2003 Jeep Wrangler Sport 4.0

Summary:

We liked it so much we bought two!

Faults:

The front bumper did not hold up too well against a round cement light post, but the dealership fixed it back to new in a very short time.

Other than this we have had no problems with this jeep. We love it so much we went out and bought a 2004!

General Comments:

Twice the power and reliability of my old 89'.

Plenty of power!

Rides great!

Could use more leg room.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 6th November, 2004

2003 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 4.0L

Summary:

This is a great rugged vehicle with a family of other owners to feel inviting

Faults:

So far, the only issue I have had with this Wrangler is a rattle from the clutch pedal. The pedal arm has some lateral movement that makes a rather loud knock sound while driving on a rough surface, i.e. gravel road, off-road, etc.

General Comments:

Before purchasing the 2003 Rubicon, I test drove 3 different new 2004 models; a SE 4-cylinder, a Sport with the automatic & manual transmission, both with 6-cylinder engines. This led me to choose a 6-cylinder.

When comparing the options of the Sport model and what aftermarket improvements I intended or dreamed of adding, the Rubicon seemed to be the best choice to purchase.

Handles incredibly well in corners for a SUV.

The Rubicon does run out of gears before it runs out of power. I noticed that at freeway speeds the RPM's are high and negatively affect mileage at speeds greater than 65 mph.

The instrument cluster, console, and dashboard offer great ergonomics, although all took some getting used to after having the immense interior space of a full-size bronco.

Looking forward to trying to get stuck off-road, as long as I don't do any damage.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 25th October, 2004

27th Dec 2004, 18:18

I also have a Rubicon and the reason yours seems to run out of gears on the highway is the low axle ratios of 4.1. It causes it to wind up a little more than your standard Wrangler. It does work great when you combine it with the transfer case 4.1 for a crawl ratio of around 66/1 (don't quote me on that number). Happy wheeling. RCK

29th Jan 2006, 16:27

I'm considering the same choice--the 6-cylinder 6-speed Rubicon because of the off-road capability, or the 4-cylinder 6-speed SE because of the better gas mileage. What were your impressions of the 4-cylinder manual? Also, isn't it true that the 2003 Rubicon is significantly different from the 2005 Rubicon, in that it does not have 4.10 gears, and does not have front (or rear?) air lockers? Did the 2003 Rubicon have only the 5-speed manual rather than the 6-speed available?

12th Mar 2006, 15:31

I also own a 2003 Rubicon. To my knowledge, it has 4.10 gears and lockers FRONT and REAR. It's been a great vehicle so far, 36k miles and no mechanical problems at all.

The only manual gearbox available was the 5-spd. I see a tranny swap in my future:)

2003 Jeep Wrangler X 4.0L I-6

Summary:

Always wanted one, very happy to finally have it

Faults:

I have only had this Wrangler for a couple of weeks, but I have not had one problem. This was a Jeep factory employee driven vehicle, and appears to have been well cared for.

General Comments:

I absolutely love this vehicle so far. I do live in Illinois, so I have had the pleasure of driving early in the morning with some VERY cold temperatures, but the heater worked great! It has very good power from the 190 horse I-6. The only complaint I have on power is that first gear is VERY short, and pulling away from a light on a busy road irritates some folks behind me. Starting in second has worked well.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 6th March, 2004

15th Jun 2007, 13:45

I have had a problem with shifting from 1st to 2nd. It doesn't grind, but it's very, very hard, and kind of jerks the Jeep. It makes kind of a boom noise. I can feel some slow grinding in all gears as I go through the gears. The Jeep dealership said this was normal. I only have 17000 miles on this 2003 Wrangler X 4.0. Is there a scheduled maintenance that I may have missed (clutch adjustment at 15k or 20k), or is this really normal? It's my first Jeep.