WR Fleet: 2008 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon

David E. Davis, Jr. found the 2008 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited to ride like an agricultural vehicle, but quickly points out that true Jeep fans would be upset if this weren’t the case. To read what other WINDING ROAD staffers thought about this Jeep Wrangler Unlimited, follow the jump.

David E. Davis, Jr.
Editor-in-Chief

The Jeep Wrangler Unlimited with four doors is a pretty ungainly-looking device. It definitely looks better with the hard top than the soft top, but “better” is in the eye of the beholder.

The three-inch metal lip at the bottom of each door opening is almost certain to trip some passenger entering or leaving the vehicle, especially if that passenger is wearing boots. It happened once, to one of our testers, and he was not amused.

The Jeep is now beginning to acquire some of the latest off-road aids (Electronic Roll Mitigation, electronic locking front and rear differentials, etc.). Two trips over the Rubicon Trail and three years of CJ-7 ownership convinced us that nothing conquers rough country like a perfectly stock Jeep. Why then should we gild this lily with techno-wonders that will almost certainly increase the sticker price and reduce reliability?

The ride is, well, Jeep-like, which is to say, agricultural. It is nervous, busy, even on relatively smooth pavements. On bad expansion strips and frost heaves it does toss one around inside the seat belts. It never seems to calm down. This will only bother poseurs, however. Real Jeep people would worry if it was smooth and comfortable.

For most of the Jeep buyers in the world, a fully equipped Jeep Liberty would be a far more useful and pleasant vehicle. All it lacks is that “look.”

Kim Ewing
Fleet/Business Manager

What a fun vehicle to drive. I wish I owned a few hundred acres of property so I could take the Rubicon out and play on trails and in mud, and climb boulders. This makes me want to attend a Jeep Jamboree event! One thing that boggles my mind is that we can receive a Rubicon with a navigation system but not enough technology to have an inside knob for adjusting the side-view mirrors. The Rubicon was not as bouncy as I anticipated and it felt quite stable on the road. I wouldn’t want to push it around a sharp turn as there has got to be an unsteady feel to the vehicle. I would have loved this with a manual transmission. Too bad we didn’t get our Rubicon when the weather was a bit warmer. How fun would it be to dismantle the Freedom Top and just have fun?

Steven J. Ewing
Production Assistant

Why does a Wrangler have a nav setup? I’d pocket the $1275 and go with the standard setup. My only other gripe is that Jeep hasn’t figured out a way to make the outside mirrors adjustable from the interior. When it’s 9 degrees outside, the last thing I want to do is stick my arm out the window and fumble with the mirrors. Other than that, I love the Wrangler—always have. It’s so primitive in so many ways and it always reminds me that the entire world hasn’t ditched true sport-utes for the sake of all-wheel-drive crossovers. I don’t know if I’d want to live with one every day, but I’d definitely like to take a Wrangler on a serious off-road course a few times.

Nate Luzod
Art Director

I’d have to agree with all of the above. The Rubicon is, in a very simple way, fun to drive. I was confined to all city driving, which saddened me as I would have loved to take it up north on some dirt trails. Nonetheless, it proved enjoyable on a few inches of snow, and it’s comforting to know you’re in a vehicle that would be almost impossible to get stuck in a ditch. I thought the nav was a nice touch, and well executed: an intuitive interface and great graphics. I think it’s second only to Infiniti/Nissan’s very impressive nav system, which says a lot.

Carrie Roca
Managing Editor

I’ve gotten pretty comfortable taking fast corners in big SUVs that have become more car-like in their handling over the years, but not so with the Wrangler. I respect the Jeep, and I lower my speed significantly when I’m behind the wheel. Seventy or so on the expressway doesn’t feel unsafe, but I’m not about to push it much faster than that. I’m on board with everyone else on how much fun it would be to take the Rubicon out on the back forty. And while it may seem baffling to not get adjustable side mirrors in light of all the other power amenities, we can probably chalk that up to being a Jeep Thing, as it allows for removal of the doors when you do get down and dirty and really want open air driving. And in everyday situations, it wouldn’t actually be that much of an inconvenience unless you’ve got multiple drivers in one family.

Editor’s note: The mirrors on this Wrangler are designed to be taken off the doors to allow doorless driving. Aftermarket mirror relocation brackets allow the mirrors to attach to the Wrangler’s body when the doors are removed. Not all Jeepers bother with this step, but it is essential if you’d like the full experience of driving an open-top Wrangler and don’t wish to get a citation.

2008 JEEP WRANGLER UNLIMITED RUBICON 4×4

Engine: V-6, 3.8 liters, 12v
Output: 205 hp/240 lb-ft
Transmission: Four-speed automatic
Weight: 4340 lb
Fuel economy, city/hwy: 15/19 mpg

Base price: $29,535

Detonator Yellow Clear Coat: $225
Dual Top Group: $1585
(Freedom Top, rear window wiper/washer, rear defroster)
Power Convenience Group: $800
(power windows, locks, remote keyless entry, security alarm)
Four-Speed Automatic Transmission: $825
MyGIG Multimedia Infotainment/Navigation: $1275

Destination: $660
Price as tested: $34,905