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Why I love my JK and thoughts on the Jeep community....

11K views 48 replies 24 participants last post by  NukeJK 
#1 ·
This is probably a pretty pointless post and has been beaten to death, but I wanted to share MY feelings about all the JK and JK hate that goes on around here. Feel free to comment, disagree or just ignore!!

I am a gearhead, always have been. I'm a hot rodder, but I have wanted a Jeep for a long time, since my first ride as a child in a top down, doors off CJ. I still remember it. Big tires, rusty chrome wheels, metallic brown paint, beat up tan vinyl interior. But I though it was the coolest thing to not only have the top off, but no doors!! For whatever reason, I just never pulled the trigger until recently. I was in need of a new daily driver and after the 12+ feet of snow we got in the area last winter, I figured maybe it was time.

I searched the area for a clean, used Wrangler, and found several. I was in the market for at least a 2000 and up. Didn't matter much to me, I just wanted clean, low mileage and not hacked on. I saw some good candidates out there, but for what I wanted, I was looking at $15k minimum. After running some numbers, I figured out it was actually cheaper with the Tread Lightly discount to buy new than lightly used, so I ended up with a 2 door 2010 Sport S. Auto, 3.73's and the Trac-Lok diff.

I love this thing, I'm angry at myself for waiting so long!! I have driven plenty of Jeeps as I've had friends who owned them, but I finally got one of my own. I love almost everything about it. My only gripe is it could use a bit more power, but then it is a Jeep, how fast do you really need to go in one? I have my 55 Chevy when I want to go fast, anyway. I drive this thing every day and I personally enjoy the revised interior and seats. Not that I wouldn't drive an older model everyday, but the creature comforts afforded in the JK are appreciated. I like the updated body, I like the factory 32" tires, I like the sunrider top and most of all I like that it's just as capable as the older models, but is a little more comfortable to live with every day. I took a trip up I-95 to my mom's house yesterday and cruised along at 65-70 mph with no trouble at all. It still rides a little rough on the concrete highway, but I'm OK with that since I can pretty much go anywhere I need to now. I'm not going to be doing any rock crawling or serious off-roading, probably just some trail riding and beach excursions. No, I bought a Wrangler because it's the most capable vehicle out there and it just made sense to have something that can take me where I need to go in just about any situation if the need arises.

Now, about the Jeep owner community. Since joining, I have formed the opinion that most Jeepers are really good folks. Some people are just malcontents and like to dump on anything and everything (like the JK) that they either don't have any experience with or just plain don't like. That's fine, but it doesn't make the JK any less a Jeep. It's not like the JK is a creampuff, it will still do what you need it to do. The 2wd models, yeah, I'll give you that they are lacking a big part of what makes a Jeep a "Jeep". While I love to see a lifted, modded Jeep more than a stocker, it's none of my damn business why you bought your Jeep or what you use it for. But, I am thankful that you bought it, because it helps keep the brand going. Like it or not, if the Jeep doesn't continually evolve, it WILL die eventually. So if 100,000 soccer moms buy a 4 door Unlimited or 2wd so Jeep can afford to offer the Rubicon, that's just fine with me. So maybe some of us don't want to dump a ton of money into mods, maybe some of us CAN'T dump a ton of money into mods, maybe some of us have other toys that we spend our money on first. So what? Every single Jeep on the road, every single Jeep sold, helps keep the Jeep alive. At it's very core, the Jeep is still what it's always been. It's just a little more user friendly for the uninitiated now.

So who are the real Jeepers? The guys with high dollar rigs that get driven every once and a while? Is it the guys who call themselves "purists" and complain about everything they find offensive with every new Jeep? Or is it the people who drive theirs every day, deal with the little things that would keep most people away from a Jeep, because we love the Jeep for what it is?

Anyway, I'll keep waving at every Jeep I see. I might miss a few of you every now and then, but it's simply because I didn't see you, not some elitist nonsense or snobbery. If you wave back, thanks. If not, no big deal. I didn't buy my Jeep seeking anyone's acceptance or approval.
 
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#42 ·
So who are the real Jeepers? The guys with high dollar rigs that get driven every once and a while? Is it the guys who call themselves "purists" and complain about everything they find offensive with every new Jeep? Or is it the people who drive theirs every day, deal with the little things that would keep most people away from a Jeep, because we love the Jeep for what it is?

Anyway, I'll keep waving at every Jeep I see. I might miss a few of you every now and then, but it's simply because I didn't see you, not some elitist nonsense or snobbery. If you wave back, thanks. If not, no big deal. I didn't buy my Jeep seeking anyone's acceptance or approval



I agree, it is about just enjoying the Jeep experience paved road or not, that in my book is a purest, the fact you love you're jeep you're driving, and don't forget to wave.
 
#45 ·
Well said, Mr. Sinister. Loved your monologue. I can't believe the narrow mindedness of jeepers when they're talking about other jeepers. Save your scorn for the poor souls who aren't in jeeps (or don't scorn anyone at all). Fully modded, lightly modded, stock, they're all jeeps and we're all jeepers. And don't forget to wave.
 
#49 ·
That's going to drive you crazy. Once you latch onto something that irritates you like that, you're never going to not see it. I replaced my stock bumper with a tube bumper and the opening at the back of the rear fender flare drives me nuts. I'm actually thinking of filling it with spray foam. (Well, at least it occurred to me)
 
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