Re: 2005 Wrangler changes still planned?

that pic makes my eyes hurt, say it aint so.

In terms of "concept cars," it means trying out new ideas, but not necessarily next for production.

• * * Matt Macchiarolo
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  "We must not confuse dissent with disloyalty." -Edward R. Murrow

that picture was old when i was still active here :) and i havent had my jeep in 2.5 yrs or so... i remember it being touted at the 03 wrangler.. then 04.. and now the 05... :shrug: i don't buy it anymore.

DC does a lot of thigns wrong.. but i think they kind of realize exactly what the wrangler specifically means to the jeep marque.. unless they plan on phasing out that marque any time soon, they wont pedestrianize it so easily.. it WAS a post merger decision to bring out the rubicon afterall.. lets not remove so much credit from them as to ignore this.

as for changes, i do think that the 3.8L v6 is one inevitable change unfortunately... maybe not this year but within the next few... while this will upset the i6 purists, lets keep in mind all you 4.2 guys go upset when they decreased displacement also... all the speculation about where the torque band would be, etc etc..

in some ways the 4.2 is a better engine for certain uses.. definitely more just-off-idle tq... but it really depends on what they do with the motor.. the 4.0 has turned out to be a fine engine indeed... and with the 3.8 V config, there is a lot that can be done to compensate for the v6's "typical" downfalls

upping the compression a bit, or changing out the cams, etc will net a low end torquey v6 that should work fine.. choice of gearing is also key...

keep in mind we all know guys who wheel with the i4 withotu problems.. so while the 3.8 may not hold a candle to the i6 in terms of longevity, and perhaps torque, (both remain to be seen) i'm sure it would be more than adequate.

IFS - i dont think will come along any time soon.. i'm betting its still 5+ years away on the wrangler.. but that too i think is an inevitable and unfortunate change.. just not for 05 (think back 5 years - the rumors that were flying around back then.. i had just joined up at that point.. just became part of the jeeping family.. people were getting upset abotu all kinds of things :P

-Steve 98 TJ

if it comes to that i'd humbly accept it :)

i just dont think it will happen for 05 ;)

-Steve 98 TJ

Thought not reality. However, I wouldn't complain if the Dakar 'concept' came thru. Now if you were to ask my wife, the Jeepster concept would be hitting the sales floor next week.