I've always thought of the Jeep Wrangler as the Mazda MX-5 Miata of
off-roaders: small, cheap, ubiquitous, and fundamentally good at what
it does. Unchanged for generations, it's purchased by the sort of people
willing to sacrifice such ephemeral concepts as comfort, serenity, and
practicality for their devotion to motorized excitement. Kind of like
Miata drivers, really.
The driving position is odd: you sit upright, for the most part, and the pedals are mounted deep within the footwell. The steering wheel doesn't telescope. You're huddled over the wheel like you're cradling it in your arms, you hopeless romantic. In back is a Tetris-like sliver of visibility blocked by the wheel cover, the third brake light, and a rear door hinge ripped from a cold storage locker. Running boards are positioned at a height that's only useful for tripping you as you exit. Be careful with the doors, lest they flop out and ding the car next to you.
The Wrangler produces good power from its 3.6-liter Pentastar V6; driving above 75 is difficult not because of a lack of power but from the wind noise, which whooshes like a brick sailing through the air right before it goes through a window. The ride is reminiscent of an '80s mini-truck. Mushy steering and brakes are similarly optimized for off-road supremacy, but they're not terribly offensive.
Some reviews make the Wrangler sound as if it's the worst possible daily driver out there -- as if the Wrangler will punch you in the face if you so much as consider taking it to a mall. I didn't mind. Driving the Wrangler Unlimited around town was loud, bumpy, and dim, but it wasn't exactly the end of the world. We suppose that the people who rock one of these every day dream of the day they'll finally conquer Moab or join the Easter Safari -- one of those moments when the stars align and the moon turns blue and the sacrifices they make will all pay off.
In the Dragon Edition, they'll make a sacrifice of good taste.
Oh, the Dragon Edition! The Dragon Edition takes a Hallowed American Tradition and asks the set designer for the first two “Rush Hour” movies to help pander to the burgeoning Asian market. For an additional $4,500 you can sit in chairs embossed with faux dragon scales, stare at dragons through the gauges, and step out of a vehicle with Twin Dragons resembling the neck tattoos of Yakuza gangsters as they primp and preen across the hood, left fender and rear wheel cover. It's like “Portlandia” by way of Asia: put a dragon on it!
This thing looks ridiculous. The fact that Jeep offers this as a real package, available to consumers who purchase it with legal tender, must baffle car shoppers on both sides of the ocean. (Even the ad copy reads like a fortune cookie.)
True story: as I drove up the 405 Freeway, I pulled alongside a silver Wrangler with darkened wheels. Four-door, hardtop, same spec as my Dragon Edition. “Cool Jeep,” I thought. Then I looked over at the conspicuous badging on the front fender – “Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3” Edition.
Maybe it's a Jeep thing. Maybe I don't understand.
Base Price: $31,795
As-Tested Price: $42,640
Drivetrain: 3.6-liter V6; 4WD, five-speed automatic
Output: 285 hp @ 6,400 rpm, 260 lb-ft @ 4,800 rpm
Curb Weight: 4,340 lb
Fuel Economy (EPA City/Highway/Combined): 16/20/18 mpg
AW Observed Fuel Economy: 17.8 mpg
Options: Dragon Package 24D ($4,500); leather bucket seats ($1,300); five-speed automatic transmission with Hill Descent Control ($1,295); UConnect ($1,570); seat-mounted side airbags ($495); remote start ($495); air conditioning ($195)
- See more at: http://autoweek.com/article/car-reviews/2014-jeep-wrangler-unlimited-dragon-edition-review-notes#sthash.WZ1xcEhN.dpuf
The driving position is odd: you sit upright, for the most part, and the pedals are mounted deep within the footwell. The steering wheel doesn't telescope. You're huddled over the wheel like you're cradling it in your arms, you hopeless romantic. In back is a Tetris-like sliver of visibility blocked by the wheel cover, the third brake light, and a rear door hinge ripped from a cold storage locker. Running boards are positioned at a height that's only useful for tripping you as you exit. Be careful with the doors, lest they flop out and ding the car next to you.
The Wrangler produces good power from its 3.6-liter Pentastar V6; driving above 75 is difficult not because of a lack of power but from the wind noise, which whooshes like a brick sailing through the air right before it goes through a window. The ride is reminiscent of an '80s mini-truck. Mushy steering and brakes are similarly optimized for off-road supremacy, but they're not terribly offensive.
Some reviews make the Wrangler sound as if it's the worst possible daily driver out there -- as if the Wrangler will punch you in the face if you so much as consider taking it to a mall. I didn't mind. Driving the Wrangler Unlimited around town was loud, bumpy, and dim, but it wasn't exactly the end of the world. We suppose that the people who rock one of these every day dream of the day they'll finally conquer Moab or join the Easter Safari -- one of those moments when the stars align and the moon turns blue and the sacrifices they make will all pay off.
In the Dragon Edition, they'll make a sacrifice of good taste.
Oh, the Dragon Edition! The Dragon Edition takes a Hallowed American Tradition and asks the set designer for the first two “Rush Hour” movies to help pander to the burgeoning Asian market. For an additional $4,500 you can sit in chairs embossed with faux dragon scales, stare at dragons through the gauges, and step out of a vehicle with Twin Dragons resembling the neck tattoos of Yakuza gangsters as they primp and preen across the hood, left fender and rear wheel cover. It's like “Portlandia” by way of Asia: put a dragon on it!
This thing looks ridiculous. The fact that Jeep offers this as a real package, available to consumers who purchase it with legal tender, must baffle car shoppers on both sides of the ocean. (Even the ad copy reads like a fortune cookie.)
True story: as I drove up the 405 Freeway, I pulled alongside a silver Wrangler with darkened wheels. Four-door, hardtop, same spec as my Dragon Edition. “Cool Jeep,” I thought. Then I looked over at the conspicuous badging on the front fender – “Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3” Edition.
Maybe it's a Jeep thing. Maybe I don't understand.
Base Price: $31,795
As-Tested Price: $42,640
Drivetrain: 3.6-liter V6; 4WD, five-speed automatic
Output: 285 hp @ 6,400 rpm, 260 lb-ft @ 4,800 rpm
Curb Weight: 4,340 lb
Fuel Economy (EPA City/Highway/Combined): 16/20/18 mpg
AW Observed Fuel Economy: 17.8 mpg
Options: Dragon Package 24D ($4,500); leather bucket seats ($1,300); five-speed automatic transmission with Hill Descent Control ($1,295); UConnect ($1,570); seat-mounted side airbags ($495); remote start ($495); air conditioning ($195)
- See more at: http://autoweek.com/article/car-reviews/2014-jeep-wrangler-unlimited-dragon-edition-review-notes#sthash.WZ1xcEhN.dpuf
The base 2014 Jeep Wrangler Sport starts at $23,390, including a $995 destination charge.
The Dragon Edition, which is spun off the Wrangler Unlimited model, is $10,100 more expensive than the 2014 Wrangler Unlimited. The 2014 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited starts at $26,990, including shipping.
The special model, a major nod to Chinese culture, is the most expensive model in the 2014 Wrangler lineup. The 2014 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 4x4 trails behind the Dragon Edition with a $31,890 price tag, including shipping.
The Jeep Wrangler Dragon Edition will go on sale in the U.S. this fall as a limited-production model.
The latest Wrangler special model is spun off the Jeep Wrangler Dragon Design Concept that debuted at the 2012 Beijing Auto Show. Chrysler said that the dragon symbolizes strength and power and is an "aspirational character normally associated with royalty." Historians say that Chinese dragons are seen as benevolent creatures, not the monsters usually associated with Western fairy tales.
"Our loyal Jeep enthusiasts asked us to build this unique Wrangler," said Mike Manley, Jeep Brand president and CEO, in a statement.
The Wrangler Dragon Edition is available only in black. Design cues include a Dark Charcoal dragon decal that snakes along the hood and driver's side of the vehicle. Other touches include a black spare tire cover with a dragon decal, 18-inch five-spoke alloy wheels and Bronze Satin Gloss exterior trim.
The cabin gets a black-and-bronze theme with Satin Bronze dragon scales on parts of the interior, including the outer seat bolsters, center console armrest and steering wheel.
The 2014 Wrangler is equipped with the 285-horsepower 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 engine.
Edmunds says: You'll pay a sizable premium to get your hands on this special model, but this extravagant appearance package is bound to be worth it those who admire dragons and Chinese culture.
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