Did my first Rubicon drive...

[eternus]

I'm coming from a lifted, tuned JKU Sport that I've been in for 5 years. I know how it accelerates, I know how it rides bumps and I know how it handles. The difference between the two was lackluster. I'm not turned off by the Gladiator, but it did lose a little bit of shine. It definitely made me more comfortable with getting a Sport S and doing my own additions over time rather than thinking I should go all in on a Rubicon up front. It's not "hot" out but the sun had been shining in the cab and I can happily say I'm not interested in the leather. (c:

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[5JeepsAz]

I'm coming from a lifted, tuned JKU Sport that I've been in for 5 years. I know how it accelerates, I know how it rides bumps and I know how it handles. The difference between the two was lackluster. I'm not turned off by the Gladiator, but it did lose a little bit of shine. It definitely made me more comfortable with getting a Sport S and doing my own additions over time rather than thinking I should go all in on a Rubicon up front. It's not "hot" out but the sun had been shining in the cab and I can happily say I'm not interested in the leather. (c:

You answered a lot of your questions. So this one.. sport S Max Tow? If this JT needs pep it must need the 4:10's, or does it?

 

[Sorbs]

Takes some miles to get the PCM tailored to how you drive as well as some miles to break in the motor.

I gained MPG after 4,500 miles and my JLR 6-spd scoots now. No comparison to my 2013 JKUR with the 5-spd slush box. That trans was slow...

 

[eternus]

You answered a lot of your questions. So this one.. sport S Max Tow? If this JT needs pep it must need the 4:10's, or does it?

I was driving a Rubicon Gladiator today with 4:10s, 33" tires and an 8-speed auto.
I normally drive a Sport S Wrangler JKU with 3:73, 33" tires and a 5-speed auto.

It feels like when I stand on the gas, MY Wrangler moves more. Maybe I've just trained mine. My Jeep is lighter than the truck, so that'll factor in... and I didn't get to drive it long enough to really put it through its paces. I'll try driving a Sport S w/ Max Tow as soon as somebody has one and then try the Rubicon again to see if it was my own bias.

I wish I could have had the overwhelming sense of "want" that many have as soon as they did a test drive, but I guess I'm glad that isn't the case so I can make a less emotion-driven decision when I'm ready to lay out some cash.

 

[Sorbs]

I was driving a Rubicon Gladiator today with 4:10s, 33" tires and an 8-speed auto.
I normally drive a Sport S Wrangler JKU with 3:73, 33" tires and a 6-speed auto.

It feels like when I stand on the gas, MY Wrangler moves more. Maybe I've just trained mine. My Jeep is lighter than the truck, so that'll factor in... and I didn't get to drive it long enough to really put it through its paces. I'll try driving a Sport S w/ Max Tow as soon as somebody has one and then try the Rubicon again to see if it was my own bias.

I wish I could have had the overwhelming sense of "want" that many have as soon as they did a test drive, but I guess I'm glad that isn't the case so I can make a less emotion-driven decision when I'm ready to lay out some cash.

Your JK is only a 5-speed auto.

 

[eternus]

Your JK is only a 5-speed auto.

Yah i was just coming back to correct that... forgot the 6 was the stick.

 

[5JeepsAz]

I was driving a Rubicon Gladiator today with 4:10s, 33" tires and an 8-speed auto.
I normally drive a Sport S Wrangler JKU with 3:73, 33" tires and a 5-speed auto.

It feels like when I stand on the gas, MY Wrangler moves more. Maybe I've just trained mine. My Jeep is lighter than the truck, so that'll factor in... and I didn't get to drive it long enough to really put it through its paces. I'll try driving a Sport S w/ Max Tow as soon as somebody has one and then try the Rubicon again to see if it was my own bias.

I wish I could have had the overwhelming sense of "want" that many have as soon as they did a test drive, but I guess I'm glad that isn't the case so I can make a less emotion-driven decision when I'm ready to lay out some cash.

The JLU must be the better jeep, for the 100% Jeep part of the equation. No way it beats your current for any of the jeep.

So maybe your reason to buy is the 100% truck part where JT is better than JLU.

Question might be if you are a Jeep truck guy and how much that's worth to you.

I'm more truck than jeep, so the truck is what I'm after, and the wide track to keep it seated in the roadway. But I like the jeep responsiveness. Will be interesting to see where you end up. No way this beats your jeep at jeep though. It can't.

Edit: I'm interested in where you land on it. I'll spend 30 on a great Jeep, had one already, so no more. And I'll not spend over 40 on any truck, so that may be stupid but it's me, so I have to wait. If I see the best Jeep in the world for ten grand I won't move on it. And LE for under 40? Done. Max Tow under about 30? Done. Lol. Keep us posted!

 

[eternus]

The JLU must be the better jeep, for the 100% Jeep part of the equation. No way it beats your current for any of the jeep.

So maybe your reason to buy is the 100% truck part where JT is better than JLU.

Question might be if you are a Jeep truck guy and how much that's worth to you.

I'm more truck than jeep, so the truck is what I'm after, and the wide track to keep it seated in the roadway. But I like the jeep responsiveness. Will be interesting to see where you end up. No way this beats your jeep at jeep though. It can't.

Edit: I'm interested in where you land on it. I'll spend 30 on a great Jeep, had one already, so no more. And I'll not spend over 40 on any truck, so that may be stupid but it's me, so I have to wait. If I see the best Jeep in the world for ten grand I won't move on it. And LE for under 40? Done. Max Tow under about 30? Done. Lol. Keep us posted!

Yah I definitely want "fun" over "work" with this vehicle. The bed is a "nice to have", and realistically the main reason to leave my current Jeep. I have a heavy popup, so the improved alternator & cooling would be nice for when I'm pulling it over a mountain. I'm a few months out from making ANY movement no matter what... but I think I'm pretty dialed into the Sport S + Max Tow and then as much as I can add.

 

[eternus]

I got to drive a Sport S + Max Tow today. Stock tire n all that stuff... it was so fresh, the seats were still covered in plastic and the radio wasn't turned on yet. Oddly, it felt better to drive than the Rubicon did... more pep, plenty of in the seat fun. Happy to say I'm still favoring Sport over Rubicon.

 

[bgenlvtex]

Same engine, transmission and gear ratio with smaller tires and less weight(600 lbs) means more "pep". Add bigger tires and your pep is gone.

If you don't need what a Rubicon brings to the table in lower t-case, lockers, disco sway bar (to say nothing of the amenities hood,fenders,comfort items) then a Sport is the right choice.

But if you want and/or need those features Rubicon costs little to no more than adding them to a Sport.

 

[eternus]

Same engine, transmission and gear ratio with smaller tires and less weight(600 lbs) means more "pep". Add bigger tires and your pep is gone.

If you don't need what a Rubicon brings to the table in lower t-case, lockers, disco sway bar (to say nothing of the amenities hood,fenders,comfort items) then a Sport is the right choice.

But if you want and/or need those features Rubicon costs little to no more than adding them to a Sport.

Oh i'm aware of the differences, this was just the first time to drive the Sport vs the Rubicon.

 

[LowOnCash]

I was driving a Rubicon Gladiator today with 4:10s, 33" tires and an 8-speed auto.
I normally drive a Sport S Wrangler JKU with 3:73, 33" tires and a 5-speed auto.

It feels like when I stand on the gas, MY Wrangler moves more. Maybe I've just trained mine. My Jeep is lighter than the truck, so that'll factor in... and I didn't get to drive it long enough to really put it through its paces. I'll try driving a Sport S w/ Max Tow as soon as somebody has one and then try the Rubicon again to see if it was my own bias.

I wish I could have had the overwhelming sense of "want" that many have as soon as they did a test drive, but I guess I'm glad that isn't the case so I can make a less emotion-driven decision when I'm ready to lay out some cash.

You’re going to be a lot better off with the 411 gear - these trucks have small engines and low torque they need gearing for pulling a load.

The lower gear will make a world of difference in the hills.

Regards Mike

 

[ACAD_Cowboy]

The max tow package gives you a decontented rubicon axle with the 4.10 gears.

Funny you mention the pep, my old CJ7 Laredo came with the 4cyl and that turd of a 5 speed and 4.10 LSD axles, I swapped in the 4.2 and 4 speed and then some nearly free tires that were a bit wider and lower profile.

Yee Doggies! Suddenly that jeep went from peppy to snotty. It was a rolling abattoir of various other jeeps but it could unass itself like a spooked cat.

I'm sure the sport felt a lot more peppy due to weight savings and shorter tire with a street tread. Which is funny because nearly every jeep I see driving at unjeeply speeds is typically a full dress sahara on big rims and little tires.

 

[eternus]

The max tow package gives you a decontented rubicon axle with the 4.10 gears.

Funny you mention the pep, my old CJ7 Laredo came with the 4cyl and that turd of a 5 speed and 4.10 LSD axles, I swapped in the 4.2 and 4 speed and then some nearly free tires that were a bit wider and lower profile.

Yee Doggies! Suddenly that jeep went from peppy to snotty. It was a rolling abattoir of various other jeeps but it could unass itself like a spooked cat.

I'm sure the sport felt a lot more peppy due to weight savings and shorter tire with a street tread. Which is funny because nearly every jeep I see driving at unjeeply speeds is typically a full dress sahara on big rims and little tires.

I'll be honest, I had to re-read this a couple of times to either figure out or chuckle at (or both) several of those phrases. Growing up my dad had a mechanic buddy that put a 327 in a CJ-5 who could chirp all 4 tires. It didn't take long to realize that was too alarming for me, unjeeply speeds indeed.

It's been a while since I was under 33" tires on a Jeep, so I'm sure the weight + diameter is lending itself to the takeoff. It also felt a little more controlled, dare I say refined, than the fox shocks setup in the Rubicon.

The obvious answer is to go back in when I can drive both, back to back, on the same loop so I have a better a/b test.

 

[ACAD_Cowboy]

The Rubicon has a soft and slow suspension which lends itself to soaking up felt acceleration in body motion but you can smoove over obstacles with ease. I’m sure the sport has a crisper and stiffer setup which will tighten up body motion and may give the feeling of brisker acceleration, with the lower mass it must accelerate faster but will feel “quicker”. If that helps.

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