Wrangler Unlimited selling strong - March 9, 2007

Interesting story-- the JK is obviously appealing to a wider audience, despite getting only 17 out of 100 in the Consumer Reports road test scoring.

Have wranglers always scored that low? The ratings for the used 2006 model look excellent. Confusing...

 

any vehicle that consumer reports hates is all right by me. they have their collective heads so far up thir asses its funny! not once have i ever read anything of value, vehicle related from them. if i want a top notch toaster or vacuum, then mabey i'll look thier way.

 

Agreed! Haha! "It did well in the Consumer Report's standardized rock-climbing test" - wow I didn't know there was a "standardized" rock climbing test

 

"rock climbing test"

throw some large gravel on the cement and drive over it.. if the vehicle doesnt crash into the tree that they place 10 feet after the end of the gravel it has passed.

CLIMB THAT GRAVEL BOY!

 

As a former Consumer Reports subscriber (FORMER), I can shed a little light here. First off, they seem to have the attitude that all automobiles should be little more than appliances to get you from point A to point B... the less you notice the vehicle along the way, the better, in their opinions. Traditionally, they're quick to praise ANY new vehicle that exhibits new technology (for better or worse) because they see that as a sign of progress. For example, I remember them writing a review at one point about the Wranlger that referenced it as a dinosaur among modern vehicles (this was back when the TJ had a 3-speed automatic) with a "primitive body-on-frame design" (they seem to forget that the Wrangler is a purpose-built vehicle!). Anyhow, their "offroad" course is basically a man-made incline with some washboard surfaces and some stones... kind of like the faux-stone fireplaces that are so popular, where the stone is cut flat on one side to mount flush against a mesh surface, and protrudes a few inches unevenly from there... They've also used this "off-road" course of theirs to test the likes of CRVs and RAV4s, which were able to pass it just fine - what's THAT tell you about it's difficulty?

Anyhow, Car & Driver (who, as car enthusiasts that actually DRIVE and have some fun rather that Consumer Reports' strict appliance-rating strategy of car reviews, and hence would be expected to know better) didn't have much positive to say about the Wrangler Unlimited. They gave it poor marks for its "bad skidpad performance" and its bouncy suspension... because, as we all know, we're buying our Wranglers and Unlimiteds to go autocrossing in them, right?

I guess the old adage still holds VERY true:
"It's a Jeep thing - you wouldn't understand."

 

oh dont get me wrong, the car and driver and road and track guys are equally as bad due to a different bias. If its not a sports car, its crap. I dont know how many times they will bash a vehicle for poor fit and finish, noisy, ugly styling, poor economy, then give it a first place due to its skidpad performance.

the last straw for me with car and driver was reading a review for minivans and the winner was determined mostly due to 0-60 time and skidpad.

 

I think my coworkers think I'm crazy after hearing me laugh out loud to that comment..

 

Yep - I remember that one - the Honda Odyssey won because of its 0-60 and handling.

C&D's review of the Wrangler Unlimited was basically: "It sucks as anything but an off-roader" and went on to make a big fuss over its "terrible skidpad performance." To their credit, they actually did take it up the Rubicon Trail, but they are NOT off-road people... so when they proclaimed that the Rubi Unlimited was a capable vehicle, but ended up in a draw with the Rubicon trail (cracked bumper, fender dent and scratches from a poor line taken), they give the impression that they actually know what they're talking about...

In any case, I think we can all agree that we owners "get it" and these writers just don't understand... I've said before that they write for the RAV4/CRV soccer mom crowd, and must feel it's their duty to warn these moms away from such a "rough" vehicle. I say the less poser owners the better, so keep those "too crude and rough for you" reviews coming!

 

They only took it up Cadillac which is at the end of the trail on the way out. Spotters galore and they still took a bad line. I followed 25 rubicon unlimiteds up cadillac, but only after giving them a two hour head start and I still caught them before they reached the top. Cadillac is a little hairy, not because it is technical, but only because you are switchbacking up the side of a mountain.
Consumer Reports needs to stick to appliances like was said earlier.