Sorry But I Cannot Get Excited About A JK...What's next?

thefewtheproud · 08-03-2012, 01:20 PM

Okay so my Jeep obsession did begin with an 86 CJ7 so I will always be partial to the classics. However, if I had to give up my YJ and had to choose something newer than a CJ or YJ I would definitely go for a low mileage TJ (Probably a Rubicon). For whatever reason, I cannot bring myself to like the JKs. I just think they are ugly and too car like. Every angle of the body bothers me...the fenders, the grille, the tailights, the roll bar (especially on the two door). Is it just me? Jeep has been my vehicle of choice all my life but if you gave me a chunk of cash today to go out and buy a new Jeep I would not be happy with a JK. I realize that it is a capable vehicle and mechanically sound but the look and design of it does not scream Jeep to me. So, what do you guys think? Will Jeep change things majorly in the next revision? Will that even be anytime soon?

MadGerbil · 08-03-2012, 01:41 PM

Spend more time looking at JK porn.
You'll get used to it.

solarpower · 08-03-2012, 01:44 PM

Wait until the 10th anniversary Rubicon comes out shortly......you may change your mind.

thefewtheproud · 08-03-2012, 01:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MadGerbil

Spend more time looking at JK porn.
You'll get used to it.

It's funny that you say that because for the last 10 minutes I've been doing just that! I have come across a few that I like but for the most part it is still hit or miss. Now I did fall in love with a custom job I found that you all may be familiar with. It is called the Jeep Lower Forty. If I could score something similar to this for under $40k I would drive it 'til the wheels fell off!

JeepGoat78 · 08-03-2012, 01:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MadGerbil

Spend more time looking at JK porn.
You'll get used to it.

^This^

I felt the same way for the longest time but I'm starting to come around, at least for the 2 door. Still not a big fan of the 4 doors but I have seen some that looked pretty cool. Of course they had a ton of mods on them.

Sadly, I don't expect to see a return to the classic jeeps. Safety and epa guidelines and other rules I'm sure I don't even know about would probably prevent that.

**222Doc** · 08-03-2012, 02:30 PM

i started in a 47cj then a 66. I have a 012jkr. The latest Jeep out performs anything Jeep ever made.Stock to stock from a crawl to a 1/4 mile, Night and day. I just returned from doing the Rubicon trail and drove our rubi there and back from here.Cj's, my ol cj would have been, well face it,rough going 800miles in a cj5 to do 2+ days of real wheeling to get out, get home.Cj even yjs, they are on trailers unless they are locals. We put 35"s on it and it still was getting 17-18 up 395 to moitor pass and Luther and even there itwas 14-15.

So yes a Jk drives smoother is it a car? NO people thinking its a "car" or car like" will be saddly disapointed. compared to my 47 that did see the rubicon trail back in the day. This Jk is a freaking caddy. I face the change with hope. I hope this new v6 is not a ticking time bomb

thefewtheproud · 08-03-2012, 02:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 222Doc

i started in a 47cj then a 66. I have a 012jkr. The latest Jeep out performs anything Jeep ever made.Stock to stock from a crawl to a 1/4 mile, Night and day. I just returned from doing the Rubicon trail and drove our rubi there and back from here.Cj's, my ol cj would have been, well face it,rough going 800miles in a cj5 to do 2+ days of real wheeling to get out, get home.Cj even yjs, they are on trailers unless they are locals. We put 35"s on it and it still was getting 17-18 up 395 to moitor pass and Luther and even there itwas 14-15.

So yes a Jk drives smoother is it a car? NO people thinking its a "car" or car like" will be saddly disapointed. compared to my 47 that did see the rubicon trail back in the day. This Jk is a freaking caddy. I face the change with hope. I hope this new v6 is not a ticking time bomb

Good right up! As I mentioned in the OP, I agree with you that the JKs are far superior from a mechanical/daily livability stand point. However, my problem is with their looks. If they could make a Wrangler that has more classic styling with the drivetrain and improvements of the JK I think it would really be a hit. To me the JK just has a cheap bloated plasticy look. It's hard to put my finger on exactly I'm just not a fan of it. Now, would I rather go on a long trip in a JK than an old CJ/YJ? Heck yes, and I have.

baritone_mike · 08-04-2012, 12:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MadGerbil

Spend more time looking at JK porn.
You'll get used to it.

You know when they first came out I only saw the 4 doors, and I hated them. Then I saw the 2 doors and the tires were way to small for the fenders, and I hated them. Then I saw a 2 door Rubicon with the right size tires on it and I loved it. Then people started to mod them and I even love the 4 doors when they are lifted. The other Jeeps still look better because they have the traditional shape(smaller, flat grill, flat windshield, ect.) but the JK's still look fine.

The other day at work (car lot) I looked closely at one and they are really cheesy, the grill is plastic, if you knock on the cowl it rattles like a toaster (actually my toaster is more solid then the cowl), the metal they used just feels cheap. I want to like them but the body is about half the thickness it should be, you can get rid of the ugly plastic bumpers, but you shouldn't have to thicken the body.

I mean my Miata (small, light weight, Japanese, sports car) has thicker body panels then the JK (big, heavy, go anywhere, American SUV)

**1222** · 08-04-2012, 12:16 PM

A lot of Jeep fans hated the square headlights and dash of the YJs and now look at them, kinda popular. When the TJs first came out they were criticized for the coils spring suspension (OMG too car like, now what?), now look at them, very popular. Then the JKs, now look at them, extremely popular.

I started out with a CJ and loved the heck out of it, still have it too. Then I moved up to a couple a TJs (never liked the YJs) and loved them too but the JKs that I’ve had/have I love even more still.

paul84043 · 08-04-2012, 12:25 PM

Go buy a Hummer.

**1222** · 08-04-2012, 05:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by paul84043

Go buy a Hummer.

I’ll have to check but I think you just defeated the “word sensor”.

deafdog · 08-04-2012, 10:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thefewtheproud

Is it just me?

No! You are not alone.

When I purchased my Jeep last December, I could have purchased a 2012 Rubicon, but five years into the JK generation I still detest the look. So, I searched for the cleanest, least modified TJ Rubicon I could find.

mmmhoss · 08-04-2012, 11:35 PM

I looked for a good used TJ Ruby as well, and when I realized I could have a brand spanking new 2012 sport,with a warrenty and 4 doors for not much more money, I went with it......AND I LOVE IT!
I really liked my TJ, but I LOVE my JKU.

**jay-h** · 08-05-2012, 12:23 PM

The good news is that you can keep a Jeep running pretty much forever. Everything is replaceable.

Having seen JKs on the trail, they really are pretty good. Too bad they're so doggon big though.

NonRubicon · 08-05-2012, 12:58 PM

Not a fan of the JK look either.

IMO, the JK is too much of a departure from the traditional styling lines of the YJ and TJ, to be called a "Wrangler". It's clearly capable in it's own right as a Jeep - call it something else though, just don't call it a "Wrangler".