A Jeep Wrangler is a compact 4×4 sports utility vehicle that debuted in 1987. The Jeep Wrangler succeeds the jeep of World War II and has become a true American icon. Jeeps are best known for being rugged off road military vehicles. The civilian jeep better known as the CJ was inspired by the military jeeps and became the predecessor of the Jeep Wrangler.
The Jeep Wrangler was a vast improvement over the CJ. The new Jeep Wrangler design offered far more passenger comfort, a larger wheel base, less ground clearance and the signature square headlights. These new enhancements made for a vehicle that was versatile both off and on road, appealing to a diverse group of consumers.
The Jeep is revered by many off road enthusiast. The timeless mechanics include the front and rear live axels, much like the original CJ. This ageless design makes the Wrangler admired for its workhorse design, off road ruggedness and fun. However, the Wrangler did not perform off road as well as the CJ due to the lower ground clearance and lower center of gravity. Therefore, the off road Jeep enthusiasts first referred to the Wrangler as the “Yuppie Jeep” because of the toned down off road performance. Once the Wranglers proved their adaptability, the off road enthusiasts began to agree with the design.
In addition to the off road ruggedness and fun of the Wrangler, it is also a smart daily on road vehicle. The purchase price of the Jeep Wrangler is the lowest in comparison to the other 4×4 sports utility vehicles. The Jeep Wrangler has also been named as one of the best vehicles to hold its value. Not to mention, it also ranks in the top four for best resale value.
The Wrangler was planned and designed by AMC and made available to the public in 1987. Chrysler bought out AMC not long after the Wrangler was introduced and created the new Jeep division. Production of the Wrangler originally started in Ontario Canada but in 1992 the plant closed moving all production to Toledo Ohio. Jeeps are still to this day being produced in Ohio.
Chrysler decided to improve the design of the Wrangler even more in 1997. New features such as anti-sway bars, a wider wheel base, higher ground clearance and lower center of gravity are a few of the notable changes that were made. The 1997 Wrangler design replicated more of the original civilian jeep than the original Wrangler design. The 1997 model reverted back to the original round headlights but became a more consumer friendly vehicle. The design afforded passengers a more comfortable ride and added easier handling capabilities for drivers.
The next redesign of the Wrangler took place in 2007, adding even more consumer friendly revisions and making it more off-road compatible. The Wrangler was now offered in two and four door styles. The classic two door styling held true to its shorter style therefore appealing to the off road enthusiast. The all new four door style with the larger body type appealed to the other consumers.
Rugged fun and durable, Jeep Wranglers represent either the modern inexpensive sports utility vehicle or the exciting off road vehicle. Which ever one you decide upon, the Jeep Wrangler is both a smart and fun vehicle to own.
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