I bought my 2012 base model 2-door mainly because it was the cheapest new convertible vehicle I could find plus it has a good resale value. I don't plan on hard core off road stuff and there's not enough snow around here to justify 4WD in street driving. I might have even bought a 2WD if they made them. I traded in an old Porsche Boxster, which was good at the convertible vehicle role but lousy from a cost of ownership point of view.

Anyway the recent warm weather let me try out the full top down, doors off experience and I really like the doors off because of the way it makes you feel like you're driving an invisible car and can see the scenery. But I didn't realize how bad the buffeting was going to be with the vertical windshield. The air really sweeps forward from behind and upward from the lower door opening to the point it makes the drive less enjoyable than I expected. Kind of bummed about it but maybe the summertime warmth will make it more comfortable. And half doors might help too but the stock ones are so expensive.

Can anyone with half doors comment about them vs no doors?

 

well, in all fairness, a jeep really isn't a convertable car and really, is in a category all its own. if you're this unhappy with it now, i might recommend that you try selling it as i'm sure you'd be able to recover most of your buying price. no other vehicle in america holds it's value better than a jeep and, i'm sure someone else would love to take it off your hands.

 

Half doors help a bit, but the buffeting is still there. What i like to do is leave the upper halves on if Im going to be driving for a while at speed. If just driving to work or around the neighborhood, i love to have the doors off all the way.

But the faster the driving, the more wind noise regardless.

Might want to change your thoughts on doing some wheeling too, top down on the trail in the summer, music bumping, its awesome.

Enjoy the new jeep!

 

Put that windshield down too. No buffiting. Pure openess

 

lift it and get above all of the air? or go slow through the ditches when you ride around?

 

haha nice!

 

Lol that's what I was thinking too...

 

Agree that a Wrangler isn't for everyone. However, i got an email from my city girl wife not too long ago. "honey, took your dog for a ride in the Jeep today. Top off (hope she was talking about the Jeep top), doors off, radio up...I get it." Possible for it to grow on you I guess.

 

If you have full doors, just roll the windows up when you're going over 50 mpg. I do feel ya though - my buddys 350 Z convertible has next to 0 buffeting, especially with the windows up, no matter what speed.

Maybe you're just driving it too fast?

 

If u compare the pros and cons from the Porsche to the jeep... A little wind noise is worth the fact u can take doors off, u can drive thru mud/water/ice, you get many jeep waves ... Not sure anyone wants to wave at anyone in a fancy smancy sports car... Lol.. And a sh!t load of aftermarket support.