[yj_hank]

I currently have a 2005 f150 fx4 and a lifted 1995 jeep wrangler. I am looking at going down to one vehicle and am looking at the 2008 wranglers. How many of you use this as your daily driver as opposed to a weekend fun car and also what are your impressions of it as a daily driver. Thanks for any help you can give me.
P.S. Dont tell the yj guys I am here. Ha Ha

Henry

[tx-Skydiver]

They already know. You cannot hide.

I used min as a DD but have since stopped after adding so much weight and tires to it. I am down to 10mpg due to skid plates, rocker guards, front bumper and winch. Also 35 inch tires. I also wanted to keep the high miles off of it since I drive 80 miles + per day.

When I did drive it as a DD, I loved it. I still want to use it like that...especially when the weather is this nice.

[rennie2k5]

I drive mine everyday as it is my only vehicle and I love it! I get about 20 mpg on the highway and i drive it 23 miles each way to and from work. I only had it 2 months but Im still in love with my JK and cant stop looking at it in the driveway.
there, hope that helps.

[fjhutch]

I just purchased an 2008 a month ago, it is my daily driver. I have averaged 18.3mpg over the first month. I gave up a VW Touareg for the JK, so far I am very pleased.

My commute is only 12 miles each direction on hwy and country roads.

Cheers,
Hutch

[N2rock]

Mine is a DD, but my commute is only 6 miles each way

[Racer83L]

mine is also my DD bought new 10/2/2007 has 11k on it and I love it. and I went from a "near luxury" car to it.

no regrets, rides very nice

[waterboarder]

Originally Posted by yj_hank

How many of you use this as your daily driver as opposed to a weekend fun car and also what are your impressions of it as a daily driver.

Yes, it's my daily driver. I'm not wealthy enough to have a fleet of vehicles for every possible purpose in my driveway (I don't have the room anyway).

In general, I think it's reasonable as a daily driver. However, I have special circumstances. I am currently self employed and work at home. I have no commute, nowhere to really go most of the time, and when I do go out, it's driving around what passes for a city in Alaska. This is my situation from September until May. The reason why I have this vehicle is because when I do want to drive it, I don't want to get stuck in the three feet of snow that may be waiting for me - and if I do, I want to be able to self-recover.

In the summer (May until August), I do go out and about, get out of town, do outdoors stuff, etc. and actually get to use the Jeep for what most of the rest of you are using it for. Overall though, this is a small percentage of my use and it is far more accurate to say that the vehicle is a daily driver more than anything else. However, I do have a scooter that gets around 60MPG that I drive in the summer. Gas prices being what they are, there is a good chance that summer use of the Jeep may be largely relegated to Home Depot runs and out of town trips.

I have considered this notion and concluded that if I live in a similarly-sized city in the Lower 48, or had a commute of any kind (say, more than 30 minutes each way), it's likely that I would own some different kind of vehicle. One that is better on gas, one that is more comfortable for longer trips and one that is more practical for urban life. Rather than buying a JK, I would buy some cheap old beat up Jeep for $5000 (including "fix up costs") and use THAT for my off-road fun.

Hope this helps!
td

[scrogg]

I use mine as a daily driver and luv'n it. I am at about 13 to 14 mpg but I am very light on pedal. It drives nicely on the roads in the city and or highway. It's comfortable and has plenty of room for gear.

tx-Skydiver, you can get back some of that mileage with a gear swap. That is my next mod along with a front drive shaft, starting to spew grease.

[tigers34]

Yep - 68 miles round trip to work and back daily. Previously, I was driving a F-150 so gas mileage is about the same.

[Fierdon]

Originally Posted by tx-Skydiver

They already know. You cannot hide.

I used min as a DD but have since stopped after adding so much weight and tires to it. I am down to 10mpg due to skid plates, rocker guards, front bumper and winch. Also 35 inch tires. I also wanted to keep the high miles off of it since I drive 80 miles + per day.

When I did drive it as a DD, I loved it. I still want to use it like that...especially when the weather is this nice.

I've read about several people going to 5.13s with 35"s and got an increase on gas mileage.. You should give that a shot.

Originally Posted by texasdog

However, I do have a scooter that gets around 60MPG that I drive in the summer.

That's it.. Turn in your man-card.. You don't need it anymore! Haha, j/k.

And yes, mine is a daily driver.. I get anywhere from 13mpg to 16mpg (heavy foot and 3.21 gears) and I don't regret my purchase at all..

[RonKZ650]

It's my wifes daily driver and she just loves it and so do I, particularly that 6sp manual. My daily driver is a 32 yr old motorcycle, a 1T diesel truck (parked indefinately due to $4 diesel), or a 460 gas van. You can see what I think of fuel efficiency in the Jeep compared to my 4 wheeled hogs. Great for every day.

[dstephns]

I haven't had mine really long yet, but I use it as a DD. So far I'm getting a hair over 15mpg's in mostly city driving (26 mile round trip, commute manually computed). I have to say my Rubi is doing great. It's pretty quiet and the ride is firm but not at all unpleasant. I plan on keeping mine stock because it is my DD and will be more than enough for my wheeling needs. I think its great and I love it!!

[Coastie3202]

My 2006 Yamaha Road Star motorcycle is my daily driver, and the wife's is a 2002 Mazda Miata. The Jeep gets used when we head out of town as the Mazda is just to small for me to be comfortable in (6'2" @ 205 lbs).

[wyocommander]

Drive the 2dr. JK almost everyday for short trips, less than 1hr. Fine for 1 or 2 people(Only dependents that sometimes travel w/us/me are 2 dogs and they ride in crates where the back seat used to be). I'm mainly on country roads and dirt short cuts through hills to get to town. 2dr is GREAT in/around town due to easy parking, turning circle(approx.6 ft. less than 4dr.), easy fit in tight spaces, FUN locally or in the nearby mountains(15 min. to 3 hrs away). However, 4dr. JK is more comfortable/versatile (but heavier/bigger)if you plan on longer drives.

For longer, multi-day where we have a lot of highway, we use the wife's daily driver, '8 Xterra, great power and quiet/comfortable on the highway and sturdy(truck frame)/versatile for light off-roading. Wife used to commute in a Rubi, only complaints: lack of power for highway/grades around here and engine 'sounded'/felt strained. She also commuted in a '98 Cherokee/w same engine and studded winter treads which she loved. Liked them both 'cause she could go just about anywhere in any weather and could always get back home.

[CABINHOLLOW]

use it as a daily driver about 100 miles a day...love every mile of it except in the summer when the top and doors are off, it has a steering and brake promblem(it does not want to slow down and turn into my work parking lot)bought it in oct of 2006 and just getting ready to turn 36000 miles hope this helps