I don't miss the I6, it was a good engine, but in 06 at least they had all kinds of recalls for the poorly deisgned failing oil pump drive shaft, mine failed @12k miles. I don't look back and this engine gets me anywhere a larger engine would take me.

Do you have a 4-dr auto?

 

Good Catch, my mistake. The TJ's were diesel in Canada, not the JKs. But the UK can get the JK in diesel .

Point is, they make'em, we just can't get one which is what ticks me off. I would love to get 29.1 MPG with 302 lbs of Torque!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

http://www.jeep.co.uk/wrangler/featu...eature_engines

 

I couldn't agree more. If they put in more power, then they'd have to worry about all the lawsuits from dumbasses who rolled their Jeeps thinkin they were hot rods. It's a Jeep. They ain't ever been fast.

 

Would more power be nice, sure. But coming from my TJ w/ 4.0, I don't feel the JK is any worse, just a little different animal. That and I think the drive by wire throws people for a loop and they blame the engine. I seem to remember the 0-60 and 1/4 mile times for the JK being about identical to the TJ.

 

I have more power already. My TJ was a 4 banger. The JK engine is a huge step up in power for me. I must admit though, that little engine would take you anywhere. Maybe not quickly, but it got you there.

 

I wouldn't mind a little more grunt for Highway.....I know it takes a few days to pass a Semi Truck or other vehicles on the highway uphills.....

Look at it this way....

The JK maybe a little slow at highway passing....but it gives the other drivers time & a chance to look at our COOL JEEP's and wish they had one!!!

Also, the 3.8L v6 has slowed my driving down thus, less chance of getting a speeding ticket so more $cratch for fuel! Also, this is the first vehicle that I actually enjoy driving the speed limit and therefore has given me more chances to enjoy the views with the top down!

However, my power hungry side comes out the odd time......I sometimes let my wife know it would be nice to have a Hemi or a JUICED up Diesel in the JK...but she reminds me it's a JEEP....they are not race cars!

 

I have a 4dr auto with the 3.73 LSD. It will spin the rear tires, pass anything I want to pass quickly and safely, climb 32 degree grades on grass at idle, stop midway, reverse direction, then stop on the grade and reverse direction again, all without spinning a tire. Plenty of low end torque. I broke it in driving it very briskly. I didn't abuse it but i didn't baby it either. After about 3000 miles it came to life, I'm very pleased with the performance. I work at a large import dealership, regularly driving all types of 4,6 and v/8 vehicles. The 3.8 jeep ain't bad. Pay a hundred grand for one of these luxo-barges, floor the gas and nothing happens for about 3 seconds and you will have something to complain about.....

 

A Jeep is a vehicle meant to travel OFF-ROAD and do its best work at about 2mph. It is basically a street-legal tractor and it is a luxury that they are also capable of driving at incredibly high speeds on the highway. If they offered a much smaller engine, I would have paid extra for it.

When I want to drive a sports car, I drive my sports car.

 

I have a Liberty too and I can completely destroy a JK in a race from any speed. From 0-50 the Liberty is actually really fast--it'll throw you back in your seat if you jump on the gas. The 3.7L is a better engine in virtually every category. It has more low-end torque and horsepower, it gets better gas mileage on the highway, it's much better for towing, it looks better, it sounds better, it's easier to maintain, it's more refined... Why the JK didn't get the 3.7L is beyond me. Words cannot express how much I hate the 3.8L.

As for off-road capability, a Rubicon would definitely beat the snot out of a Liberty. However, I've taken a 2-door JK, a 4-door JK, and my Liberty off-road, and for some reason I like the Liberty's wheelbase the best. I wish Jeep made a 2-door that was about 8 inches longer--2 inches more rear leg room and 6 inches more cargo room. Plus it would have a smoother ride, it would be able to tow a little more, it would handle bigger tires and lift kits better, it would be less wandery on the highway--I can't think of any downside except that it would have a slightly smaller breakover angle.

 

I agree, the 3.7L in the Liberty has some kick, although it's only rated for 210hp. I've wondered why they didn't use it for the Wrangler, since they already had it in production w/ the Liberty and the Commander. I couldn't imagine the 3.8L in the Commander. All-in-all though, I still think the 3,8L is adequate for the JK.