The Best Time To Buy A Jeep Wrangler: Key Buying Points

When is the best time to buy a Jeep Wrangler?

Is it better to buy a 1-year-old vehicle or an 11-year-old vehicle?

This study calculates the buying points for a Jeep Wrangler — from new 2007 models back to model year 1990.

The Buying Points

There are 3 key buying points during this period that appear to provide the best value relative to the depreciation of a Jeep Wrangler.

So, what type of depreciation can expect you expect?

Let’s take a look at models that are less than 6 years old first.



Model Year 2006 – 1st Buying Point

The first buying point occurs when the Jeep is 12-18 months old. The reason for this is high first year depreciation on a new vehicle. The first year depreciation of a new Jeep is about 15%. This means that you will lose approximately 15% of whatever you invest into a new Jeep Wrangler within the first 12 months of purchase.

The depreciation is less than 7% on average over the next 4 years.

Therefore, the best buying point for newer Jeeps is about the time it is 12 months old. The average cost of a 1-year-old Jeep is $21,148.

The average cost per year (average depreciation) of a new Jeep over the first 4 years is $2,139/yr. The average cost of a 1-year-old Jeep over the next 4 years is only $1,303 per year.

That’s a savings of over $3,344 just buy purchasing a 1-year-old Jeep rather than a new one!

Jeep Tour Guides… How To Get Hired And What To Expect If You Pursue This Career Choice

Ever wonder what it’s like to be a Jeep tour guide?

Arguably, Sedona, Arizona is the Jeep tour capital of the world. With the great weather, gorgeous scenery, and easy access to a myriad of trails, no wonder there are so many tour companies.

I’m a Jeep tour guide in Sedona, and many people think that this would be a dream job. If you are one of those, read this first!



Here’s everything you want to know about Jeep tour guides, including how to get hired and what to expect your first days on the job.

Wanna Be A Jeep Tour Guide?
Many think it sounds like fun, and it is, for awhile. But, for most, the romance wears off quickly. The average career lifespan of a Jeep tour guide in Sedona is less than 2 years, but there are those who have been guiding for 5, 10, even 20 years.

I have been in the Jeep tour business since 1996, which makes me about 96 in Jeep years.

I have eaten enough red dust to be convicted of smuggling federal property.

I have ushered thousands of visitors into the backcountry.

I have grown tired of the sound of my own voice.

I have watched Jeeps go from the showroom floor… to tour status… to beyond reasonable maintenance and relegated to the Jeep retirement lot with 150,000 trail miles on them.

I have hosed off various types of excrement from Jeeps.

And I have seen guides in training, passed by them on the trail for awhile, then saw them eventually move on to a “real” job.

Let me give you some insight to the whole world of professional Jeep tour guiding, from start to — finish.

First of all, it takes a certain type of person to really be a guide, as an ongoing career. Most “career” guides are very serious nature and history lovers. They drive Jeeps all week, then spend their days off hiking, biking, or even Jeeping. They love to read. They have heated debates with their associates about the current scientific name of the javelina, the best way to eat agave, or the latest tour joke. They are clever, independent, resourceful, animated, and loud. They are very much people-people — they love to entertain and be the center of attention. And they can deal with a great deal of ups and downs, not just on the trail, but also in their schedules and bank accounts.

HATFIELD AND MCCOY TRAILS, WEST VIRGINIA

How can you go wrong following the trail of a good blood feud? As one of the most extensively mapped and marked systems on the East Coast, the Hatfield and McCoy trails cover over 700 miles of West Virginia mud, rock and woods. From the backwoods to the cities and towns, most of these trails are not for flatlanders. One of the great parts about these trails is the ability to drive right into town after a long days drive, grab a bite to eat, and then stay at a hotel or inn for the night.

Accessories Holiday Gift Guide

FabFours Jeep Wrangler JK Off-the-Door Tire Carrier
Fab Fours recently unveiled its new off-the-door tire carrier for the 2007-14 Jeep Wrangler JK. Fab Fours notes it is the first-ever “5-Point” system, as the dual rotating axis design allows the tire carrier to open with the JK’s door smoothly while still retaining durability on the trail. The tire carrier is equipped with accessory holes to accommodate attachments such as a Hi-Lift Jack, brake light attachments and a CB antenna. Constructed of 3/16-inch steel, the carrier is available with a two-stage powder coat or bare steel. The Fab Fours JK Tire Carrier is fully adjustable to accommodate up to a 40-inch tire. For more information.source

A Look at the Wald International Black Bison Porsche Cayenne

Wald International is teasing us this time with their new Black Bison kit for the Porsche Cayenne. These unique Black Bison Edition cars have been a big hit for the tuning firm and we are always anxious to see what’s been released when a Wald email pops up in our inbox.
What we have here is the sculpting process of making the body kit, which will then be transferred to the molding phase to be put into productions. From we can see, a new aggressive front bumper with LED daytime running lights is the current focus, while wider wheel arches, side skirts, vents for the hood and spoilers will be installed as well.

While the interior has been left to our imagination, we do know some alloy wheels and exhaust tips will round out the exterior styling. Stay tuned for more Wald International tuning projects and check out more of their Black Bison line of cars and SUV’s to get an idea of what this Porsche Cayenne will turn out to be.

via:fancytuning.com

Chrysler Announces Recall for 76,000 Dodge Ram Trucks over Flaw in Brakes

Chrysler has announced a recall on about 76,000 Dodge Ram trucks, following a bulletin issued by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration saying that some of these models may be affected with a flawed braking system.

The issue concerns the power steering in the pickup which could cause a delay in the returning of brake pedal. The automaker has included Ram trucks from the 2010 and 2011 model years assembled between March 2009 and October 2010 in the recall, which affects about 76,112 units of the pickup.
The NHTSA reported that some of the Rams using a diesel engine and a hydroboost brake system could be equipped with a faulty power steering reservoir cap whose excessive vent pressure levels may result in brake pedals return slowly after being applied.
The fault also stands to affect cars following the Rams owing to the rear brake lights taking longer than usual to turn off, which increases the risk of a crash. The automaker has confirmed that it has received 175 reports till date. Chrysler spokesman Vince Muniga said there have been no crashes or injuries reported though. He said the problem was first noticed by dealers and a modified cap will relieve some of the pressure causing the problem.
Chrysler plans to start notifying owners of the recall soon, after which the dealers will replace the power steering reservoir cap free of charge. Ram owners can contact the automaker at (800) 853-1403. However, the affected pickup owners will probably have to wait till February to have the fix done.
viaegmcartech

First 2011 Dodge Durango Rolls off Chrysler Production Lines at Jefferson

Chrysler has announced that the first 2011 Dodge Durango rolled off the production lines on Tuesday at the Chrysler Group’s Jefferson North Assembly Plant (JNAP) in Detroit. UAW Vice President General Holiefield and Dodge Brand CEO Ralph Gilles celebrated the event at the plant.

This is the first time that a Dodge has been churned out of the JNAP plant ever since it began functioning in 1992. The Jefferson plant is also currently assembling the 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee.
The new Dodge Durango was declared earlier this year in September, which was a comeback for Dodge in the SUV market. Based on the unibody platform of the Jeep Grand Cherokee, the new Durango has been designed for the driver and offers exceptional road-handling. The three-row SUV flaunts some classy exteriors, a yawning interior and some heavy-duty suspension.
Buyers will be offered with some tempting powertrain options and will get the choice of two engines-a 3.6-L V6 or a 5.7-L Hemi V8, with an assured promise of fuel-efficiency. When it comes to towing, the V6 will have a capability of tugging along 6,200 lbs and the V8 will manage up to 7,400 lbs. Air bags and electronic stability control come as standard on the Durango.
As for the price tag, the 2011 Dodge Durango Express model starts at $29,195 for the rear-wheel-drive and $31,195 for the all-wheel drive, plus an $850 destination charge. The SUV is expected to be at dealers by the end of this year.
via Dodge

Jeep Wrangler by Vilner takes extreme luxury off-road

Vilner turned its customary and intensely luxurious attentions to a two-door Jeep Wrangler Sahara Unlimited back in 2012, following that up this year with its take on the four-door version. A coat of lustrous black paint outside is brightened up LED headlights, foglights and taillights and layers of chrome laid on the grille, mirrors, door handles and fuel filler cap.

Stance gets an injection of brawn from the 20-inch wheels, and they'll roll faster thanks to the power upgrade from 197 horsepower and 339 pound-feet of torque in the 2.8-liter diesel to 257 hp and 412 lb-ft.

Inside is furious red, with cross-stitched crimson leather and Alcantara demanding your focus. When you can look away from that, you'll find the raw metal parts painted black and again ornamented in minor applications of chrome. Feel free to feast on it in the high-res gallery above.
News Source: Vilner, Carscoops
via:autoblog.com

Why Mopar won't release a factory lift kit for the new Jeep Cherokee

The Jeep Cherokee Dakar concept showed off at the 2014 Easter Jeep Safari made a lot of online friends, even the Cherokee naysayers assenting that there's a monster Jeep underneath the Cherokee's skin if you're willing to go in and get it. But after reading Road & Track's write-up of what went into creating the Dakar, particularly its lift, you'll understand why you'll probably never see the components for it in the Jeep Performance Parts catalog.

The concept's press release mentions a "prototype Jeep Performance Parts lift kit, and additional suspension modifications." The short-story explanation is that the front struts on the standard Cherokee weren't engineered to accept any amount of lift, so the long story begins with the phrase, "an entirely new suspension." Head over to RT to read the details, and don't be afraid to ogle the Cherokee Dakar gallery and another awesome Jeep fancy that won't likely crawl over the hurdles imposed by production reality.
News Source: Road & Track

Via:autoblog.com

Chrysler Recalls 159 Ram Pickups to Replace Transmissions

Chrysler Group has recalled around 159 trucks to inspect and replace the transmissions. The vehicles that will be affected by this recall are certain model-year 2014 Ram 1500 pickups manufactured in late January and early February, 2014. The affected vehicles were built with eight-speed automatic transmissions.

According to the automaker, a supplier advised them that a small shipment of its transmissions contain a defect that may prevent a vehicle from shifting into park. Chrysler Group is unaware of any associated injuries, accidents or customer complaints. Service technicians will inspect these vehicles to determine if the defect is present and replace the transmission if found defective at free of cost.
The Chrysler Group said they will contact owners of defective vehicles and advise them on scheduling the vehicle for service. Vehicles subject to this campaign number approximately 125 in the U.S., 32 in Canada and two outside the NAFTA region.

via autoblog

Jeep Wrangler Dragon Design Concept Bows at Beijing Auto Show

Judging from the series of releases at the Beijing Auto Show, China is far and away the most important market for global automakers. A trend first started by high-end luxury brands, Jeep is hopping on the bandwagon by introducing the Jeep Wrangler Dragon design concept, a China-market-exclusive vehicle that features a “dragon design” theme to commemorate the Chinese calendar’s Year of the Dragon.

“The Jeep brand is committed to China and therefore we must design and tailor our vehicles to the specific tastes and preferences of chinese consumers,” said Jeep Brand CEO and COO for Asia, Mike Manley.

Mechanically identical to a China-market Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon, the Jeep Wrangler Dragon design concept features a gloss black paint scheme as well as a black body-color three-piece hard top. Trim pieces across the vehicle are plated in bronze-gold details including the grille slats, headlamp surrounds, golden accents on matte black wheels, as well as golden Jeep badging front and rear. Rather than the customary “Trail Rated” emblem aft of the front fenders, the special Dragon design concept proudly displays a golden Chinese character for “dragon” instead. Other golden trims include a pad-printed engine cover, bolts for the fuel-filler door and the taillamp assembly, and wheel center caps.

Finally, the Wrangler Dragon design concept makes the biggest statement with a tone-on-tone dragon decal that runs along the length of the vehicle as well as another dragon decal on the gloss-black spare tire cover. An LED exterior lighting package completes the luxurious tone of the bespoke Jeep Wrangler.

The theme continues in the interior as the Wrangler Dragon design features glossy piano black surfaces with golden highlights.

While only a design study, the Wrangler Dragon design concept seems essentially production ready. Depending on its reception at the Beijing auto show and the demand from the Chinese, Jeep just might make it a reality.

source:autoguide.com

1972 CHEVY BLAZER

The K/5 Blazer was the smallest full size SUV version of the General Motors C/K Trucks family. Introduced to the Chevrolet line in 1969, the full-size Blazer was replaced in 1995 by the Chevrolet Tahoe.

The exterior is in fair condition throughout this classic 72' Chevy Blazer. The paint and body are in fair condition with some imperfections on closer inspection. 

The top is showing its age.

This '72 Chevy Blazer rides on 33x12.5 R15 LT tires. 

The doors are solid underneath. This is the area that usually rusts first.

The cab has a factory cassette player and Sony speakers.

This '72 rustic Chevy blazer truck carries an aftermarket Edelbrock carburetor. 

The undercarriage is solid. 

via: http://www.texasclassiccarsofdallas.com

Jeep Hurricane - Dream Cars

The Jeep Hurricane's one-piece body is composed largely of light-weight carbon fiber. The Hurricane’s body also serves as the chassis, and all of the vehicle's components such as the engine's (yes there's two!), transmission, and suspension system are mounted directly to the body. The skid plate is an aluminum spine that connects the chassis to the underside of the vehicle. The Hurricane doesn’t have side doors or a roof, and there is only seating for two people.

Powered by two 5.7-liter HEMI engines, one in the front and one in the back, making a total of 670 horsepower, driving all 4 wheels the power is certainly there. And with fully controllable 4 wheel steering so is the maneuverability.

So the Jeep's claims are probably true!

2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8

Along with the new face-lifted version of the Jeep Cherokee, Chrysler is also bringing the new SRT8 version to the Detroit Motor Show. The high-performance SUV get the same visual changes as the standard car, plus the usual SRT treatment.
The car looks quite menacing now with its blacked-out front fascia. The bumper grille, the mesh inside the seven-slot grille and headlight bezels, they are all finished in dark black. But the LED lights on the bumper and the strip in the headlight soften the edges a bit.  The SRT8 also gets larger front air intakes and a vented bonnet. Around at the back you find a roof spoiler, a rear diffuser and two large tailpipes.

The cabin is also revised based on the latest changes, with the new steering wheel getting a flat bottom and aluminum accents to look sporty. Aluminum accents are found aplenty throughout the cabin, especially in the center console where you also find the new gear lever nicked straight from the Chrysler 300, and the latest Uconnect infotainment system that can be had with an 8.4-inch display.

As for the technicalities, while the new Cherokee SRT8 retains its  470 horsepower and 465 lb-ft of torque  HEMI V8 engine, the new 8-speed ZF automatic transmission will have a profound effect on the way it responds. It offers many different modes for various driving conditions, plus an Eco mode which in combination with the engine’s cylinder deactivation system gives the SRT8 a few more mpgs.

The performance remains unchanged over the old model, but that’s OK, because this massive thing catapults from 0 to 60 in 4.8 seconds and can reach 160 mph. The chassis and suspension with its Bilstein components and Brembo brakes are also intact.

source: motorward.com

Tundra Midnight Rider Tailgater

I think this car has nothing in common with either glam or girl cars, but it will be a perfect one for those who adore travelling with their families. Anyway, be ready to meet – Tundra Midnight Rider Tailgater. This multifunctional and super useful car was developed because of Toyota’s partnership with Brooks & Dunn.The car has everything even the most demanding family needs. According to the manufacturer’s the car was inspired by the music duo’s large truck-devoted fan base. It is a truck that has everything convenient in it.

Have a look at the back of the car, it has: a BBQ grill, beer tap, ice chest, 42″ HDTV and Kicker sound system.

Maserati Kuba CUV Concept

Automotive designer Andrey Trofimchuk has developed what he feels should be Maserati’s first crossover utility vehicle.  The Maserati Kuba CUV Concept would be a bold new direction for Maserati, but one that only continues its design heritage with the trident logo alone.
 Everything else on the Kuba is new to Maserati, from headlight to taillight.  While we appreciate Trofimchuk’s vision, we have a feeling that the Kuba may end up in the same territory as the Pontiak Aztek– a love it or hate it car that inspires passionate opinions in both directions, but not satisfying Maserati’s core.  However, if you are in the “love it” crow, you’ll likely really, really love it.  Both opinions aside, we do salute Andrey Trofimchuk for the sheer visual quality of his work.  These are some truly realistic renders… [cardesign.ru via worldcarfans]

Jeep Renegade

Chrysler revealed the Jeep Renegade concept car at the Detroit auto show. The Jeep Renegade is a two seats sporty vehicle that is well suited for dune-surfing or rock-climbing in all kinds of weather. The Jeep Renegade is equipped with a 40-mile range lithium-ion battery pack and a 1.5 liter BLUETEC diesel engine that extends the range to 400 miles.
 from Jeep's Press Release:

The Jeep Renegade concept vehicle is a sporty, “minimised” two-seater ideally suited for the all-weather fun of dune-surfing or rock-crawling.

The advanced propulsion system in the
Jeep Renegade concept starts with a 40-mile range lithium-ion battery pack. A range extender – in Renegade’s case, a 1.5-litre BLUETEC diesel engine – allows for journeys up to 400 miles.

Via: zercustoms.com

Lamborghini Jeep

The idea of Lamborghini, known for extreme performance cars, making an SUV may seem off the wall. But don't be too shocked. This actually isn't Lamborghini's first SUV. The LM002, a much chunkier vehicle that looked as if it had been built out of shoeboxes, was available from 1985 to 1992. Only about 300 of those were ever built.
Lamborghini decided it's time to try again. For now, the new, sleeker-looking Urus SUV is just a concept vehicle. But it's clear that Lamborghini fully intends to produce this vehicle or something very much like it. In fact, it could produce as many as 3,000 per year, which would make it the largest-selling Lamborghini model by far.The Urus, just unveiled at the Beijing Auto Show, is a 600 horsepower "crossover" with huge 24-inch wheels and a 600 horsepower engine. Like most of Lamborghini's cars, the Urus has full-time all-wheel-drive with a focus on on-road performance.
 The Urus's interior has lots of exposed carbon fiber. The lighweight but strong -- and super-expensive -- material is visible in the center tunnel between the seats and even between the cushions on the seats.
The seating position, Lamborghini says, is "lower and flatter" than in any competing SUV.
Behind the steering wheel are shift paddles for the SUV's transmission and a programmable information screen.The Urus concept vehicle doesn't have conventional side mirrors. Instead, the driver looks at video screens in the left and right sides of the cockpits. The images displayed there come from small video cameras mounted on the sides of the SUV.The Urus is environmentally friendly, too, relatively speaking. According to Lamborghini, it will emit the least carbon dioxide, a gas blamed for global warning, of any vehicle in its class.

Hennessey Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8

Hennessey revealed their newest Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8 version, an 805HP beast. It’s roughly one of the most powerful Jeeps on market today. Dubbed as the 2013 HPE800 Twin Turbo Jeep by Hennessey, the car boasts a 7.0-liter power plant based on a 6.4-liter Hemi.
It’s equipped with two turbo-chargers that increase its power to 805 HP at 5,800 RPM (823 HP – 4,000 RPM), with 823 lb-ft of torque. The acceleration from naught to 62 mph is done in an incredible 3.1 seconds, even faster than today’s supercars. Ferrari and Lamborghinis are surely left behind by this monster.

sorce: luxatic.com