Sport or Rubicon?

JayKay

Caught the Bug
I have a JKU Sport S. I do have a little bit of buyers remorse, but when I traded in the POS 2011 Silverado I had, I wanted to keep my payments the same and I knew that wouldn't happen if I went with a rubicon. I settled with the Sport S, but I was able to get it with every option. In my opinion, if you come across an affordable deal on a Rubicon, get it. Otherwise there is nothing wrong with a Sport or Sahara. Now that I've started modding my Sport, I plan to keep it and build it the way I want. Sure in the long run I'll have way more in it than what would've been the difference between the Sport and Rubicon, but it'll be mine and I can be proud of the work I did on it myself. And I was never confined to a large monthly payment, which gives me the freedom to spend the savings on more upgrades.
 

DownHillTurbo

New member
It's all about what you can afford monthly. If you can afford the Rubicon, get it. If not, get the Sport and work overtime or whatever to save for those upgrades.

Isn't the point of buying a Jeep to build it and make it your own? How better to do this than with a Sport!
 

JEEPnGEO

New member
I am really no one to ask but I though I would offer my 2 centavos.

If you have a Sahara why not put the money the money you were going to put into a new one into the Sahara.

You already have the motor, vehicle, and basic interior. Just buy the axels, tranny, trans, suspension

This would be your chance to get

Twist Locking hubs
Dana 60 housings
gears
37" wheels
Good driveshafts
suspension parts the usual stuff

Buy up all your parts, plan things out watch all the videos and study up on how to do everything, make notes and then take a week off from work gather friends and get after it. When you are done you will have a racked and stacked Sahara ready to whop up on a factory Rubicon for a third of the price.

Why buy a Rubicon just to toss half the parts into the trash and build it up.

That's me.

Laters
 

trailless

Caught the Bug
I think the OP wants an unlimited and wants the penastar motor.

I would get the Rubicon. I was surprised at how well my Rubicon did the first time I took it offroad. Any mods I make will most likely be just for cosmetic reasons.

Sent from my SCH-I545 using WAYALIFE mobile app
 

IBeHeWhoIsJoshua

New member
I am really no one to ask but I though I would offer my 2 centavos.

If you have a Sahara why not put the money the money you were going to put into a new one into the Sahara.

You already have the motor, vehicle, and basic interior. Just buy the axels, tranny, trans, suspension

This would be your chance to get

Twist Locking hubs
Dana 60 housings
gears
37" wheels
Good driveshafts
suspension parts the usual stuff

Buy up all your parts, plan things out watch all the videos and study up on how to do everything, make notes and then take a week off from work gather friends and get after it. When you are done you will have a racked and stacked Sahara ready to whop up on a factory Rubicon for a third of the price.

Why buy a Rubicon just to toss half the parts into the trash and build it up.

That's me.

Laters

Some of us can't build it up that quick with those parts. Hence a budget build on a Rubicon would get you a very capable rig. Although, I would love to take a week off and install $20k in parts.
 

Hell_Fire

New member
I always say ask your self the questions are you really going too use the extras on the Rubi? How often do you really 4x4? I have owned a diesel Sahara a petrol 3.8 Sahara and now the 3.6 Rubi my Sahara went every where a Rubi went but only because it was heavily modified. We 4x4 every second weekend and started doing some really big trails this side so I decided on buying the Rubi for the crawler gear cos you don't need to take an obstacle so fast. so yeah just go through your check list and tick the right boxes, you will soon know if you need a Rubi, rather then want a Rubi, the price difference is big and you need to be able to justify spending the extra $$$ on the extras that comes with the Rubi. My 2c l
 

hinrichs

Caught the Bug
For my I went with a rubi because of what I originally planned to do with my build. I was going to stay somewhat stock and just do a budget boost and keep the stock tires. That plan was short lived and then ended up going bigger. I am still running the stock axles and lockers and gears with my 37s. I know its not ideal but works very well for me. I have also been able to sell my stock wheels and tires so far which does help in the long run.

In the end tho it all comes down to what you plan to do with it and how much you wheel it.
 

Spartan

New member
I have alway been a Rubicon guy, but I also live within less then a days drive of Moab and the Rubicon. I know some people just don't like e-lockers or the e-sway bar disco, but I have always liked both. Also if you get a TF 2.5 BB, and chop the ends off the front bumper you can play on lots of trails with no problems until you can afford other mods.
 

MountainRambler

New member
If you have the funds I say Rubicon all the way. I bought a Sahara and now wish I had gone with the Rubicon. In my opinion its easier and a little bit cheaper to mod and upgrade a Rubicon. With the Rubicon you can just buy a PR 44 housing and reuse most of the stock components in order to run 37'' tires. With the Sahara your stuck buying a whole brand new axle assembly.(yes I know some people run 37'' on d30 but I don't think its a good idea) Its easier to gradually upgrade a Rubicon, with the Sahara/Sport you have to save up a bunch of money and do several mods at once. I know other people will have varying and different opinions on this. You must decide what's right for you based on what you can afford. I would rather have a Sport than no Jeep at all, whatever you decide it will still be awesome it's a JEEP!:thumb:
 

bo9roadking

New member
If money is tight, finance a Rubicon. If you have some money to do mods, get a Sport. I have a Rubi and my wife has a Sport. The only thing still on my Rubi that is factory is the transfer case and the E-Disco. I've changed everything else including axles, lockers, rock sliders, etc... for better upgrades that what came standard on the Rubi. My wife's Sport is getting PR60 and PR44 axles, gears, and ARB lockers, so I didn't see the need for her buying a Rubi. She also has Currie Anti-Rocks front and rear, so no need for E-Disco. When I upgrade to an Atlas TC, she will get my Rubi TC.
 

Devallee

New member
I bought an 09 X (aka sport for the second gen jks) because I knew I'd replace everything that I would've gotten if I bought the Rubicon. That being said, my build took much longer than I expected and kinda wish I had the Rubicon with all the nice stuff to play with until I could get my build under way. I'd say for an immediate build get a sport..for a slower build over time get the Rubicon. If you plan to take your sweet time with the build, I think you'll be happier with a Rubicon to play with in the meantime until you can start to build it up. Happy shopping!

Sent from my SGH-M919 using WAYALIFE mobile app
 

catahoula

Caught the Bug
Chief is right that a Rubi is more capable that a Sport.

Get a sport and build it. There are several Rubi owners that have changed out just about everything on theirs....so why pay the extra money up front.:thinking:

Rubi's in my option are geared more for the rock crawling crowd. If that is what you like to do than that is a plus. Heated seats? I've lived 40 plus years without them I think I could go a little farther. I bought a sport and will continue to build as time goes on.

So many on the forum have stated buy it right the first time,...but some of these same owners have replaced the aftermarket parts they have installed several times with something else. Some have even bought 10A's and replaced the bumpers, as well as the shocks, springs, tires, wheels, axles,...

I do like that fact you can make it your own and no one else has one like yours whether a Rubi or Sport.

I know people will disagree but all I can say is they think they are right....and I know I am right.:cheesy:
 

Zstairlessone

New member
Chief is right that a Rubi is more capable that a Sport.

Get a sport and build it. There are several Rubi owners that have changed out just about everything on theirs....so why pay the extra money up front.:thinking:

Rubi's in my option are geared more for the rock crawling crowd. If that is what you like to do than that is a plus. Heated seats? I've lived 40 plus years without them I think I could go a little farther. I bought a sport and will continue to build as time goes on.

So many on the forum have stated buy it right the first time,...but some of these same owners have replaced the aftermarket parts they have installed several times with something else. Some have even bought 10A's and replaced the bumpers, as well as the shocks, springs, tires, wheels, axles,...

I do like that fact you can make it your own and no one else has one like yours whether a Rubi or Sport.

I know people will disagree but all I can say is they think they are right....and I know I am right.:cheesy:

Why do you think the Rubi comes with heated seats (except as the same option you can get in any other JK)?
There is an $8,600 difference in price

image-2763604439.jpg

And a lot more than axles and transfer case separate the Sport from the Rubi. I don't know about used prices, but new...
 

catahoula

Caught the Bug
Why do you think the Rubi comes with heated seats (except as the same option you can get in any other JK)?
There is an $8,600 difference in price

<img src="http://wayalife.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=67740"/>

And a lot more than axles and transfer case separate the Sport from the Rubi. I don't know about used prices, but new...

I was basing my answer on OP's post. Did you read it?
 

Right Rudder

New member
I got a Rubicon because my Jeep is going to take half a decade+ to build. Rubi allows me to go fuck around and do minor shit on the side while I pile up necessary $ for upgrades.

All depends on your build schedule as indicated by other folks.
 

warrkill

New member
So I bought a sport and made the mistake of getting 3.21 gears. whats the biggest gears I can put in my stock axles and what else will I need to do? Thanks for the help everyone
 

seanb123

New member
So I bought a sport and made the mistake of getting 3.21 gears. whats the biggest gears I can put in my stock axles and what else will I need to do? Thanks for the help everyone

You can put up to 5.13 before you run into problems but compared to the 3.73 when regearing you'll need a new carrier
 
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