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considerations for ordering new Rubicon

2K views 28 replies 21 participants last post by  14BWRubi 
#1 ·
Greetings all. I'm also a member at the Corvette Forum where I've gotten and shared lots of great information. So, when I decided to get a Jeep I knew where to find expert advice!

Here is what I am considering ordering:
2015 Wrangler Rubicon in Firecracker Red with Black interior
Automatic Transmission
Connectivity Group
Power Convenience Group
Heated Front Seats
Supplemental Front Seat Mounted Side Airbags
Dual Top Group
Freedom Top Hard Headliner

I am thinking about deleting the soft top altogether since the hard top seems like the way to go. I also don't understand why I'd want that temperature sensing air conditioning since they all come standard with a/c that I can sense myself. I left off the trailer hitch too since at $400, that looks like something better to add on my own. Am I missing something?

Dealers seem to want full MSRP to place an order. Fat chance! One I found will come about $2300 off on this nearly $40K vehicle. That still seems a bit greedy since this is a cash deal with no trade or financing. Love to hear from others more knowledgeable.
Thanks,
---Dave in Tampa
 
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#2 · (Edited)
:welcome: to the Forum..:wavey:

Agree with you on your A/C, Hard Top and hitch comments.
Why do want heated seats being in Tampa? I'm guessing Florida!!!!
I would also order the 4.10 diff Ratio.
Also order the factory window tint for the hard top.

As for price, that will vary by location. and the demand in your area.

I purchased my 2013 JKR back in early 2013. The economy was terrible and the Dealers were over stocked. I purchased mine for $5,500 off of MSRP, OTD (Out the door). I think that was a great deal, but the Dealers were hurting at that time.

If you have more than one Dealer in your area, then I would check them all out for pricing!!!!!!!
 
#4 ·
You'll always pay less for in stock and more for an order.

It just comes down to how important is it to get exactly what you want?

Definitely get the 4.10 gears. It's not going to make a difference if you're not going off-road, but will give you resale later on.

I have a 14 JKUS. I'm glad to have the automatic temp control. Wouldn't break my heart not to have it, but it's nice when you consider remote start and either heating or cooling.

What's your plan for the jeep? You planning on mods? Off-roading? How much off roading if so?
 
#6 ·
Gotcha!!!!!!!!

I'm in Phoenix and sometimes it gets cold here also. But more hot than cold.
So the heated seats are a choice.

Good Luck on your order!!!!!!!!!
 
#7 ·
If you're thinking of driving with the top down, then I would think the soft top would be a much better choice then the hard top.

I'd get the premium soft top if I were you.
 
#8 ·
Especially in Florida you need a top you can take off easily and put up easily when a shower pops up. Get the Dual top with premium soft top. Heated seats have been awesome in Dallas especially this past week. Global warming?? GFY Al Gore!! Remote start is a must. I would also get Premium sound. If you aren't going to buy new bumpers the Hard Rock is the way to go for sure.
 
#9 ·
We currently live in OH and I had to have a hardtop on mine due to the rough winters. We will be moving to FL here in a few months and I'm wondering what I'm going to do with the hardtop. I had Jeeps before when we lived in FL and the tops were off most of the time. I think you'll be fine with just the premium soft top if you like the sun. You can just flip the front part back or fold it all the way down and back up if you run into a rain shower. Oh, and who needs doors too ;)
 
#10 ·
Agree with the comments on the 4.10 gears, especially if you'll be towing something. Also agree with the comments on the soft top. I would ditch the hardtop if anything. Get the premium soft top and you'll never miss not having a ht.
 
#11 ·
I'm waiting on my order right now so I was where you are 21 days ago....but whose counting.

I agree with the 4.1. Get that. As for the dual top, I struggled with this since I know I'll be driving without a top a lot here in SoCal. With so many options out there, I opted to skip on the factory soft top, especially since I like the look of the frameless soft tops out there.

I also skipped on the headliner since I have had more than one person tell me that the noise difference is negligible and that it is really a cold weather option. The dealer asst. mgr. who put the order in said the same thing. He also echoed you when we came to the tow group. He said get that on your own and save money.

I also went with the HR, which includes some of the options you're looking at. As was mentioned, I found a dealer to do F&F pricing on an order without any issues. If you don't have a contact, pay the $100 for Tread Lightly and get 1% under invoice without any haggling.

Gil...stuck in D1 purgatory.
 
#12 ·
I would not order the headliner, it will just delay your order since they install those offsite… Also, you might want to paint the inside of your hardtop because it is very white, our dealer recommended we paint the inside of the hardtop charcoal gray and then have some kind of headliner installed if we still feel like we need one
 
#14 ·
Dave,
I'm also in the tampa bay area. Also check out the dealer in Lakeland they are always willing to deal. I would also go with the 4.10 gears for the money and I would do the premium soft top instead of the hard top. Once you have the soft top on you will never put the hard top back on. Plus its hard to store and takes up space.
BTW I'm also from the corvette forum. Former supercharged C5 Z06.
Thanks
Mike
 
#16 ·
Greetings all. I'm also a member at the Corvette Forum where I've gotten and shared lots of great information. So, when I decided to get a Jeep I knew where to find expert advice!

Here is what I am considering ordering:
2015 Wrangler Rubicon in Firecracker Red with Black interior
Automatic Transmission
Connectivity Group
Power Convenience Group
Heated Front Seats
Supplemental Front Seat Mounted Side Airbags
Dual Top Group
Freedom Top Hard Headliner

I am thinking about deleting the soft top altogether since the hard top seems like the way to go. I also don't understand why I'd want that temperature sensing air conditioning since they all come standard with a/c that I can sense myself. I left off the trailer hitch too since at $400, that looks like something better to add on my own. Am I missing something?

Dealers seem to want full MSRP to place an order. Fat chance! One I found will come about $2300 off on this nearly $40K vehicle. That still seems a bit greedy since this is a cash deal with no trade or financing. Love to hear from others more knowledgeable.
Thanks,
---Dave in Tampa

I have a 2015 Rubicon---I wouldn't trade the remote start for anything. Love it.

-I would also suggest the Alpine Premium sound system. It is quite a step up from the old systems--even far and above the 2014 system. I did however, open up the speaker locations and put in some poly-fill; that made a positive difference as well.

-The Navigation is hard to beat.

-Ditto on the 4.10.

-I got just the hard top--but if I was in Florida I'd have gotten both.

-The new Jeeps are very quiet compared to the older Jeeps. I have three (3) boxes of dynamat extremeand am getting ready to cover the entire floor with it. I will follow that two coats of Hercu-liner. That should make it ultra-quiet, but we will see.

-Good call on the temp sensing--had that on my old vehicle and haven't missed it on the Jeep.

Just an FYI--Have had heated seats for 15 years and the Jeep didn't have them--and I haven't missed them either. With the remote start, the Jeep gets toasty warm before I ever get in it.

My dealer came off right at $3000 on the Rubicon. You just have to stick with it and play the game.

Good luck on the purchase.

Strick
 
#17 ·
Lots of good information - thank you all!
Appears there is an agreement that the 4.10 is the way to go. It also appears I would be wise to move my sights up to the Hard Rock. Since I'm only $1200 from there anyway, I may as well enjoy the other upgrades.

Unsure about the top but still leaning toward the hard top only. The Jeep will be stored outside (in the Florida sun & rain) and often driven by my 16 year old son. Glass seems like better view and better insolation from heat. I'm thinking we can pull it off for some dry times and use a cover. I understand folding back the soft top is a hassle too but certainly easier than taking off the six bolts and getting a friend to lift the hard top off. I also plan to tow it occasionally behind my RV. Any additional comments are appreciated.
 
#20 ·
So I'm about 3 hours north of you in Jacksonville and actually emailed 19 dealers within 2 hours of me in Northern and Central Florida and Southern Georgia on Friday. I'm looking at a Rubicon and possibly a Hard Rock as well. Of the 19, 11 have gotten back to me. 8 of them offered invoice or within $100 of invoice. 1 tried to charge me full MSRP and it took everything I had not to laugh at him. The other 2 have come in below invoice, one at $500 below, the other at almost $1,600 below. Now that said my deal is a bit more complicated because I have a trade in. So the dealer that is coming in $1.600 below invoice is lowballing the trade offer. I'm thinking of going back to them and pulling the trade off the table to see if they will still honor the price, and I think they may. The dealer is in New Smyrna so it's not terribly too far from you.

I'd be happy to give you the guys name there I've been dealing with, he's been good to work with so far even though we are still going back and forth. A lot of the dealers only read about 20% of what I tell them and I have to constantly repeat myself, they have been able to address my concerns the first time I bring them up. Just thought I'd throw it out there. Also I've told all of them this will be an ordered Jeep as I want my specific options, so I'm not buying off the lot either.

Also the 4.10's seem like a must like the others have stated.
 
#18 ·
You should get the dual top. I think you will realize the hard top is never on and you will be able to sell it. My 13' had a soft top. My14' has a hard top. I sooo miss my soft top!
 
#19 ·
The freedom top is hard to beat for both security and allows popping the front tops off for the sun, had 3 other jeeps with rag tops and enjoyed that open air experience but the noise and occasional leakage was a little aggravating at times (byw got my doors stole once and at DIA la creep took the whole darn soft top). it was minus 8 yesterday morning so the hardtop and heated seats were helpful.....heated seats are a god send, I even use them in the summer especially after a hike or camp as sometimes just need a more then advil. Heated seats and Freedom top would be my vote.
 
#21 ·
I ordered my Rubi and was able to make a great deal. Forget being forced to order at full price! Talk to the fleet manager and not ANY of the sales people. Call the dealer 1st and talk to him about the policy on ordering.

I agree on the 4.10 gearing. Absolutely the best gearing for tires up to 33" under all circumstances.

I got the hard top only and I like it. More secure. Better visibility. Rear wiper to help with visibility in the rain. Quiet. I plan to get a bikini top for weekend summer trips.

You might not even need a Rubi if you don't need the 4 to 1 transfer case, the swaybar disconnect or locking diffs. You might save some bux and get a better suited package with a Willys or Sahara, for instance. Rubis are cool, but more suited to the Sierras than the beach. Just a thought.
 
#27 ·
I wasn't telling him to skip the side curtain airbags. I just wanted to let him know of possible limitations of seat covers.

I do agree with safety first.
 
#28 ·
Appreciate all the information. Since mainly my son will be driving this vehicle, all the safety and air bags I can get are going on it. Same for automatic transmission. I like standard on a Jeep but given my bad knees, the traffic we often have to sit in, and again my son's ride, we will stay with a modern automatic. Good point about seat covers, but I'm not looking to cover anything yet. Also not much modifications in the future for this one. I may add a bikini top or something if we find the hard top cumbersome but that seems right for me. I did find what appears to be a decent deal with Field's in Sanford, FL. Bit of a drive but he is offering to order my Hard Rock with Auto, 4.10, hard top, liner, side airbags, for invoice minus $1000. That is better than the Tread Lightly deal. Thanks to your information, I am going with the Hard Rock since it has standard most of the stuff I wanted anyway. Now I wait!
 
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