Move fast if you want one of the last old-style Jeep Wranglers, which resemble the iconic World War II Jeep. That model made Jeep as much a household word around the world as Coca-Cola, Levi's and McDonald's.
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2006 Jeep Wrangler is the last SUV to be offered with only two doors. The 2007 Wrangler soon arrives with availability of its first four-door model, a V-6 engine instead of the traditional inline (cylinders all in a row) six-cylinder and the chance to get rear-wheel drive instead of the standard four-wheel-drive setup.
The new Wrangler still looks like a Jeep, but will have a new frame, more interior room and additional safety and convenience features.
Fans of the rugged 2006 Wrangler might say, "Why bother?" -- and opt for the no-nonsense current model. There's probably a decent supply of current Wranglers left.
The 2006 Wrangler is a direct descendant of the open-body, square-corner, small four-wheel-drive Jeep developed more than 65 years ago for the U.S. Army.
The 1997 Wrangler had the most significant redesign in Jeep history, with a carlike all-coil-spring suspension replacing antique leaf springs that caused a punishing ride. The new suspension greatly improved ride and handling during on- and off-road driving. Its predecessor had great off-road prowess but otherwise was uncomfortable for anything but low-speed, warm-weather, top-down cruises on roads, preferably to locations such as a beach.
The 2006 two-door Wrangler is essentially unchanged from the 1997 model, and has retained its tough, uncompromising personality and unique appearance. But it's undergone several revisions that have kept it technologically up to date. Rugged body-on-frame construction was retained for 1997 and later Wranglers and traditionally round Jeep headlights replaced square ones, which had been used for a while and disliked by Jeep buffs.
In mid-2004, Jeep introduced the new Jeep Unlimited (June 27, 2004, AutoTimes). It was a stretched version of the Wrangler that added 10 inches to the wheelbase and 15 inches of overall length, which helped make it more comfortable.
But many Jeep fans decided to ignore the Limited and stick with the standard Wrangler, which has a short 93.4-inch wheelbase and is only 154.9 inches long.
The Wrangler is a convertible and comes in a variety of trim levels, starting with the base SE and going to the S, Sport, Unlimited, exceptionally rugged Rubicon and top-line Unlimited Rubicon.
The SE doesn't have much standard equipment, although it includes power steering, tilt wheel, front bucket seats, floor console, folding rear seat and an AM/FM/CD sound system. Move to the X and you get the six-cylinder engine, and the Sport adds such items as air conditioning and full metal doors with roll-up windows.
The Wrangler's SE and X models' soft top and plastic side windows are best suited to California weather, and it's a hassle to lower or raise the convertible top. But the Wrangler also is offered with a hard top with metal doors, roll-up glass windows and rear wiper/washer and defogger. Those items are needed for Chicago winters. The hard top costs $795 to $1,160, depending on the Wrangler trim level.
The Wrangler comes with a standard 2.4-liter, 147-horsepower four-cylinder engine that works best with the six-speed manual gearbox, which is standard for all Wranglers.
Other Wranglers have a 4-liter inline six-cylinder that produces 190 horsepower. It's offered with the manual gearbox or a four-speed automatic transmission.
The six-cylinder provides lively in-town performance, but only average passing times on highways because the engine has an old design and even the short-wheelbase Wrangler is fairly heavy for its size at 3,200 pounds.
The Wrangler is no economy vehicle: The four-cylinder provides 18 mpg in the city and 20 on highways, while the six-cylinder delivers 16 city and 20 highway with either transmission.
The four-wheel-drive system shouldn't be left engaged on dry pavement, but it has low-range gearing for rough off-road driving.
It calls for extra effort to get in or out of this tall Jeep. And there isn't much room in the short-wheelbase model's rear-seat area, which is especially difficult to reach. The longer Unlimited has enough rear room to comfortably seat two 6-footers, although the back seat lacks a comfortable design.
Only several pieces of soft luggage or grocery bags fit behind the regular model's back seat when it's in an upright position, although it folds or can be removed to create a fairly large cargo area. The Unlimited adds more than a foot of cargo area length.
Front seats are supportive and gauges can be quickly read. Controls are grouped logically and are easy to use. The interior is pretty basic -- a front passenger grab bar is a tip that this vehicle is primarily designed for off-road driving.
My test Wrangler Rubicon's steering was OK -- after I became accustomed to its tall tires, which would have performed better during off-road use. The Rubicon's off-road suspension was stiff, which often resulted in a jerky ride.
The Wrangler is nimble at lower speeds but has marked body lean during quick maneuvers or when moderate speeds are exceeded in curves. Some inexperienced Wrangler drivers get into trouble if they attempt to drive this Jeep like a sports car.
Opt for the Unlimited if you want a Wrangler that is fairly comfortable to drive daily. The short-wheelbase Wrangler, though, is for genuine Jeep buffs.
The Wrangler is no economy vehicle, with city mpg in the teens.
2006 JEEP WRANGLER
PRICE: $18,390-$28,930
LIKES: Goat-like off-roader. Supportive seats. Traditional style.
DISLIKES: Modest highway acceleration. Stiff ride. High step-up.