[agcntry]

Trying to decide which to buy. The 2011 is the one I like the color better and it has a tan and black interior, but the old drive train. The 2012 is basically the same price with less options, but the new drivetrain. Both are automatics.
Also how is the paint on the Sahara fenders vs the black plastic when driving on lots of dirt roads?

 

[coastie743]

The main thing I would look at here, is drive both of them and see what you think of the difference with the new engine in the '12. That was the deciding factor for me between a new sport and a used rubicon

 

[stevebanzai]

12

 

[BillyPete]

Trying to decide which to buy. The 2011 is the one I like the color better and it has a tan and black interior, but the old drive train. The 2012 is basically the same price with less options, but the new drivetrain. Both are automatics.
Also how is the paint on the Sahara fenders vs the black plastic when driving on lots of dirt roads?

Did you test drive them both? Theres really no comparison, the 2012 is hands down the best choice, not to mention future resale will drop like a rock on the 2011

 

[stevebanzai]

Did you test drive them both? Theres really no comparison, the 2012 is hands down the best choice, not to mention future resale will drop like a rock on the 2011

this

 

[kjeeper10]

Did you test drive them both? Theres really no comparison, the 2012 is hands down the best choice, not to mention future resale will drop like a rock on the 2011

 

[basecamper]

I will let others discuss the 2011 vs 2012.

Regarding the the painted flares I can tell you here in MN they use a lot of salt and sand and it gets kicked up all over the Jeep I added front mudflaps and it helped, then went to 33" tires and it got worse again. bottom line I beleive the painted flares will get chipped unless you put some kind of clear shield on them. I am hoping my sliders will help and the steps may help on the sahara as well.

 

[Chewtoy]

Good advice above to drive both, and find a steep hill for each test drive, if possible. I traded my 2010 Sahara to get the 2012 drive train, (both manual transmissions). I really like Saharas, but going for the 3.6 Pentastar is my recommendation. It's really nice.

 

[ridetime]

I bought an 11 Sahara with leather and 730n. $37,965 MSRP and I paid $32,000 for it. I'll take my "resale value" on the front end! I don't buy the poor resale predictions anyway. Just look at the used 07-11's out there. They sure haven't come down any even though the 12's are out. Wranglers are popular and will always enjoy high resale numbers regardless of model year.

There are plenty of buyers out there that don't know the difference and couldn't care less. The 3.8 gets them to the grocery store just like the 3.6 does. But then again, I am one of those drivers you just hate to be behind...I actually drive the speed limit. If I need to be somewhere in a hurry, I leave early.

 

[kjeeper10]

I bought an 11 Sahara with leather and 730n. $37,965 MSRP and I paid $32,000 for it. I'll take my "resale value" on the front end! I don't buy the poor resale predictions anyway. Just look at the used 07-11's out there. They sure haven't come down any even though the 12's are out. Wranglers are popular and will always enjoy high resale numbers regardless of model year.

There are plenty of buyers out there that don't know the difference and couldn't care less. The 3.8 gets them to the grocery store just like the 3.6 does. But then again, I am one of those drivers you just hate to be behind...I actually drive the speed limit. If I need to be somewhere in a hurry, I leave early.

:thumb:

 

[agcntry]

Thanks for the replies, but my dealer doesn't have either on the lot. I drove a 2011 last year and it seemed ok, but haven't driven a 2012 so don't really know.

 

[Chewtoy]

I like the 2012's h.p. for going up steep hills in PA, not for speeding.I am with ridetime: I am one of those drivers you just hate to be behind...I actually drive the speed limit. If I need to be somewhere in a hurry, I leave early.

 

[Slimpickins]

Something else to think about...maybe just as important or more so, take the '12 with the 5 speed tranny especially if you drive highways much. The motor is nice bit the tranny is just as good if not better... I test drove a '11 that the dealership had on markdown and still went with a '12 ar almost full price.

 

[keith6]

12 never look back but do start with the mods :dance:

 

[daggo66]

not to mention future resale will drop like a rock on the 2011

BS. :wavey:

 

[j0nx]

I had the same choice and went with the '12 sport. The Sahara is a blinged out Jeep with 18" wheels and painted fenders and a few interior options which to me are useless as well. None of these things are necessary on a Jeep. The 18" wheels were actually the show stopper for me. I did not want them and did not want to have to spring for a 17" tire and wheel combo to replace them and the painted fenders will only get scratched anyway, same for the top if you opt for the colored top.

 

[i82much]

I was all set to save a good chunk on an '11 and then I drove a '12. Just make absolutely sure you give them both the goods on those test drives and think about the last time you passed someone on a two-lane country road with a curve about a 1/2 mile ahead.

I think the resale argument is valid to a point, but impossible to quantify at this time so I don't really know how you could factor that in.

 

[tropical36]

The painted fenders have a reputation for cracking with long discussions about it on these forums and I like the black generic's anyway. The 12 has the new and more powerful drive train as you know and once you get it home the immediate resale or equity will be higher on the 12. Neither have the tranny skid plate if that's of any interest to you.
All in all, I vote for the 12, especially if you'd like mods down the road, which includes the wheels. We had ours changed to 18" Sahara's from 17" Rubicon wheels and tires, but then, it's more of a road hog and we have no use for serious mud or rock grabbers.

 

[KSCRUDE]

Having had my 11 sahara 2 door for a year in febuary, if I had to choose now it would be the 12 hands down. And it would have to be the 3.73 axle ratio or that would be the deal breaker. All 11 and prior jk wranglers have a serious design flaw in every automatic model. The 3.73 and the 4.10 are way to high geared to even drive down the highway with the stock wheels and tires. They are in 3rd gear over revving or in 4th gear lugging their butt off. So I had to spend north of 2K to regear to 4.88 ratio just to have a decent driver. Another $1k for a front elocker just for fun. So any jk 2011 and older will need a $2k repair right off the bat, which the 12 model will not need. After the regear my 11 now drives like a completely different rig at all speeds. Fiat and Chrysler- CAN TWO WRONGS MAKE A RIGHT?

 

[KSCRUDE]

BS. :wavey:

I have to agree 100% Tom, total BS