Too Many Posers Drive Jeep Wranglers: The Skinny With Craig Cole
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Welcome to a new editorial segment called The Skinny, hosted by your favorite Craig Cole. We hope this will be a weekly feature where Craig sounds off (gives you the skinny, if you will) on the latest news from the auto industry or whatever else he has on his mind.
Jeep Wranglers are everywhere, from backwoods logging roads to mall parking lots. Undoubtedly, this off-road rig is a big money-maker for Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, but could its popularity risk diluting the brand?
Few vehicles available today are as capable off road as the Wrangler. Maybe a couple Land Rover models can keep pace, but that’s about it. I’ve had the pleasure of wheeling in one on multiple occasions, and it’s an absolute beast on trails, in mud or scrambling over rocky terrain. Really, what other vehicle can provide as many smiles while moving at two miles an hour?
Its capability is borderline ridiculous. But with such a surfeit of aptitude, why do so many people fail to use their Jeeps properly? If I had a dollar for every Wrangler Unlimited I’ve seen with a stick figure family plastered on its backlight, a spotless undercarriage or double parked at Nordstrom, I could have retired five years ago … and I’m only 31.
ALSO SEE: How VW Needs to Fix Its Reputation – The Skinny with Craig Cole
Commuting to work every day in a Wrangler or using it as a replacement for a family sedan in suburbia is ludicrous, in fact, it’s a complete waste of the vehicle’s capability; I’d even argue it’s downright un-American!
Why would you spend big bucks on one of these machines just to go to the dog park on weekends or drop your kids off at school? It makes no sense, but apparently vanity is a Jeep thing I simply don’t understand …
I take absolutely no issue with the Jeep Wrangler; none whatsoever. However, I do take umbrage with the posers who buy them. So, if you absolutely have to have one, and no other vehicle will do, please, take it off road! Make me and the people that designed, engineered and built this vehicle proud!
Discuss this story on our Jeep Wrangler Forum
Born and raised in metro Detroit, Craig was steeped in mechanics from childhood. He feels as much at home with a wrench or welding gun in his hand as he does behind the wheel or in front of a camera. Putting his Bachelor's Degree in Journalism to good use, he's always pumping out videos, reviews, and features for AutoGuide.com. When the workday is over, he can be found out driving his fully restored 1936 Ford V8 sedan. Craig has covered the automotive industry full time for more than 10 years and is a member of the Automotive Press Association (APA) and Midwest Automotive Media Association (MAMA).
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LAND ROVER DISCOVERY and DEFENDERS made in the UK are the proven champions of off-roading - overall. With the exception of sand dunes and maybe a slight advantage in deep mud depending. In forest terrain, overland, snow and especially water crossings - LAND ROVER is the proven champion and totally has it over on Jeep. 20 time Camel Trophy winner. Several titles in Russia, North Africa and Brazil. What prestigious off-road championships has the Jeep Wrangler won? "It was used in the U.S. Army" "I saw it on MASH" So what. That does not make it the top dog. Check the you tube videos. Yes you can point to the occasional Jeep victory again mostly in SAND. Big advantage in sand because it's lighter with bigger tires. That's it. The old Land Rover Discovery and Defender - again the ones manufactured in England - Have it over these Jeeps. Even the newest Wranglers. The only major downside to the Land a Rovers - Absurd maintenance costs. You can buy a new Jeep for 35k or a used Land Rover for 10k or less but over time the repair costs on the Rover will overtake that and more. The only advantage I see with these Jeeps - THEY LOOK AWESOME. Especially with the mods. Split tops, offset wheels, open doors. They look really, really cool. But they do not take the title in off-roading. Land Rover is the proven champion.
Almost every argument here could be adapted to anything that isn't a max MPG box, though! Why do people specifically attack Jeeps as underutilized? You don't need a V6 sedan, either. It's also completely unnecessary, and its potential also goes untapped. But no one has an issue with that for some reason. I know. You're going to tell me you need that sedan's capability when you stomp the gas to pass someone. So you need the cars capabilities about as often as Jeep drivers go off-road. You could just not pass or pass slowly by the same kinds of arguments here. Pick your unnecessary, untapped potential. Almost every vehicle has some.