AM

Wow ... you keep coming up with harder choices. How easy will it be to repair the scratches and dent yourself in the rubi? I love the color of the rubi. All it needs is lift and tires. However the extra room in the LJ would be nice. I think LJs look awesome with a lift and tires, but if stock then i like the TJs alot better.

**scotiez** · 11-22-2008, 08:19 AM

Ohh .... i would also choose the one that looks like it was taken care of the best. That means alot to me. If something looks like it was wheeled hard then who know what you might have to fix in the near future.