The Jeep Wrangler, it’s one of the most iconic vehicles in history. It’s been called the king of off-road vehicles, and it’s not hard to see why. This four-wheel-drive beauty has been dominating the world’s most grueling terrain for decades, and it’s still going even today.
Interestingly, though, the Jeep Wrangler has a long and interesting backstory. The vehicle has been involved in all sorts of military adventures throughout its history. And it has taken part in just about every event and TV show you can imagine.
Because of this, there’s a lot that people don’t know about the Wrangler. Here’s a rundown.
It Barely Depreciates
Cars are supposed to go down in value after you buy them. Most shed around 60 percent in the first five years or 50,000 miles. That’s a lot of money to lose – roughly $2,500 per year for the average-priced vehicle.
But the Jeep Wrangler is something of an exception. The vehicle simply doesn’t depreciate at the normal rate.
There are two reasons for this:
- The quality of construction
- The timeless design
Buyers know that if they buy a second-hand Wrangler, they’re getting something that will last for many years. Construction quality is incredibly high. Jeep completely over-engineers the vehicle so that it can survive the harshest conditions.
Secondly, the design of the Wrangler never really changes. It still has the same DNA as vehicles Jeep was producing fifty years ago. It’s a tried-and-tested formula that really works and it is almost completely timeless.
Beyond this, there is the supply issue. Buyers really have to convince sellers to get rid of their vehicles because they love them so much. People simply don’t want to let them go, even if they are 20 or 30 years old. That, again, is pushing prices up and making vehicles even more scarce.
It Makes People Wave At You
Nobody is going to wave at you if you drive a Toyota Camry. But if you go out and purchase a Jeep Wrangler, the chances of that happening go up significantly.
But why is this? It all comes down to how people perceive owners. If you drive a regular sedan, you’re just another middle-class person. But if you cruise through your local town in a Wrangler, you’re outgoing, adventurous, and gregarious. There’s clearly something different about you. It’s not a normal purchase.
Interestingly, though, the wave dates back to WWII. Because it was a military vehicle, service personnel would acknowledge each other after the war with a wave. It was a kind of camaraderie that persisted for many years, even after the fighting stopped.
Today, the tradition continues. Parents and grandparents taught their children to wave at Wranglers, so the tradition continues. Of course, it’s much less likely to happen today than in the late 1940s, but it’s still something that you might encounter from time to time.
You Can Fold Down The Windshield
Windshields are a helpful invention. When you are driving, they stop it from feeling like you are being buffeted by storm-strength winds.
But the original Wrangler had an interesting feature: the ability to fold down the windshield. It’s a simple operation, involving a couple of clips and hooks.
But why would you fold down the windshield in the first place? What’s the point?
It all comes down to the car’s off-road performance. Folding it down prevents damage when driving through difficult terrain, and it reduces the amount of dust in the cabin.
There may also be military origins as well. Being able to fold down the windscreen meant that soldiers would fire their guns out of the front of the vehicle without shooting holes in it.
It’s Easy To Mess Up Modifications
The Wrangler is a highly strung beast. Jeep makes the vehicle so that all components work together seamlessly. However, many owners modify their vehicles with oversized wheels and tires and raise the suspension to improve their off-road capabilities. That’s okay if they beef up other components at the same time. But many don’t.
This bad habit leads to the so-called “death wobble.” Fittings on the vehicle start to wear and become loose, causing the wheels to jar from side to side instead of rotating normally.
The good news is that it’s possible to upgrade the rest of the components so that this doesn’t happen. The downside: it increases the cost of the modification.
It’s Designed For Driving Through Swamps
Modern Wranglers are unlikely to see significant off-road action, and Jeep knows this. For the most part, they are showpieces that celebrate their owners’ love of the vehicle’s heritage.
Because of this, modern Wranglers have all sorts of features you would never expect. Leather trim, heated seats, and sophisticated in-car entertainment are all par for the course.
But it wasn’t like this in the old days. Wranglers of the past were not the same at all.
For instance, Jeep deliberately made the seats water and stain-resistant. It wanted to make sure that no matter how wet and filthy they got, the vehicle stayed looking good. If owners decided to drive through a river, it also wanted them to be able to drain their vehicles. Therefore, it put a series of plug holes in the floor of the cabin, a bit like bath plugs, that let them do exactly that. These ideas were a long way from the luxury of modern vehicles we know and love today.
It Has A Massive Fan Base
As sites like JED-Co.com make clear, the Wrangler has a massive fan base. Toyota Camry t-shirts and merch are rare, but you can easily find them for the Wrangler. There’s a whole subculture dedicated to the vehicle.
How big is the Wrangler’s fan base? Estimates suggest that it stretches to tens of millions globally. But only a small fraction of those people will even own the iconic vehicle. There simply aren’t enough of them to go around.
Jeep Always Includes Surprises
Jeep knows that the Wrangler is a vehicle with a long and impressive history. The four-wheel-drive off-road vehicle has been in service in one form or another for nearly eighty years.
Therefore, you get a lot of surprises and Easter eggs included in every vehicle. Jeep decorates the Wrangler with all sorts of exciting features that make it so much more interesting. These reinforce the brand and pay homage to previous iterations of the vehicle.
For instance, if you look at the passenger side of the windshield, you’ll see a tiny image of a military off-roader driving uphill. Then there’s the embossed silhouette of Willys MB on the alloy wheels, and accents on the steering column to mimic the old-style steering wheel of the past. In fact, just about everywhere you look on the vehicle, you’ll find something to remind you of the past or speak to the car’s history.
It’s Available In A Right-Hand Drive Version
Usually, you can’t legally buy right-hand drive vehicles in the U.S. You have to go to a country where they drive on the left, like the UK, or get a shipping firm to import one for you.
But the Wrangler is an exception. Or, at least, it was, according to cylinder-heads.com.
If you’re over a certain age, you’ll remember that the Jeeps used to deliver mail across the country. These had sliding side doors and swing-out tailgates that made it easier to get in and out and transport parcels.
While the DJ version of the vehicle stopped being made in the 1980s, you could actually special order a right-hand side version to make it easier to get out and deliver parcels to the curbside.
Thanks for reading and y’all stay dandy.
-Diego
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