Rubicon vs Sport if I'm heavily customizing it after purchase?

Hi

I want to purchase a new Jeep Wrangler but there are so many to choose from. Also after buying it from the dealership, I will be customizing the bumper/grill, wheels, suspension and radio/speakers. My question is if I am getting/doing all of this work on it, does it matter the type of Wrangler I buy? Initially, I wanted to get the Rubicon but if I am getting all this work done should I just get the sport?

FYI: this will be my very first Jeep purchase!

 

Well if you are going to add lockers and re-gear then go sport.
Price points are extreme on the market for Rubis and Sports.

 

Oh yeah, welcome...Sorry

 

thanks

 

I have a 2011 sport jku the only thing i wish it had that it doesnt is lockers. I love my sport itll keep up with my buddys rubi while were mudding.. oh and the rubi has disconnecting front sway bars... someone please correct me if i am wrong about the sway bars. But all around i got my jku 3 months ago or so i payed 22k for everything and threw another 5 into it a week later. Thats just on bumper winch tires rims and speakers. Craps expensive in ny lol gotta love it.

 

Welcome! The Rubicon is the ultimate JK but the Sport is a very capable vehicle for trails, service roads to camp sites or ski lodges etc. If your future plans include larger tires necessitating suspension lifts, new wheels and regearing that is an expense that would apply to either variation of the JK. The Sport pricepoint gets a JK in your hands for less than the Rubi as you recover and start your build or accessorizing to improve the performance whle the Rubi is more expensive but comes ready to rock and roll over rocks or more challenging terrain. The JK has a huge aftermarket selection of parts or accessories to make your very own ultimate vehicle....the only hangup is the $$$. Be sure to check out your local 4x4 shops to get an idea of their services, charges and whatever DIY work you may be able to do. All the JK versions are capable, some have LSDs or locker(s) and better gearing, tires to give your JK a head start down the trails. Stating your expected JK usage will help the forum help you as we all want similar capability.

The attached pic tells you we are in a long term relationship:

 

In the end it boils down to what you are going to do with your jeep. The mods you mentioned in your initial post can be done to both Jeeps and without wasting the upgrades purchased in the Rubicon. Where do you live. Listening to people on this forum the prices of jeeps are all over the place, but here in Houston you can get a New Sport with automatic trans for $30k and a New Rubicon for $35k both before TT&L.

What do you get for the Rubicon over the Sport:

Dana 44 front axle (a big improvement)
4:1 Transfer Case (another big improvement)
Electric lockers in both axles
Electric sway bar disconnect
Bragging rights

That being said if you are going to turn it into a monster offroading rockcrawler where you are replacing the whole suspension, axles, Tcase and installing your own disconnects (because the E disconnects in the rubis quit working after a while) then you would probably be wasting your money purchasing a Rubicon, but most people don't do this.

 

Im going to take it the sport has the dana 30s? Upfront and rear i didnt look in to it much befor i bought mine figured id do everything over the years

 

JK Sport has Dana 44 rear

 

Ok thanks aggrex

 

Often times when the sway bar disconnect stops working the magnets need to be cleaned.

 

Aggrex makes a lot of great points. And yes, my 2016 has Dana 44 in the rear.

Wow....this thread just exploded. Awesome to see so many members adding their input.
And yeah....think I didnt notice it was for a new FEMALE member.

Mucho testrone thread. Please....the last thing Angie needs is us boosting our Jeeps. So please. Let's keep our Jeeps in the mud for the time being. Hello.... you better get it. Lollll

 

Oops. My bad. Welcome to the forum Angie.

Keep us posted as to your decision. And you better post pics. As knowledgable as our members are when it comes to Jeeps, builds, lifts, etc. We are kinda simple. We like pics.

 

Is too late to add a comment on this awesome post... I own a 2014 Wrangler Sport two door. Got it with 35" Tires, nice rims of course and 4" lift or a bit more I was told by a shop. 25k miles and I just drove it across from Oregon to Idaho on some very flat large Interstate Hiways. I-84 has posted 80 MPH speed limits. So with my V-6 and stock gears (I believe), I found myself cruising at 95. Of course this is all after I set my Speedo using computer programmer and on board GPS for verification. That said, I had plenty of peddle left. Took it off road to "Tank Hill" across from Balanced Rock next to Castle Ford ID. What fun!! Went up three different inclines. Three times each. No slip and no problem climbing them in low range 4x4. I am trying to include the photo's here. Look for the pic where you see the soft dirt rolling down the hill in front of my jeep for an idea of angle and distance.

My wife and I have a 2004 Rubicon (The first one that came out I think) and my 2014 Sport. Regarding the photo's, she has to resend them to me so I can attach here. In the mean time I have only attached a photo I had of the front ends of both lined up in my garage. As soon as I get the Offroad images I will load on here again.

Just wanted to agree with the other comments that stock gears with 35" tires and left kit Sport model Wrangler is confirmed to do a great job with the Fun Factor and is very capable.

 

Never too late to add to the Jeep story. Interesting read

 

One more. LOL

 

Agreed. Awesome post Mark, Sweet pics. Wish I could hit trails like that here in NJ. Very cool..