Jeep to Lexus convert.

[r2m]

Aftermarket companies make more than enough parts to cover most of those concerns. You’re also talking about the desires of a very small percentage of owners. A fraction of a percentage, I’d bet.

Not so sure about that small percentage point you made, especially with Ford having sold every single one of it's 2022 Bronco's and the demand is still there.
What I absolutely agree with you is, there is a very small percentage of customers that actually use these vehicles for how they're built but many will buy them 'cause they're cool. They sure as heck aren't buying them for creature comforts or ride quality!
Wish I had a nickle for how many Jeeps that are on the road that have NEVER seen a dirt, gravel road or even driveway! Kind of like all the people that wear surf wear and don't surf, or cargo/zip-off pants and adventure shirts, yet never hike or go outdoors. It's all about image and what's cool and right now outdoor stuff and camping is way cool!
So as the old saying goes, build it and they will come.

 

[Rednexus]

I had an an interesting conversation with one of my BIL's co-workers who had a lifted Wrangler on 35's. I was asking him about approach and departure angles and he had no idea what I was talking about. Turns out they bought it because it had no top and looked cool....that was the extent of it. He didn't even know the tire size and I had to ask him. I am sure it had never been off-road at all. My BIL had a Wrangler for awhile too, never took it off-road, and sold it to get a Ram (a much more useful daily vehicle in every way).

I also see lots of even worse ones in the St. Louis area rolling on 35's or larger, sometimes with aftermarket axles, "angry" jeep grilles, and completely spotless undercarriages. One particularly spotless example I saw recently even had a "TRL-RTD" vanity plate on it . Unforutuantley I sometimes see 4Runner's that fall into the same categories, albeit without the angry grilles.

These are the reasons I will never own a Jeep. Sure they are capable off-road, but they have become the de facto image vehicle for a suburbanite in their 40's who wants to project the image of being "cool" or "rugged" without actually being that at all. Chrysler/Stellantis/etc of course realizes this and has used the Jeep to basically print money. Ford will do the same with the Bronco.

I personally enjoy driving a unique, luxurious, reliable, well-engineered, off-road capable vehicle that actually hits the dirt/rocks/mud on a regular basis (as evidenced by based skid plates and lots of tree pinstripes), rather than trying to look just like everyone else who is trying to look like something they actually aren't.

 

[r2m]

Ha-ha-ha!!
Completely forgot about the "Mid-life crisis" reason!
It used to be a red Porsche, now a red Jeep!!

 

[Rednexus]

Ha-ha-ha!!
Completely forgot about the "Mid-life crisis" reason!
It used to be a red Porsche, now a red Jeep!!

I would MUCH prefer a red Porsche to a red Jeep that never goes off-road for a mid-life-crisis vehicle! At least the Porsche would be fun commuting to work. My crisis will probably be coming up in a few years and I'm already thinking a new BRZ/Toyota 86 or a used Lexus IS-F will be used to fill the void. But either car will get driven!

 

[r2m]

I would MUCH prefer a red Porsche to a red Jeep that never goes off-road for a mid-life-crisis vehicle! At least the Porsche would be fun commuting to work. My crisis will probably be coming up in a few years and I'm already thinking a new BRZ/Toyota 86 or a used Lexus IS-F will be used to fill the void. But either car will get driven!

If you're serious about the mid-life toy, consider a used Porsche Boxster.
You can get them for under $10k and nicer ones for $20k. They are also starting to reach cult status because they handle great, are affordable and there's aftermarket support for them. And if you get a good independent Porsche shop, the service/maintenance isn't so bad either.

 

[Rednexus]

If you're serious about the mid-life toy, consider a used Porsche Boxster.
You can get them for under $10k and nicer ones for $20k. They are also starting to reach cult status because they handle great, are affordable and there's aftermarket support for them. And if you get a good independent Porsche shop, the service/maintenance isn't so bad either.

Thanks, I had no idea they are that cheap. Another option I've considered is Z06 Vette but they carry the jean-shorts-and-white-socks image. I definitely hope to get a good weekend sports car in the next 5-10 years, and get something somewhat unique/different and affordable as well.

 

[jiggletits]

GX people are the same. Bought some OEM take off parts from a guy locally who had a nice lifted 470 on 34s, bumpers front and rear, etc. He had never taken it off road, just liked the look.

LIving in the US is funny. The average person is quite wealthy compared to most of the world. In the places I have travelled, people run their vehicles way longer and actually use them. If they aren't going off roading or driving in mud they certainly don't buy a 4x4 and trick it out for no reason. I try to think of my autos that way, at least the ones I plan to keep around. In the market for a Prius or Corolla Hybrid right now just for dorking around town and work travel.

I am totally fine with tricking out a GX and selling it for a $5k profit to some software engineer who thinks it looks cool.

'Merica.

 

[Arailt]

If you're serious about the mid-life toy, consider a used Porsche Boxster.
You can get them for under $10k and nicer ones for $20k. They are also starting to reach cult status because they handle great, are affordable and there's aftermarket support for them. And if you get a good independent Porsche shop, the service/maintenance isn't so bad either.

My father-in-law bought a 997 911 last year. He initially wanted a newer Boxter, but I think his neighbor's GT3 pushed him over to the 911. It is a BLAST to drive. Convertable with the PDK transmission and sport chrono (track) package. Feels like an F1 car with the PDK. His was a little on the high end because it was the last year for the 997 and had less than 20k on the clock, but you can get a really nice "higher mile" early 997 in manual in the $30s.

 

[jiggletits]

My father-in-law bought a 997 911 last year. He initially wanted a newer Boxter, but I think his neighbor's GT3 pushed him over to the 911. It is a BLAST to drive. Convertable with the PDK transmission and sport chrono (track) package. Feels like an F1 car with the PDK. His was a little on the high end because it was the last year for the 997 and had less than 20k on the clock, but you can get really nice "higher mile" early 997s in manual in the $30s.

The turbo, water cooled 911s are FAST and fun and up until recently CHEAP. Purists hate them, like old Ducati owners... but water cooled is 100% the way to go unless you want a mantle-piece.

My buddy had an AWD turbo 996, just at tune/exhaust put that thing to like 550 AWHP. Pain in the ass to work on, but fun car.

 

[r2m]

Thanks, I had no idea they are that cheap. Another option I've considered is Z06 Vette but they carry the jean-shorts-and-white-socks image. I definitely hope to get a good weekend sports car in the next 5-10 years, and get something somewhat unique/different and affordable as well.

Trust me, you'll really enjoy the Boxster. I've had a couple of Porsche's and loved them. Also maintenance is not much worse than Lexus products.
Nice thing about the boxster (especially if you're a little older) is that it's not as much of a "boy toy" like WRX-STI's, Evo's Hondas, etc. with the Blip-Blip over loud exhaust, dropped to the ground styling like the Fast 'n Furious type Japanese cars. Porsche's are more sophisticated and mature. At my age, as much fun as I'm sure they are to drive, I just can't see myself drifting around corners in a small tricked out rice-burner.
A Porsche, Maserati, BMW, M-Benz, Audi or even old muscle cars and old British sports cars? Sure, I can do that, but I'll leave the small Asian sports cars to the ute's (as my cousin Vinnie once said).

 

[GrizzlyClint]

I had an an interesting conversation with one of my BIL's co-workers who had a lifted Wrangler on 35's. I was asking him about approach and departure angles and he had no idea what I was talking about. Turns out they bought it because it had no top and looked cool....that was the extent of it. He didn't even know the tire size and I had to ask him. I am sure it had never been off-road at all. My BIL had a Wrangler for awhile too, never took it off-road, and sold it to get a Ram (a much more useful daily vehicle in every way).

I also see lots of even worse ones in the St. Louis area rolling on 35's or larger, sometimes with aftermarket axles, "angry" jeep grilles, and completely spotless undercarriages. One particularly spotless example I saw recently even had a "TRL-RTD" vanity plate on it . Unforutuantley I sometimes see 4Runner's that fall into the same categories, albeit without the angry grilles.

These are the reasons I will never own a Jeep. Sure they are capable off-road, but they have become the de facto image vehicle for a suburbanite in their 40's who wants to project the image of being "cool" or "rugged" without actually being that at all. Chrysler/Stellantis/etc of course realizes this and has used the Jeep to basically print money. Ford will do the same with the Bronco.

I personally enjoy driving a unique, luxurious, reliable, well-engineered, off-road capable vehicle that actually hits the dirt/rocks/mud on a regular basis (as evidenced by based skid plates and lots of tree pinstripes), rather than trying to look just like everyone else who is trying to look like something they actually aren't.

Oh man it feels like Texas (and CO) are filled with so many posers in mega modded wranglers that never see even a gravel driveway.

 

[Arailt]

Oh man it feels like Texas (and CO) are filled with so many posers in mega modded wranglers that never see even a gravel driveway.

It's the same in PA. So many people in my area have "blinged" out 4-door Wranglers on 35s. LED lights everywhere, gaudy 20 inch rims. Poison Spyder armor for absolutely no reason. I see at least one every time I go out. I'm seeing the same with Gladiators now too.

 

[Meat Head]

For the record as a Jeep owner, I have not now, nor ever condoned the use of angry grills, 20’s, or any other blasphemous appendages on a Jeep. Every Jeep we have owned has been used off road, as intended. God kills a kitten every time someone builds a bro dozer.

 

[GrizzlyClint]

For the record as a Jeep owner, I have not now, nor ever condoned the use of angry grills, 20’s, or any other blasphemous appendages on a Jeep. Every Jeep we have owned has been used off road, as intended. God kills a kitten every time someone builds a bro dozer.

Thankfully as a ‘19 Grand Cherokee Trailhawk owner there wasn’t even a possibility of installing any of those dumb mods. The lack of aftermarket was a small factor in me selling it.

 

[r2m]

Thankfully as a ‘19 Grand Cherokee Trailhawk owner there wasn’t even a possibility of installing any of those dumb mods. The lack of aftermarket was a small factor in me selling it.

Apologies MrTorgue, don't mean to mash your Trailhawk, but aren't Trailhawk's a unibody platform? That in itself would be a no-go for building anything truly trail worthy.
My person conviction is to build vehicles that are only body-on-frame,

 

[jdam]

It's the same in PA. So many people in my area have "blinged" out 4-door Wranglers on 35s. LED lights everywhere, gaudy 20 inch rims. Poison Spyder armor for absolutely no reason. I see at least one every time I go out. I'm seeing the same with Gladiators now too.

There is a plus to everyone owning these things and buying all these aftermarket parts they'll never use - it makes it "affordable" for those who actually use it.

I have a buddy who bought a Gladiator and went offroad within the first 100 miles. We also use it to tow a track car and trailer. Of course, it broke within the first year (under warranty) but at least parts were super easy to source because everyone who owned a Wrangler Unlimited who wanted more Wrangler bought one.

 

[GrizzlyClint]

Apologies MrTorgue, don't mean to mash your Trailhawk, but aren't Trailhawk's a unibody platform? That in itself would be a no-go for building anything truly trail worthy.
My person conviction is to build vehicles that are only body-on-frame,

Yes. It isn’t for rock crawling though, it’ll do just about every thing else. It’ll go places a Disco won’t that’s for sure. It was pretty damn decent when I took it off-road in the middle of no-where Texas hill country. Having said that however clearly either of my GX’s are far superior and thus is one reason why I bought them and sold the GC. I do still miss the HEMI and the interior though. I need a combination of a 460 and that Trailhawk (drivetrain+interior) but I don’t think it exists. So I gotta slowly build something close.

 

[TheNomad]

Well, while my story is merely anecdotal, I just brought a '13 460 home yesterday because my '12 Wrangler JKU was in and out of the shop (mostly in) for the past 18 months for constant CEL. I replaced so many things and then they diagnosed it as engine wiring harness... $4k later CEL came right back. So PCM on their dime and now I got it back and it seems to run...
But in my 4 years owning it I had to replace the radiator, oil pump, driver head 3 times (warranty), oil filter housing, oil cooler, interior leather (it was mostly vinyl and peeling), heated seats never worked, a/c blend actuator, coils, plugs, battery, brakes...
Yes, some are maintenance I expect but I had to dump it in fear of the dreaded lifter tick or yet another issue...

So... hello all... I look forward to getting dirty in a toyota...

 

[Meat Head]

I decided to look into a new 4Runner as an option. If you can find one, the stealerships want over MSRP. I am not in a hurry and will look into them again in the spring, but I ain’t paying over sticker. We definitely have decided to leave the GX stock (for now anyway), and pick up a toy for off-roading. A 2 door Wrangler or a TRD Off Road 4Runner are my options.

 

[z531519]

For the record as a Jeep owner, I have not now, nor ever condoned the use of angry grills, 20’s, or any other blasphemous appendages on a Jeep. Every Jeep we have owned has been used off road, as intended. God kills a kitten every time someone builds a bro dozer.

Jeep wrangler attracts different people, i guess that what makes it click. It can be stock, brodozer, overlander, buggied (ehh is that still a jeep?!). Sure my eyes bleed whenever i see the brodozer ones, but to each their own . But definitely you don't buy a Jeep to be unique . Thankfully most of us who gets it don't have one to be unique.

Interestingly, i think the 4Rs/Tacomas are steadily overtaking the brodozer lifestyle. Jeeps days are done.