Today's Waggy

[G_$]

Just for fun ...

Of today's vehicles, what's the closest thing to a FSJ? In other words, what is the Waggy of 2009?

[RAMBLINFSJ]

The Jeep Commander

[Ghinmi]

Mercedes G series

http://www.kentautodeals.co.uk/re_images/1163617265_offer_AETV421215_1b.jpg

[addicted]

The Jeep Commander

Commander or the Grand Cherokee.

[bushwood44]

Commander

[incommando]

Park them side by side: The Commander is the direct descendent of the Waggy.

[fulsizjeep]

Commander? Seroiusly? C'mon... You might as well pick the AWD Pacifica. ;)

I think it would be safe to say there is no 2009 Waggy equivilent. The Wagoneer took the Willys 4 wheel drive station wagon to the next level. The rest of the world raced right through the next level for the Wagoneer before Jeep built the last Wagoneer. This is just my opinion though...

[fulsizjeep]

Park them side by side: The Commander is the direct descendent of the Waggy.LOL, the Commander is a direct decsendent of a poor marketing ploy for DC to gain a better footing in the Full Size SUV market. That is also my opinion. ;)

[mendelo]

You know, I have often thought of what to replace the waggy with on days when it , oh, won't start, won't stop, starts but won't move etc. I make these observations out loud in the hope that the waggy will tremble with fear and miraculously start working. Instead I am treated with disdain. Because it knows I cannot find a replacement for the waggy. The Commander may be the closest thing, but the original philisophy, make a station wagon that can go pretty much everywhere, is long gone. To be honest, my stock height truck, parked beside say, a new Tahoe, looks way lower despite having what appears to be equal if not better ground clearance. It's also lots shorter. But I can fit 6 people inside in relative comfort and still have tons of room for all their crap. Todays SUV, if they are as short as the waggy, are much narrower and if as wide, way longer. So I like that about it. Plus if I want to run to the wood store I can take out the back seat, lower the tailgate and stuff a lot of 4x8 sheets in there without having to drive back home with my rear door sticking up in the air like some cat in heat. At the moment, I can find no suitable substitute.

[Ristow]

Park them side by side: The Commander is the direct descendent of the Waggy.


OH C'MON!! it's a direct descendant of the Dodge Durango,with XJ-and hummer-styling and a JEEP logo slapped on.

[thunderpuppy]

The commander ????????? Can you put six people in it and enough camping gear for the weekend ??????? I think not !

[TexTJ209]

Defender 110? I dunno.

http://www.autocult.com.au/img/gallery/full/CARmageddon664.jpg

[jaw knee]

Although there not sold in the US, I think this is close..
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toyota_Land_Cruiser_70_Series

[Tigger4X]

Mercedes G series

http://www.kentautodeals.co.uk/re_images/1163617265_offer_AETV421215_1b.jpg


Way beyond over priced, even for it's supposed "status" AND is one ugly arse piece ... my .02


And just how many of these stuffed shirts are you really gonna see pushing this thing to see what it might be capable of? "Oh no, my freshly dressed tires are gonna get dusty and I might have to have it taken to the detail shop by Jeeves again." :rolleyes:


One of those things when you were a kid and you didn't want to be seen driving around in it by your mom. I'd even liken it to the old saying about riding a "moped". :lol:

[John Huebner]

I picked up a Dodge Ram Quad...sleeps six and hauls all my gear. (It's a 2008) The older ones just keep running, and they are getting cheaper (sad to tell you what they gave me as trade-in on my 2002.... Nobody said it has to be a SUV. The Pre-2003 Quad 1500's had the Dodge 360, virtually a bulletproof engine with a derivative of the 727 transmission. That, and it has it's own attitude. Short of that, heck, I don't know that there is another vehicle that is Waggytastic.

[RubiconMike]

First off, I'd discount any unibody vehicle, which leaves out pretty much anything Jeep makes except the Wrangler, which, being the decendent of the CJ line, isn't the new version of the Wagoneer.

So who makes a medium size SUV that shares a full-frame platform with the same company's pickup truck line? Suburbans, Tahoes, Expeditions are all too big, Explorer is too small (has Explorer gone unibody yet?).

So I think I have to go with the Dodge Durango as the spiritual successor of the Wagoneer. The fact that Chrysler bought Jeep and they share powertrains only makes them that much more related.

[BarryL]

Suburban, Tahoe. Tahoe is closest in size, function.

[suzq044]

It's this :D - I still have to work on the grille i know. My original idea with this first one was to make the iconic Grand Wagoneer with the current design language.
http://fc01.deviantart.com/fs31/i/2008/225/2/b/Jeep_Wagoneer_II_by_suzq044_chopartist.jpg

with the wood:
http://fc02.deviantart.com/fs31/i/2008/226/a/b/Jeep_Wagoneer_II_by_suzq044_chopartist.jpg

[shiner2001]

I think the two things that you have to look for if you're trying to find today's GW are 1) Luxury SUV and 2) Ultra capable offroad. I suppose there are alot of vehicles that fit those criteria, but I can't think of anything that possesses the intangibles that the GW has, whatever they are. And of course something that can't be replicated is that the GW opened that luxury SUV segment to the market.

[G_$]

I am glad I started this thread. There are some good responses. Now it is my turn.

First off, I'd discount any unibody vehicle, which leaves out pretty much anything Jeep makes except the Wrangler, which, being the decendent of the CJ line, isn't the new version of the Wagoneer.

So who makes a medium size SUV that shares a full-frame platform with the same company's pickup truck line? Suburbans, Tahoes, Expeditions are all too big, Explorer is too small (has Explorer gone unibody yet?).

So I think I have to go with the Dodge Durango as the spiritual successor of the Wagoneer. The fact that Chrysler bought Jeep and they share powertrains only makes them that much more related.

RubiconMike, my own thoughts were actually the same as yours. I discounted the unibody Jeeps and CJs for the same reason, and immediately I thought of the Durango. But ... We have had a DD expedition for 6 years, and I got to thinking, my old Expedition is a heck of a lot like the Waggy. So I settled on a King Ranch trimmed Expedition as my choice.

Plus, for whatever reason, I never liked Durangos.....

[G_$]

It's this :D - I still have to work on the grille i know. My original idea with this first one was to make the iconic Grand Wagoneer with the current design language.

I remember this one. Just make that rear wood panel bigger. LOVE the wheels, those are 17 inch right :D .

[suzq044]

If that's what the stock Commander comes with, then yeah. lol

[BrianAg95]

It's this :D - I still have to work on the grille i know. My original idea with this first one was to make the iconic Grand Wagoneer with the current design language.
http://fc01.deviantart.com/fs31/i/2008/225/2/b/Jeep_Wagoneer_II_by_suzq044_chopartist.jpg

with the wood:
http://fc02.deviantart.com/fs31/i/2008/226/a/b/Jeep_Wagoneer_II_by_suzq044_chopartist.jpg

Cool.. that is a much meaner looking commander than what they are selling... jeesh you should send that in get a concept car made up! Commader for 2011 shall we say?

Also as far as capability and size. If you take the commander and remove the rear seat you get seating for 5 and enough space for all their gear... so minus 1 less person and I would say it is pretty much a match for our rigs.

[fulsizjeep]

Suburban, Tahoe. Tahoe is closest in size, function.OK, I'll buy the Tahoe/Yukon idea. That is about the closest you might find. When I bought my 88 GW in 95 it was because the owner wanted a new full size and the Tahoe was his best choice at the time. Probably still is considering the full frame comment. At first I thought maybe the Expedition would also fit but I have driven a few of those and in my opinion they do not rate up with even the Tahoe. My supervisor had GSA Expedition at work for a few months and I drove it just enough to hate it. Before that he had a Tahoe and it was a much better all around vehicle than the Expedition.

[G_$]

My supervisor had GSA Expedition at work for a few months and I drove it just enough to hate it. Before that he had a Tahoe and it was a much better all around vehicle than the Expedition.

Having driven both, I hsave the opposite opinion.

[RubiconMike]

I am glad I started this thread. There are some good responses. Now it is my turn.

Plus, for whatever reason, I never liked Durangos.....

I never liked them either......... :D

[JPSwapMohn]

Way beyond over priced, even for it's supposed "status" AND is one ugly arse piece ... my .02


And just how many of these stuffed shirts are you really gonna see pushing this thing to see what it might be capable of? "Oh no, my freshly dressed tires are gonna get dusty and I might have to have it taken to the detail shop by Jeeves again." :rolleyes:


One of those things when you were a kid and you didn't want to be seen driving around in it by your mom. I'd even liken it to the old saying about riding a "moped". :lol:


Ummm, that is exactly what most folks would have said about the Grand Wagoneer back in the 80's..

[Am4wag]

H-3's resemble the GW to me......

[JPSwapMohn]

Very nice. I would drive that. Interesting how just a few line changes and the Commander looks much better. I think it is just our bias to that hoodline.

Nicely done. How did you get the badges and shadows and all to look so right? CGI...what is reality anymore?


http://fc01.deviantart.com/fs31/i/2008/225/2/b/Jeep_Wagoneer_II_by_suzq044_chopartist.jpg

with the wood:
http://fc02.deviantart.com/fs31/i/2008/226/a/b/Jeep_Wagoneer_II_by_suzq044_chopartist.jpg

[suzq044]

about 12 years of practice in photoshop..
and the original did quite well itself.. here is THAT image click for huge-res:

http://img243.imageshack.us/img243/1041/commanderbaseqr7.th.jpg (http://img243.imageshack.us/img243/1041/commanderbaseqr7.jpg)

[lost1]

about 12 years of practice in photoshop..
and the original did quite well itself.. here is THAT image click for huge-res:

http://img243.imageshack.us/img243/1041/commanderbaseqr7.th.jpg (http://img243.imageshack.us/img243/1041/commanderbaseqr7.jpg)

I think I might sell a kidney for a commander if they used a body style like you 'chopped. I've driven one with a 4.7l, one of the basic models back in '05 and liked it. Offroad it was a bit too topheavy for me but I followed my buddy as he was driving my XJ around easily enough. Their 'status' gets in the way of people taking them offroad, I think.

[Tejasol]

That photochopped version with a Hemi/electric hybrid engine with Quadra Drive II, a little lift and 35's would be one kickin' rig.

[del]

I don't think there is an equivelent today. Waggys have to much character. Just think, they had power options then that were reserved for luxury vehicles at the time. Yet were just as capable as any offroad specialty vehicle. They were truely ahead of their time. Todays vehicles are too watered down style wise by some marketing/sales dept. in the hopes of hiting every demographic to look as cool as a Waggy. Makes me wish I had the rights to every AMC vehicle patent and Bill Gates wallet. 2010 Grand Wagoneer? A Waggy today would be gorgeous inside, have like 450hp, and tow like a semi-truck.

[BarryL]

OK, I'll buy the Tahoe/Yukon idea.

My first SUV was a 78 Waggy, bought used, and I loved it. I like to surf fish and it was perfect for highway driving and sand use. Right up until the 4th child was born. Suburbans started looking good. I bought a used 88 Sub and kept the Waggy for the oldest son when he got to the driving age. Sold the 88 Sub and bought a 93 Sub in 1994, which I still have with 250K miles. I bought the 84 Wag as a toy since I always loved the Wagons. The 88 suburban was a lot closer to the waggy since it had a solid front axle, but the 93 definitely rides better. OTOH, the 88 was a 3/4 ton and the 93 is a half. I love the Suburban. But I like the old Waggy more, just because...

[littlebuck23]

I sat in a few new jeeps at a snowboard expo. I was not impressed. lots of wasted space on the inside and looked pretty dern underpowered. too much plastic everywhere and a weak looking frame.

[cajunKen]

For me, the closest thing to a successor for the GW would be a 4-door Wrangler w/hardtop....I know, I know, it doesn't have the "character" a GW has, but what vehicle built these days does?

The GW had luxury and a look all it's own compared to the Blazers/Broncos/Ramcharger 2 doors of the time; as for the Suburban, I always thought they looked more like mini school buses.

Nowadays everything's rounded and egg shaped; the Wrangler stands out from the crowd and the Hummer's the new Suburban:thumbsup:

[Wagoneerlover]

I don't think that their is one either. Todays vehicles have IFS and/or rear suspension, Unibody frames, and ultra cheapo bumpers etc. To add to that these newer engines etc while they have gobs of horsepower and toque and advanced cylinder control systems or whatever else they may have they are still in the cheapo line of products. (They dont make these new things tough like the old AMC engines) Yeah they can do this and do that and the manifolds have extensions that you can attach a toothbrush to so that the engine can shave and brush you etc, but how many of you have redlined your jeep engine for the umpteenth time after saying you wouldnt do it anymore only for your jeep to keep going? Open the AMC engine up after so much red-lining and it still looks like brand new. I can assure you that if you do this in a new engine it is done for. A friend of mine red-lined his dodge once and that was it the head gasket was done for.

todays jeeps dont have the ruggedness, the style, the brio, class or just the overall unique look of the wag. Sorry I would have to vote for nothing. The photoshopped image is about as close as we are going to get.

[Long&Low]

Really, the closest item to the GW on the market today, is the late model Dodge Aspen. Sure it does not have the same character the GW had, but it's on a hydor formed frame, nice V8, and can be very well equipped inside. The exterior leaves a bit to be desired.

As for the late model Durangos, they look like bloated mini-vans. There is a slight front end difference between the Aspen and Durango.

As for the first generation Durangos (second generation Dakota platform), well, I got one, it fits my bill, seats seven, and is a nice driver. It's my third Dakota based vehicle (three V8's were available, 4.7, 5.2, and 5.9, four if you count the 5.9 HO option). So, yes, I like them. It'll do anything any other half ton truck will do, and it's just the right size for a daily driver, not quite full size, but not half sized either.

My biggest complaint is the IFS front end, it squeaks. Plus you got the ball joint issues. But, every time I put the key in the ignition, the motor cranked right over, how many of us can say that about your FSJ's?

[Wagoneerlover]

But, every time I put the key in the ignition, the motor cranked right over, how many of us can say that about your FSJ's?

For those of us who have adapted to Throttle body or multi-port injection we can and will easily say this (Mine cranks over and I barely need to even touch the key). And we dont have the $25,000+ price tag and high insurance to go with it, yet we still have the rig that we love. but to each his own. My dad loves his Grand Cherokee and swears by it but the idea of having a transfer case that decides when to go into four wheel drive doesnt sit too well with me.

[great1]

I will say the Land Rover Discovery Series I is the closest for me (yeah i know it isnt 2009 like the thread states). I know they are far from similar in terms of engine/ air suspension/price/raised roof, but it is a well equipped luxury vehicle that is capable off road. It is full time 4x4, solid axles, v8, power everything, and really rich soccer moms drive it to hard core off-roaders. I would like to see the photoshopped Discovery with wood grain sides and old waggy wheels, and a better grill, as well as a roll down window in the rear (i love that). I think it captures what a waggy used to be back in its day.

[waynestiles]

with the wood:
http://fc02.deviantart.com/fs31/i/2008/226/a/b/Jeep_Wagoneer_II_by_suzq044_chopartist.jpg[/QUOTE]


now if you could just put a "rhino" nose on it I might consider buying one.

[J.J.]

Canyonero! It's the country fried truck that's endorsed by a clown.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mCzCXyQ-bv0

[scotty1998]

1st, I would have to say that I would buy "The Legacy Returns" 2009 Wagoneer.

2nd, I would have to say when trying to find something comparable to a waggie of old... ummm chrome? Enough said...

[grand_wag_85]

1st, I would have to say that I would buy "The Legacy Returns" 2009 Wagoneer.

Are they actually building those?

[JPSwapMohn]

What is the legacy returns jeep? Is that from a movie or something?