If you plan on modding your new jeep and taking it offroad...100% buy the rubicon. Its a much better foundation to start from. I bought my sahara thinking just to keep it nice, stock, and not offroading. That quickly changed and had to buy tons of shit to keep up with a rubi.

I had to do front/rear lockers, 4.88 gears, sleeve the front dana30. Plus the lift, tires, etc.

 

I bought my X new for $19K. I have $10K in mods ( some of it labor for gears, sleeves, lockers).

So for $29K I think I have a much nicer rig than a stock Rubi for $29k. Except for the lockers I would have done all of the exact same mods to a $29k Rubi. So if I started with a Rubi I would have $37K invested.

 

It's all on your budget, and how fast youre going to mod your jeep I think. If you can afford the higher monthly payment but not a $5k axle, I'd say go for the Rubicon. It gives you a better base to start off of. That way you dont have to sink as much money as fast to keep up with better rigs. You'll be able to throw some 37's on right away if you wanted (with a lift of course) you'll have the electronic sway bar disconnect which is much nicer and even nicer still with Offroad Evolutions new manual disco part. Start out with better gears and e-lockers. Rubicons, if you can afford it, make more sense.

 

Did you buy it used?

 

Bought it new. Just a great deal.

 

I bought my 09 Rubi mainly bc I got a great deal on it. I paid for it what I would have paid for a 2011 sport. Its my first jeep, and its got plenty for the mild offroading Ill be doing. Jeep capability, just a little refined.....very pleased with my desicion. Im not real big on the new sterring wheel and the changes to the dash wasnt enough to steer me towards the new sport. I bought from a local Jeep dealer and it had 16k miles on it so I got the remainder of the factory warranty, plus the dealer covers the powertrain for 100k miles. Not to mention, I didnt really wanna pay 30k plus then dump thousands more in tires, lifts and other goodies. I titnted the windows, and bought some husky floor mats, and it does everything I could ask it to do literally at the push of a button.

Like someone mentioned before, brush up on your negotiating skills and see how much you can close the gap btw the two. Everyones Jeep has a different purpose. Thats what makes them so freakin awesome. Gotta decide what suits you best and pull the trigger. personally, my vote goes in the Rubi hat if anyones counting....

 

I assumed we were talking new. A used low mile ex-mall Crawler Rubi for the same price as a new Sport is a no brainer.

 

thought so too. didnt have to have new either, could have saved enough to do the mods by buying an 07 or even an 08 and pumped it up with mods, but just dedcided I didnt have the time or extra cash lying around in lump sum to mod it like i would have wanted.

 

This will be my 3rd jeep, and second wrangler. I'm planning on going new b/c of new engine the 3.6 pentastar. I'm looking forward to the power and torque improvements....really want a diesel....but I dont know if and when that will ever become a reality in the U.S. As for my modding extent-> small lift, bolt-ons, bumpers, flares, winch are what I had on my 98 Wrangler, and probably what I would do again.

 

Awesome!