JL Hits and Misses

What do you like or dislike about your JL Wrangler?

Anything that Jeep really nailed or missed the mark on?

Are there any options you are glad you got, or wished you had?

 

I'll start:

Hits:
Rides and handles pretty good for a solid axle front end. A bit better than the JKs I test drove. Way better than my old YJ.
Rock solid in the snow. Nary slip or slide. The same could ne be said of my 4Runner.
The infotainment system seems excellent. Good screen resolution and very responsive.

Misses:
Fuel economy still sucks.
$$$$$$$

 

I figure there's about 6 JLs on here. So few that the JK people respond more than us modern folk.

 

I think I will add a JL one day. The only two misses that come to mind after checking out the JLs/JKs at the Philadelphia Auto show was PRICE and a set of indentations on the cowl that can collect mud/dirt/debris. First time I ever went to an autoshow and stayed in one area (jeep) while the rest of my group dispersed.

 

"I resemble that remark"

 

I'm glad to see this thread. My 2016 Tacoma is in the process of being bought back by Toyota, lemon law. I am considering going back a F150 supercrew or a JL. Been checking out both, and they both check wildly different boxes for me and my family.

It's funny, today, as I drooled over the Punk'n Sahara Unlimited I notice the indents in the cowl. I picture tons of debris and leaves and acorns collecting in there. Well maybe not acorns.

I liked the convertible top improvements they have made since my 1997 and my 2004.

The comment about the mpgs freaks me out a bit as I have never had a Wrangler get even close to the posted numbers. And my 23mpg rated Tacoma gets about 15 on the highway.

I'm leaning towards a manual Sahara over the f150 mainly for convertible duty and for its amazing resale. But I will admit the $48k sticker is making me pucker.

 

**WELCOME**
I've come to terms with those cowl indents as aftermarket cowl light brackets may cover them or some plastic plugs could fill them. Only issue left is PRICE but when the time comes some deal will be worked out as driving out of state got me a great deal on my '16 JK.

 

I see your concerns. @JoeInOh . Just my 3 cents. I have a 2016 JK sitting on 35s. And I'm gettin 18.5 plus on the highway. Sticker says 21mpg. So very happy with mpg. Flashcal Superchip well worth the money. Post up what you decide.
Welcome to the forum dude. Great to have another....well....possible...JL owner. Sorry. No tacos here. Hahaha.

 

I have never driven a JL, however I have been up close and personal with a couple.
Hit: Adjustable 3rd brake light. Jeep was paying attention to their customer's and what they do with their Jeeps. Some states or LEOs can be picky when it comes to required equipment.
Hit: The grille and the throwback to the headlights bulging into the grille openings. I know a lot of people think the marker/turn signals in the fenders is a miss, and for cutting the fenders I can understand. It's not the first Wrangler to have lights in the fenders, but it definitely makes the JL front end different and easily stands out compared to other SUV/Trucks on the market.
Hit: The dash. I think it has a retro look though not necessarily Jeep retro. I like it especially with the accent colors.
Miss: Front axle disconnect, I know why they did it and I hope in the last 20+ years that the design has improved but it didn't work well the first time around. I wonder if the current engineers know their Jeep history well enough to realize they have gone down this road before?
Miss: The channel where the fenders meet the hood, like the cowl indents mentioned earlier I see this as a place for crap to collect.
Miss: Price! But wait until the JT comes out.....maybe the JL won't look so bad.

I wasn't a big fan of the JK when it came out but I don't dislike the JL as much as I did the JK.

 

Good point! Saving my pennies for the JT might make the JL possible.

 

Personally we keep 2 Jeeps going in the family and have for several years. When 2018 came and it was time to replace one we went with the JK over the JL. Below are my "misses" for the JL and why we went JK.

• My biggest beef with the JK is too many electronics that can fail when wheeling, that problem is multiplied with the JL. Electronic failures are not fun when you're 3 days into the forest and no service around.
• Secondly was the availability of aftermarket. It's catching up fast, but I didn't want to wait. We wanted a big build this time complete with axle swaps, etc.
• Thirdly the issues with the initial batches of Mopar parts really turned me off, like bowing springs on their new lift that they still haven't figured out. Below is a pic of I took of my local one.
• Auto stop, I pray the tuners will be able to defeat this, I hate it on my work car.
• Axle discos, not a huge deal for me as I'll replace the axles anyways...
• Back-up sensors, ughhhh... (and located in the bumper which makes aftermarket replacement a pain)
• Basically the same V6, no direct injection and no tune for additional torque down low. Huge fail IMO. I'd rather not go diesel but I might have to.
• Decrease in space under hood, making it difficult to mount compressors, SPODs & dual batteries, etc

As far as "hits"

• Adjustable brake light, very nice!
• Rear wiper location for increased visibility
• Dash
• Push button start
• Folding rear headrests
• Little piece behind the back seat to fill the hole when folded down
• Rear USB & power
• Headlights, very nice!
• 7 pin tow connection
• Lighter doors, I ain't getting any younger
• High fenders on the Rubi models
• Roll bars with no padding
• Factory AUX switches
• Outboard rear shock mounts
• Front shock mounts

My first "Jeep hate" was when the the TJ (EDIT: YJ) came out with the square headlights, I was outraged But alas, now they've grown on me
Then when the 4 door came out I thought they were an abomination

Once all the engine and body options are available in a couple of years we'll add a JL or JT to the fleet. Likely a JT unless they price me out of it OR unless the departure angle is hideous LOL

 

YJ.... if I was going to cut up a Jeep to make a offroad beater it would be a YJ. I wouldn't feel as bad.

 

Knew that and would have sworn I wrote that LOL Maybe a mod is messin' with me Or maybe I'm just getting old.....

 

I am on TacomaWorld all the offroaders there make me laugh - the mall crawlers.
With that being said, i actually use my trucks but never do serious off roading. Although i do have the utah mighty 5 roadtrip planned this summer.
So i won't be swapping axles and gears and that stuff. It will be on comutter duty mostly, i do have a muddy 15 acre property that it will get abused on.

 

Agreed but only because the YJs are older, simpler with less electronics (radio), less expensive to buy and less expensive to build, i.e. lift kits.
Save the squares!

 

I really meant as opposed to cutting up a CJ, but yes simplicity is a bonus too.

 

I did minor changes on my CJ body and felt really bad after I was finished. I still can't look too close at it without tearing up.