An Observation on the Jeep Wrangler

Recently I got a ride in my co-worker's 2008 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited, my first time in the legendary offroader. Considering how many I see roaming American streets and the generally positive reviews I often read in magazines, I was expecting an enjoyable ride. Sadly, what I discovered is that the Wrangler is not a very good car.

I know this may be a controversial opinion. And in no way am I claiming that it is an incapable trail specialist. We never left pavement but I trust that it is more than competent off the beaten path. However, on the road the ride is rough and the chassis communicated all of the bumps very clearly. There was also lots of body roll, due to the tall ride height.

The interior was also inferior. Because the doors and roof are removable, they are essentially just a sheet of metal and feel and look very cheap from the inside. Furthermore, the window controls are on the central console for the front seats and the overhead support bar for the rear seats. Not only do these switches feel flimsy, but they clog up the central stack up front and are difficult to reach in the back. The seats were a bit hard and flat, and overall the materials on the dashboard did not feel up to par.

But while I was observing all of these faults, I also came to a realization. I realized that I didn't care that I could feel every jarring bump through the hard seats, that the doors were essentially sheetmetal and didn't feel very safe, that the dashboard cluster was a bit chaotic. I realized why so far this year it is the 9th best selling SUV in America. Despite all of these issues, I felt extremely badass. The ride height and the iconic looks and the removable doors and roof all made me feel 100 times cooler than the surrounding drivers. Most Wrangler customers won't take it offroad, but they want to be able to say they can. It is a car that is bought off of image. It is a confidence-boosting slice of Americana.

And that's what makes it so great.