07 Rubicon

[90Xjay]

Hahaha.. No doubt! What's with you 90? :lol: :lol:

I just think there are big sell-outs in the off road design.

The 4.0 was a great low end torque long lasting motor, but I figure DC coudn't get enough MPG out of it and it was hurting DC's CAFE rating so they chunked it for a mini-van motor that makes it torque in an rpm range that will be of no use when low crawling.

 

[TwistedCU]

I would say an H3 would be a far more desireable vehicle, except that it's got IFS and well... it's a Hummer and I wouldn't want to be one of those hoity-toity Hummer owners.

A Jeep is by no means a status symbol. It's just cool.

Looked at another one today in York. It was an X model. I hadn't noticed the muffler before... woah nelly!!! That is a big ol' fat can back there.

I dunno... I had my YJ sitting next to it and it made my YJ look pretty damn good. I don't think I would trade it for one. I could be coaxed in to trading my YJ for a Rubicon maybe, but I would live to regret it.

 

[happy024]

Look at the 4 door lifted!!!

 

[dropseys]

That does look real nice lifted with big tires. I also like the removable flenders.

 

[paulp575]

I'm still waiting to see one on the lots around here - definitely going to have to check it out CLOSELY!!!!!

Got a call Saturday from a dealer who said he just received an 07 Rubicon and wanted to know if I wanted to come over and take a look and a drive (foolish question!!!). 'Course I said yes!

Well, drove it today (Sunday) and here's my impressions:

• Drove as expected!
• Liked the 32" tires (I have been riding in a friend's 04 Rubicon with Cooper tires (not sure what size) and had to step up a bit to get into the 07.
• Front skid plate is plastic!!!!! Gotta go!
• Fog lights in front bumper???? I think that'll be OK - they are recessed a bit so should not be a problem!
• Awefully big mirrors - great for visibility, but going to have to watch out for 'mirror-eating' trees!
• With power windows (this one had the Power Convenience Group) I was wondering if the doors can still be removed (there's a wire wrapped with the strap limiting how far opn the doers can go). The answer is YES! There's a plug above the bottom of the dash that you can unplug/plug the power door features.
• Very huge muffler!!!!
• Don't like how low the rear shock mounts are!!!! Wondering if someone is going to fabricate some type of plate to go on the front of the mounts so they won't catch stuff.
• Since this one had the Dual Top Group, it came with the 3-piece hard top installed. Like the targa-type front removeable panels, but you will need your Torx wrench to remove them!
• Not sure if I was looking at the right piece, but it appears the top control arms are no longer U-shaped. They appeared to be round! If that's the case, they should be less likely to break!
• (this was pointed out by my friend with the 04) The front tie rod is much bigger in diameter! In fact my friend said he thought his 04 tie rod could fit inside the 07 tie rod!

One of these days, I'll be able to afford one.

I am currenty an avid Toyota Tacoma fan and have been considering moving to the 07 Rubicon (after seeing where my friend could drive his 04!) and I find the 07 Tacomas to be priced in the neighborhood of the 07 Rubicons. But to me the big factor in the Rubicon is the lockers!

 

[90Xjay]

I am currenty an avid Toyota Tacoma fan.............

sorry to hear that, stay here longer and we'll break you of that!!:lol: :lol:

 

[paulp575]

sorry to hear that, stay here longer and we'll break you of that!!:lol: :lol:

I doubt that because I'm currently driving my 3rd Toyota pickup. Unfortunately it is not a 4 wheel drive (it's a PreRunner but does have a rear locker).

And while I am a charter member of TTORA, the WA chapter is not really into 4 wheeling. They're too bureaucratically-minded to suit me. Why put bureaucratic blocks in front of having fun!!!

Considering the price of an 07 Tacoma versus an 07 Rubicon, the big difference is the lockers! So I'm pretty much convinced unless someone can equip a 4x4 Tacoma with lockers front and rear for the same price as an 07 Rubicon!

 

[Laph]

...I am currenty an avid Toyota Tacoma fan...

J/K
:lol:

 

[paulp575]

J/K
:lol:

That's cruel!!!! Of course, j/k!

I've noticed the new desigination for the 07 models is also JK. I hope DC is not sending us some type of message!!!

And here's a very interesting point --

I am a charter (founding) member of TTORA (Toyota Territory Off-Roader's Association). Typically no longer owning a Toyota would make me ineligible for continued membership in WATTORA (Washington state chapter of TTORA). But since I'm a charter member, I'm allowed to be a non-Toyota member!

But I will have to get some stickers to counter what many of our Toyotas have for stickers: "Jeep Recovery Vehicle". Mine will have to read "Toyota Recovery Vehicle) especially since I will have both lockers while many of our Toyotas only have a rear locker!

It's going to get interesting!

 

[Laph]

I should get one that says Hummer Rescue Vehicle

 

[TwistedCU]

I doubt that because...

I had a Toyota 4x4 puckup before my first Jeep, and I'm not the only one on this site who can say that. I wouldn't trade my Jeep for a Toy. No way, no how, no sir. You'll see...

As for the roof needing a Torx wrench, that's Diamler-Chrysler's way of torturing Jeep owners. They're a sick lot. Ugh will the torx bolts never die?!?!?!??!?!

 

[dropseys]

Seems like DC is all about saving money. Using minivan engine to cut costs for the Wranglers,. The same engine is in the liberty, grand cherokee base, commander base, dodge and chrysler mini vans. They are using the same parts they can on everything so they don't have to have a seperate assembly line for each vehicle. At this rate within the next couple of years the assembly lines will all be in the same location or all their cars, just different bodies.

 

[90Xjay]

... Using minivan engine to cut costs for the Wranglers,.

I think your right, but also I think they used the swap to up the CAFE (corporate average fuel economy) number.
Any auto maker has to average the fuel economy rating for all the vehicles if produces and that number is their CAFE number.
the federal government has instituted a level of incentives(money) for higher numbers and penalties for lower numbers.
The mini-van engine might have upped the CAFE number for DC, they felt, I think that they have gotten all of the fuel economy out of the 4.0 they could get.

It sucks, I don't like it... but there it is..

 

[TwistedCU]

They are using the same parts they can on everything

Car makers have been doing that for a long, long time. Think of how many different vehicles had a 2.5L I4 in them... Jeeps, AMC's, small Chevy cars, the S10 trucks... how about the GM 5.7/350, the ford 302, the AMC motors, the mopar 318... too many to list. They already dumped the 4.0L from the other models and it would have happened sooner to the Wrangler but I guess they figured it would be cheaper to wait until the '07 makeover.

I don't like it either, but the 4.0L was bound to go sooner or later. It's the nature of the auto industry.

 

[Green97TJ]

Actually I'm pretty sure whats in the new wrangler is a push rod 3.8 and whats in the Liberty is a 3.7 OHC engine. Not that its really any better, but I thought I should clarify.