Answers to Your Questions About the 2015 Jeep Wrangler Willys Wheeler

Here’s a perfect example of a first-world problem: So many cool vehicles are available that it’s impossible to drive every one of them. There are only 24 hours in a day, after all. On top of that, certain things, such as work, appointments, and family engagements, cut into potential test-driving time.

So I felt like it was my job to help. Since I knew I was going to be bombing around in a 2015 Jeep Wrangler Willys Wheeler for a week, I opened the online floor to you busy folks to ask questions. Those are below, followed by my answers to them.

mattgt5 – “It’s a jeep. It’s a dressed up sport, so same capability and manners as everybody else’s stock sport or Sahara. Would be interested to hear your take on how it’s different once you’ve tested it out.”

In the process of transforming a Wrangler Sport into a Willys Wheeler, Jeep swaps out the standard P225/75R16 on/off-road tires for larger, more aggressive BFGoodrich Mud-Terrain T/A rollers. It also throws on Rubicon rock rails. That gear gave me confidence at my (somewhat) local OHV park, but I was constantly aware of the extra weight under me. The engine’s unhurried response to me putting my right foot down gave me the impression that it felt the added heft – and didn’t like it.

Rob 12B1P – “How high/far can you jump it?”

Meet me at the docks at midnight and I’ll tell you.

jamesmtl – “Does it float?”

The first one didn’t…

Spetz – “It’s the same as the rest of the Sports etc minus the tires and paint.. What does the author expect?”

I expected it to be a hoot-and-a-half and lovably rough around the edges. Jeep did not disappoint me.

jk_sea – “Maybe a brief intro on the history of the Willys, as younger generations are almost too far removed from the existence of the Willys to know what it was.  Ford has been rumored to be eyeing the JK market. If Ford was to build a modern day GPW, what are some things you think they’d change or do differently than the Willys JK?”

I made sure to touch upon the Willys-Overland CJ-2A and -3A in the beginning of my review of the Willys Wheeler.

Regarding a potential modern Ford GPW, I think Cutman said it best: “They’d make it badass with a diesel and only sell it overseas.” The clearest Ford-owned competitor to the Wrangler is the Troller T4, which — you guessed it — is powered by a 3.2-liter turbodiesel I5 and is available exclusively in Brazil (because U.S. safety, emissions, and fuel economy regulations are prohibitively expensive to meet). The lucky ducks in that country will shift gears through a six-speed stick. Heavy-duty Dana axles and a sway bar disconnect feature will provide them peace of mind in the rough stuff.

Here’s an answer to a question nobody asked: Gabrielle Schulte from Chrysler Group LLC’s product public relations department told me in an email that the Willys Wheeler is the fastest-selling Wrangler. So don’t be surprised if you can’t find one on your dealer’s lot when you go down there to buy one. Talk about a first-world problem…

Chime in with your thoughts on the forum. >>

Looking for a good deal on a new Jeep? Get insider information here.

via [Jeep], [Truck Trend], [autoevolution], and [USA Today]

photo [Automobile]

Derek Shiekhi

Derek Shiekhi's father raised him on cars. As a boy, Derek accompanied his dad as he bought classics such as post-WWII GM trucks and early Ford Mustang convertibles.

After loving cars for years and getting a bachelor's degree in Business Management, Derek decided to get an associate degree in journalism. His networking put him in contact with the editor of the Austin-American Statesman newspaper, who hired him to write freelance about automotive culture and events in Austin, Texas in 2013. One particular story led to him getting a certificate for learning the foundations of road racing.

While watching TV with his parents one fateful evening, he saw a commercial that changed his life. In it, Jeep touted the Wrangler as the Texas Auto Writers Association's "SUV of Texas." Derek knew he had to join the organization if he was going to advance as an automotive writer. He joined the Texas Auto Writers Association (TAWA) in 2014 and was fortunate to meet several nice people who connected him to the representatives of several automakers and the people who could give him access to press vehicles (the first one he ever got the keys to was a Lexus LX 570). He's now a regular at TAWA's two main events: the Texas Auto Roundup in the spring and the Texas Truck Rodeo in the fall.

Over the past several years, Derek has learned how to drive off-road in various four-wheel-drive SUVs (he even camped out for two nights in a Land Rover), and driven around various tracks in hot hatches, muscle cars, and exotics. Several of his pieces, including his article about the 2015 Ford F-150 being crowned TAWA's 2014 "Truck of Texas" and his review of the Alfa Romeo 4C Spider, have won awards in TAWA's annual Excellence in Craft Competition. Last year, his JK Forum profile of Wagonmaster, a business that restores Jeep Wagoneers, won prizes in TAWA’s signature writing contest and its pickup- and SUV-focused Texas Truck Invitational.

In addition to writing for a variety of Internet Brands sites, including JK Forum, H-D Forums, The Mustang Source, Mustang Forums, LS1Tech, HondaTech, Jaguar Forums, YotaTech, and Ford Truck Enthusiasts. Derek also started There Will Be Cars on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube.

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