It's no secret that AutoSpies.com is really impressed with the inspired turnaround going on right now over at Chrysler.
And how could you not be.
These guys were dead. MORTE.
Yet somehow, not only did they survive but are putting on a clinic on how to do the impossible.
Full 2013 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited 10th Anniversary Photo Gallery
New 300c, RAM, Charger, Abarth, 500e, Grand Cherokee, Cherokee, etc.
But nowhere is it most evident and impressive than with the Jeep brand. And although for some weird reasons (too long of a story) I've been a fan of the marque since the AMC days.
Funny thing is until now, NO Jeeps were really THAT great.
My first one was a 1979 CJ-7 Renegade made by AMC. I loved it but by NO means did it have AMAZING quality but it sure did what was advertised. To this day, NO SUV has performed as good in snow and ice as my faithful CJ-7 back in the days in my home town of Buffalo, NY.
On solid ice with its Goodyear Tracker AT's you could hammer the accelerator at a signal and in a STRAIGHT line it was as if you were starting off dry pavement. It could climb the steps to the top of the Albright-Knox Art Gallery gallery (youthful indiscretions) with 3 feet of snow like you and I would walk up stairs in the summertime. That old Quadra-Trac system was unreal.
Unfortunately, in the 80's the CJ decline was in full force and that's when Jeep hit rock bottom.
Well the rest is history. Chrysler somehow turned it around then and in the mid 2000's the Wrangler started improving. Hell, they couldn't get worse.
The most important change was the offering of a larger 4-door model.
And in 2011-12 the watershed moments occurred. In 11, the interior not only improved it became REALLY nice. And then in 12, the best Jeep engine ever surfaced, the 3.6 PentaStar.
After driving the 2012 at the press launch in Portland, I decided I HAD to have one again.
So as you know, last July I bought a Black Sahara which I absolutely loved.
But you know how it is with cars and pretty girls sometimes. You can have a beauty and then one day, another strikes your eye and it's game over for the other. That moment happened to me at the 2012 LA Auto Show. I wasn't looking nor expecting to meet another but I did. There Rubi was...tucked in the back of the Jeep booth. Adorned in the most unique and tasteful color (Anvil) ever to cover a Wrangler. I was in LUST. And she lusted for me.
Within seconds she dropped her doors and showed me her red undergarments and that was it. I wrote my number down and told Paul Whitehead over at Orange Coast Auto in San Juan Capistrano to start making plans for her and I to move in together. She met me at the dealer on Thursday and since then I can't stop looking at her, thinking of her and wanting to be inside her as often as possible. I know, I have to get a life!
What I've noticed so far...
You have to see the Anvil color in person because until now most of the photos I've seen haven't done it justice. Simply sublime and gorgeous. Like Wrangler meets Defender and pro-creates.
To me, it's the best Special Edition Jeep has ever made. Until now, editions like the Arctic, Altitude, Call Of Duty, Mojave, Golden Eagle, Moab, Silver Anniversary were 'kitchy' and 'corny' in my opinion. Cartoonish and cheap looking.
All of the additions to the 10A that makes it special:
INCLUDED FEATURES
Includes Everything on Rubicon, Plus:
17-Inch Rubicon 10th Anniversary Polished Face and Medium Gloss Black Wheels
32-Inch BF Goodrich® KM2 265/70R17 Tires
Red Front and Rear Dual Tow Hooks
4.10 Rear Axle Ratio Standard on Manual and Optional on Automatic
Steel Off Road Front/Rear Bumpers with Removable End Caps and Premium Mopar® Rock Rails
Vented Hood with Power Dome
10th Anniversary Badges
Premium Soft Top
Black Fender Flares and Fuel Filler Door
Black Dash with Red Leather Seats Embroidered with "Rubicon 10th Anniversary"
Heated Seats
Black Leather Wrapped Steering Wheel with Quick Silver Accents
Dash Plaque with Tech Specs and 10th Anniversary Grab Handle
Premium Individual Tire Pressure Monitoring and Electronic Vehicle Information Center
Mopar® Slush Mats
Uconnect® Voice Command w/ Bluetooth Connectivity
Power Convenience Group
The 10th Anniversary Rubicon in this color combo looks like it could be parked next to a Defender or Range Rover at Buckingham Palace and not look out of place.
I believe this will be the most collectible special edition Wrangler ever, really stand the test of time and never look out of style. That can't be said when you see an 'Islander' cruising the streets. The older ones look like they belong on an episode of the Love Boat.
You all know how I feel about the drive of the new PentaStar models. World class. I honestly would rather have this Rubicon than a Mercedes G-Class. The G-Class is VERY tight inside the cabin especially if you're tall. In comparison, the Wrangler not only has acres of seating room but the rear seats fold flat to the floor so there is WAY more cargo space potential as well. The G may accelerate better the overall drive is way more palatable day to day in a Wrangler Unlimited. And trust me Spies, I'm VERY fussy.
I also like that the Jeep costs next to nothing to maintain. Why heck, you can get the oil changed at a Wal-Mart for $20 bucks on a deal. That said so can F-150's, Tahoes, Escalades etc. and the American companies don't promote that capability often enough. Nor do they brag about how reliable all these are. WAY better than the Germans and others. Alot of the reason is they are much simpler designs. Just because it's less complex does NOT make it worse. Sometimes being more Apple like is better.
And in today's crazy world of gas prices it's great that these new PentaStar models get much better mileage than previous generation Jeeps and how great is it that only REGULAR gas is required. Buy a tiny Acura RDX and you'll get WORSE mileage and have to use PREMIUM. No bueno if you ask us.
Another interesting phenomenon about the Wrangler Unlimited is how popular and respected it is when you cruise around town with it. Think pretty girls are MORE impressed if you drive up with a Porsche in the hot areas like LA?
Well you'd be wrong.
Based on tireless personal research, I find more beauties oogling the Wrangler Unlimited than almost ANY review vehicle we've test. It makes a different statement. Independence, Adventure, Romance, TOUGH AS NAILS, A PROTECTOR, BADASS, ACTION not words.
And in this color combo driving through Newport Beach I'm seeing their necks snap as I drive by as when they walk by it parked on the street.
Yeah, it's REALLY got what so many ride WISH they had. SOUL.
And is there any other vehicle that's more flexible? Doors on, doors off, roof on, roof off. Partial roof off. Dirty? Hose it out. Put a tent on the roof, it's your home away from home. Like Eugene the Jeep who was capable of virtually anything in the Popeye cartoons (legend says that's how it got its name), the Unlimited also can perform miraculous feats.
Even a drive to Starbucks is fun in a Wrangler.
Other great things about it?
How about resale? Best in the biz. Sold my Sahara on CraigsList in a week for MORE than I paid for it thanks to the killer deal I got at Orange Coast Auto (OCAuto.com).
And lastly, is there ANY vehicle that is more iconically American?
That's why I made my choice.
What DON'T I like about it?
You'll notice in the photos that factory navigation isn't installed. That was not a mistake, I ordered it purposely that way. The navi systems in the new Grand Cherokee and Ram are really nice especially with the large center dash display chocked with all kinds of info. As for the wrangler 430 or 730 systems, they kinda blow.
If you're buying one, skip the navi unless they throw it in for free and get a nice smartphone mount for the windshield and use the iPhone or Android version of WAZE. It's the best car nav system out there because it uses social network based crowdsourced info that shows traffic cams, live incidents and police traps. It is the most accurate because people post as they see it and the whole network updates. Get it at Waze.com. You'll LOVE it!
So there you have it.
The 10th Anniversary 2013 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon is just a special vehicle and we're glad American companies are climbing back to the top with hard work and great innovation and passion.
And this 10th Anniversary Anvil/Red combo with body color top and body color fender flares will become one of the most collectible Jeeps ever down the road.
Chrysler and Jeep are on the move and you'd better believe it.
The Wrangler is our pick as the coolest SUV for 2013.
Check out the best photos in the world of the 10a and stay tuned to AutoSpies.com because I will be doing some cool mods and we will show you it's evolution.
And as always, SPY before you BUY!
*Special thanks to John Grey and Paul Whitehead at OCAUTO.com. Shoot Paul an email if you're in the market. He'll do you right!
Also, a special shout out to a Jeep legend Larie Tales at Jeeprus.com
