Is Jeep Wrangler the new VW Bug?
Posted by snarkuzoid@reddit | cars | View on Reddit | 68 comments
My daughter just bought a new Jeep Wrangler, and loves it. Since then I've noticed that there are tons of these in our area, and many of them are in wild colors, dashboard full of rubber ducks, fancy or funny spare tire covers, etc. Not like your typical black/white/grey SUV, but personalized to the owner. Back in the day (1970s), the (original) VW Bug was that car. Has anybody else noticed that? Does Jeep promote or capitalize on that?
highflyer10123@reddit
I wouldn’t say the wrangler is the new vw bug. The wrangler has always had a pretty much cult following. If you look at the use wrangler prices you will see that it doesn’t depreciate much at all.
I would say the majority of Chryslers profits are probably Ram, wrangler, Grand Cherokee. Except the MSRP on the RAM and the GC has crept into the $100k range. So not sure how they expect to keep selling that way since it’s unaffordable to most Americans and people that can afford to spend $100k in general will look at other luxury brands.
parker2020@reddit
It’s more the equivalent of a Harley
snarkuzoid@reddit (OP)
I have had that thought. All the exposed hardware and general crudeness of it.
Saskatchewon@reddit
It's more about people buying into a lifestyle image rather than something that's well made. Harley has an earned reputation for becoming a fashion and accessory brand that happens to make overpriced and poorly made motorcycles.
You buy a Jeep because you like the outdoorsy adventurous image it has. Unless you actually off-road with it, it isn't a vehicle you buy logically, as off-roading is about all it does well. As a daily driver, it's poor on gas, has a choppy ride (those solid axles transfer every single bump and pot-hole directly to the passengers in the cabin), bad road noise, and mediocre safety ratings. They do look neat though.
parker2020@reddit
More the extensive after market and accessories on the vehicles
ahorrribledrummer@reddit
Vw beetle was reasonably reliable, easy and cheap to repair, simple to own, and very cheap to buy.
Jeep Wrangler isn't most of these things. It's a status symbol akin to toting around a 60oz pink Stanley mug. It's like going back to 2003 and knowing you're part of the it crowd because you all have identical von dutch trucker hats.
I've spent a good bit of time in a wrangler and just don't get it. Unless you're hitting trails regularly it's just not a good or sensible vehicle.
mcorliss3456@reddit
My nephew has owned 2 of them. His last one need a complete repaint under warranty due to corrosion issues. 3 months ago, the engine blew. Junk vehicle, but they sure are popular with dumb young people though.
FleshyMeatCreature@reddit
If you do t off-road, why comment?
Saskatchewon@reddit
The average Wrangler owner isn't off-roading them either though. 95% of them sold are never going to see a trail-head that crossover couldn't handle. It's popularity is a head scratcher, since outside of off-roading, the Wrangler isn't really good at anything. It's an objectively bad daily driver and an exceptionally good off-roader.
mcorliss3456@reddit
Dude, 99.99% of Wrangler owners never leave urban pavement. Who do you think you're fooling, lifestyle boy?
peakdecline@reddit
I'm not going to argue reliability but Wranglers are absolutely easy and relatively affordable to work on and maintain for something with all the expected features for a new vehicle in 2025.
That's part of why they're still so superior as a off-road building platform. Stuff is easy to access. Its clearly designed with modification and working on it in mind. There's always going to be the realities of it having modern infotainment and computers, but beyond that its a lot easier to work on than say well my Bronco.
Saskatchewon@reddit
Unfortunately, off-roading is all they really do well. They are not great daily drivers as they're expensive to operate, have a very choppy ride (those solid axles transfer every bump and pothole to the cabin), very poor safety ratings, and they aren't built particularly well.
They are neat though.
8N-QTTRO@reddit
The main appeals are 1. a convertible that isn't low and "sporty," or 2. the potential to take the car on a trail, which owners will always use to justify the unpleasant ride to themselves.
snarkuzoid@reddit (OP)
In my daughter's case, it allowed to her to have a "mom car" that was also a convertible. And the whimsical aspect of it all appeals.
Dat_Belly@reddit
A mug is a status symbol? I'm pretty upset I missed that one....
i-come@reddit
Is the Jeep the new cheerful small simple reliable cheap little people's car? No, no it is not.
Historical_Cable9719@reddit
I’ve always attributed the majority of Jeeps success to the Wrangler. Grand Cherokee is the other half. Everything else is just meh
jmbre11@reddit
The jeeps seem To be the only manufacturer that has more then grey black or white recently
rumplydiagram@reddit
No ... bugs were actually reliable and easy to rebuild.
Yotsubato@reddit
Oh no. There’s a reason why you don’t see VW beetles from the 2000s anymore on the road.
The old ones? Yes.
FleshyMeatCreature@reddit
Can always spot the young folks. Old beetles were even shittier.
RabidBlackSquirrel@reddit
Seriously, I love mine but it's a classic case of how "reliable" and "repairable" are different. An air-cooled VW is the latter, parts are everywhere and affordable and well documented.
Which is good, because something will always need fixing!
_jagwaz@reddit
I see plenty of 2000's beetles on the road. Far away the common 2000's VW product i see.
rumplydiagram@reddit
Indeed .. I should've clarified.
Big-Energy-3363@reddit
But they are all turds! Every one of them
TheNonExample@reddit
Wranglers are a middle class aspirational vehicle, kind of an accessible 911. They show a little personality, they’re available in fun colors, and trade trade some practicality for fun without being ostentacious. The trim levels run the gamut, and a buyer can go to a dealer and order the exact spec desired (within reason). Most owners don’t use them for nearly the full capabilities.
I got mine because I wanted a 4wd convertible with a manual transmission that can comfortably hold a large dog. On a nice day driving around town, nothing beats taking the windows out and just cruising at whatever pace. It’s kind of the perfect street parked city vehicle… easy to parallel park, wheels impossible to curb, big bumpers, and not very flashy. I’ve got plenty of trail rash, so wear and tear from parking isn’t really noticeable.
Wranglers have such a bad reputation for build quality, steering, and just about everything. I just test drove one on a whim, and it suddenly made a lot of sense for the experience I wanted.
star_trek_lover@reddit
VW did an interview maybe 10-15 years ago saying most buyers who ended up with a (new gen) beetle were cross shopping it against the jeep wrangler. Not the mini cooper, or fiat 500, or other small/compact/retro/euro cars, but the wrangler. So at least internally both jeep and VW have noticed the similarity in buyer type that you have.
ahtoxa1183@reddit
"Has anybody else noticed that? Does Jeep promote or capitalize on that?"
You've just not been paying attention. The Wrangler is really the only thing that keeps Jeep afloat and relevant as a brand.
peakdecline@reddit
Its the Wrangler and Grand Cherokee. The GC actually outsells the Wrangler pretty consistently.
V8-Turbo-Hybrid@reddit
Just wonder what happen if Wrangler were without 4-door option.
sarcasticorange@reddit
The Grand Cherokee was the best selling full sized UV in the US last year and has higher sales than the Wrangler.
ahtoxa1183@reddit
Perhaps, but I’d argue that its popularity is driven by the image that the Wrangler created and maintains. Many of those buyers wanted a Jeep image but with better functionality for their use case than the Wrangler could provide.
_galaga_@reddit
The Wrangler/CJ/etc. did help establish Jeep as Jeep but we'd be remiss to ignore the Cherokee and how the JGC was positioned as a more luxurious thing than the Cherokee with similar off-road chops.
sarcasticorange@reddit
The Wrangler didn't create that image, the Willys did, followed by the CJ. The first Wrangler was released in 1986, long after the brand and reputation was established.
ahtoxa1183@reddit
Fair. I was using the Wrangler name as a general term.
Scav54@reddit
Quick question. If the Grand Cherokee is a full size SUV, what is the Wagoneer?
I thought Tahoe, Expedition, Wagoneer where full size SUV’s and Explorers, cherokees and so on where mod size SUV’s.
Obviously, I might be wrong here
hi_im_bored13@reddit
They sell it as both a mid-size 2-row as well as a full-size 3-row so its both
Which is also why the best selling metric is a bit weird unless its only considering one or the othe
Drzhivago138@reddit
The GC L is lengthened, but not any wider, so it's a "long mid-size". Like how GM had the LWB Trailblazer/Envoy 20 years ago, or 55 years ago, they had long Buick and Olds wagons built on the mid-size platform.
hi_im_bored13@reddit
Gotchu, so I guess its not the best selling full-size regardless, and loses out slightly to the Explorer for mid-size sales
Still good, notable sales though
Scav54@reddit
So it’s considered a full size for having a third row? Interesting. So would a Tesla model Y with a third row be considered a full size SUV? Theoretically
hi_im_bored13@reddit
No the 3-row has 5in more wheelbase, which puts it 1in longer than a tahoe, The old 3-row model y where they squished in seats isn't a full-size
Scav54@reddit
Thank you. Learned something today
burrgerwolf@reddit
The Wrangler gets people in the door the Grand Cherokee gets them in a vehicle
su1ac0@reddit
Well it's popular but isn't a FWD hybrid used econobox with a manual, so don't expect this sub to heap any praise on it. The opposite, actually.
The more popular a subreddit becomes, the more it becomes an anti-sub for the topic it was meant to celebrate.
Miserable_Key_7552@reddit
Ikr. If it isn’t a brown, diesel 5 speed manual wagon that already comes pre-used from the showroom floor, the netizens of r/cars will hate it.
Johnnie0@reddit
What are the rubber ducks for anyway? I dashboard covered in them locally..0
Dav_Dabz@reddit
It started during covid. Or so I was told. A way to say to other jeep owners. "I like your Jeep" tldr irl updoots
Johnnie0@reddit
Appreciate the reply!
Dav_Dabz@reddit
🫡🤙
benmarvin@reddit
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeep_ducking
_galaga_@reddit
Back when I was in high school I came to a stoplight and young me instantly fell in love with a girl driving a Wrangler with the doors off across the intersection from me. Considering that was around the time of the YJ (late '80s) you're behind the times.
bulldozer6@reddit
It seems to me the Wrangler is kind of the Harley of automobiles. It's more about the "lifestyle" than how good the vehicle truly is for the needs of the owner.
8N-QTTRO@reddit
The Jeep Wrangler has become a car for high school girls and men who buy tactical underwear. Jeep is well aware, and markets to these two crowds through their color selection and packages - half of them are cutesy and fun, and the other half are "rugged" and dark. There are still some people who buy for serious off-roading, but more than anything else, they're as much of a lifestyle car as the average sports car that never sees the track.
snarkuzoid@reddit (OP)
In my daughter's case, it allowed her to have a "mom car" that was also a convertible.
Funny_things_online@reddit
The Wrangler is not common in Europe so no. Its a car you will mainly see in North America while the Type 1 was also common in many places outside of Europe.
GolfGodsAreReal@reddit
It's more of a cult with the rubber ducks
whatsapprocky@reddit
I was just talking with my mom about this. My sister bought a Jeep Wrangler Rubicon last year and her dashboard is full of rubber ducks. Neither of us really understand it, but apparently she exchanges the ducks with other Jeep drivers, or the they give them to each other when they see them.
GolfGodsAreReal@reddit
That's correct
MakesYourMise@reddit
a beautiful cult many people are saying this
04limited@reddit
It’s been like this for the past 10 years. Heavily customizable and convertible/removable doors. It’s kinda been a thing after the JKs came out and more so since the JLs.
tarasboulba7744@reddit
I made a habit of counting the number of Wranglers spotted while running errands at a certain point after realizing how they were absolutely everywhere. My record day was something like 13 Wranglers per mile driven (including parking lot spots but not dealerships).
Feels like the Bronco is being fast-tracked that same direction too.
MakesYourMise@reddit
g wagon cope
fastfreddy7@reddit
More like new PT Cruiser but off-road style stick ons.
aliasforspam2@reddit
YOU are noticing them because you are now tuned in.
I would say that they WERE for maybe 10-15 years, but are now waning. I've had 3, so there's no shade here. It's just that there's real competition back in the space and also things changing with the economy and how people spend their money both on cars and what they do with their cars, such as modify, road trips, paid offroad adventures, etc.
There are a lot of enthusiast vehicles out there with huge cult followings - I'm not sure that Wranglers are single-handedly "carrying the torch" - more like sharing the load.
rkj__@reddit
Yeah, I’d say Jeeps are where drivers who want something to customize and express themselves are gravitating these days.
They may not be perfect vehicles but they are not boring.
parker2020@reddit
Harley energy
i_like_pretzels@reddit
The New Beetle and Wrangler were always cross shopped.
pants_full_of_pants@reddit
Nah the bug was affordable and reliable