Is a rubicon worth it?

bennybmn · **Posted:** Wed Jan 11, 2006 8:07 pm

The posts about the new Wrangler (and it's price) got me thinking... I love the rubicon. If I had it my way I'd get an Unlimited Rubicon and be a happy man! But the reality of my situation is I can't swing 30+K for a new rig.... PLUS, I have the custom bug, so I'd probably consider a lift, maybe a bumper, etc. So my question is, is it worth it? Or can I get as much or more Jeep for the money with a used TJ + mods galore? I mean, aside from the tires, lockers, T-case and hood decal, what other difference is there? And if you can save like 10 or 15 grand, and put that into lockers, T-case, lift, tires, etc... See where I'm going with it? Thoughts?
Benny

Guest · **Posted:** Wed Jan 11, 2006 9:07 pm

A new one is NOT worth it. I tried to justify one since August of 2004 when I started looking for a Jeep. There are plenty of used ones on the market now that the price of gas is forever above $2/gallon and headed to stabilize at $3/gallon in a few years or less. The unlimited rubi's are only getting average mileage before modifications of 13-14 mpg and standard unlimited TJ at about 16 mpg.

There is a 2004 unlimited for sale on my way to work that is loaded to the max with after market mods - real heavy duty, 10k miles for $19,000 and no takers. It averages 12mpg or less, not good for a daily driver but AWESOME for an offroader.

I've got a loaded diesel sport Liberty and paid WAY less than a new rubicon, be it standard length or unlimited. The value, in my opinion, is not there.

ManicMechanicJoe · **Posted:** Wed Jan 11, 2006 9:08 pm

Buying a Rubicon takes a lot of the hard work out of building a Jeep, it already comes with better axles (Dana 44's which will stand up to 35's). It also comes with low gears (4:1 in the t-case). The selectable lockers it comes with are also pretty spendy to install yourself. It comes with decent tires. If you really want the best buy in four wheeling-wait a couple years untill TJ values are lower-buy a used rubicon and put a lift and bigger tires. Then you'd be set with a rig capable of what most people can throw at it without having to do a lot of install work. The first mod I'd make is to ground out the locker switches so you can run the lockers without having to be in 4lo.

SunDvl · **Posted:** Thu Jan 12, 2006 12:22 am

But here is one of the bigger issues - you are getting a factory warranty on all those parts! And the reality is, Rubicons don't sell for their sticker, just the other day a fella picked up a TJ Rubi for $27k.

ManicMechanicJoe · **Posted:** Thu Jan 12, 2006 2:02 am

when this new wrangler comes out, the old ones will probably see a nice discount cause everyone wants the newest thing out there

JJsTJ · **Posted:** Thu Jan 12, 2006 8:42 am

SunDvl wrote:

But here is one of the bigger issues - you are getting a factory warranty on all those parts! And the reality is, Rubicons don't sell for their sticker, just the other day a fella picked up a TJ Rubi for $27k.

IF Your dealer will honor that warranty after finding out you go wheeling in your Jeep. * :roll:

I don't think a brand new one off the lot is worth the price. You can build one hell of a Jeep if you just start with a used one and save a good $10k up front. I think a good idea is to buy a used Rubi in a couple more years. There are plenty of them running around stock that are road Jeeps and have seen little more than a dirt road.

*My dealer doesn't seem to have a problem and so far is mod & wheeling friendly. :shock:

Eddo · **Joined:** Thu Jul 07, 2005 7:01 pm **Posts:** 1214

Just wait a couple years. The New TK Rubicons will be out and that will be all the rage. Then hopefully, you can get a decent 2 year old rubicon for a nice discount. All the money you saved can be put towards mods, then you have one hell of a nice Jeep.

ManicMechanicJoe · **Posted:** Thu Jan 12, 2006 11:38 am

isn't that what i just said? :roll:

VTNomad · **Posted:** Thu Jan 12, 2006 11:46 am

I was looking at a Rubicon when I bought my Liberty. ONe thing the dealer mentioned about the warranty was that it was void if you drove more than 10,000 miles (could have been 12,000 or 15,000, I don't remember the exact number) a year on pavement. He gave no reason. Whether this is true or not, I don't know. How they can enforce this, I don't know. I stopped looking at Rubicons when I saw a Black KJ RME with the chrome package. I was in luv.

ManicMechanicJoe · **Posted:** Thu Jan 12, 2006 11:48 am

that sounds a little odd...Seems like salesmen BS to me but I am just a naive 19 year old kid.

SunDvl · **Posted:** Thu Jan 12, 2006 12:40 pm

I don't think you will see prices drop on the TJ Rubi's for a while. Jeep people are finicky and are afraid of change. When the TJ came out, people wanted to hold on to their YJ's longer. The same will probably happen at first with people not wanting to give up their TJ's, especially with the concerns over the new motor.

Eddo · **Joined:** Thu Jul 07, 2005 7:01 pm **Posts:** 1214

ManicMechanicJoe wrote:

:roll: isn't that what i just said? :roll:

Yes it was. But I guess I'm not allowed to have the same idea then? What a place

JJsTJ · **Posted:** Thu Jan 12, 2006 2:08 pm

Eddo wrote:

ManicMechanicJoe wrote:

:roll: isn't that what i just said? :roll:

Yes it was. But I guess I'm not allowed to have the same idea then? What a place

Not the Place, just Him. :lol:

ManicMechanicJoe · **Posted:** Thu Jan 12, 2006 4:44 pm

JJsKJ wrote:

Eddo wrote:

ManicMechanicJoe wrote:

:roll: isn't that what i just said? :roll:

Yes it was. But I guess I'm not allowed to have the same idea then? What a place

Not the Place, just Him. :lol:

Those fightin words JJ? :wink:

JJsTJ · **Posted:** Thu Jan 12, 2006 4:48 pm

Perhaps.

bennybmn · **Posted:** Thu Jan 12, 2006 5:12 pm

Well looks like I started a good conversation :shock:

I think I could get a used Rubi for around 20K now, but it will take a couple years for the Unlimiteds to come down in price... I even saw a black Rubi near me for sale on cars.com for 20K and the guy said never driven in snow and never offroaded!! WHY get a rubi?!? But he never answered my inquiry about the sale... Oh well. Thanks for the input guys.

TomCat · **Posted:** Fri Jan 13, 2006 8:50 am

Quote:

ONe thing the dealer mentioned about the warranty was that it was void if you drove more than 10,000 miles (could have been 12,000 or 15,000, I don't remember the exact number) a year on pavement. He gave no reason. Whether this is true or not, I don't know.

I've heard salesmen make some stupid statements, but this is the mother of stupid statements

bennybmn · **Posted:** Fri Jan 13, 2006 10:09 am

TomCat wrote:

Quote:

ONe thing the dealer mentioned about the warranty was that it was void if you drove more than 10,000 miles (could have been 12,000 or 15,000, I don't remember the exact number) a year on pavement. He gave no reason. Whether this is true or not, I don't know.

I've heard salesmen make some stupid statements, but this is the mother of stupid statements

Maybe he meant offroad?

waddy whiteguts · **Posted:** Fri Jan 13, 2006 1:27 pm

There's a used Rubicon sitting for sale by owner up here for $16K, looks like new from the road.

USAFCOP · **Posted:** Mon Jan 16, 2006 11:55 am

I know this has been beat up, but I been in the Bahamas, so hear are my $.02...

I guy down the road from me is selling his 05 rubi with 40000miles and he wants $23000!!!!

That is as bad a rip off as the new ones.

As for the quality it is not there! The lockers suck!!! the u-joints on the axles suck the knuckles suck!!! I know 3 guys in KS that wheeled them when they first came out, largest tire was a 35. one guy had a pretty extreme lift and probably caused the axle/control arm mounts to twist off, so I don't blame that on the jeep probably the lift. but with 35s and a 44 axle u should not break u-joints at the knuckle much less crack your knuckle!! Maybe Dana had problems that year, because their axles were built around the same time as all of the liberty front diff explosions.

As for the lockers, one guy carried fuses with him because every time he engaged them, they blew the fuses.

Here is the best part.... No failures would be covered under warranty even when they were stock!!!! Dealers all said the Rubicon PKG was a looks and status PKG only... it was not built to be used as advertised!!!!

Well, in my opinion, the dealers were right, it was not built to be used as it was advertised to be used for.

So bottom line... get a used 97 for about $10000, then build it up and if you have the skills and tools and the bargain finding ability, you could build a better jeep than a rubi for $8k-$10k less.

Is a rubicon worth it?

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