Yeah, the author of this review doesn't have a clue as to why we Jeep lovers love Jeeps.
I own a 95 Jeep Wrangler YJ love it. Why because for 10 years of tough offroading, delivering me to my outdoor destinations, even rolling down a steep rocky hill backwards by itself accidentally, it has never seen the inside of an autoshop. It's never broken down. With 155,000 miles, a good dent to the oilpan (no leekage), some minor differetial leekage, and an oxidizing paint job it still keeps going and going. Because it has always been there for me like a trusted friend, I feel a sense of kinship, allegiance, and loyalty to it. Therefore, I could not bring myself to trade it in for some ridiculous insulting price when I bought my 2004 Rubicon. Yes, I had to do it. I am a proud owner of what could possibly be the most capable off road vehicle straight from the show room floor. I also feel I got a good deal. Brand new with all the goodies; a/c, cruise, seven speaker system, electronic mirror, etc. for $25,900. I purchased it in Feb 05, and since it was the last 2004 model left, and all the 2005's were going for about $30,000, they seemed eager to let it go for quite a bit less. whether or not I truly got a good deal in other peoples eyes, I'm happy with it. It does ride so much smoother than the YJ, and to think the author was complaining about stiffness is beyond me. So far I am very impressed with it's off road ability. another reason I'm happy I purchased one is because i have a funny feeling that jeeps as we know them are going to drastically change in the coming years to something different. Probably the future models will hold onto some charactistics that are framiliar to the Jeeps we recognize, but will evolve into less rugged liberty like designs. I hope I'm wrong. The finance manager at the Jeep dealer in which i bought my jeep told me that he thinks wranglers and Rubicons are going to be fazed out in the near future. This is just what he told me. suppose this is true, then I'm glad I have both the Yj and Tj.

here is my comment: Guys we Jeep owners know the truth. I would love to have one of these Lexus's or the new Hummer follow me on a real Jeep trail. It would be a joke and we all know it..In fact I doubt if any one of us will ever even see one of these vehicles out on the trail. I would really love to though it would be quite amusing.My Jeep rides like a Jeep, Oh well. As far as Four wheeler I think we should inindate them with email and let them know they didn't slip anything by us and that they are full of shit...Dixie Ventura CA

Jeep is the original and the BEST! The H2 isnt even a real Humvee (Hummer for civilians) but a look-a-like on a truck chassis with a ridiculous price tag!

I agree with all of your comments first off.I have had a 94 and a 95 wrangler and LOVED how they rode. It's supposed to ride like a JEEP!!! two days ago I finally got my Rubicon after three months of waiting! I live in Pittsburgh but I got it in Philidelphia( saved $2100) and I had to drive it back. here's the thing, it rode like a car! I just couldn't believe how soft of a ride it had!!I kept thinking If that guy from CNN thought this is rough then I couldn't imagine a softer ride? I can't wait to feel it offroad very soon!!!

Wait, I'm going to take this guys word on how it rides..... when he has his head up his A$$!!

Good points guys. Trent Riddle used to be the Editor of 4WD Sport Utility, and he told it like it was. He got fired and the magazine has gone down hill ever since.

you guys i think your missing the point here. i dont think its the guys at four wheeler that are the problem, its those bastards at primedia that are pulling the strings. and the poor guys at four wheeler cant do anything about it, because if they do, theyd probobly be fired, and have to get another job. and, since all the offroad magazines (JP, petersons, offroad, four wheeler) are owned by primedia, i dont think theyle be employed by a differant offroad magazine. iv met rick pewe the editor of petersons, and i know that he knows his offroad vehicles, and trust me, the lexus isnt classified as one. so i guess with all this ranting and raving the main thing that im trying to say is dont blame the people who write it, blame the corprate assholes upstairs, who are more concerned with getting bribes from automakers than our subscription money. if we really want to show them that we arnt going to take this bullshit anymore, i say we should cancel our subscriptions, (and that includes all the other primedia owned magazines). then they will see the mistake they made.

here is my comment when jeep is bought up by GM then maybe they can make it ride like a caddy!!!! until then leave it alone!! WHAT THE HELL IS AN "ON ROAD JEEP"? is it the same as an off-road Buick????

My "Four Wheeler" mag came in the mail yesterday.

Everytime I walk up to a Jeep dealer to see the newest Jeep model, the salesman always runs up and says "It rides like a car". I happen to like how my Jeep rides, so I leave in my old one. My XJ has 220,000 miles. If Jeep wants to build a decent replacement I'll buy it. Otherwise I'll just keep it running until I can't get parts anymore. My first Jeep was 30 years old when I sold it.

I find it interesting that 70% of the "Four Wheeler" readers voted for the Jeep TJ to win, and that the Lexus/Four Runner received more points for "Trail" than the TJ! Unbelievable. The staff at "Fourwheeler" must have overdosed on twinkees and Bon Bons. I drove a friend's Four Runner thru a section of rough trail that we had to fill in with rocks to get it thru. It took about 15 minutes to get thru and was a handfull. My unlifted Cherokee XJ drove right thru without filling in the rocks in under a minute. And a Rubicon TJ should be way better yet. I just don't get it.

Below is a copy of my email to CNN - who publish that dumb ass review:

Any article that treats the Jeep like just another SUV is very offensive. The Jeep is not an SUV!!! It is a ONE and ONLY. It is in a class by itself. It is a War Hero, a Legend and any serious off-roader knows that IT IS FAR MORE CAPABLE THAN THE Hummer H2…

The truth is that sand dunes are about the only place a Hummer out performs a Jeep Wrangler. Mud holes, narrow twisting root and rock strewn trails, mountain terrain, etc. this is where the short manoeuvrable Jeep, proves it legendary status. Yes, the Hummer may have floated gracefully across the sand in Desert Storm but the Jeep has been to HELL and BACK in World War II, Korea, Vietnam… So, take a stock Wrangler, invest about $10000, you’ll still be way under the price of a Hummer and you’ll have a far superior off-road warrior. Not to mention a legend sitting in your driveway!

The author also wrote his review based on personal opinions about what constitutes good ride quality. Personally, I hate floating cushy seasick type riding vehicles. I love the way my TJ handles potholes and bumps on the rode, even with my 35” Mud Terrain tires I don’t find it too noisy. Finally, people get thrown from vehicles because they DON'T WEAR SEATBELTS, not because they have removable roofs and doors!

I would like to finish with a note to Auto Reviewers. Please stop trying to review the Jeep Wrangler like any other vehicle - based on its quiet, smooth on road handling. People who love and respect Jeeps don’t care if it’s a bit noisy on the road or not designed for high speed cornering. We buy Jeeps because we love the NO DOOR – TOP DOWN freedom, their amazing off-road attributes and their HEROIC HISTORY.

Hey Gary, I've been going to different stores everyday for the past two weeks to pick up the Four Wheeler issue and apparently it hasn't arrived here yet. Did the Wrangler win it?

Read the February 2003 issue of "Four Wheeler" in their 4WD of the year competetion. They gripped about the rough ride of the TJ Rubicon, but the H2 failed to make it through the rough stuff by breaking down. It was also too large to make some trails. I'm still waiting for a decent XJ replacement.

The Hummer costs twice as much, so it must be twice the offroad capability, right? Sigh.

here is my comment I HAVE A RUBICON AND IT RIDES GREAT.I HAVE NOTICED THAT PEOPLE WHO HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT IT ARE THE ONES WHO WANT A PUSS VEHICLE LIKE THE LEXUS AND THE H2 HUMMER. JP MAG PROVED THE RUBICON IS MORE CAPEABLE.THE H2 WOULD BE LIKE TAKING A MACK TRUCK OFF ROAD.ALL YOU YOU HAVE TO DO IS LOOK AT SOME OF GM'S VEHICLES AND YOU CAN TELL IT DON'T TAKE MUCH TO BE A GM DESIGNER.THESE PEOPLE THAT BUY THESE TYPE OF VEHICLES ARE YUPPYS. THESE ARE THE SAME TYPE OF PEOPLE THAT GAVE THE CJ5 A BAD NAME. THEY WERE DRIVING IT LIKE IT WAS A SPORTS CAR AND 60 MINUTES HED A STORY ABOUT ROLL OVERS AND AMC GOT SCARED AND QUIT MAKING THE CJ5 WHICH WAS ONE OF THE BEST OFF ROAD JEEPS EVER MADE.THIS IS THE KIND OF PEOPLE THAT TALK BAD ABOUT THE RUBICON.THIS VEHICLE SUPPORTS THE OLD ADVERTISING SLOGAN "JEEP WROTE THE BOOK ON FOUR WHEEL DRIVE".SO
Y YOUR HEARTS OUT YUPPYS THE RUBICON IS THE MOST CAPEABLE FOUR WHEEL DRIVE VEHICLE EVER PRODUCED BY A MANUFACTURER PERIOD. CONGRADULATIONS TO CHRYSLER FOR KEEPING JEEP THE GREATEST BRAND OUT THERE.

here is my comment
fair enough article. It's a Jeep thing and not every one will understand. We begged for a real hearty Jeep and we got one. I'm happy with mine.

I think that a lot of this is the infatuation (sp?) that always comes from the "new kid". Look at all the attention that the new beetle and PT Cruiser received when they came out. Now, nobody talks them up in the media because the shine is off the apple.

Jeep has stayed true to its calling. No real stylistic changes in what, 60 years? That consistency shows design excellence.

But, look how quick DC moved to change the Liberty when the media griped that it was up too high.

My hope is that they will not make significant "road handling" changes in the next generation of the Wrangler. But, my fear is that they will.

Here was my email to CNNMoney:



Jim Mateja's review of the Jeep Rubicon was nothing more than an biased advertising plug for Hummers.

Jeep's power to weight ratio exceeds that of the Hummer. Hummer needs a large power plant in order to move its own heavy weight around

To be clear
There are many narrow trails on most Jeep Jamboree events that Hummer won't fit down.
And it is the lack of wearing seat belts that make roll overs dangerous.

with my YJ I'm used to a stiff ride, but as for price, I'm in total agreement. DC's price on the rubicon is way too much for what you get when you buy a rubicon. I love my YJ and have seriously considered purchasing the one, but for that price I could get an F-250 and allthough thats a big truck not meant for the trail, all I'd need to do was invest in some detroits and I'd be good to go until I retire (I'm 27). d44's, disk brakes, t-case & lockers just don't add up against the space constraints and lack of haul-ability of the wrangler.

You guys really give a rats a** about what the "media" thinks? Of course the Lexus wins hands down. Especially since media types are usually starbucks, sippin Gap shoppin p****ies. Regardless of what "rag" that write for, they are essentially little robots for the advertisers, and manufacturers. I would reckon, Hummer, and Lexus drop a lot of money on adverts and "marketing" i.e. taking clients out and getting them laid.

Nuff said...

It's nice to see a lot of people feel the way I do about Jeep. Excellent comments, so I don't have much to add. "Four Wheeler" just lost all credibility and future sales from me. My Rubicon is being built and delivered this month and I can't wait for it's ""extreme" mode" on road abilities (Not to mention it's off road one's). I just hope Chrysler doesn't read all this crap and change for the worst. They have a huge fan base and changing the 8000 units to 16000 should be the real testament. BTW I know what the Jeep names implies, but doesn't Hummer have something to do with Bill Clinton, He He......

To test a Wrangler Rubicon that has been factory outfitted specially for off-road use and then gripe about on-road ride harshness demonstrates a complete lack of knowledge about the market segment that the Rubicon targets.

As written above, if I am testing a luxury car, I would certainly not write about how horrible it was off-road on the rock trails! No, I would focus on luxury.

The author clearly missed the intention of the Rubicon. DC finally figured out that they have been losing large amounts of money by not offering some of the more common add-ons that off-roaders desire.

Long Time Jeep fan, I forgot to answer your question: No, believe it or not, the Lexus beat out the Rubicon TJ in the "Four Wheeler" Four Wheeler of the year contest. After saying for years that we wanted an Off-highway ready Jeep, DC finally responded, and then, of all magazines, they get slammed by "FourWheeler"! I could understand it if it was "Consumer Reports" or "Car and Driver", but not "Four Wheeler". What does this say about support from the off-highway community for trail ready vehicles? Not much! I guess they want On-road Jeeps" with soft springs and big cushy seats for their fat butts.!

I noticed a marked downturn in Petersen's credibility around the time Liberty came out. I don't get it either. Did they really rate the trail performance of the Lexus above a TJ? Unbelievable.

i think whats happening here is obvious, and is connected with the ruby not winning this years 4x4 of the year award from those bastards at petersons. when you look at the magazine and see that the lexus won, you have to think to yourself: "now what the f*** is going on here?" they might as well call this the soccor mom suv of the year award if the tjs gonna get second to last!! i have a hunch that there is a little bribery going on here, where the highest payer has the most "off road worthy" suv. this, mixed with the popular belief that a hummer could kick a jeeps ass any day makes fora very bad review. i wouldnt be suprised if GM was paying these people to give the jeeps bad reviews in comparison to thier stupid hummers. by the way, i would just like to add, that i have not yet seen an H2 on the trail, but many on the road. H2s are owned by rich pricks looking for attention, but are too bitchy and whiny about the ride of an H1.

Sadly, Jeep seems destined to now be compared, and
usually less favorably, with Hummer as the most
rugged "go anywhere" vehicle. Those who said that
Jeep needed a full-size Wagoneer instead of another
generic miniwagon were right. I see as many or more
H2s in any given week as Libertys, despite the H2
costing twice as much. Local papers have written
articles about H2 owners, and the reasons they give for
buying are its rugged unique looks and perceived
safety. Since Jeep trades heavily on its historic image, it
will take more than just the TJ to maintain its position. A
full-sized, off-road worthy wagon is needed now as
much as it was in the past.

Yet another reviewer feels he has to remind the
public that a Jeep ride is stiff??!! Gimme a break! Also, people get thrown from vehicles because they DON'T WEAR FREAKIN SEATBELTS, not
because they have removable roofs and doors! These
are the sort of folks who feel they have to save the public from themselves. While I do agree with
gripe about the high price of the Rubicon,I wouldn't say the Hummer is a superior vehicle.