2006 vs 2007 Jeep Rubicon…
Deciding between the 2006 Jeep Rubicon and the newly redesigned 2007 has been difficult.
The Superficial Stuff
Color: Black, flame red, and impact orange are completely out of the running; not interested. The green and midnight blue models look nice, but not enough to go for one of those. The light khaki wasn’t light enough online, although close to acceptable in person. I just don’t care for the khaki with the ugly “different shade of khaki” tops, and the black hard top just wasn’t contrasty enough. That potentially leaves stone white, bright silver, and solar yellow. Fairly iffy about the yellow, white is a bit too “Daisy Duke”, and silver is a bit too “Lara Croft”. Still leaning heavily towards the white at this point.
Interior: While I normally prefer a lighter color interior, I like the look of the dark slate gray as opposed to the khaki, even though the khaki might be better at disguising dirt and grime. They just don’t seem to get “khaki” right for my tastes. A khaki interior is available only with the stone white, not the bright silver — although dark slate is an option with either color. Leaning towards dark slate; maybe it’s because the car I’ve driven for the past ten years has a beige interior. Granted, it’s also a white car, and for some reason I’m still considering a white Rubicon.
Power: 6-speed manual transmission. Automatic isn’t even an option to consider. It might be a bit hard to get used to the position of the 6th gear as it’s scarily close to reverse.
Options: I definitely want a set of metal half doors, probably in addition to the standard full doors. Still confused about various tops and how they work or don’t work with the different door options.
The 2006 TJ or the 2007 JK?
The 2006 TJ Rubicon comes standard with an AMC 190HP, 4.0L, Power Tech inline-six, considered one of the best off-road engines ever made. Also standard are 31-inch tall LT245/75R16 tires on 16-inch aluminum wheels. Music should sound pretty good coming from a 7-speaker system that includes a full center console-mounted subwoofer, 2 midrange speakers in the instrument panel, and 2 full-range speakers mounted in the overhead speaker pods. Cool!
On the other hand, the 2007 JK Rubicon has a standard Chrysler 3.8L, 12-valve, 205HP, V6 engine. Seventeen-inch aluminum wheels sporting LT225/75R17 mud terrain tires are also standard. The six-speaker stereo system has an MP3 input audio jack, ideal for my iPod. Rock rails are standard, unlike on the 2006. This next-generation Jeep is 5.5 inches longer and 1.4 inches taller than the existing model, with a 2.1-inch-longer wheelbase and 2.4-inch-wider track, but with a tenth of an inch less ground clearance. Despite it being taller, there’s a fraction less headroom in front and back in the JK, although shoulder room has increased in both areas. Where the 2007 exceeds over the 2006 is storage behind the back seats: over 17 cubic feet vs slightly less than 12 cubic feet on the 2006 TJ. Not sure I care for the single-hinge windshield vs two hinges. Both model years have dual Dana 44 axles, a heavy-duty transfer case with an ultra-low 4:1 ratio, and 4-wheel disc brakes. The optional security package for the 2006 comes standard on the 2007. Turning diameter is the same. Everything else is little details.
The Jeep forums are abuzz about which engine to covet. The die-hards are asking “why fix what works?” and the modernists are answering “better gas mileage, more power, newer technology!” The 4.0L of the TJ was introduced in 1987 with a Renault engine control system. In 1991, after Chrysler acquired the brand, the control computer was redesigned and the intake ports were raised. Chrysler also enlarged the throttle body and redesigned the intake and exhaust manifolds for more efficiency, and the fuel injectors were replaced with higher flowing units. Small changes were made to the cylinder head and engine block every couple of years until 1998, after which it has remained mostly the same. The 3.8L of the new JK was introduced in 1991 into Chrysler’s Fifth Avenue, Imperial, and minivans (yuck!) and it, too, has had some changes; the intake was redesigned in 1994 and the compression ratio was increased in 1998. The real claim to fame of the 3.8L is the addition of a variable intake system in 2001, increasing horsepower and foot-pounds of torque, but according to the forums the jury is still out as to whether it will have a negative effect on low, rock-climbing RPMs.
The “new” 3.8L engine just doesn’t seem so new to get all that worked up about since its genesis was only a few years after the 4.0L. So, do I get the last year of a proven classic, or do I wait for the as-yet-unpublished price for a newly designed Wrangler that will probably take a full model year to get the kinks out? And why is it that some aftermarket products don’t seem to be available for the 2006’s? I need some advice from a Jeep owner or two…
UPDATE: Yes, I bought the ‘06. And I absolutely love it!
Hi there, i’m an italian dude livin (and working) in Mexico. I own a 06 Rubi, and imho, it’s better than the 07. As somebody said above, “why fix if it work”? i simply love the i6 HO 4L, and that “old style feeling” that give me. But as everything, it’s just my personal thought. And other thing i don’t really apreciate of the 07 it’s the design.. like in jeep they lost the sight of what it’s a “cult truck”. And the interior of the 07 looks somewhat…not so rude as the classic wrangler. Of course that’s just my humble opinion folks. And sorry for my horrible english
Which model did you end up buying? I had to get a freon recharge on my ‘06 Rubicon, but other than that it’s great so far. I’m having some wheel wobble (vibration at 53-60 mph) on my ‘04 unlimited–difficulty getting the factory Goodyear tires and wheels balanced. Have a lifetime balance and rotate deal at Goodyear, but they are saying it may not be opossible to get them to ride right due to aggressive tread and normal wear, plus two of the tires are out of round (they say). I already spent an extra $100 at the dealer to have them tell me the alighnemt was fine. I may have to pay the dealer check it out; seems like you can go to four different places and they’ll tell you four different things about the problem, but still can’t get it to ride right. Hope yours is doing well after the initial lifter issue. I test drove a 2WD ‘07 4dr and wan’t too impressed, except that the driver’s seat was much better the old seats. It was quiet and smooth with a nice ride, but didn’t have a Jeep feel to it. They look good and will undoubtedly be good sellers. While I was at the dealership an owner of the new 4dr was back to get a problem with the front door latches fixed.
I bought a stone-white 2006 Rubicon. Having read your comment, I revisited the 2007 specs and was very surprised to see that I had overlooked the disappointing fact that the 2007 Wrangler is available in a 2WD option. That’s just wrong! Discounting Cherokees, Libertys, Commanders, other non-Willys-like models, and US Postal Service models, Jeeps just aren’t supposed to have two wheel drive. Buying a 2WD Wrangler is like bringing home a lesbian Playboy Playmate: sure, it looks great and your friends will envy you today. But when the looks have faded, what do you have left? An expensive-to-maintain body that isn’t nearly as fun as you thought it would be…
That’s great!!! rotfl!!!
Nice Buy
Just ordered an 07 Unlimited Rubi. I have owned/built Jeeps since the early 80s and can say after doing some pretty exhaustive research and a test drive in an 07 Sahara Unlimited, that the new one is a keeper. I am very satisfied with the rig and am anxiously awaiting my lift, tires, bumpers, etc. I am having it built with all the “nice to have stuff” that, I too was staunchly opposed to for many years in a Jeep.
I suppose the bottom line is simply this: If you want a tube buggy, build it…..If you want a very trail capable rig with room to spare and not have to work on it every weekend, buy the 07 Rubi.
I agree with Mike (comment #15), I took out an 06 sport, 06 Rubicon and the 07 unlimited Rubicon. I have a family and want to play on the weekend. The 06 Rubicon as great as it was will not fit the dog and kid on a weekend camping excursion. The 07 was cheaper and provides that extra room I need to have for a vehicle. Buying a fixer up and paying for insurance on a 3rd vehicle is expensive not to mention time consuming.
The only sore point to this purchase is the wife is adament not to learn to drive a stick! I prefer the 6 speed but might have to settle on an automatic, this time.
Any thoughts on an 07 Unlimited Rubicon automatic? (don’t flame me with insults, I would like constructive insight into this)
Thanks
The 2007 is about $1,000 cheaper than its 2006 counterpart. According to the specs on the Jeep site, the main differences (other than styling) between the 2006 Rubicon and the 2007 Unlimited Rubicon is that the 2006 has bigger standard tires, 15% smaller turning diameter, and 22% higher ground clearance. The 2007 has 43% more payload capacity, 10% more fuel tank capacity, and weighs 20% more.
It’s really just about what you want to do with it. The bigger tires and smaller width, length, and turning radius on the 2006 Rubi makes it much more fun to drive off-road. The extra capacity of the 2007 Unlimited makes road trips and around-town driving more practical, although the extra weight offsets the increased fuel tank capacity. If it’s mainly intended to be a commuting vehicle, get the automatic if you want.
My decision to buy the 2006 Rubicon (not the 2007 or Unlimited) also took into consideration the facts that we already own an economical SUV and I can just purchase a towing rig and trailer when (not if) I want the extra cargo space without having to settle for a less-fun driving experience. I’m sure someone will take offense at this, but it’s just my personal opinion — the 4-door 2007 just looks to me like it’s trying to be more like a Hummer. And the H3 is just trying to look like a Jeep. Just don’t get the 2WD option!!!!
My wifes vehicle is a honda civic, a really good fun driving vehicle but is not that big. Having two smaller vehicles is just not practical since we have one daughter and a 80 lb german sheppard. We like to hike (geocaching) a lot on weekends and now were into snow shoeing. I looked at the FJ cruiser from Toyota but is much heavier and has worse fuel economy than the wrangerl.
We flipped for it and I lost so it looks like it might be the automatic. Still have one more play before I sign the dotted line.
No one has answered on how the 4 speed automatics compare to the 6 speed manual?
Stumbled across this looking for info/opinions, so thanks to everyone who has commented. I just ordered an ‘07 Rubicon myself (green). I, like the person above, spent a lot of time debating the color for some reason. Didn’t want the “flashy” colors and didn’t want black because it will get dirty and black is the worst. I used to have a 2000 Anniversary Edition and I am curious how they will compare as I have not driven the ‘07, just bought it. I know, probably not smart, but I have had 4 Jeeps and loved everyone of them, so I assume the same will happen here. I see a lot of people buying the Unlimited though - I don’t understand why? Personnally, I think they are goofy looking. If you need more space, which I assume would be the only reason, then I’d go with something else for the “family” vehicle. We have a Grand Cherokee and that thing is nice for trips.
The automatic isn’t at all bad and seems faster accelerating from a stop. The 6 speed is fun and takes more skill to drive, and would be better at downhill rockcrawling. The new 07s have “Drive By Wire” which is supposed to make them much smoother than the 06s. The 07 4-dr has a totally different feel than the 06s due to a softer suspension and probably the “Drive by Wire,” and although they take a lot more space to turn around in than the 2-dr model, they still don’t seem too bad compared to other SUVs. i’m still glad to have an 06 6 speed Rubicon, but might consider the new larger Wrangler or 4-dr (4×4 only) in another year or two.