NFRs2000NYC
Member
So while I regularly browse and participate on the forum, I am NOT currently a JL owner. Still rockin' my 2014 JKUR patiently waiting for the JL diesel. So as I lurked on the forum, I haven't actually driven a JL, so I didn't really have any hands on experience with one, so I couldn't really participate in any meaningful JL discussions.
The last 10 days, the wife and I took a trip to Hawaii, we did the big island and Kauai on our last trip, so this one we decided to visit Oahu and Maui. For Oahu I just had a basic rental (Nissan Altima) but for Maui, I wanted to drive the Hana road all the way around, which you are NOT allowed to do with a regular rental car, they expressly forbid it, and while plenty of people still do it, I didn't want to deal with the hassle (not knowing what's there) with breaking something on a cheapo rental...so I was looking to rent a wrangler...the big rental companies also forbid you to take wranglers to the backside, and again, paranoid me, not sure if they have trackers in their cars or whatnot, I didn't want to risk it. So I began looking for some way to get a jeep AND get the ok to go anywhere I wanted. After some searching, I found a company called "Maui Lifted Jeep Rentals"....
*disclaimer*
I have no affiliation to this company at all, have no ties or links to them, just a happy customer.
So after browsing their site, I noticed they have 2 JLs in their fleet, one was a soft top, something I definitely wanted for Hawaii....so I made a reservation, and picked it up. Owner is a nice guy from Texas, picked us up at the airport, and drove us to his facility where our JL was ready to be picked up. It was on a 3" lift (I think it was BDS, don't remember, website lists the mods), fuel wheels, 35" tires, metal side steps, and dual steering stabilizers. I had it for 2 full days plus a morning, so think of this as the ULTIMATE test drive. It was a sport model, with the v6, and while I don't know what gears, I assume he got the cheapest floor model (although it did have the Alpine stereo) so take my comments with a grain of salt...not sure what gear options are available on the sports, probably the 3.73s?
Initial impressions.... I had no idea what to expect...maybe like my JKUR with better interior stuff and a new look, again, no idea. I get in, start it...immediately notice it is a little quieter and a little smoother even idling, and even with the soft top (mine is a hard top.) It was warm, and he must have just driven it, because the radiator fan kicked on basically right away, and god damn it's loud. Didn't really bother me, but it is super loud...but a small price to pay for it moving a lot of air to make sure it stays at good operating temp. Put it in the drive and pull out of the lot.....
Immediately notice how much smoother the shifter is compared to the JK auto...night and day. The ride is....well, there is no other word for it....compared to the JK, it's sublime. It feels like driving a lexus. Im sure the lift/mods on that thing weren't of the highest quality, but it was super smooth, Steering felt communicative (although it did have that center deadspot everyone keeps crying about) and direct, and the effort was minimal, super easy to drive. Also when loading the luggage, I noticed how much smoother the tailgate is compared to the JK...felt lighter AND sturdier at the same time...and it did have a 35" tire hanging on the back. Rear visibility was superior to the JKU as well. So driving was a night and day difference....and then you hit the gas...the transmission is a thing of beauty. Passing is effortless. It would absolutely smoke my JKUR on 35s with the 5 speed auto. Power is smooth, seamless, and plenty of it. Hard to believe it's essentially the same engine. Feels like a 100hp difference between the two vehicles.
Driving at night on poorly lit roads, I was shocked how good (compared to the JK) the OEM headlights/fogs are and I am NOT talking about the LEDs. The JK setup IMHO was downright dangerous...like driving around with candles, the JL actually illuminated the road...I can only imagine how good the LED are. The alpine stereo, compared to the JK, is also superb. Bass is clean and potent, mids are solid, highs are a little weak but that can be easily remedied with some aftermarket speakers/tweeters in OEM locations....but again, compared to the JK, night and day.
Now, the problems....sadly, there were some, and they were the common ones. This JL had the small screen (base) and we plugged in my iphone for navigation, stream amazon music, etc....first, the USB port (dash mounted) didn't work....then it worked, then the headunit reset itself, then it worked again, then it would reset itself again...which seems to be a common problem. This JL had 6600 miles on the ODO, but I've read about the USB issue quite a bit. Next problem was the TPMS...all 4 tires were reading correctly, and the correct pressure, but it still randomly threw a TPMS idiot light from time to time. Again, seems to be a common issue without explanation at this point. These two electronic issues were repeated multiple times a day.
Other than those two issues, everything else ran smoothly and without incident. The electronic issues are annoying (and slightly concerning considering how much electrical stuff they are adding with the battery setups) but I think the rest of the package is SUCH an upgrade, one would be crazy not to get a JL vs a JK. I am glad I got to experience such a long test drive, and best of all, on a modified JL, so I can get a really good experience and collect as much info as I needed to make the decision when the time comes....which is I will definitely be switching over.
The last 10 days, the wife and I took a trip to Hawaii, we did the big island and Kauai on our last trip, so this one we decided to visit Oahu and Maui. For Oahu I just had a basic rental (Nissan Altima) but for Maui, I wanted to drive the Hana road all the way around, which you are NOT allowed to do with a regular rental car, they expressly forbid it, and while plenty of people still do it, I didn't want to deal with the hassle (not knowing what's there) with breaking something on a cheapo rental...so I was looking to rent a wrangler...the big rental companies also forbid you to take wranglers to the backside, and again, paranoid me, not sure if they have trackers in their cars or whatnot, I didn't want to risk it. So I began looking for some way to get a jeep AND get the ok to go anywhere I wanted. After some searching, I found a company called "Maui Lifted Jeep Rentals"....
*disclaimer*
I have no affiliation to this company at all, have no ties or links to them, just a happy customer.
So after browsing their site, I noticed they have 2 JLs in their fleet, one was a soft top, something I definitely wanted for Hawaii....so I made a reservation, and picked it up. Owner is a nice guy from Texas, picked us up at the airport, and drove us to his facility where our JL was ready to be picked up. It was on a 3" lift (I think it was BDS, don't remember, website lists the mods), fuel wheels, 35" tires, metal side steps, and dual steering stabilizers. I had it for 2 full days plus a morning, so think of this as the ULTIMATE test drive. It was a sport model, with the v6, and while I don't know what gears, I assume he got the cheapest floor model (although it did have the Alpine stereo) so take my comments with a grain of salt...not sure what gear options are available on the sports, probably the 3.73s?
Initial impressions.... I had no idea what to expect...maybe like my JKUR with better interior stuff and a new look, again, no idea. I get in, start it...immediately notice it is a little quieter and a little smoother even idling, and even with the soft top (mine is a hard top.) It was warm, and he must have just driven it, because the radiator fan kicked on basically right away, and god damn it's loud. Didn't really bother me, but it is super loud...but a small price to pay for it moving a lot of air to make sure it stays at good operating temp. Put it in the drive and pull out of the lot.....
Immediately notice how much smoother the shifter is compared to the JK auto...night and day. The ride is....well, there is no other word for it....compared to the JK, it's sublime. It feels like driving a lexus. Im sure the lift/mods on that thing weren't of the highest quality, but it was super smooth, Steering felt communicative (although it did have that center deadspot everyone keeps crying about) and direct, and the effort was minimal, super easy to drive. Also when loading the luggage, I noticed how much smoother the tailgate is compared to the JK...felt lighter AND sturdier at the same time...and it did have a 35" tire hanging on the back. Rear visibility was superior to the JKU as well. So driving was a night and day difference....and then you hit the gas...the transmission is a thing of beauty. Passing is effortless. It would absolutely smoke my JKUR on 35s with the 5 speed auto. Power is smooth, seamless, and plenty of it. Hard to believe it's essentially the same engine. Feels like a 100hp difference between the two vehicles.
Driving at night on poorly lit roads, I was shocked how good (compared to the JK) the OEM headlights/fogs are and I am NOT talking about the LEDs. The JK setup IMHO was downright dangerous...like driving around with candles, the JL actually illuminated the road...I can only imagine how good the LED are. The alpine stereo, compared to the JK, is also superb. Bass is clean and potent, mids are solid, highs are a little weak but that can be easily remedied with some aftermarket speakers/tweeters in OEM locations....but again, compared to the JK, night and day.
Now, the problems....sadly, there were some, and they were the common ones. This JL had the small screen (base) and we plugged in my iphone for navigation, stream amazon music, etc....first, the USB port (dash mounted) didn't work....then it worked, then the headunit reset itself, then it worked again, then it would reset itself again...which seems to be a common problem. This JL had 6600 miles on the ODO, but I've read about the USB issue quite a bit. Next problem was the TPMS...all 4 tires were reading correctly, and the correct pressure, but it still randomly threw a TPMS idiot light from time to time. Again, seems to be a common issue without explanation at this point. These two electronic issues were repeated multiple times a day.
Other than those two issues, everything else ran smoothly and without incident. The electronic issues are annoying (and slightly concerning considering how much electrical stuff they are adding with the battery setups) but I think the rest of the package is SUCH an upgrade, one would be crazy not to get a JL vs a JK. I am glad I got to experience such a long test drive, and best of all, on a modified JL, so I can get a really good experience and collect as much info as I needed to make the decision when the time comes....which is I will definitely be switching over.
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) I love my Jk for what it is, but can't wait to get my JL for my DD.
