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Sport S vs Sahara

25K views 23 replies 17 participants last post by  NC25T 
#1 ·
Getting close to placing my order for a 2017 and have a question.

If I price out a Sport S and a Sahara so they are equipped the same there is an approximate price difference of $1,100 with the Sport S being the less expensive. This is after adding in the Power Convenience option and Sirus to the Sport S. Both will have auto, 3:73, anti-spin, 3 piece hardtop, premium leather and sound and Connectivity group.

The S has 17 inch tires and black fender flares. The Sahara has body colored flares and 18 inch tires.

Am I missing anything else? To me, it doesn't seem like the body colored flares and 18 inch tires are worth an additional $1,100 dollars. Thoughts?
 
#2 ·
I would think the difference would wash out at resale time just because of the perception that the Sahara is the nicer trim line. On the other hand, if you are going offroad, it is nice to know you just have junky black fender flares instead of expensive painted ones getting scratched up by bushes and such.
 
#3 ·
you also get slightly better shocks. and keep in mind a good set of tires can easily cost $1000, as can body paint work :)

IMO that $1100 is easily worth the tires, paint, and suspension
 
#4 ·
It will matter when you go to resell, if you care. A higher trim will always have a higher value. Options don't usually add value, but different trims do. Go to KBB and act like you're trading a 2013, choose Sport, then choose Sahara, see if the difference is more than the $1000.
 
#6 ·
^^^Yes, I would always opt for a higher trim, less customer-optioned vehicle.
In my case, I was looking at a willys with power package and with some doodads, I was $3K away from a base rubicon, so it was kind of a no brainer. Slowly, I am turning it into a HR replica :D
 
#7 ·
Getting close to placing my order for a 2017 and have a question.

If I price out a Sport S and a Sahara so they are equipped the same there is an approximate price difference of $1,100 with the Sport S being the less expensive. This is after adding in the Power Convenience option and Sirus to the Sport S. Both will have auto, 3:73, anti-spin, 3 piece hardtop, premium leather and sound and Connectivity group.

The S has 17 inch tires and black fender flares. The Sahara has body colored flares and 18 inch tires.

Am I missing anything else? To me, it doesn't seem like the body colored flares and 18 inch tires are worth an additional $1,100 dollars. Thoughts?
I been pricing out Jeeps on the Jeep.com website for the last 2-3 weeks and I have never got the Sport S and the Sahara to that close of a different between the two with like options. I personally would never buy the Sport S if I wanted leather seats and some of the other options you want, money spent on the wrong model, that's just the way I see it. If you are wanting all those options I would go with the 75th Anniversary model, yes it would be higher, but then again it's only money. I do think, the Willys Wheeler W is the best priced package and a nicest looking vehicle, that's worth something. Check out what is standard on the Willys W, unless you just don't like it. The Sport S model compared to the other models just sets lower and looks smaller.

trainman
 
#8 ·
you should only be looking at the Sahara if you really want painted fenders and leather, and painted hard top. otherwise, you are much better off going with Sport S

the sahara "heavy duty" suspension is nothing except the use of gas struts instead of hydraulic struts. coils are the same. you will be replacing the suspension at some point anyways, if you insist on gas struts just get them then. I assure you that the hydraulic struts are plenty "heavy duty"

sahara also comes with auto headlights and you can get auto climate control. auto headlights are nice. but they teach you to be lazy. once you learn a habit of not turning lights on yourself, when you go to rent a car on a business trip you will find yourself forgetting to turn them on quite easily. auto climate control IMO is useless. once you learn your vehicle, you'll know where to set the dial anyways. also picking a number is useless b/c it's not exact. look at where the thermostat is situated (at the intake). it's not in the middle of the vehicle or near where you are. today I might feel most comfortable with it on 70. tomorrow, I might want it on 68 b/c it's going to be especially hot. the next day I might be more comfortable on 72. if I'm adjusting the dial all over the place anyways, what's the point for paying extra for a digital thermostat (aka, "auto climate control"). also sahara is marketed as coming with "air filtering". newsflash, "air filtering" is just (2) pleated paper filters you can buy on amazon for $11.83 (what I did). they are commonly referred to as cabin filters. they should be standard on all vehicles but for some reason, Jeep thinks that it's not important to filter the air before blowing it across evap coils (doubles as an air filter for passengers essentially, while protecting the evap coils). hell, even $100 window air conditioners have air filters to protect the evap coils. the primary function is to prevent debris from getting into the evap coils

you will never see the resale down the line (i'm talking about actually down the line, not 3 yrs from now) for the majority of the extra money paid buying a Sahara unless you pay even more for the following which add extra resale value on any vehicle:

- leather seats
- painted top (obviously specific to the Wrangler)

KBB telling you that a 5 year old sahara is worth "thousands" more than a Sport S is just a bunch of bs perpetuated by dealers (unless, you paid extra for options available only on the sahara as I mentioned above). you will never see that when it comes time to sell and you will never get "thousands" more for a stock Sahara selling privately 5+ years from now either.
 
#9 ·
Fully agree with this. One other thing if it means anything to you. I see a whole bunch more Saharas on the road than any other trim level. Just saying if you like to be different.
 
#13 ·
This only makes sense to a point. You need to understand what you are actually paying for something in order to know if it is worth it for you. What you are actually paying for it is a function of not only what you pay now, but what it's value will be later.

Consider the auto transmission. Maybe you only slightly prefer an auto to a manual, and it costs 1k (or whatever) to get the auto. You might decide to get the manual.

But now, you check KBB and extrapolate that you will get $500 extra back at resale if you get the auto. Maybe the auto is worth $500 to you, and maybe it isn't, but at least you've gone through the exercise of really trying to understand what it will cost you to have it.

This same logic applies to every single option and trim line you can configure your vehicle with.
 
#14 · (Edited)
I knew a fine gentleman who grew up with Jeeps, restored old Jeeps and modded modern Jeeps --he passed away a couple years ago.

He preferred Saharas because they came with the stuff he wanted to keep like the leather seats, navi, etc., and didn't come with things we would have paid extra for on Rubicons and he would have ditched --e.g., axles, gears, lockers, shocks, tires, etc.
 
#15 ·
I ordered the Sahara one hour ago. Local dealer came really close to Koons so I pulled the trigger and ordered it. Wife liked it the most:) And so did I.
Firecracker red
Auto transmission
Premium leather and sound
3.73 gears
Connectivity group
Anti slip axle
Black hard top
Smokers group (makes a good change holder and extra 12 volt plug)

The chance of me doing any hard core off roading is slim.
 
#18 ·
I know the OP already ordered, but in case somebody else stumbles across the thread...

We had the same debate before we ordered our Sahara. For me it came down to the fenders. We don't plan to offroad in an area that they will get scratched, and I cant stand the faded black plastic.

FWIW the Sahara comes with step rails standard also... a 450 +/- option on Sport.

So between, painted fenders, auto lights, different wheels/suspension, and step rails, The $1,100 price increase is a steal.
 
#21 ·
Good choice. Many folks here believe that you should buy based on your use case. If you plan to simply drive it, and maybe go down a forest road or three, get the Sahara. If you want to do more than that, but never turn wrenches, buy the Rubicon. If you really want to play and not mod it, buy a turn-key AEV Rubicon. If you want to place a lot of parts and build it, buy a Sport so you aren't wasting money on the factory bits that are coming off anyway.

I bought a Sahara because I wanted the whole thing to be painted (painted fenders and hard top) and I wanted the gas struts and body color bumper appliques, and the Sahara 2016 wheels that are unique to it. The Sahara grill has also grown on me. Eventually I will lift it and replace those bumpers, but that won't be for a while, so I will enjoy it as Auburn Hills intended for some time yet. It sounds like the OP is in a similar situation, so Sahara is the best option.

I kind of wish I'd waited for the 2017 to get the standard LED headlights, but I'm very happy with my Sealed7 HIDs and glad I got the 2016 so I could get Hydro Blue while it was still available.
 
#23 ·
You guys might find this funny, but one of the main reasons we picked the Sahara was because of the stock painted fender flares.
Both the wife and I absolutely HATE when we get wax on flat black parts. It seems like it takes forever to get it removed. And then in a year or so the flat black is faded and then all types of cleaners and protectants are applied to make them look better.
Been there and done that.
Forgot all about the Sahara coming with LEDS standard. Another plus for choosing it.
 
#24 ·
Yes wax in black plastic trim does look like crap. I took my jeep in yesterday to a shop I have used for a long time for a oil change and they had a black lotus exige thatbtheybwere detailing. Whoever did the detail work before had wax all over the non painted surfaces

It's easy to maintain the black fenders... I have been tossing the idea around about buying aftermarket fenders... Dam these things are addictive

For me I do not like the painted fenders or painted top (some colors don't look to bad) but the key is to get what you want :)
 
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