... but I drove a JL today. Wow.

I have a '15 JK Rubicon with a manual transmission. I've always been a manual guy on every car I've ever owned with the exception of two on which manuals weren't offered.

So I'm bored and decided to go down to the local Jeep dealer. They weren't busy and the guy there that knows the most about the Jeep wasn't busy so we had time to chat about the Jeep in the showroom. Tires, lifts, options... the usual Jeep talk. I talked about things I wanted to do with my Jeep...tires, lifts, leather, options...the usual Jeep wish list.

And then I thought...ya know?...if I put my wish list money into a new JL instead? A JLR that can take a 35" tire as is...one that has a new dash board on which the sway bar and locker buttons are in the right place... With aux switches built in...with no rear window wiper motor blocking my vision...with a modern electronic system and an upgraded radio and speakers in the dash... Leather seats (so so so so much more comfortable than my cloth seats)...not to mention zero miles on the engine and suspension and steering components (85,000 on mine). Hmmmmm.

And the Jeep guy says, "Wanna go for a ride?"

Yes.

And I drove a Willys JLU with a hard top. I asked to drive one with the 3.6L and the 8 spd auto transmission.

I was blown away by the difference. Even in the parking lot I could tell. It was firm, planted, and solid like I expect a Jeep to be...but not harsh. This thing was great to drive! Did I mention I'm a manual guy? I am. But I could easily drive this auto all the time and I'd never miss my manual. The suspension and feel were absolutely dialed in. I can't get over what a difference there was.

I love my JK. I really do. But I could switch to a JL and never look back. If I got a nicely optioned JL Rubicon (in the same firecracker red that I already have), I wouldn't have to do any mods on it at all....but I'd probably think of something.

No mods, now that’s funny.

I don't get it... this contradicts all the complaints about the dead spot (lack of feedback) in the steering.

Perhaps I need to drive one.

.

Is your JK modded?

I have a JKU and JLU both had 2.5” lift both have have 315/70R-17 Duratrac and both drive and handle the same.
The only difference is the throttle response on the JLU 3.6 is programmed differently. Throttle is definitely more touchy. As for the 5spd vs 8spd, it does take time to get use to it shifting all the time. And the JLs still need gear swaps when going to bigger tires.


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That first scratch on a brand new 50k jeep, my god, I would die.

My friend just bought a JK 3.6 Sahara "Final Edition" in Germany, very low price with only 10K miles, somebody traded it in for a 2.0 JL.
Everyone happy.
New Jk owner for sure

With the JL the only tranny to get is the auto. The manual while it shifts better the gear spacing is to wide and who in the hell needs 2 OD's. Maybe with a Hemi or the diesel it would be ok but they will never offer a manual with the diesel.

New is always nice. I bet if you drove a new jk with leather and auto it would also feel nice although probably not as refined as the jl. I’m afraid to drive a gladiator

That's why it's not a Wrangler.


Honestly, I'd be getting a diesel JL but they built the dang things so that tall guys can't drive them without hitting their heads.
And with the price of Gladiators, that I fit in btw, I'm pretty sure I'll be getting a 1-ton fullsize as my next vehicle.

I'd really like to slap the fokker that designed the seating/soundbar arrangement in the JL.

Must be that addictive new car err JL smell

I have minor mods on mine. In fact, next week my tires and wheels (Ridge Grapplers and Method 315s) arrive and that will be my first big mod. I have a small spacer lift that came with the Jeep, but not a real lift. I needed new tires. I have 84,000 on the OEM Rubicon MTs! I still have decent tread left, but they're getting scary in the rain.

Maybe my shocks and springs are just shot and I could really do with a MC 2 1/2" GC lift with new shocks (on my near time bucket list), but the biggest difference in the JL was there suspension. It was nice and firm, but the harshness was damped out. Still "Jeep", but much better. As far as vague steering? I didn't notice. Loved the 8spd auto.

I am considering some Katzkins though. If I don't get a JL...and the easy money says I don't... I'll end up with Katzkins soon if they improve the seat feel that much. The dealer says that the Jeep OEM seats are made by Katzkins anyway.

Part of the harshness in my mind is stock control arm bushings. When I installed my GameChanger lift that harshness went away. It is a firmer ride but much more comfortable and better behaved with pot holes and expansion joints.

well I can tell if you put your 84,000 mile tires on a brand new JL it won't ride or drive nearly as nice. Also does not matter what shocks you have if they have 84,000 miles on them they are shot, especially stock shocks. Oh as far as the bet...will your new wheels and tires look good on your new JL

I drove a JLU Sahara with a manual and came away thinking "meh". It's fine and it had way nicer interior and way more gizmos (my 14 JKU sport has wind up windows and manual locks) but driving it didn't feel much different to me. I guess the incremental improvement didn't seem as much of an improvement that was night and day going from YJ to TJ and then from TJ to JK.

Everyone's different. If you like it, you like it.

Better not drive the Gladiator... incredible ride better than an JLU..

100% agree. The JL feels more evolutionary than revolutionary.

I love the looks of JL, as it looks more TJ (tall grille slots with no stupid “Jeep” emblem and turn signals back on the front fenders). I located a dealer with the 6-speed manual on the lot so I could test drive before ordering, and driving it is when when JL lost me. There are many reasons why I decided to get one of the last new JKs instead, one of the biggest is at 6’4” I found both the leg room and head room unforgivable.

The 3 JL's I drove all had more wind noise than my JK.

I drove a used 2019 JLUR with 14,500 miles on her and was sorely disappointed.

The steering felt loose with some shimmy to it, the cabin was loud and had some sort of reverberation or air pressure changes going on. I want to drive a 0 mile one, as this one may have some "history" to it.

The engine/auto was awesome though!

I did give my 2008 JK a pat on the dash on the way home, even though it required a bit more foot to get it moving. It was quieter and just had more of a planted feel to the ride. I was never so proud of my well cared for 3.8 non Fiat owned Wrangler!

As I suspected and in most cases why people notice a difference in suspension which is virtually the same between both models.
You also just answered your own question right there, you are comparing your worn out old JK suspension to new JL suspension.
When you compare a Brand new 2018 JKU to a brand new 2018 JLU and mod them similarly as I have you won’t notice any suspension difference... Tires Shocks and springs make a huge difference in ride quality..
Infact, I just put RK triple rate springs in the 2018 JKU and it rides and handles nicer then the JLU with stock springs and the 2019 JLU with the 4” Mopar lift. All 3 have the same GY Duratrac 315/70R-17 at 27psi.



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