I'm reluctant to buy the newly designed Wrangler since it will be the first model year.

How have first model year Wranglers done in the past?

 

Maybe the question that should be asked is, what year did they not have problems.

 

Fiat is a much better partner than Mercedes : FCA over DaimlerChrysler. Fiat already proved that meeting Quality sometimes means delaying sales dates. Fiat has poured money into interiors & drivetrain. Leadership knows how to run FCA. Daimler knew how to rape.

Quality for new Wrangler should be high, they understand it's the halo platform. But if not this platform then the next will see major changes. Eventually the Wrangler will run IFS and will have to downsize.

 

Based on history, expect a leaking manifold and easily scratched dash bezel.

 

umm...are you high or something? the interior upgrades you see in dodge/chrysler vehicles is directly related to their old relationship with mercedes. hell the rams have mercedes keys in them.

fiat builds tiny cost effective piece of shit cars...mercedes builds quality automobiles that last a lifetime.

 

I don't think so. Fiat gussied up aging and spartan interiors but they also introduced a whole new set of problems. The Jeep Grand Cherokee (the new one) has had all kinds of issues, and then they blew it again with the first model year diesels. And this is a halo/flagship vehicle for Jeep.

On the other hand, back in the day, Daimler added some premium equipment to Chrysler vehicles and stepped down some Mercedes platforms for use in Chrysler vehicles. The Crossfire was a Mercedes platform and the Pacifica was Mercedes-derived. When DCA first got started, they were doing some nice things. They did f* the Wrangler to holy hell in all its plastic glory and the 3.8 wasn't well-received (nor was it new/interesting technology) at the time.

Weeeelllll... like I said above, DCA vehicles had Mercedes bits here and there but they didn't redesign all of Chrysler's vehicles on Mercedes platforms, and especially not the JK. Most of the time DCA was in bed with itself was an era of horribly cheap interiors and cost-cutting measures due to a failing economy. It was a period when staple vehicles like the Dodge Caravan and Chrysler T&C vans were eclipsed by Honda and Toyota. One of the saving graces to come out of that time period was the LX platform (Magnum, Charger, 300, etc).


SO that was the long answer...the short answer is no, I'm done buying first model year vehicles especially from Chrysler/FCA. The 3.6 in my 2012 Wrangler is ticky but doesn't tick enough nor does it set a CEL and I'm seriously hoping it just blows up while it's still under warranty. A buddy bought a brand new GC back in 2012 and it was in the shop more than 18 times in the first year, mostly for software problems and a couple of DOA incidents towed straight to the dealership. The Cherokee had a delayed launch due to quality issues. I'll be waiting 1, maybe 2 years (at least!) beyond the debut of a new model/platform, to buy. It's clear automakers are more interested in getting to market than they are waiting, and producing a vehicle that doesn't have obvious problems out the gate.

 

No one will know how the new platform will hold up for at least until the first week of availability lol.

 

Do we even know for sure that there will be a new platform in 2017? I am optimistic

 

Ferrari and Maserati....

 

Right. Every manufacturer has cost effective POS cars.