It depends on what you really want. For me if you live your jk and the color I would build that up. Especially since it seems they are still trying to work out the issues with the jl but that’s just me.

 

Welcome here. Your JK will never be a JL. I suggest you take a drive in a new JL with the V6 and 8 speed. Your JK will sell easy and high. If you can get a deal on a JLUR, go for it. Just put some 35's on it and call it done.

 

Build the JK...


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Only you can answer this question. Some would put their money into modifying what they have and be satisfied that they have made their JK exactly what they wanted. Others would spend that money and only ever see that it isn’t a JL. Some would invest all their money in a shiny new JLUR and then be upset that they can’t afford to modify it. Others would look at their new JLUR and say that’s just what they wanted. Still others would buy the JLUR, be upset that they can’t afford to modify it, then take out a second mortgage and max out their credit cards to modify it anyway.

If your ultimate goal is to build a true off road warrior, you will be further ahead modifying what you have. Putting the money it would cost to buy the JL into modding your JK will create a superior off road vehicle. If your goal is to have a Jeep that looks good but won’t likely see much time on the trails, I am thinking you won’t be happy until you get the newer model.


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Depends on the end product you want.

Just going for offroad capability, building the JK to some level of capability will be much cheaper than buying a JL and taking it to the same level.

But if its other features of the JL like the new auto trans, or the exterior/interior styling, or the 4 doors you mentioned, you can't very easily mod your JK to have any of those and should probably get the JL.

Even with the V8 you mentioned, while you can do a swap on the JK, to do it right costs $20K+. I'd tend towards saving a bit more and seeing what the factory 392 looks like if you could afford to wait, you'd get a full warranty that way, and likely much better resale value.

 

I say build the jk. While I pray the 392 becomes a real thing I wouldn’t get my hopes up ( I hope I’m wrong).

Personally speaking I would rather put that money towards some one-ton axles/40s.

Unless you really want the nicer interior and new transmission I’d build the the Jk

 

What is your end-goal for a Jeep?

 

Agree it depends on what you want. I took my JL on its first real shakedown this weekend. Lots of tight trails, steep hills and some small to medium sized rocks. It was a locally sponsored event and there were other JKU and JLU Wranglers there: a Gladiator Rubicon, a couple XJs, and some real dedicated off road builds based on older Toyota platforms. For these kinds of tight trails in the trees, steep climbs up and sharp drops down, I wouldn’t want anything but a 2 door. But for me, I will always have a 2 door regardless, it’s just the look I personally prefer. If I were wanting the best daily driver that is also really capable for crawling and liked the 4 door, I’d get the JLUR with the 3.6 / 8 speed while you still can minus the extra electronics of hybrids, batteries, etc that seem inevitable in the near future. The 392 might happen too, and that would be amazing in the JLU but I imagine it’ll be $75K when all is said and done and you’d still probably want to mod it to personalize it. For that kind of coin, I think I’d mod the JK exactly the way I wanted as a dedicated off roader and use the extra dough to buy a daily driver. IMO anyway.

 

I agree that you should test drive a JL or two. I'd go with 33's, though as I did on my JT (another model you should test drive!)

 

What I want its a 3.5 lift, 37's with axles that can handle it. Was thinking of dynatracs with lockers. I want bumper, rock rails, upgraded stereo, light bar. Im not trying to create a rig that I cant drive daily but I want a fun daily able rig that I can drive to trails. I like the look of the 2 door and I dont care about the refinement. I dont want a undrivable rock crawler or a cheesy mall crawler, I want a nice looking high quality build and willing to spend more.

If I got a JLUR it would come out to around mid 50's and I would likely just due wheels, tires, lift, bumpers and little things.I like the look of the JL but know I can make a good looking and capable 2 door JK. End goal is to have a good looking capable jeep that can be driven every day but taken on trails. I would likely still get the V6 manual like I have now because I dont want a 4cyl and as much as I like diesels Im not sure how an Italian diesel would be in this car.

 

If this is your goal, build your 17, or trade it for a JK sport. Unless you want the 8 speed auto trans the JL is not worth the trade up. If I wanted 37's I would lift as little as possible and do flat fenders. 5.13 gears. In the end, a built up 4 door is worth more than the 2 door and will ride better.

 

I appreciate everyones input. I think I will check out the JL. Just not a fan of any of the colors so far. Liked the mojito but thats gone.

 

I traded my '15 JKUR in a moment of weakness in mid-2018, and regretted it a few weeks later. I had it built just about to the level I wanted. I seriously thought about trading back for it (as crazy as that sounds), but the dealer sold it in no time. I ended up trading into a '18 JLUR later that year. Like others suggested, test drive a couple of JL's, and I would test different models too (Rubi, Willys, etc.). I was surprised at how different they truly are from the JK's. The steering is the biggest thing you'll have to adjust to. I still regret letting my JK go, but I love my Mojito JLUR.

 

2dr vs 4dr - very different. Do you need a 4dr? If ya do, move on. Get the 4dr. If ya don't, build the JK.

You have a choice - an impulse buy drove you towards a 2dr. You can set it right or be happy with what ya have. 2drs are fun vehicles.

If you really wanted a 4dr and are going to keep it for a while, then chock up all the wasted money to experience and move on and get the 4dr.

Realize that Sales Tax and depreciation cost real money.

You can buy a lot of upgrades with money lost to sales tax and depreciation.

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There are tons of improvements on the JL

no matter how much money you spend on the JK it will never be like a JL

if it is your daily commute , think about all the everyday stuff.. filling the gas tank, opening the doors, using the head unit stereo, enjoying the color of your jeep.
Mine is a jku and i get compliments almost everyday from random people about the color..
sometime people even touch my jeep while it is parked..and they look through the window like it is a car in a showroom.. don't ask me how i know about it..

i spend a lot of time cleaning the jeep... So someone leaving finger prints and breathing spots on the windows it is kinda obvious.. but i don't minds though..

not to mention the maintenance free of a new car..

if i had the 60k (i don't) i would trade my hydro blue JK for a Mojito JL

if you are a persone like Arnie in Christine movie...you probably want to buy something you really want.

 

There is nothing in the JL that I don’t have in my JK. I purposely bought the most basic Jeep I could, 6-spd, roll up windows, no power door locks, etc. Then I added D60s and an Atlas. Paid off many years ago and very low registration and insurance cost. Because of that I can easily afford to drive a new MB AMG that has all the tech in the world. Best of both worlds.

 

Drive a Gladiator. Good handling and not top heavy with 37" tires, strongest axles, all the JL updates.

 

A JK will never be a JL, but it is paid for and a JL will not be for a while, even with what you put aside. Take some of that money, upgrade your JK and invest the rest.

Wait for 2023, which is when I believe a 392 may arrive although I'm still dubious about the prospects of a V8 Wrangler. Additionally, unless they come out with factory half doors, I'll stick with JKs.

 

The JK will never be a JL but it's nice to have a lever to recline the front seats.

 

LOL. I had my JL for a year before my wife figured out how to recline the front seat back. She just never asked me how.

 

I would keep the JK. Every year there are more electronics which means more things to go wrong.

 

Absolutely no disrespect intended here. And maybe I'm showing my age - or how cheap I am, but I couldn't take a rig like that offroad and have fun w/o worrying the whole time that I'd wreck it. Got a bone stock JL for daily driver and use my very modified (but no book value left) YJ for the trails. Sometimes need the big hammer to straighten the body after - but I have absolutely worry free fun.