With spring approaching, I can now return to my element behind the wheel of a metal body set on some wheels, barely a windshield to protect me from those “wild” elements. Jeep Wranglers are unique. In what other vehicle would it be normal to have your friends help you pull down the roof and remove the doors? Even beyond its ability to change forms, the Jeep Wrangler has marked itself as an exceptional machine. But what makes this one type of car so special?
Shortly after I turned 16, I had a nice summer job and had my eyes set on getting a shiny new car for myself by the end of the summer. There was just one catch. I didn’t know what kind. Car, SUV, Chevy Truck, Lamborghini, Lexus, VW beetle, anything - the choice was mine. The only limit was how much of the green stuff I could muster in a few short summer months. I started looking at a Jeep Cherokee, which the eagle-eyed reader can quickly tell is nowhere close to a Wrangler. It wasn’t until a friend let me borrow his Jeep while he was away on vacation that I had ever even gotten behind the wheel of a Jeep. I was dropped off at his house, collected the keys and wassoon on my way down the street. Before I even made it a block, I knew what I wanted, a Jeep Wrangler.
It is hard to describe what makes Jeeps different. They drive a little different, the lack of a roof and doors certainly makes them unique, and their styling is obviously not ordinary, but none of these factors really stand completely out when you’re behind the wheel. Instead, everything from the uncomfortable ride, to the wind in your face and risk of having something fall out of your pocket and be lost forever to the asphalt, combine to make it an adventure. In this case, it truly is the sum of the parts. Many other cars have similar features, and many even do some things far better than a Jeep, but once all of it comes together, you have the recipe for a very extraordinary motor vehicle.
A special car usually has special owners. The Wrangler has some of the most loyal and diehard fans of any vehicle you might come across. They form clubs, build their own trails, and customize 'til the cows come home. Jeep owners even acknowledge each other with a special “Jeep Wave”. You may wonder how one type of car has what many would consider a cult following. True, Wranglers haven’t done much changing in the looks department, but that doesn’t keep them from still being some of the absolute best off-roaders you can buy today, old and new. I can always trust my Jeep to get me anywhere I want to go, as can countless others from locations Alaska to Africa.
Jeeps will get you anywhere, but that doesn’t always mean the getting is easy. Jeeps have many strong advantages, but there are plenty of trade-offs for those benefits. On a comfort scale of rocks to clouds, sadly Jeeps are towards the less comfy side. With less storage than a dorm closet, and getting passengers in the back can be a pain. The truly painful part of owning a jeep comes when you fill up, though. The gas mileage is borderline abysmal, but that has yet to stop me from the occasional joy ride. In fact, none of these drawbacks really detract too much from the joy that I have when I get behind the wheel, especially when that wheel is pointed off road.
The long and short of it is that I love Jeeps. Nothing beats a warm Sunday drive with the top down and doors off, or the fun of driving around with friends and enjoying loud music and the freedom you can feel even in the seat of a car. There really isn’t anything that compares. I think it is an incredible vehicle, and I can hardly picture myself without one. If you have never had the pleasure of riding or driving one, I would highly recommend taking advantage of the up and coming beautiful weather and going for a topless ride (for the Jeep that is.)
