Overview:
This week we’re looking at the 2010 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Sahara 4X4 SUV.
General Info:
Parts – US/Canadian 79%
Assembly – Toledo, Ohio, USA
Class: – SUV
Cars: – Commander, Compass, Grand Cherokee, Liberty, Patriot and Wrangler.
Have unions outlived their usefulness? Have unions killed the American Auto Maker? Have unions been too aggressive at raising the cost of labor to the car makers? Have the car companies caved in to their demands too easily?
Well I believe Unions had their day but that need has long passed. But the unions have become blood suckers. In prior columns of mine I have pointed out union wage was $78 per hour for US Automakers and $45 per hour for Toyota. Close enough to what others have computed. What’s important is the huge difference.
Bloated benefits for unions are sinking automakers
The Philadelphia Inquirer November 16,2008 | Greg Lewis
According to a Wall Street Journal article, “…on average, GM pays $81.18 an hour in wages and benefits to U.S. hourly workers, including pension and retiree medical costs”.
You can’t ignore the huge labor cost advantage enjoyed by non-union Toyota. How much of an advantage? According to that same article, “Harbour Consulting President Ron Harbour estimates Toyota‘s total hourly U.S. labor costs, with benefits, at about $35 an hour.” That’s right, GM’s average labor costs are 130% higher than that of the US operations of its Japanese rival. That translates into a $1,000/vehicle average labor-cost advantage enjoyed by Toyota. Thank you, UAW!
Well, it is clear to me that American car companies burdened with wages demanded by greedy and irresponsible Unions has caused us tax payers to bail them out. Thank you Barak Obama.
These community and other organizers are worse than the Mafia. Ok, some would say Organized Labor is the Mafia. So why are we tax payers putting up with the craziness of bailouts of the automakers? If we as individuals were are irresponsible noone would bail us out. And granted the bailouts weren’t our doing.
Ok, I’m wrong again. When the kids are in trouble they come back home and we parents have to bail them out. But it’s our choice and our government is not forcing us to bail out the kids. Hope they don’t get any ideas about passing some law that we MUST bail our kids out. I think I’ll move and give no forwarding address, pay no taxes and become a mountain man. Just kidding about not telling the kids where I am, unless they work for the government of course.
Handling & Performance:
I love Jeep for what they are designed to do in the driving experience. That means the high profile is great off road but can be a hindrance in driving in freeway travel when the winds are strong. You get buffeted around a lot, so you will simply need to slow to a safe speed. But when there’s water and mud and debris you are at a great advantage over others in passenger cars. Friend Glenn swamped his engine in high water in his Toyota Avalon. “Can I use your Jeep?”
One of the complaints I’ve had over past years is the poor fuel economy of the Wrangler. Today that condition has improved. Wrangler now gets about 40% better mpg than just a few years ago. This 2010 Wrangler gets up to 19 mpg and that is better but I know it can always be better. But it does all this with increased power over the years and 205 hp is really more than adequate for off roading. The extra horsepower is great, however, for the highway.
Styling:
Consistently Jeep, but this wrangler has added utility with the addition of 4-doors and a much larger rear seat and storage. It is clear that this has always been the standard for what a serious off road vehicle should look like. If that were not true Hummer would have designed a complete new look. But they patterned it after the Jeep – the grand daddy of them all.
Fit and Finish:
Rough and rugged, and that’s just the way I like it.
Cost:
Competitive and a super competitor to the more expensive H3 Hummer.
Conveniences and comfort:
More than you need but thanks anyway.
Consumer Recommendation:
Every time I climb into a Jeep Wrangler I think of the ads of wet T-Shirt competition. Sorry but the image is indelibly etched on my memory. But I also think of the Jeep Jamboree’s I’ve had the pleasure of attending. If this is a part of your lifestyle I can’t recommend more highly the venue’s for Jeep Jamborees. They are a lot of fun and at the end of the day that is a part of the reason we buy these versatile vehicles. If you’re a Jeep guy or gal, look into it. http://blog.allthingsjeep.com/jeep-blog/tabid/53767/bid/22381/Jeep-Jamboree-USA-2010-Schedule-Announced.aspx
Those events have proven to me I wouldn’t spend the extra money for a Hummer. The H1 and H2 are much more money even than the H3 and the Jeep is so capable that it is as much knowledge on how to travel off road. I thought I was invincible in the H1 and found with all the hype of the Desert Storm Icon at over $100,000 it is no better than this Wrangler. I proudly entered an off road course and instantly found myself in mud up to the floorboards helplessly stuck. To make things worse I was pulled out of the mud by a really old $5,000 Chevrolet Blazer with a winch.
Recognized Competition:
Jeep Wrangler $21-32,000, Chevrolet Equinox $23-30,000, Ford Escape $21-27,000, Ford Escape Hybird $30-34,000, Honda CR-V $22-30,000, Hyundai Tucson $19-26,000, Hummer H3 $33-43,000, Kia Sportage $17-23,000, Mitsubishi Outlander $21-29,000, Nissan Xterra $22-30,000, Suzuki Grand Vitara $19-27,000, Toyota FJ Cruiser $24-26,000, Toyota RAV4 $22-28,000.
Good News:
Grand daddy status, capable as demonstrated by REAL off road conditions, priced well.
Bad News:
Only acceptable fuel economy.
Standard Equipment:
3.8 liter 205 HP V6 engine, 4-speed automatic transmission, front air bags, electronic stability program, 4-wheel ABS disc brakes, traction control, Electronic roll mitigation, sill start assist, shift on the fly 4-wheel drive system, transfer case skid plate shield, fuel tank skid plate, cruise control, security alarm and theft deterrent system and sentry key, remote keyless entry, tire pressure monitoring, air conditioning, radio with SIRIUS satellite, audio jack input for mobile devices, power windows and locks, 22.5 gal. Fuel tank, temp and compass gauges, tilt steering column, reclining front seats, 60/40 split folding rear seat, 18” aluminum wheels with on/ off road tires, two front and one rear tow hooks, fog lights, soft top, swing away mirrors.
Gas Stats:
$2.97/ Gal avg. January 23 ‘10
for more information.
15 City and 19 Highway MPG
Pricing:
MSRP $28,905.
