Automatic Wrangler Unlimited - 2011 w/ 4.88 vs. 2012 w/3.73
 

I'm looking into purchasing my first Wrangler Unlimited and I definitely am putting on a 2.5" Lift and 35's. Which would be best: a 2011 with 4.88 gears or a 2012 with 3.73?

It all depends on how you use your Jeep. It you're driving is mostly highway, you might want to go with higher gear ratios. With 35s, a good compromise for both highway and offroad 4.88s would be good for the 2011, 4.56s would be good for the 2012. If it's going to be mostly offroad you might consider 5.13s for the 2011 and 4.88s for the 2012. Hope this helps. :)

i have 2008 jk w 4.88 and my friend have 2012 w 3.73 , both of us have 33s , and i have CAI, borla headers, catback, diablo custom tuning and many other parts

still he have waaaay more power than me !!

IMO I would go with the 2012 with 373's. I'm partial to it because I'm running the same. Welcome to the forum.

You can probably work a deal on the 2011 since it is a bastard child, the 2012 will have more top end power but is still weak at the bottom. Otherwise they are pretty much the same. Gears will help both a lot.

Having owned a 2010,2011, 2012 and now a 2013 Rubi Unlimited, you couldnt PAY ME to go back to the old min van motor with that garbage transmission. The new motor is LEAUGES ahead despite what some of the guys with the old motors may tell you. I have no skin in the game so this is just my honest assessment (Not because I own the new Motor). Now thats not to say the new Motor/Tranny is an LS or a Hemi, but it is really that much better than the old set up. Even if you had to pay an extra 4k for the Jeep to get the new Motor, once they crack the computers on the 2012+, with a blower you will be able to get 400hp+ (Crank). You would never come close to that with the 3.8. Take a look at my sig, I have some expeirence with 1k plus horsepower applications. Bottom line, get the 2012 and dont look back!

PS- The day Sprintex or Maggie comes out with a blower for the 3.6, I will down paying for one, there is NOTHING like Roots/Twin Screw low RPM power:rock:

This should give you your answer.... The Pentastar is smooth and powerful compared to the 3.8.......