Well, after actually finding one, and driving it, back to back, with a "Unlimited" (4 Door) model, and the convincing of my children that the 4-door is the more functional and what transforms the old "Wrangler - Jeep" into a more substantial, modern spacious and better riding vehicle. I was shocked at how well they had managed to keep the spirit and feel -for good, or bad- of the true, original old "Jeep" in the new, modern and upgraded fancy "Jeep" of today. Actually, after a brief ride in the 2 dr "X" model I so craved in photo and print , it turns out it is TOO original, being twitchy, bouncy and having a truck like transmission, as opposed to a tight, light and snickitty manual of a modern sports car that for some reason I had envisioned.
So, long story short, considering it is to be my wife's Daily Driver, and thus subjected to both the extreme environment out here, but also her typical interior upkeep and abuse.
Also, instead of having a vehicle I had to worry about, and fuss every time it got dirty or dusty inside or out, and thus ruining the whole spirit and purpose of owning a convertible, why not go with a total "user friendly" low maintenance, wash and wear philosophy. While both saving my mental stress and messing up a "fancy" vehicle, lets just be real and not sweat it. This is why we wanted such a vehicle in the first place! This is the perfect environment for open aired driving, and at the same time, such an extreme environment, both naturally and the way I knew it would be operated, in this place, you don't just check every performance enhancing and protective skid plate style box for the fun of it. You actually NEED it out here. So, we totally switched gears and went with a soft top, Auto, Rubicon with all the off road goodies and strength and self preservation components. We didn't even go with the NAV or any of that, as it would just be something else to worry about with the top down, be it due to the weather, asshats tossing trash into it (yes, I've owned convertibles before!) or theft, etc. Literally a wash and wear interior and dash, with the Bluetooth and Sat radio being about the only non-off highway enhancing options other than the Auto Trans. Oh, and I did give up a little, by staying with the stock 3.73's in the pumpkins, rather than the optional 4.10s. Again, this would work out to our advantage once again, as it would see most of it's use on-highway with her driving, and would help me gain a little mpg and not be so "frantic" feeling on the highway at high cruise speeds. This, while retaining enough internal gearing leverage in the Rubicon's lower transfer case ratios that it really would be a non-issue anyway, unless really going vertical. Literally.
So, it works out. I don't worry about it, she leaves the top down for the most part, and it gets right around 20-22 on the highway and still flexes, twists and crawls when I get behind the wheel and decide I want to leave the Power Wagon or Samurai at home. It is also user friendly, capable and just the right thing for when she decides to unwind and 'hit the beach' as she often does. The gears, electronic swaybar disconnect and switchable, selectable front and rear lockers, along with it's typical Jeep extremely nice "approach and departure" angles, ground clearance and outstanding articulation are just icing on the cake. Perfect vehicle for it's intended use, in this environment.
