I spent the past three weeks driving around a couple Jeep JL's (a V6 Sahara, and a 2.0L turbo Sport) in Hawaii, and it really made me appreciate my V8 Jeep back home. The 392 is the only Jeep I've ever owned but before I bought it I was debating buying either the 2.0L turbo or the reliable V6 JL. Now after driving all 3, I'm very happy I went with the 392, it's the best choice as both a comfortable daily driver and as a fun toy "hot rod" Jeep. A couple things that stood out in no particular order:
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- Power: After having driven a V8 for two years I just can't live with that V6, it's truly gutless. Now that 2.0L turbo was a lot more fun to drive, it would be my choice over the 3.6L pentastar V6, but neither one compares to the 6.4 hemi apache, for that pure power, for that sound, or the gas milage.
- Comfort: I think the seats in the 392 are just way more comfortable, that includes the 392 steering wheel. Maybe it's also related to the shocks/suspension but I found the cloth seats in the normal JL jeeps lacking in support and uncomfortable after a while.
- The Power Steering pump on the V6 was super annoying, it sounded like a hydraulic pump on an Airbus. Maybe that big 392 engine is just so loud that it drowns out that electric pump's whine but in the V6 that electric power steering pump sounds awful.
- Backup Camera: It's a small thing but the backup camera guide lines move in the 392 when you turn the wheel, in the Sahara and Sport they don't. I missed that, especially when backing into a super tight parking spot.
- Not having a step/running board made getting in a bit of a challenge when parking on a slope/ditch. It also meant the front of the rear painted fenders were all chipped and scratched up on a Jeep with less than 5,000 miles by rocks flung back by the front tires. For me a set of Rock Sliders or the Mopar JL side steps are a must.
- Both jeeps I got had the soft top, which I love. I can put the soft top on in about 3 minutes, But I miss the ease of having the sky one touch top.
- Looks/Sound.... It doesn't look or sound like a 392.
I figure I would post this on here just in case anyone is like me and debating getting a "cheap jeep" like the Pentistar V6 vs. the 392. There is no replacement for displacement. (And it's also more comfortable and nicer to daily drive too.)