Traded my MR-2 for a Jeep

[GatorGreg]

Forgive me Mr. Toyoda - for I have sinned. I traded in my MR-2 Spyder for a new Jeep Sahara. The Spyder was a great little car but I decided what I really wanted was a convertible to putz around with on weekends with my family and the Spyder was one seat short. GG Jr. was also embarrassed to be seen in the Spyder - kept calling it a "sixties geek car" We rented a Jeep recently on our 10th anniversary (had one on my honeymoon too) and so I also scored some romance points with Mrs. GG The new JK Wrangler is a huge improvement over the one I drove in '98.

 

[RonMAIDEN]

:bugeye: :bash: :chair: :wtf: :twak: :headslap:


j/k

The new ones are a major improvement over anything in the '90s especially their on-road manners but aren't they still missing armrests on the doors?

 

[Thai]

[B=]The new ones are a major improvement over anything in the '90s especially their on-road manners but aren't they still missing armrests on the doors? [/B]

I think that there is one now...the inner door panel is indented in so you do have a small armrest on the doors. (Disclaimer: this is solely based on memory of my testdrive many moons ago.)

EDIT: here is a picture and you can see the armrests:

 

[GatorGreg]

Well I'm guessing they figured since the doors are designed to come off that they could do without armrests I usually have my left elbow sort of wedged into the bottom of the window when up or on the window sill when down. And the center console sort of doubles as an armrest for your right elbow.

 

[Thai]

When it first came out in 2007, i testdrove a Rubicon 2dr. I must say that i came away quite impress with the Wrangler. The ride was much better than previous Wranglers (esp. my brother's 2003 Rubicon), and i would go as far as saying that it rode significantly better than my old 2002 3rd gen 4runner and probably even better than my G500! The bumps were noticeable but inside the Jeep, it felt "softened." The power was adequate at best, but i could certainly live with it. (Power is definitely not an issue once you shift the TC into 4-LO in the Rubicon!) Road noise was nicely suppressed (equal to my old 4runner, but a bit worst than my G)...wind noise was on-par with my G500.

Overall, i thought that the Wrangler has come a long way in refinement...unfortunately, many people still have an image of it's old unrefined ways. The door locks are now powered, as are the windows. The only thing that is not powered are the side mirrors.

 

[Thai]

Oh yeah Greg, you've heard this before from me, but i want to make it official: OH WHY WHY ON EARTH DID YOU NOT GET THE RUBICON??!!

 

[GatorGreg]

Thai, since you are the expert on all things 4x4, can you tell me my crawl ratio? I can't find the damn 1st gear ratio for my auto tranny anywhere. I've got the transfer case ratio (2.7something, the rear end ratio (3.7something) but nowhere can I find the 1st gear auto tranny ratio. All I can find is the ratio for 1st gear in the 6spd stick shift.

Rubicon? Well it would be overkill for what I'd use it for. I really just wanted a 2dr steel blue "X" model w/ soft top, auto tranny, infinity subwoofer package, and the option package that adds 17" wheels, power windows, etc, but I couldn't find one anywhere. I looked all over. Since they are discontinuing steel blue for '09, I went ahead and got a Sahara.

 

[Thai]

Thai, since you are the expert on all things 4x4, can you tell me my crawl ratio? I can't find the damn 1st gear ratio for my auto tranny anywhere. I've got the transfer case ratio (2.7something, the rear end ratio (3.7something) but nowhere can I find the 1st gear auto tranny ratio. All I can find is the ratio for 1st gear in the 6spd stick shift.

Since you lifted my ego to new heights today, i will give you the answer:

Transmission: 42RLE

 

[Thai]

As an additional note:

Because of the torque converter in automatic tranny, some will argue that the actual crawl ratio in real life is higher than the calculated CR. Manufacturers don't publish actual torque converter ratio...Mercedes auto has a ratio of around 1.8-1.9, while older Jeeps have as high as 2.4. The higher the ratio, the more heat is produced (= shorten tranny life), but the more torque it puts out due to multiplication factor. Supposedly, as explained to me by someone smarter, this is due to "torque convertor slip or stall speed." You guys can figure it out...my physics/car knowledge is maxed out at this point.

 

[GatorGreg]

28? Damn, that's pretty crappy compared to the Rubi at over 70 I believe (w/ 6spd). I was reading somewhere that some Rubi owners that off-road a lot in non-rock crawling conditions actually dislike the super high crawl ratio because in order to lock the diffs they have to be in low range and they don't necessarily want to go super slow. Because of this some owners actually modified their Rubis so they could lock the diffs without having to put it in low range.

 

[Thai]

28? Damn, that's pretty crappy compared to the Rubi at over 70 I believe (w/ 6spd). I was reading somewhere that some Rubi owners that off-road a lot in non-rock crawling conditions actually dislike the super high crawl ratio because in order to lock the diffs they have to be in low range and they don't necessarily want to go super slow. Because of this some owners actually modified their Rubis so they could lock the diffs without having to put it in low range.

That is true...but if you want to go fast, then why not be in 4-HI?? If you really need the lockers over whatever terrain, then you should not be going fast anyway. I guess if you were in deep mud or something, then yeah, you may want some momentum and locker at the same time...but to be honest, the only time that you want to fly thru a mudhole that fast is if you want to show off to some girl (or guy if you play for the other team...of course, there is nothing wrong with that!) or you're looking to break something in your Jeep.

I don't know...most of the time, my brother is in 4-LO in his Rubicon and he just shifts his manual tranny to a higher gear. You have to shift a lot i guess. For me, i want a 4:1 TC anyday of the week over my stock ratio. Anyway, if you get the 4-speed auto for the Rubicon, then you have a crawl ratio of around 47 or so, which should solve the above problem.

 

[Ron Helmuth]

it is too early for april fool's u had me with the pix

I know it is all just a bad dream. I am not reading this. I am delusional.

you did what! and then come on here and tell us about it


nooooooooooooo (My best mr bill)

Jeep just empty every pocket!!

I said it.

I respected you!-then in one thread, all of that destroyed-you not only had the outstanding mr2 but gave it all up !




For a heep aaaaggggghhhh

(where is that ^%$* hari kari smilie when I need it?)


Thai- you and G greg- you were all I had-some dignity some yota goodness
and you, you indulge this Jeepness.

Almost encourage it-on the yota forum!

good thing I am watching over here on off topic

Just don't tell come whining to us when the axle breaks or the, the hard top doesn't really keep water out, or ya know like when the cup holder kind of splashes your drink and, and well just just go have fun in your Jeep and tell us you don't pretend you are back in your mister2 zipping thru corners and now fearing for your life.... yeah!



:bash: :bash: :bash: :biggrin2:

 

[Thai]

Sorry Ron...you will soon see the light....

 

[Mark86]

GG, good luck with the new Jeep! The Wrangler is the only Jeep I like. I just wouldn't want to see your gas bills with a GX and Rubicon

 

[Uneek]

GG,

At least you still have a convertible and a GX. Mr. Toyoda will forgive you. I've wanted to get a convertible since last year... but it'll be another car that I won't drive other than the weekends. (Public transit takes care of the work commute--$20-30/day for parking.)

 

[racedirt1]

I had to check the calender, I was reading this and thinking it was April 1st.

Good luck with the Heep

 

[TheBlueWave]

Congrats on getting the ride you want. I hope my career advances far enough someday to be able to do something like you did here (get a "fun only" vehicle). Heep or not, I'm glad you're happy with it and I hope it gives you lots of trouble free miles.
Happy trails!