3.0 Willys buy or not-advice

[Rusty PW]

I'm concerned less about the total cost and more about the monthly payment. We just bought a new 2023 Gladiator. I was able to get the payments and extended warranty in the pavement range that we wanted/needed. I think most people will tell you that my method for handling finances is poor, but I don't like to live paycheck to paycheck, so I get my payments as low as I can and leave plenty of money in the bank for emergencies. I can always pay the loan off sooner.

So, rather than looking at the total cost, maybe look at the monthly payments. I'd even look for a bank that offers an 8-year loan if that's what it took to get the payments in my comfortable range. Anyway, that's just a thought.

You are not the only one who does that.

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[AmosMoses]

I would definitely stay away from a motor that people think require fuel additives at every fill up. Not mention buying def nonsense.

 

[biodiesel]

You are not the only one who does that.

It's nice to meet others who practice that method. I've noticed that those who practice the low payment method also embrace another unpopular budgetary technique called the snowball method. Using the snowball method, I pay off the smallest debt (regardless of interest rate) first before going on to pay the next debt. For example, I paid off a John Deere loan two years early even though it was at 0% interest. Many would say that I would be crazy to pay off a 0% loan first. I suppose the snowball method is considered more of a psychological method for paying off debt.

On the flipside, the more popular (and perhaps mathematical approach) would be the avalanche method. In the avalanche method, the person would pay off the loan with the highest interest first before continuing to the next high interest loan.

 

[biodiesel]

I would definitely stay away from a motor that people think require fuel additives at every fill up. Not mention buying def nonsense.

I'm willing to tolerate fuel additives and DEF for the enjoyment that diesel brings to the overall experience and ownership. Either you're a diesel enthusiast or you're not. If diesel isn't your thing, then yeah, I wouldn't recommend a modern diesel.

 

[Stuntman Mike]

I would definitely stay away from a motor that people think require fuel additives at every fill up. Not mention buying def nonsense.

Agree and never used additives so far. But I am seriously thinking about using additives to DEF ...

 

[FDA44]

I hear ya. Problem is they can make those monthly payments as attractive as one needs by and bury fees/cost as they extend that loan out. Not to mention rates blow at the moment. To each his own but for me, I’ll plan to hopefully pay it off as quickly as possible so total cost does make a difference.

 

[Rusty PW]

I would definitely stay away from a motor that people think require fuel additives at every fill up. Not mention buying def nonsense.

Did you ever owned a diesel? If not. You don't know what you are missing.

 

[biodiesel]

I hear ya. Problem is they can make those monthly payments as attractive as one needs by and bury fees/cost as they extend that loan out.

That's why you need to sit down with the finance manager and make sure they remove all the fees and unnecessary add-on costs.

Not to mention rates blow at the moment.

My credit union is currently offering 6%, which I don't think is too bad.

 

[AmosMoses]

Did you ever owned a diesel? If not. You don't know what you are missing.

No but I've always thought they were cool. I just can't stomach the extra maintenance and costs as well as the emissions related handcuffs on these motors.

 

[Sandevino]

I’m casually looking at a leftover 2023 Willys ecodiesel myself as dealers are getting a bit desperate to move these 2023’s four months into 2024.

We’ll see….

 

[biodiesel]

I’m casually looking at a leftover 2023 Willys ecodiesel myself as dealers are getting a bit desperate to move these 2023’s four months into 2024.

We got about $15,000 off MSRP on our 2023 Rubicon EcoDiesel. It had 17 miles on the odometer with a December build date. It came factory with the new HPFP. I couldn't pass up that deal.

 

[Rusty PW]

No but I've always thought they were cool. I just can't stomach the extra maintenance and costs as well as the emissions related handcuffs on these motors.

The extra maintenance doesn't bother me. The maintenance on my Nismo is a lot more because I do track days with it. Tires ($2000 for 4), brake pads ($800) 8 qts of oil, brake fluid ($60 per liter) depending on the number of track days I do. This is once or twice per season.

 

[biodiesel]

The extra maintenance don't bother.

I'll change oil once per year and change the fuel filter once every two years. This is my first time to own a Rubicon with front and rear lockers, so I need to check what the service intervals are for the differential fluid.

The Mopar 5 year/150,000-mile coolant doesn't hold up very well in the EcoDiesel. For that reason, I'll do a drain and fill every 25,000 miles or so.

 

[Rusty PW]

I'll change oil once per year and change the fuel filter once every two years. This is my first time to own a Rubicon with front and rear lockers, so I need to check what the service intervals are for the differential fluid.

The Mopar 5 year/150,000-mile coolant doesn't hold up very well in the EcoDiesel. For that reason, I'll do a drain and fill every 25,000 miles or so.

I do oil changes at 5,000 miles. Fuel filters at 10,000 miles. The locking diffs. Stick with what the book says. Unless you do some water crossings like me. I would pot the locker sensors tho.

https://www.jlwranglerforums.com/forum/threads/locker-position-sensor-potting-dana-44.59581/

 

[biodiesel]

I do oil changes at 5,000 miles. Fuel filters at 10,000 miles.

I'll change oil at 5,000-mile intervals and the fuel filter at 20,000-mile intervals. We probably won't put more than 7,000 miles on the Jeep each year.

The locking diffs. Stick with what the book says. Unless you do some water crossings like me.

I'll dig out the owner's manual and take a look.

I would pot the locker sensors tho.

https://www.jlwranglerforums.com/forum/threads/locker-position-sensor-potting-dana-44.59581/

Oh, boy. I hope Jeep made some improvements by the time they built my 2023 December build. Thanks for keeping me in the loop.

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