Help me make up my mind

[Snake Eyes]

Okay, two ways I might go here.

One is to get a Rubicon or Mojave and leave it largely stock, for daily driving and light offroading.

The other is to save a few thousand, buy a Sport S with some options that I want, have the dealer install the Mopar 2 inch lift on it, put some decent sized tires on it straight away. I figure with that approach, I might save $5-$10,000. But obviously, would have no lockers.

Any thoughts?

Somehow this became mostly a Mojave versus Rubi when your original post said Mojave/Rubi versus Sport S

I have a Sport S MAx Tow. It is still stock after 6 months. It is a great DD, great MPG with about 21 for a mix of in town and highway for work. It does great light off-roading. Nothin else said. And has great payload. It is your $$…dont let others spend it. Get what you need.

I in no way miss not having a Mojave or Rubi.

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[Dryfly24]

Somehow this became mostly a Mojave versus Rubi when your original post said Mojave/Rubi versus Sport S

I have a Sport S MAx Tow. It is still stock after 6 months. It is a great DD, great MPG with about 21 for a mix of in town and highway for work. It does great light off-roading. Nothin else said. And has great payload. It is your $$…dont let others spend it. Get what you need.

I in no way miss not having a Mojave or Rubi.

This is spot on. ^

Many times you’ll hear from knowledgeable folks but just as often people on forums just parrot crap they hear others says or even make up crap just to sound like they know what they’re doing. Forums are great to get you started in a certain direction but then it’s up to you to really decide what’s best for your particular needs. Go drive the various choices and make up your own mind.

Like he said. Don’t let someone else spend your money!

Edited to ad: if I had simply believed only what I read on forums I might not have have made the jump to my Rubi which has turned out to be the greatest truck I’ve ever owned.

 

[graham5david]

Get what you want and what you need. It has to check both boxes for you. You already know what you need. A daily driver that can tow. So now figure out which of the 3 options you want most and go get it. That's what I do. Keeps me happy.

 

[cafecito]

Related question, will 35s fit on a stock Sport S with no lift?

No. Sports and Overlands have lower fender flares than Rubicons and Mojaves.

With no lift, you can get a 33 under a Sport/Overland, or a 35 under a Rubicon/Mojave.

 

[DocMike]

Got them from KC directly.

https://www.kchilites.com/6-plastic-cover.html

Where did you get the light and covers on your bumper? Was the cost reasonable?

I want them for the aesthetic, I am not sure I will actually use them except on rare occasion. Going for the Marty McFly look with the KC lights tho..

 

[Hootbro]

Related question, will 35s fit on a stock Sport S with no lift?

They will fit but may rub when turned lock to lock. Generally a cheap 1.5" spacer front level kit will fix that.

 

[Nukizer715]

Related question, will 35s fit on a stock Sport S with no lift?

Your first answer will come from how you will actually use your JT. For me, I have owned 2 Jeep TJ's and 4 different Dodge Ram 4X4 trucks, all running 35" mud terrains. I need muds to get in and out of my buddy's ranch to feed cows and go hunting' if and when it ever rains down here. I also pull horse/cattle trailers. I wanted the truck that would give me the most towing capacity I can have and that turned out to be the Max Tow option. For 2023 that is 7700lbs. Rubi's and Mo's don't have Max Tow as an option, so I chose to build the Sport S with Max Tow. After owning the '97 and the '99 TJ's with manual windows and locks, and my wife had a 2018 JKU with manual windows and locks, I wanted power this time and the hard top option as well.
As for running 35's, everything I have read/researched on this AMAZING forum says that the Max Tow option allows for 35"s with only a "possible" slight modification to a plastic trim piece on the bumper. I say "possible" because some folks are saying their particular trim model did not come with that trim piece, so nothing was required at all.
Good luck with your decision and always remember what JEEP actually stands for:
Just Empty Every Pocket! Because you will never be "done" with your build! As soon as you think you are somebody, somewhere, will make something else for you to say "Damn! I NEED THAT FOR MY JEEP!!!"

 

[Escape.idiocracy]

Okay, two ways I might go here.

One is to get a Rubicon or Mojave and leave it largely stock, for daily driving and light offroading.

The other is to save a few thousand, buy a Sport S with some options that I want, have the dealer install the Mopar 2 inch lift on it, put some decent sized tires on it straight away. I figure with that approach, I might save $5-$10,000. But obviously, would have no lockers.

Any thoughts?

So, before the last two years with insane resale value on used cars…. (Take that out of the equation…)

under normal circumstances a Mojave or a rubicon are going to hold their value and net the most return in 5 years, 10 years etc.

If you plan to keep the Jeep mostly stock. AND, BIG AND you don’t want a diesel…. Go drive a Mojave…. Hands down best driving/riding gladiator out there…. The suspension is phenomenal.

I choose to order a rubicon diesel after driving the Mojave because I wanted a diesel. We will be adding fox 2.5 race shocks, and a lift to come as close to a diesel Mojave as possible.

having owned previous 3.6 Jeeps…. And knowing what they quote on quote improved upon I did not want to deal with the gas motor again. The diesel motor has its quirks and isn’t perfect. But I will roll the dice on the fuel pump and add a fuel additive…. (End rant….. those that perfect gas… go gas…. Those that know what’s up, will go diesel. )

 

[Matts4313]

Actually, I am pleasantly surprised at how decent the performance is. Based on everything I had read about the V6, and the manual transmission specifically, I had very low expectations. My wife as a 4Runner Limited with the standard 4.0 V6, and that's about as slow as I'd want a car to be, and I was expecting the Gladiator to be worse. However, that doesn't seem to be the case at all. Sure, it doesn't rocket off the line or effortlessly accelerate past 90mph like some cars, but it definitely doesn't feel slow to me. Maybe it's because it's on the stock wheels/tires, or maybe because with the MT I can rev it out as much as I want, or maybe it's because I've only been running 93 octane. Whatever the case, I am finding it more than adequate.....for now. But, I am definitely going to check out that pedal commander now that you've mentioned it ?

The performance is fine, imo, and maybe I didnt explain myself properly. I meant the pedal feel. The amount the pedal has to travel to get corresponding power from the engine. In sports cars, its feather touch. In the JT it feels like the pedal travels several inches before it even starts revving. My hope is the pedal commander will give me that 'touch the pedal and vroom' feeling.

 

[Gvsukids]

Maybe what OP is looking for is an Overland!

 

[Barnaby’sdad]

Sounds just like me ~6 months ago. Get a Rubicon because it has everything I want and can leave it stock. ?

My two cents…buy what you want. Don’t buy one package or another because you think you can save a buck. If you have “tinkering” tendencies, you’re going to find an excuse to tinker with it.

 

[Seal]

Maybe what OP is looking for is an Overland!

Why?

 

[Camaroboi13]

So, before the last two years with insane resale value on used cars…. (Take that out of the equation…)

under normal circumstances a Mojave or a rubicon are going to hold their value and net the most return in 5 years, 10 years etc.

If you plan to keep the Jeep mostly stock. AND, BIG AND you don’t want a diesel…. Go drive a Mojave…. Hands down best driving/riding gladiator out there…. The suspension is phenomenal.

I choose to order a rubicon diesel after driving the Mojave because I wanted a diesel. We will be adding fox 2.5 race shocks, and a lift to come as close to a diesel Mojave as possible.

having owned previous 3.6 Jeeps…. And knowing what they quote on quote improved upon I did not want to deal with the gas motor again. The diesel motor has its quirks and isn’t perfect. But I will roll the dice on the fuel pump and add a fuel additive…. (End rant….. those that perfect gas… go gas…. Those that know what’s up, will go diesel. )

this is almost exactly what I would have replied with. If there were ever a diesel Mojave I would be first in line. The resale value is a lot higher with the higher end trims also.

I say buy the most expensive and most optioned JT you can comfortably afford and enjoy it.

 

[ZoMojave]

Another vote for the Mojave. I compared option to option with a Sport S before ordering mine. About a 5K difference and you get the factory lift, the 33's, the seats, the steering wheel, the hood and oh my that wonderful suspension. Very daily driver friendly. I also wanted a body-color top that wasn't available on the Sport S.

The added value of the Mojave down the road was the final motivation for my choice.

 

[Gvsukids]

Why?

Some say it's the best riding Gladiator.

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