FJ vs Wrangler unlimited

[I Tried]

So I am car shoping for my wife's new winter beater. We are down to either a new FJ or Wranger unlimited. I know they are 2 different rigs but I would like your opinions as FJ owners. I have a few FJ40's so I am biased to what I think we shold get but this is for her daily driver, the only reason there is even a choice is the 4 door Jeep. If the FJ was a 4 door it would be in our driveway.

Also what is the tow rating on the FJ and jeep with a 6 speed whatever we get will be a 6 speed.

Tim

 

[Combat Chuck]

What year FJ, what year Barbie Jeep?

Just drove a 2010 Jeep Wrangler, no idea what the alpha-numerical prefix was (if it isn't FJ/HJ/BJ, I'm drifting, I swear!) and these are my honest thoughts on it:

The motor (Pentastar V6) is too car-like. The power band is all wrong, it's gutless, gets terrible mileage for what it is.
The transmission (slushbox) was unappealing, but smooth shifting.
The suspension was stiffer than an FJ40 Rancho springs. Minor wear on the road felt like I was riding down the sloped side of Half-dome in a barrel.
The steering was at times nice, but at times, sloppy, and the turn radius was pretty bad.
The interior was far-and-wide the worst automotive interior I've ever encountered. Stiff, plastic seats with pleather lining that were designed to "socket" you into place. Being surrounded by plastic made me feel like I was driving around in a styrofoam packing structure. It was rattly, alienating, and unappealing.
It's extraordinarily blind. On a 40, we have a narrow windshield that offers surprisingly more visibility than it advertises, on this heep, it had a larger windshield, but it was cropped into a pathetic band of glass by plastic fixings and junk. B-pillars were in the worst possible location, and not having rear corner glass is something you never truly miss until it's gone.

 

[SWUtah]

Here is a hint for you. The Wrangler is Dodges most profitable vehicle. Now why would that be????? Could it be that people will pay more for the IDEA of the rugged and go anywhere vehicle? Can you say Cheap, cheap, cheap low quality vehicle. How if you want to buy one and build your own quality vehicle then that is another story.

 

[I Tried]

My wife and I drove both today and they both have good and bad. I will say we started out looking at used 07's and ended the day read to pull the plug on new. We decided to sleep on it and talk more about it. I hate the pressure of sales people and I brought a car to trade and LOL at what they would give me. We narrowed it down to a 2012 4 door Rubicon with the new 3.6 V6 and I will say it is much better preforming than the 3.8. It has leather and is nice for a Jeep. Compared to the FJ it feels cheap! The FJ on the short list is a 2011 TRD off road edition in the solid army green color. My wife likes the color and style of the FJ better but no leather and not being able to get a stick hurts the chances some. I really want a stick but it is not a deal breaker for me but my wife it may be. Price wise the Jeap is about 4G more. The biggest draw back is the 4 door issue, with 2 kids 3 and 7 is the 2 door going to be a pain in the ass? Do any of you guys have kid getting in and out of the back at the mall ect?


Tim

 

[Capt Sensible]

I have a daughter, she's 2. As long as you're not parked close to somebody, and her seat isn't in the middle of the back seat, it's easy to put her in (1000 times easier than the wife's 2 door jeep). I do not have a 7 year old, but I can only hope by the time my daughter is 7, she is smart enough to climb in the truck and strap herself in.

 

[Combat Chuck]

Doesn't the FJ have rear suicide doors like an Ex-cab pickup?
Automatic anything is a tought sell for me, but I'd trust a Toyota auto sooner than some Mopar POS.

FWIW, growing up, the family vehicles were a 2-door extended-cab K2500 and an F150, and I never had any trouble getting in and out as a kid.
Good job not yeilding under the pressure of the sales goons, they're like sharks.

 

[woody]

Having driven the FJC as part of the Trail Team, and having been part of the Media Drive event for the 2012 Wrangler, I've got opinions on both

The Wrangler (Rubicon) is a nicer offroad vehicle. Hard to beat solid axles, factory 4:1 t-case, factory diff locks, and a 4-door with a removable top. The new Pentastar 3.6 V6 is nice...on and off road. 60-100ish mph was pleasant for passing Handling is okay, but not terrible...I could get the inside rear tire to lift on hard pavement cornering. Braking was good, pavement to gravel transitions were handled well. Trans felt fine to me, and we pushed it hard. It's not a sports car, don't drive it like one.

2011 was a major redesign of the Wrangler, and 2012 offered the new Pentastar motor.

http://www.rockcrawler.com/2011/08/2012-jeep-wrangler-new-pentastar-motor-changes-everything/

The FJC wins in the reliability department and for on-road use. Blind spots, sure, but like any vehicle you get used to them quickly. Rear seat access is for gymnasts. Handling is good with the IFS, and predictable. The FJC is an enthusiasts vehicle or one you own to be different. I know a guy on MUD with over 120k on his 2008, and has had great luck with it...work daily driver and offroader as well.

Honestly, as a primarily-offroad user, I'd prefer the Wrangler...just hard to pass up the factory features for that purpose.

 

[SWUtah]

Having driven the FJC as part of the Trail Team, and having been part of the Media Drive event for the 2012 Wrangler, I've got opinions on both

The Wrangler (Rubicon) is a nicer offroad vehicle. Hard to beat solid axles, factory 4:1 t-case, factory diff locks, and a 4-door with a removable top. The new Pentastar 3.6 V6 is nice...on and off road. 60-100ish mph was pleasant for passing Handling is okay, but not terrible...I could get the inside rear tire to lift on hard pavement cornering. Braking was good, pavement to gravel transitions were handled well. Trans felt fine to me, and we pushed it hard. It's not a sports car, don't drive it like one.

2011 was a major redesign of the Wrangler, and 2012 offered the new Pentastar motor.

2012 Jeep Wrangler – NEW Pentastar Motor Changes Everything! | RockCrawler 4x4 and Offroad Magazine

The FJC wins in the reliability department and for on-road use. Blind spots, sure, but like any vehicle you get used to them quickly. Rear seat access is for gymnasts. Handling is good with the IFS, and predictable. The FJC is an enthusiasts vehicle or one you own to be different. I know a guy on MUD with over 120k on his 2008, and has had great luck with it...work daily driver and offroader as well.

Honestly, as a primarily-offroad user, I'd prefer the Wrangler...just hard to pass up the factory features for that purpose.

Great post, looks like the decision is between bias toward off road versus on road and cost for lower quality. I do think the new Jeep V6 is a great engine. If you have the time/bucks to spend on the Jeep being repair then go for the Jeep. I would feel safer having my kids in the Toyota.

 

[Baltoro Jeeper]

I can't say too much on the topic but I spoke to a very experienced jeep builder/mechanic in Dubai recently where they have tons of FJCs and JKs on the streets and in the desert with a fair balance between the two. This person is primarily a Jeep guy (mainly does JKs/TJs/YJs/Cherokees) and also builds competitive Nissan Patrols for the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge. He said that in Dubai's hot and difficult street and desert conditions, the JK Wranglers have had reliability issues (primarily with the engines) and were essentially running/selling because of the warranty. Nevertheless the JK, with great offroad/deset performance, endless modification possibilities (particularly the 4 door) and tons of aftermarket parts continued to be a very popular vehicle. On the other hand, he regarded the FJC as a "professional" vehicle basically in the context of desert rally raid racing because of its ruggedness and reliability.

I guess apart from the reliabilty, it depends on how you are looking to use the rig, if it was crawling/general offroading JK, if its high speed desert FJC. On the tarmac/steert I have a feeling JK would find it difficult to compete as I have a hard time visualizing how a solid axle vehicle would be more fun here than the IFS. Also from what I gather the JK Penstars are just no match for the FJC's rocking 4.0L 1GR engine.

I would have thought that the FJC suicide doors would be ideal with young kids, though there is no beating the full four door stuff....

But I gather that in the end it will always come down to whether you a Toy head or a Jeep fanatic. Personally I sit somewhat on the fence as my heart is all Jeep but my head always goes Toyota

 

[I Tried]

Thanks for the input guys and Woody, this truck would see very little off road some but not much. I have FJ40's for that.

My wife and I talked about it over lunch today and she had a good point. She works 22 miles from out house, on her way to work today she saw 7 4 door wranglers and 0 FJ's. She is not the type of girl who wants to drive the same car as the girl nxt to her at the stoplight. FJ it is is what she said, now I have to digg some money ot of the back yard and get her one. I want used because I am cheap and she wants the new Green one.


I love having a wife who thinks cars are cool but dam it gets expensive.


Tim

 

[SWUtah]

Thanks for the input guys and Woody, this truck would see very little off road some but not much. I have FJ40's for that.

My wife and I talked about it over lunch today and she had a good point. She works 22 miles from out house, on her way to work today she saw 7 4 door wranglers and 0 FJ's. She is not the type of girl who wants to drive the same car as the girl nxt to her at the stoplight. FJ it is is what she said, now I have to digg some money ot of the back yard and get her one. I want used because I am cheap and she wants the new Green one.


I love having a wife who thinks cars are cool but dam it gets expensive.


Tim

Just make sure you get 2010 or newer. Major changes and upgrades in the engine, frame, etc. do a search, a member listed a toyota sheet showing the differences between the 2001-2009 and the new 2010- 2012, big improvements in the post 2010 models.

 

[Cee Fish]

My wife and I talked about it over lunch today and she had a good point. She works 22 miles from out house, on her way to work today she saw 7 4 door wranglers and 0 FJ's. She is not the type of girl who wants to drive the same car as the girl nxt to her at the stoplight. FJ it is is what she said, now I have to digg some money ot of the back yard and get her one. I want used because I am cheap and she wants the new Green one.


I love having a wife who thinks cars are cool but dam it gets expensive.


Tim

Good choice! She (you) won't regret it.

 

[woody]

The FJC is an enthusiasts vehicle or one you own to be different.

She is not the type of girl who wants to drive the same car as the girl nxt to her at the stoplight.

now the fun part...shopping

 

[I Tried]

now the fun part...shopping

Yup, I love car shoping. Her mind is made up, I found a nice 07 that had 45k dealer installed leather and moon roof but it was a auto. She was ready to take it because it had leather but it sold last night so the hunt continues. She really want's the all green trail team edition 2011 that is brand new but I cannot get myself to spend that kind of $ when I can get a 07 for under 20G and add a 3" lift and some 33" tires and make it look bad ass for her for 10 less and keep that money in the bank. She had me order the lift already because she will not drive it till it is lifted and wheels even if it is new.

Tim

 

[jgray]

Have you considered a 100 Series Land Cruiser? If you can find one locally you should at least drive one just for comparison...

 

[Daveman]

i would say if this is a winter vehicle for the wife that she may be more comfortable in the FJ...both are off-road capable (the Rubie and FJ w/locker and A-trac) with a slight edge to the Rubie...

 

[Combat Chuck]

Despite the bashing it gets, the FJ's a really sweet ride, and well-engineered vehicle. I think you'll be happy with the choice!
Have fun shopping!

 

[Layonnn]

The motor (Pentastar V6) is too car-like. The power band is all wrong, it's gutless, gets terrible mileage for what it is.

The new Pentastar V6 isn't going in to the JK until 2012. The one you drove had the minivan 3.8L

And yes, the current 3.8L is pretty gutless. I test drove some 4dr rubicons back in 07 before i bought my FJC and it was one of the many reasons i went with the FJC.

 

[Combat Chuck]

The new Pentastar V6 isn't going in to the JK until 2012. The one you drove had the minivan 3.8L

And yes, the current 3.8L is pretty gutless. I test drove some 4dr rubicons back in 07 before i bought my FJC and it was one of the many reasons i went with the FJC.

Interesting.
The guy at the stealership called it the "Pentastar Six" but I'm sure he'd call it a monte christo sandwich to sell the damn thing.

 

[I Tried]

Going to look at a black Trail Team tomorrow. 2007