pmergler
09-07-2006, 09:03 PM
Dave Dennis in Dayton, Ohio got a Blue Steel X Unlimited today and I went by to test drive. Worked with a guy named Mike Auggie (nice guy). Overall I was VERY impressed!
Exterior
Not much to say here over what has been discussed here. The JK looks so clean and classy. A great update with a touch of the Jeep classic lines. Definitely look forward to seeing the Rubi with 32s. Engie bay looked very roomy and plenty of room to work under the hood. You could tell the extra width when driving it but it is very easy to manage. I had to negotiate through the dealer with many tight areas and I had no problems. I wanted to see how the soft top looked in the sun roof mode, but I didn't get a chance to before some others wanted to take it out. I did start to put the top up and it was very easy. The top also folded up very nice and tight in the back, much tighter then the '06. The exterior just looks lean and mean...like it can drive over anything....even as the X trim. The extra dimensions you don't notice from the outside. It doesn't "look" that much bigger. The muffler is DEFINITELY going to be an issue with anyone who is off-roading it and the front bumper is HUGE with all the extra crush zone stuff. Those will definitely be on my replacement list.
Interior
VERY ROOMY. Man the extra space is no lie! I am 6'0", 200 lbs so not a huge guy but not small. I adjusted the driver seat to where it was comfortable for my leg room and then sat behind the driver seat in the back. I had plenty of leg room. I could see making a long road trip without getting leg craps. Interior fabric was very nice (I couldn't get a run down if it had the YES material, but I think it was a pretty basic X so I doubt it). The dash is very clean and very easy to see. The gauges seem well designed and laid out. The A pillars are THICK and do make for a bit of a blind spot. Visability as a whole seemed not as good as other SUVs I have driven but not concerning. With the back seats folded down there is a ton of space in the back! I can't say enough about how quiet the drive was! It was a 10 minute drive through traffic and then on the highway. With the front two windows down and the top off I was talking to people in the back at a normal tone and could hear them easily. Very nice surprise. I didn't drive with the top on to see how quite that was. Also the radio was very nice and clear only having the volume up 40% you could hear it great.
Drive Experience
All I can say is wow....I am so impressed! The clutch was smooth. The gears weren't too far apart. It had plenty of get up and go turning into oncomming traffic. Acceleration was very smooth and had plenty of passing power. Brakes seemed very adequate and I didn't notice much body roll at all around corners. It was truly a pleasure to drive! Obviously I didn't get a chance to run anything over so I can't say anything about the low-end torque or the 4 HI mode.
Again all I can say is I was really impressed and can't wait to buy one. I would really like to drive the Rubi and test out the low-end torque. I did snap some pictures and I will add them tomorrow.
Exterior
Not much to say here over what has been discussed here. The JK looks so clean and classy. A great update with a touch of the Jeep classic lines. Definitely look forward to seeing the Rubi with 32s. Engie bay looked very roomy and plenty of room to work under the hood. You could tell the extra width when driving it but it is very easy to manage. I had to negotiate through the dealer with many tight areas and I had no problems. I wanted to see how the soft top looked in the sun roof mode, but I didn't get a chance to before some others wanted to take it out. I did start to put the top up and it was very easy. The top also folded up very nice and tight in the back, much tighter then the '06. The exterior just looks lean and mean...like it can drive over anything....even as the X trim. The extra dimensions you don't notice from the outside. It doesn't "look" that much bigger. The muffler is DEFINITELY going to be an issue with anyone who is off-roading it and the front bumper is HUGE with all the extra crush zone stuff. Those will definitely be on my replacement list.
Interior
VERY ROOMY. Man the extra space is no lie! I am 6'0", 200 lbs so not a huge guy but not small. I adjusted the driver seat to where it was comfortable for my leg room and then sat behind the driver seat in the back. I had plenty of leg room. I could see making a long road trip without getting leg craps. Interior fabric was very nice (I couldn't get a run down if it had the YES material, but I think it was a pretty basic X so I doubt it). The dash is very clean and very easy to see. The gauges seem well designed and laid out. The A pillars are THICK and do make for a bit of a blind spot. Visability as a whole seemed not as good as other SUVs I have driven but not concerning. With the back seats folded down there is a ton of space in the back! I can't say enough about how quiet the drive was! It was a 10 minute drive through traffic and then on the highway. With the front two windows down and the top off I was talking to people in the back at a normal tone and could hear them easily. Very nice surprise. I didn't drive with the top on to see how quite that was. Also the radio was very nice and clear only having the volume up 40% you could hear it great.
Drive Experience
All I can say is wow....I am so impressed! The clutch was smooth. The gears weren't too far apart. It had plenty of get up and go turning into oncomming traffic. Acceleration was very smooth and had plenty of passing power. Brakes seemed very adequate and I didn't notice much body roll at all around corners. It was truly a pleasure to drive! Obviously I didn't get a chance to run anything over so I can't say anything about the low-end torque or the 4 HI mode.
Again all I can say is I was really impressed and can't wait to buy one. I would really like to drive the Rubi and test out the low-end torque. I did snap some pictures and I will add them tomorrow.