Video:What to Know About Jeep Wranglers Before Buying

Transcript:What to Know About Jeep Wranglers Before Buying

Hi I'm Nick Jaynes from DownForce Motoring for About.com and this is what you need to know before buying a Jeep Wrangler.

Facts About Jeep Wranglers

Jeeps are iconic American vehicles. Designed for off-road capability, Wranglers have distinctive looks and features that you won't find on many modern vehicles on the market. And for some, these features can attract buyers and deter others. Click and Clack of Car Talk once described owning as Jeep as a constant adventure. Accordingly, Jeep Wranglers should, as a rule of thumb, never be purchased on a whim or impulse. You'll want to make sure the Wrangler fits your life before you take the plunge.

Is a Jeep Wrangler Right for You?

I recommend driving a Wrangler at least once before you buy one, preferably on and off road. There are many Wrangler enthusiast groups throughout the country and a quick Google search will find one near you. It would be advisable to attend one of their many events to get a feel for what the Wrangler is like. At the same time, it'll give you an excellent idea of the kind of lifestyle that surrounds Wrangler ownership. Wrangler owners get noticed on the road. So if you're not the kind of person who enjoys attracting attention, a Wrangler might not be for you.

Options When Buying a Jeep Wrangler

When you've decided to buy, the next choice you'll have to make is whether to buy a hard or soft-top. Though they're rare, you can also find a Wrangler that comes with both. But if you can choose one or the other, you'll save yourself some money and garage space. For those of you who live in more arid climates, the soft-top might be right for you, as it will provide shade when you need. The easy fold-down rood design allows easy access to getting the sun and wind in your hair when you want. Hard tops are best suited to those of us who actually experience seasons, like here in the Pacific Northwest. Though not as fun, hard tops provide solid, extreme weather protection. If the choice between soft and hardtop weren't tough enough, for 2011, Jeep offers color-matching hard tops as an upgradable extra.

Jeep Wrangler Unlimited

In the last couple years, Jeep introduced the Wrangler Unlimited. It's the four-door Wrangler. Since it has a longer wheel-base, the Unlimited is not quiet as adept off-road as it's little brother the two-door wrangler but is nonetheless exceptional off road. They're perfect for those who want to have the Wrangler look and experience but with a bit more cargo capacity.

Wranglers aren't for everyone. But for the right person, they can make the daily commute and weekend outings into unforgettable adventures. Thanks for watching. If you'd like to learn more, please find us on the web at About.com.