Well today was the day - my very first close encounter and test drive in the all new, 2007, Jeep JK Wrangler Unlimited. And, let me just say right off the bat - this thing is HUGE!! No, no, no… maybe I should say more accurately that this thing was just SUPER LONG. No joke, this JK Unlimited was parked next to a 2006 TJ Unlimited and looking at the two side by side, the wheel base of the JK was considerably, noticeably and measurably longer than the TJ!!

Okay, having said all that, I will say that with all its extra length and longer wheel base, the Jeep JK Wrangler Unlimited also gives you an extraordinary amount of cargo space, rear passenger room and a ride like no other Wrangler I’ve ridden in - period. Taking it out for a quick spin on a fairly rough road and over two rail road crossings, the JK Unlimited provided a very smooth and comfortable ride but without feeling mushy like an oversized SUV or harsh like an unloaded pickup truck. The other thing that really took me by surprise was how absolutely quite this thing was. Granted, I’ve been driving in a TJ on 35″ mud tires and an aftermarket muffler for sometime now but compared to it, the JK Wrangler was like driving with pillows over my ears.

The only real downside to the test drive that I’d have to point out was its sluggish feel it has under foot. I don’t know if it due to all the extra weight or because of the automatic transmission or a combination of both. Stepping on the gas to get going up a freeway on-ramp, the engine did eventually find itself and jumped to life but it still felt like it was laboring to pick up speed. Perhaps a JK Wrangler equipped with a 6-speed may put a little more pep out if for no other reason than the fact that you can control the shift points.

In my opinion, the new Jeep JK Wrangler Unlimited really is an impressive step up for Jeep. Not that it couldn’t benefit from a few modifications here and there if you know what I mean, but the basic platform offers a lot right out of the box. The length of this thing is really gonna take some getting used to for me but I have to admit, I am starting to think it really has potential. Coming in this morning, I was convinced that I would be getting a 2-Door Rubicon but after today, but now… I may just have to get an Unlimited.

Anyway, be sure to check back soon as I will definitely have more to come. In the mean time, click on the link below to see all the pics

>> 2007 Jeep JK Wrangler Unlimited X - Blue Steel Photos

Eddie

P.S. I really need to thank Jeff Sladick over at Don-A-Vee Jeep for spending so much time with my wife and I and for being so accommodating with all the photos I wanted to take.

When I purchased my Jeep XJ Cherokee, it was with the full knowledge that the AC in it wasn’t working that well. I’m mean, it blew semi-cool air even on the hottest of days but never enough to take the edge off the intense heat a black vehicle can generate if you know what I mean. But then, with me being in one of the cooler parts of SoCal, I figured, what the heck, who needs AC? Yeah right!! Maybe in a normal year that would be true but no joke, it’s been hotter this summer than I’ve ever felt in the last three years that I’ve lived here. Need I say, it was time to get the ol’ XJ’s AC blowing cold again.

So here was my dilemma… upgrade to an R134a system or, find someone who still works on R-12 units here in California - LOL!!! Yes, as it would seem, the later is a complete impossibility and even if you could find someone who did work on R-12 systems, the R-12 freon costs about an arm and a leg and maybe even a couple of extra toes per pound and the one under the hood of an XJ takes about 3 lbs - Yikes!! Well, if you haven’t figured it out by now, I decided that the R134a route was the way to go… or was it?

After doing some research online and a little shopping around for an upgrade kit, it became clear to me that the only way to make this thing work and work well was to buy a complete kit (with valves, hoses, R134a, oil, etc.), a new receiver/dryer/or whatever it’s called and then have the compressor vacuumed out of the existing R-12 freon by a certified professional before I could install anything. When all was said and done, the cost of upgrading my AC right was just about as expensive as having new R-12 put in. Sure this would all just be a one time fee and the next time I needed a recharge, all I would need to do is add some inexpensive R134a and oil to the system. But, what if the EPA decided to change the laws in the near future and make it virtually impossible to use this stuff? Not as if it hasn’t happened before in the past.

Well, fortunately for me, while I was calling around to get a quote to have my R-12 vacuumed out, I came across a local shop that suggested I consider having my existing AC system recharged with a product called Freeze 12 instead. Apparently, it was completely compatible with my existing AC compressor, no upgrade kits or additional parts would be needed and the best part is that it was cheap at about $17 a pound. In all, I was told that I’d be looking at about $100 to test my AC for leaks, other problems and labor plus the cost of how ever many cans of Freeze 12 my system needed… maybe $140 out the door.

So, I jumped in my XJ, drove down to the shop, had the head mechanic there give my AC system a thorough once over and then left it there while I went to lunch and he did his magic. About an hour later, I returned to hear what the good or bad news would be and much to my surprise, it was in fact good news. As it would seem, they could find no visible leaks and my AC was just a bit low. Needing just a single can of Freeze 12 to top it off, my bill had come up to only $122!! As far as how well this stuff works goes, well, let me just say that I’ve been driving my XJ more and more even though the weather has been in the 90’s lately.

I don’t know what the long term effect of this stuff will be but you can be sure that you’ll hear about it here if I ever come across any problems what so ever.

Eddie

FYI: If you live in the South O.C. neck of the SoCal woods and need a good AC shop to help you out, I would highly recommend CAPE Auto Repair. They are located on 27762 Forbes Rd. - Suite 1R, Laguna Niguel, CA 92677 - (949) 582-3131. Ask for James Buck.

Maybe it’s just me but there really are few things in life that I absolutely hate more than having to buy a new car. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not because I don’t like new cars or that the cost of one is too painful for my wallet, but rather… it’s the having to deal with car salesmen, their greasy schmoozing and their relentless determination to screw you and to do it with a winning smile. And, I guess that’s why when it came time to buy my Jeep TJ Wrangler back in 1999, I chose to do it through the auto purchasing program that Costco offers its members.

With a no-bullshit and no-haggle set fee over invoice (at the time, I paid $400) in spite of the fact that I wanted to custom order my Jeep, my buying experience was a dream. Nobody schmoozed me and nobody tried to sell me anything. They just faxed me a total invoice with all the charges taken into account like taxes, license fees and commission. Once I verified the numbers to be accurate, I placed my order and six weeks later, I got a call to pick up my new Jeep, I signed a bunch of papers, handed them a check and they handed me the keys. No joke, it was all business and it was that simple, painless and easy. In fact, I think from beginning to end, the total amount of time I spent talking to anyone from the dealership I was assigned to (South Bay Chrysler Jeep - Torrance, CA) was maybe only one hour and that was to a very professional fleet manager.

So here I am, once again in the market to buy a new, 2007 Jeep JK Wrangler. And, as I’m sure you could guess by now, I decided to contact Costco once again with the hope of repeating my previous stellar experience. Now, I say “hope” only because it’s been a long time since my last purchase and I only know too well that all good things usually come to an end. And, as much as I hate to say it, this one did as well.

After submitting my vehicle inquiries through Costco’s website yesterday, I was promptly contacted by a fleet manager at Capistrano Chrysler Dodge Jeep in San Juan Capistrano, CA. Now, I should point out for the record that Costco’s website did not have an option for a 2007 Jeep JK Wrangler and so I just indicated that I wanted a 2006 TJ Rubicon thinking that I could always explain what I really wanted once I got a call from the designated dealer. Anyway, so I get this call from this fleet manager and soon after we exchanged our hellos, he gets right down to selling and asks me to verify that what I wanted was a 2007 JK Wrangler and not a 2006 TJ. A little surprised, I indicated that I did in fact want a 2007 JK Wrangler and asked how he knew especially since I made no mention of it in my inquiries. “Aren’t you trying to get rid of your 2006 inventory” I asked? To which he responded, “Oh, I went to your website and figured as much.” “But I never indicated what my website was” I tell him but even as the words left my mouth, I realized that I submitted my email using my Project-Jk.com account. And, let’s face it, any clever salesmen would be stupid not to feel out his prey before engaging it.

So, with that out of the way, this salesman proceeds to tell me what a “hot car” the new Jeep Wrangler is, that “demand for one is high,” none are scheduled to be on the lot for another two weeks and that if I bought one now, I would still be looking at about a month wait. To which I explained “that was fine and that I expected as much.” With us both being on the same page, this salesman takes a list of all the options I wanted and informs me that the Jeep I wanted would have to be special ordered and that it would take more time. To which I again explain, “that was fine and that I expected as much, just call me when you have price as I know they are not available yet.” But, much to my amazement, he informs me that he already has a price and proceeds to tell me it. Stunned at how much it was, I ask if this number included the Costco member special pricing to which he laughed and said, “well, I know you are foaming at the mouth for one” and “this is after all a hot car in high demand” so, “we won’t charge a dollar over sticker.” “Of course, this number doesn’t include taxes, license fees or commission either.”

I was “foaming at the mouth for one”? “This is after all a hot car in high demand”?? “We won’t charge a dollar over sticker”?!! And I might add, all were said with a smug tone suggesting that this salesman was doing me some kind of favor!! I swear, the whole experience left me feeling unclean… like I needed to take a hot shower to rid myself of that scum. Granted, I really shouldn’t have expected anything less from a dealership but after my last experience with Costco, I guess I was kind of hoping for more. But, perhaps that’s just the problem, I was hoping for more when I should have still been expecting a lot less.

Oh well, maybe there’ll be some hope to be found on-line. I’ll be sure to keep you all updated with what I find.

Eddie

I just got done checking about half a dozen Jeep dealerships in my neck of the SoCal woods and haven’t been able to find a single Jeep JK Wrangler anywhere. I’ve checked San Juan Capistrano, Tuttle-Click in Irvine and Tustin, Cerritos Auto Square and Foothill Ranch and zip, nadda, nothing. So, where in the hell are these things? I just want to get a good look at a 4-Door Unlimited to see if my mind would be changed about getting a 2-Door. Oh well, I guess I’ll just have to keep looking