2003 Wrangler

[RangerX]

There's been several threads on this board talking about Ford creating a "Jeep killer". Well, Jeep has just raised the bar. In the new FourWheeler, It has a small article on a model option on the Wrangler for 2003. It will have front and rear Dana 44's, front and rear airlockers, 31" Goodyear MTR's, 4.10 axle gears, 4:1 transfercase, and 4:1 first gear, and disc brakes all around. The model name is Rubicon.

 

[Jefe]

And they're going to charge how much??

 

[rustytr]

Damn jeepers are lucky I tell you what...

 

[TwoToneX]

<sigh> Our Explorer went IRS. Jeep goes with all that. No wonder people think Ford's don't belong off road... Ford sure is making it tough on us

 

[leenjen]

that sounds cool. how much will they cost? i just might have to get one.

 

[ok89]

yeah if they do that then im gonna have to go and join the jeeper crowd

 

[Jefe]

I just talked with my brother who hangs out on the Jeep boards. . .and he says its not guaranteed for 2003 yet, but very likely (however he said they were cable driven (like ox-trax) lockers) And the body styling/roll cage would also be changing and be something like this:

Dead Link Removed
Stolen from radio shack.com

 

[ok89]

Thats a picture of it.
Here is an article about it Jeep Icon

Its called the Icon not Rubicon

 

[Jefe]

Originally posted by ok89

Thats a picture of it.
Here is an article about it Jeep Icon

Its called the Icon not Rubicon

That appearst to have IFS/IRS though

Edit: Thats also what the article says

 

[ok89]

Yeah but it says its ready for the Rubicon its got 4 wheel abs discs

 

[RangerX]

Well, the article was NOT talking about the Icon. It WAS talking about an option package for the Wrangler. You got the Explorer Sport, XLT, Limited. This will be a Wrangler Rubicon. Two Dana 44 straight axles. Two airlockers, although made by a Japanese company.
The article makes it sound like a done deal, but we'll see, I guess. Price was not mentioned.

 

[TwoToneX]

Originally posted by ok89

Thats a picture of it.
Here is an article about it Jeep Icon

Its called the Icon not Rubicon

Man that thing is ugly. Reminds me of a geo tracker or something like that...

 

[ok89]

which edition of Four Wheeler was it. I'm gonna try and find that article but i gotta find the magazine first.

 

[KEbert]

Stupid Jeep. They cant even get the tireson the right way. The fronts in that picture appear that they would suck mud in instead of pushing it out. Like backwards Baja Claws.

 

[GJarrett]

Yeah look how stupid they are. Look at what Ford is offering.

Go ahead and make fun of how that Jeep looks. But the fact remains that Ford purposely ignored feedback responding to our input even while their engineers rode with us on our runs.

I want to hit harder trails now. For my next new-auto purchase, will I pay my hard-earned money for "...front and rear Dana 44's, front and rear airlockers, 31" Goodyear MTR's, 4.10 axle gears, 4:1 transfercase, and 4:1 first gear, and disc brakes all around..." or will I buy an IFS/IRS grocery getter?

Ford has already decided that there aren't enough of us to bother with offering a vehicle to. The "Devil-who-cares" atttitude that germinated Ford's great acheivements such as the Mustang in the 60's will never happen again. Computerized analyses and CPA audits kill those visions that project sales less than 60k - 80k units per year, that are bold enough to embrace meeting the wishes of customers like us.

Do a search on this site. Rick tried long ago to let Ford know that we wanted in a "Wrangler Fighter". Ford doesn't care. You give me the vehicle in that Jeep picture, let me do a little hacking and put 35's on it, and I'll walk right over my Explorer. And yours too.

Jeep ain't stupid at all. They are responding to a market begging to happen, the same market that Ford is thumbing their nose at.

Us.

 

[rustytr]

Couldn't have said it better myself.

 

[RangerX]

Thanks, Gerald, for getting the point of my post.

 

[rockymntnhi]

GJarret,

Can I catch a ride to the Jeep dealership w/ you ? Hehehe .

 

[Paul Gagnon]

You've hit the nail right on the head Gerald. Ford thinks that we want another sticker package. It's really dissapointing. My blood has always flowed Ford blue but it seems like all the Fords worth owning are no longer in production. I know Ford is reading this message board and they see that we are unhappy but they DON'T CARE! It's really kinda sad. Unless it is a 3/4 ton or 1 ton pickup the next vehicle I buy most likely WILL NOT be a Ford.

 

[rustytr]

Originally posted by Paul Gagnon
My blood has always flowed Ford blue but it seems like all the Fords worth owning are no longer in production. . Unless it is a 3/4 ton or 1 ton pickup the next vehicle I buy most likely WILL NOT be a Ford.

Exact same here. Unless it's a powerstroke I'm not going with another Ford vehicle.