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BHPian ![]() | 2024 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon Review What I like
Parked at the dealership waiting for delivery ![]() Here we go again... It has been a long hiatus away from the forum however I’m glad to be back. Most of us (at least the BHPians) often buy vehicles that tug at our heartstrings; more often than not, these are emotional and not rational decisions. Some of you may know that I bought a Gypsy King back in 2016 (and I’m glad that I got one brand new as the vehicle went out of production sometime in 2018). Gypsy remains one vehicle that is closest to my heart (yes, I love it more than the German twins) for it reminds me what it was like to drive back in the day when I taught myself how to drive on a CJ-3B (yes, I’m a self-taught driver); the pure mechanical, visceral feel of solid axles (front & back), body on frame with a low range transfer case that could climb up a tree if enough traction was available. Gypsy is actually a much more refined experience (relatively speaking) but retains the same driving characteristics albeit a tighter steering and more powerful engine than the CJ 3B. So the story starts with my endeavour to get an SUV for my wife (she currently drives a Hyundai Santa Fe V6 which is getting old and giving us grief). The only vehicle under consideration was a Lexus RX350 (the older generation) and she was fine with getting a 2-year-old car as she does not like the looks of the current generation and the fact that it now comes with a 4-cylinder engine. We went to a Lexus dealership test drove 2021 with about 40K on the clock and liked it very much. Just one day after that when I was downtown for a meeting, I saw a brand spanking new Wrangler parked right next to my 330i; I looked at it and that stayed with me after I came back home. These pictures were taken on my way home ![]() ![]() In the last 18 years, I had never considered a Wrangler as I found it to be too rough around the edges; now the Jeep purists might say that it’s a part of the package/appeal however it somehow did not work for me. Back in 2018 I did test-drive a JK at a local dealership but came away unimpressed; the noise levels at the highway speeds were atrocious and the overall feel of the vehicle somehow did not speak to me so that was that. In the last 6 years, I have acquired two Germans and so my need for speed has been quenched to quite an extent. I do go out hiking/camping at least 3-4 times a year however have never ventured off the beaten path owing to the kind of cars I drive. Given the fact that I live one hour's drive away from the Rocky Mountains with one of the best scenic landscapes and I would like to do some sort of off-the-pavement driving (would refrain from calling it the oft-abused term “off-roading”) to get to that elusive/scenic mountain perch, I felt it was about time to get a 4X4, no not an AWD cross over but a proper SUV. So, what were my options:
Even if the Lan Cruiser & the 4-Runner were available, there is very high probability that I would have gone for the Wrangler for it spoke to me parked right there on the lot and that my friends is what a vehicle needs to do (at least for me & I'm sure for many of you out there) and then only it is a worthwhile vehicle that will give you some semblance of satisfaction and pride of ownership. ![]() Now comes the question of which variant: There are 18 models (2 & 4 door) available with three engines and two transmission options including a few PHEV (Plug-in Hybrid) models however I was very clear that it is going to be a Hard Top Rubicon with the V-6 and 8 speed automatic ZF transmission. With winter temperatures dipping down to -35°C, the soft top or the Sky One-Touch Power Top was never an option so that was settled. Going back to the search for an SUV for my wife, I negotiated that we would replace her vehicle next year. Finally, earlier in July I started my search for the right dealership to talk to and zeroed down on one. Visited the place test-drove the Wrangler, and instantly fell in love. Closed the deal within a couple of days and the delivery date was set for July 8th. My daughter dropped me off at the store and brought the Wrangler home by evening. July is also my birthday month so let’s say I gave myself a very expensive present. With 5 cars we have run out of parking space with 2 in the garage and 2 on the driveway so now my daughter’s car has to be parked on the street and she is not very happy about it however I’m planning to sell off the 330i and the Santa Fe so parking situation should soon improve. ![]() Let’s talk about the kit. As mentioned earlier this one is a Rubicon with the 3.6 ltr. V-6 that puts out 285BHP and 260 Ft lb (353 NM) of torque. It has an 8-speed ZF transmission which is butter smooth. Exclusive to Rubicon is the famous Rock Track (NV241OR) transfer case (Low Range 4.0:1) and a 4.10:1 Final Drive Ratio that translates into a 77.24:1 mind-boggling crawl ratio. Standard fitment on the Rubicon includes Front & rear locking differentials and electronically disconnecting sway bar. On Day 3, about 70 clicks from home in the countryside ![]() ![]() In addition, the vehicle comes with Safety & Convenience package that includes: Safety package:
Convenience package:
![]() ![]() Stellantis has made some major changes to the Wrangler for the MY 2024. So, what’s new on the Outside:
Now coming to my particular vehicle: Design & Styling I believe that one of the strongest “pulls” of the Jeep Wrangler is that the design and silhouette stand out. You cannot mistake a Jeep Wrangler for any other vehicle for there’s nothing like this on the road. In spite of all the minor design changes that Jeep designers have carried out in the last 38 years (Wrangler started out in 1986) the design language has remained more or less the same. They realize that any radical change to the exterior appearance will alienate the Jeep customer and then it will be one more SUV and that thankfully remains the case with the 2024 minor tweaks that Jeep has done to the styling. The slab-sided nature of the side profile has not been messed around with and remains unmistakably Jeep. ![]() The stance is imposing with a steeply raked windshield and the 275/70R17 BFG KO2s seem massive, especially on the tailgate. The fenders are 40 inches off the ground conveying its serious intention to venture into tough terrain. The fake (unfortunately) vents on the bulging hood tell you that the chops to undertake a serious endeavor. The door hinges are exposed and may not be up to the liking of some potential buyers but still speak to its military heritage. In my opinion, this vehicle is as squarish as they come and there somehow lies its appeal. While almost every SUV on the block is becoming bulbous in its desire for that elusive aerodynamic drag coefficient, the Jeep Wrangler says it gives two hoots for that. An unmistakable Jeep it is. Engine, Transmission & Performance There are four powertrain options; the 2 ltr. Turbo with 260BHP, PHEV 2 ltr. turbo with a combined output of 375BHP, 3.6ltr V6 with 285BHP & the 6.4 ltr. Hemi V8 with 475BHP. Regarding transmission, there’s the 6-speed manual and the fabulous, butter-smooth 8-speed ZF transmission. ![]() ![]() I decided to opt for the 3.6 Pentastar V6 with the 8-speed automatic transmission. As far as the performance goes, one of the American auto magazines has clocked 7.7 seconds for 0 to 100kmph for this engine/transmission combination. The 2 ltr. Turbo is supposed to be faster and was clocked at 6.5 seconds. I have neither the intention nor the willingness to go anywhere near these numbers for acceleration as this is a 2.3-ton slab-sided 4X4 with the aerodynamics of a brick. The ride quality of the Wrangler has vastly improved over the earlier generation JK however there’s no getting away from the fact that it is a body-on-frame platform with solid axles front and back. I must say however that the Wrangler’s ability to ride roughshod over smaller imperfections, and potholes is great. I also found the braking to be very good for such a heavy vehicle. End of the day it is a body on frame platform with solid axles and any large pothole, or expansion joint disturbs the composure of the car. Font driver's side & rear passenger side suspension set up ![]() ![]() One thing that stood out for me was the ability of the vehicle to stay flat even when taking sharp turns; there’s an exit from my neighborhood to an intercity highway; it’s a hairpin and I took it at almost 75kmph (not advisable) and was shocked to find that the Wrangler stayed flat without any pitching or rolling; that was tremendous and explains the girth of the front sway bar. Transfer case & other tools of the trade Now let’s talk about the serious stuff. ![]() The fabled Rock-Track transfer case ![]() As is widely known, the Wrangler Rubicon comes with:
Interesting bit: The front drive shaft utilizes a Universal joint at the pinion but a Constant Velocity joint at the transfer case end. The rear drive shaft (propeller shaft) utilizes a CV joint both at the pinion and the transfer case end. Front drive shaft (notice the massive Front Lower Control Arm) ![]() Rear drive shaft ![]() The general layout of the underbody ![]() *Picture - courtesy JL Wrangler Forum Axles, Suspension, Steering & general layout Steering is a Recirculating Ball setup which is supposed to withstand more abuse than a Rack and Pinion setup.
Fully floating Axle layout ![]() Picture courtesy - Motortend Front Suspension
Rear Suspension
General Layout
Transmission cooler lines and oil sump well above the axle tubes ![]() Last edited by Vikram Arya : 21st July 2024 at 09:32. |
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BHPian ![]() | Re: My 2024 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon Standard kit on my vehicle
Build Quality, Exteriors, Fit & Finish I can safely say that build quality has definitively improved in the last six years when I drove the JK, and the introduction of the Ford Bronco has a lot to do with that. Panel gaps are uniform and shut lines are tight. Have driven quite a few cars in the last 40 years and especially in the last 18 years out here; must say things have improved quite a lot. Stallnatis has gone all out to reduce the weight of the Wrangler, The Hood, the doors, and even the tailgates (Al, Mg alloy) are all aluminum. The roof is plastic but the vehicle still comes in at 2.3 tons (Rubicon) and the underlying robust mechanicals are a major contributor (see pictures). All the interior & exterior lights are LEDs and that includes turn signals as well. ![]() ![]() ![]() The axles are Dana (M210 out front & M220 in the rear), the axle tubes are 2.75 in diameter & the axle end forgings are humungous coming in at close to 14 inches. The drag link, the sway bar & the tie rods are almost 1.5-inch diameter solid steel and all of that contributes to weight. Wheels & tires Rubicon comes standard with 275/70R17 BFG KO2 from the factory and these are seriously big. The alloy wheel design is new for MY 2024 & I very much like those. ![]() Ground Clearance & Water Wading capability With a massive 275 mm ground clearance and 864 mm water wading capability, Wrangler can tackle most if not all the challenges. ![]() Safety For the MY 2024 Jeep has made some major improvements to the safety suite. Now the Wrangler comes standard with 6 airbags including the side curtain airbags, ABS, Traction Control, ESP, Full Speed Forward Collision Warning plus Brake Assist comes standard. An electronic immobilizer with a Panic Alarm and a security system are also included. I also opted for the additional safety package that added:
Cabin Design Quality & Cargo Capacity ![]() Let’s make it very clear in the beginning that for such a large vehicle Wrangler is not very spacious inside however that is on account of its basic design and to a very large extent the front fenders that are external to the main body and the roll cage that goes around on the inside (Wrangler does not have a metal roof that is structurally integrated with the main monocoque but a plastic roof). ![]() ![]() As soon as you get in the cabin, a commanding view which is head and shoulder above pretty much everyone else barring the class 8 trucks greets you. You’re sitting barely two feet from the windshield and facing a narrow squared-off dashboard with big/chunky controls (the idea is that even if you’re wearing gloves in the winter, you should be able to use the switches without taking the gloves off). ![]() * The steering cover is an aftermarket accessory ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Plastic quality is very good, and controls are laid out very logically and are intuitive, everything is where it is supposed to be. Stepping from my 535i into Wrangler was a seamless transition. Seats are quite firm, and upright with manual control (height, lumbar support). I really liked the gray fabric with Rubicon in red woven into those. ![]() ![]() The rear seats are good but are a bit too upright and rear passengers may not be comfortable on a long road trip. Fortunately, I drive alone 99% of the time so that is something that I’m not overly concerned with. However, folks who are considering Wrangler as a family hauler must take a long test drive along with their family before making a decision. ![]() ![]() As the doors are removable, there is no storage space there. You can keep two bottles in the central console with a space for keeping two bottles for the rear passengers. The power window switches are located on the front panel below the AC vents, and you quickly get used to that location. Rear passengers also get their own set of power window switches on the central pillar behind the front seats. ![]() The trunk capacity is 900 liters with all seats up which is adequate, the space increases to 2,050 litres if you fold flat the rear seats. I’m an avid camper so now’s the time to buy a 12-volt fridge with a 1,000-watt battery pack along will all my camping gear and disappear for a few days. Infotainment & other convenience features For the MY 2024, all the variants of the Wrangler come equipped with a 12.3-inch infotainment screen that has great functionality built in. I went with the 8-speaker system that sounds adequate with good definition though I found the base a bit lacking I would have loved to get the Alpine set up, unfortunately, the dealer did not have a single Rubicon on his lot with the technology package. The system has a wireless Android Auto & Apple Car Play. The connection with the phone is seamless, as soon as I enter the vehicle and switch on the infotainment, it automatically connects with my phone, and I have access to all the useful apps such as Google Maps & Spotify on the home screen. ![]() The vehicle has a two-zone climate control system with vents for the rear passengers, front heated seats, and a heated steering wheel. There are two USB ports in the front (one type A & type C each), an auxiliary port, one type A in the central glove box, and four USB ports (two type C ports & two type A) for the rear passengers. There are two 12-volt ports; one on the front panel, and one in the trunk (very handy for connecting the fridge). There is also a 120-volt (150-watt) connector that can be used to charge laptops, drones, and such as long as the draw is below 150 watts. ![]() The central arms console is a two-tiered setup with adequate space and a small LED light (very thoughtful.) There are four overhead LED lights built into the soundbar located between the front & the back row, two for the front passengers and two for the folks in the rear. There is one LED light each in the footwell on both the driver & passenger side and an LED light in the trunk mounted on the roll cage. The sensors to lock & unlock the doors are built only into the two front doors. Real-Life Fuel Economy Although EPA rates it at 6.6 kmpl in the city and 8.2kmpl on the highway, I’ve already exceeded that number. With a mix of 70% highway & 30% city driving I got close to 7.1kmpl for the first 350kms and all of that with air conditioning on 100 percent of the time. Truth be told I’m treating it with kid gloves as I would like to complete the first 1,000 kms with ease though I have already touched 110kmph on several occasions as that’s the speed limit on the highway. After I reached the half tank again, I filled her up and the figure was 7.7kmpl with 100% city driving and with air conditioning on 100% of the time, now this was totally unexpected, and I was pleasantly surprised. I’m hoping to hit the 8.2kmpl mark for highway use by the time the first 1,000 km are up. Today, a few hours earlier, I got the gas filled again and noted that the Jeep has done 343 km consuming 41.9 ltrs of 87 octane which translates to 8.2 kmpl. I must mention that 100-odd km out of which was covered on a peripheral highway called Stony Trail at a steady clip of 100kmph. I must say, I'm thoroughly impressed and I have not hit the 1,000km mark (as I write this post the odometer reads 963 km). I'm expecting 7 to 7.5kmpl in the city and 8 to 8.5kmpl on the highway. I will update this information in the future. For calculations, I use tankful to tankful method (stop refueling at the auto cut), although I must mention that the Wrangler’s fuel economy gauge is almost spot on in terms of accuracy. I would like to share some tips about safety & improving fuel economy that I practice:
Warranty coverage
Jeep Wave program All 2024 Jeep Wranglers are automatically enrolled in the “Jeep Wave” program that offers:
Future plans I’m planning to get a Ceramic coating and PPF done on the Jeep and then it will go in for some anti-rust treatment for the underbody. This is very important as the municipality uses a mix of sand, grit, and salt on the roads six months in the winter to improve traction and that takes a heavy toll on the vehicles (I can already see folks groaning but I will do my research before I opt to go in for this treatment on the Jeep). As mentioned earlier I have also ordered accessories (only functional) from US and I will be driving to a US border post in the near future to collect those. Nope, I don’t want to change much on the Jeep as I like to keep my vehicles stock. This will be the subject of a future post in the coming weeks/months. General driving impression and the overall experience so far As of finalizing this post, I have driven the Jeep for about 900 km and I have loved it. While driving the Wrangler I have started to pay much more attention to my surroundings as I gently feather the throttle. This is true both in the city & out in the countryside. I’m not in a hurry to reach anywhere and seldom exceed the speed limit; in fact, a couple of times found myself driving below the speed limit. The commanding view from the driver’s seat is fabulous and places you head and shoulder above most of the other vehicles on the road. On slower speeds (below 100kmph) the steering is okay however at highway speeds, I found myself continuously correcting the steering to keep it in a straight line; found it a bit bothersome however quickly got the hang of it. In the city I suddenly found myself being given way even by the city bus drivers which is quite surprising. The ride quality is much better than what I had anticipated. The in-cabin noise even at 110kmph (highway speed limit) is very reasonable and lower than the 330i (I believe the softer tire compound has something to do with that as tire noise with its ultra-high performance summer RFTs at highway speeds in the 330i is a bit high). The infotainment setup is quite good with the system seamlessly connecting with my phone as soon as I switch on the system. The audio quality is quite good for what is a basic 8-speaker system; I have ordered a pair of kicker speakers to replace the dash speakers which should improve the quality quite a lot as per existing owners with the same setup. I have also ordered quite a bit of accessories for the jeep and those will be delivered in the next couple of weeks. So why did I buy the Wrangler? Hmm....let me think: it snows here quite a lot in the winter with temperatures dipping down to -35C and a couple of feet of snow in 24 hours, conditions can become treacherous in the winter. Okay back in 2008 I used to drive a Honda Civic and deal with these same conditions without a problem most of the time so, that’s a slippery slope. I wanted to own a Jeep because:
That dirt road about 80 clicks from this city is beckoning and I have to go…. ![]() * Yes, that small spec is my Jeep ![]() Will update these pages soon… drive safe brothers! Last edited by Vikram Arya : 21st July 2024 at 09:28. |
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Team-BHP Support ![]() | Re: 2024 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon Review Thread moved out from the Assembly Line. Thanks for sharing! |
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The following 4 BHPians Thank Aditya for this useful post: | digitalnirvana, GTO, uday.ere, Vikram Arya |
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Senior - BHPian ![]() | Re: 2024 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon Review Hello Vikram, that’s an awesome grab. Congratulations on getting the Jeep and wishing you a happy birthday. I like the white too with the contrasting black rubicon grill. I get the feeling that I need to remind you, your wife still needs a replacement for here Santa Fe. Haha… Regarding the underbody coating, I need to get it done for my car too. Don’t trust any claims for a 5 year anti rust coating. Thats mostly just for the body. The undercarriage parts take the full brunt of our salty roads. |
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The following 2 BHPians Thank Tgo for this useful post: | digitalnirvana, Vikram Arya |
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BHPian ![]() Join Date: Aug 2022 Location: Kolkata
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| Re: 2024 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon Review "Tap your brakes several times if you feel the person driving behind you is not attentive, this will wake him/her up from their slumber. " ?? Isn't brake checking illegal ? |
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The following BHPian Thanks Its_Arkk for this useful post: | Vikram Arya |
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Newbie ![]() Join Date: May 2021 Location: Alappuzha
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| Re: 2024 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon Review Congrats on the new Jeep, Vikram. The Wrangler sure looks macho in the white colour. Wishing you many more happy miles. |
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The following BHPian Thanks 2JZ-GTE for this useful post: | Vikram Arya |
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Newbie Join Date: Apr 2024 Location: Chicago
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| Re: 2024 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon Review Beautiful! Hard top look great - Now get that bestop sunrider for best of both worlds. One of the best purchases on my JK. |
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The following BHPian Thanks Fafman for this useful post: | Vikram Arya |
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BHPian ![]() | Re: 2024 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon Review Quote:
Hope you're doing well my friend. Enjoy your summer! Quote:
It happened to me about six months ago on my way downtown at 7 in the morning. I was being followed by a lady at 110, the traffic ahead of me was slowing down as is usually the case during the rush hour; the lane to my right was full and there was no way I could avoid her. When she showed no sign of slowing down (she seemed zoned out) I tapped my brakes a couple of times which caused her to take notice and hit the brakes ( I could hear her tires squealing), thankfully she slowed down to a safe speed, and my heart stopped having palpitations. I leave it to your judgment. Quote:
Quote:
For now, I am trying to learn the "Jeep life" and understand it a bit more. I live at a place that can get bone-chilling cold in winter so decided to go in for the hard top. I did have the option of the Sky One-Touch Power Top in Bikini Blue though. Maybe in a year's time.... | ||||
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Team-BHP Support ![]() | Re: 2024 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon Review Exceptional, unbiased & detailed ownership reviews of cars have started going to our homepage reviews box. It's the ultimate stamp of trust from Team-BHP (as a platform) because lakhs of visitors every month check out reviews from there & make purchase decisions. Your review has also gone here. Thank you so much for sharing ![]() ![]() |
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The following 3 BHPians Thank Aditya for this useful post: | Tgo, Viju, Vikram Arya |
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BHPian ![]() | Re: 2024 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon Review Thank you for your kind words, Aditya. I appreciate and applaud the opportunity that the Team-BHP platform provides for expressing our thoughts and sharing these with such a wide/diverse group of audiences. Regards, Vikram |
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BHPian ![]() | Re: 2024 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon Review Great to see a fellow Rubicon owner. I see a few nice changes done from my 22 model (22k odo) so that's great. I agree with most of your points on the vehicle though do keep an eye out on the aux battery. They are known to die on you suddenly and have you stranded. Have you thought about getting the Tazer? I think its a nice thing to have. Amongst other things, the most useful is the reverse camera screen coming on when you use the indicators. Honestly, I find it very tough to drive other cars who don't have this feature (My Endy doesn't). I always thought they gave the MT 285s in the US. Nevertheless, there's a lot you can do with the stock setup and while there's no end to mods, you'll find them unnecessary for 60-70% of your trails. Plus the comfort of having a stock vehicle instead of a lifted one. Happy Jeeping! Cheers, Adi |
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The following BHPian Thanks AVR for this useful post: | Vikram Arya |
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BHPian ![]() | Re: 2024 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon Review Quote:
I will be disconnecting the auxiliary battery in a couple of years. They're known to last 2.5 to 3 years but as they become weak they also kill the main battery which being an AGM battery is an expensive one besides the pain of leaving you stranded without notice. I have thought about the Tazer but won't be installing it for now. After cranking the engine, the first thing I do is disable the ESS by pressing the button on the dash so I should be fine. The feature that you've mentioned seems quite useful so will think about it. Thankfully Stellantis gives 285/70R17 BFG KO2 (C rated) on the Rubicon which is an AT tire rather than MT. At highway speeds, MTs are noisy. Other than adding a couple of auxiliary lights (on the cowl), I plan on keeping the Jeep stock as the kind of stuff I plan on doing such as driving up to trailheads, forest logging roads, old backcountry dirt roads, etc. can easily be done by even the Sports version; Rubicon is an overkill for my needs. I got it because I liked the 11 inches of ground clearance and overall stance of the vehicle plus I would like to be in a Rubicon in a snow blizzard at -35C. Driving up to Prudhoe Bay in Alaska (4,010 km from where I'm) is also on my bucket list along with driving up to Tuktoyaktuk in NWT (3,646 km). Let's see when I get to do these. Last edited by Vikram Arya : 27th July 2024 at 09:41. Reason: Addition of content | |
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The following BHPian Thanks Vikram Arya for this useful post: | AVR |
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BHPian ![]() | Re: 2024 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon Review 2,000kms are up: First outing and the first oil change Okay, 2,000 kms are up and it’s time to post an update. It has been seven weeks since I took the delivery and I have been driving it on and off. The current odometer reading is 2,108kms. The City out here uses a mix of grit, sand, and salt on the public roads to improve traction in icy conditions in the winter however that takes a heavy toll on the vehicle. ![]() ![]() That's how the undercarriage looked after the coating To protect the Jeep I got its undercarriage coated by a product known as “Krown”, this was done by the authorized partner of Krown in the city. I did my research and this turned out to be one of the products most favored across North America, especially in the states where they get a lot of snow & ice. The life of the coating is one year and it has to be reapplied well before the onset of the winter in order for the product to cure properly. $180 per year is not bad but we'll see how it performs. A couple of weeks ago we decided to take it out for a long drive in the Kananaskis country. It was a 335 km round trip and we left a bit late at 10 am. You have to take the rural highway on the Southwest side and drive about 70 clicks to reach Highway 541 which meanders through rolling hills and the Rockies, goes through a mountain pass, and hits Canmore, a small, sleepy little town at the foothills of Banff. ![]() ![]() We had a late lunch at a small village by the name of Longview at a restaurant owned by a Moroccan gentleman, food was sumptuous and we were famished. Longview is a sleepy little village with a population of 297. I love visiting these villages out in the countryside where life seems to have slowed down quite a bit. At about 1:30 pm we left Longview and headed on to Highway 541. This drive turned out to be a hidden treasure with mountains on one side and a small river on the other. ![]() ![]() The traffic was sparse and the speed limit was 100 which I had no intention of breaching. This beautiful highway is interspersed with a number of trailheads and recreational areas and we could see a number of vehicles parked in the parking areas and their occupants somewhere up in mountains hiking. ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() We had not planned for a hike and were not prepared accordingly so decided to stop at a few places to marvel at the scenic beauty and sip coffee from a flask. After spending a few blissful hours in this pristine area we headed back and were home by 9 pm. The next day I took the Jeep for refueling and got these figures: 45.27ltrs consumed over 410 kms which translates into a fuel economy number of 9.05 kmpl. Almost 80 percent of this distance was covered with air conditioning on at a steady clip of 90/100kmph. I'm very much impressed but these are numbers for a highway drive with minimal disruption in speed, I'm quite satisfied nevertheless. Last week I noticed that the odometer has crossed 2,000kms and as the protocol that I always follow with my new vehicles, the first oil change takes place around 2,000kms to purge all the metal particles as the mating metal surfaces seat. Jeep recommends an oil change interval of 16,000kms or 12 months whichever is earlier, well that’s not going to happen on my watch. Oil will be changed every 8,000kms religiously. The monitor was showing 84% oil life remaining (that doesn’t move me). ![]() ![]() ![]() This 3rd gen 3.6ltr V6 calls for 5 quarts of 0W-20 (API-SP). I picked up a jug of the recommended juice and an oil filter for the job. ![]() ![]() As I was getting ready to do the oil change, I realized 11 inches of ground clearance has another added advantage, I don’t have to jack up the vehicle (it’s a pain especially on the Beemers, especially with their plastic jack points, seriously BMW?). I needed a 13MM socket (3/8 inch drive) for the oil drain nut, a 23MM socket (1/2 inch drive) for the oil filter housing cap, a drain pan, 1/2 inch and 3/8 inch torque wrenches, and a pick set to pull out the gasket on the oil filter housing cap. ![]() ![]() I noticed that the oil was fairly clean as it was draining. The viscosity of the oil was like water but having spent 25 years in the oil companies, I know this should not be a concern (how a lubricant seems to flow at room temperature has nothing whatsoever to do with its ability to protect the subject engine; there’s much more to a modern-day lubricant than its appearance – this is very contentious so let’s get off this topic ![]() ![]() Job completed, Oil life monitor reset at 100% Fresh juice in and the Jeep was ready for another 6,000kms at which point this will be done by the dealer including 5 subsequent oil changes (every 8,000kms) along with tire rotations; this is part of the Jeep Wave program. Next week I’m headed to the US border, 300 km from my place to pick up a host of goodies for the Jeep. These have been shipped by various vendors who don’t ship to Canada or in some cases charge an exorbitant fee for doing so (so much for the NAFTA agreement). After I get the goodies, the description and their installation will be the subject of a subsequent post. So long brothers, drive safe… ![]() Last edited by Vikram Arya : 4th September 2024 at 07:45. Reason: Removed pics of Beer :) |
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| Re: 2024 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon Review Oh man, these pictures got me tempted to do a long drive to Alberta ![]() |
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The following 2 BHPians Thank clutchNgo for this useful post: | digitalnirvana, Vikram Arya |
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BHPian ![]() | Re: 2024 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon Review Quote:
It looks like you're from North Bay. It will be a long drive (approximately 7,000 km round trip) from your place, with lots of flat ground to cross which can be excruciatingly boring. I would suggest you fly to Calgary, rent a car, and spend one or two weeks covering the province. Alberta has lots to offer and after living here for the last eleven years I'm still discovering new places to visit every year however I must admit that after buying the Wrangler the desire to explore the relatively challenging terrain has increased quite a lot. I plan to explore some easy Jeep trails in the Fall. Let's see how that pans out... | |
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The following 2 BHPians Thank Vikram Arya for this useful post: | clutchNgo, digitalnirvana |
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