Its also, for the price, probably the worst on-road vehicle on earth.
Crap gas mileage, horrible wind noise, terrible ride, ugly interior.. cant have a nice stereo, because your top will get cut and it will be stolen..
You spend over 30 grand for something that is really good at one thing, and absolutely horrid at everything else. 
and I doubt many people buy BRAND NEW jeeps with the intent of off roading exclusively.. so now youve spent over 30 grand at something that sucks at everything you will be doing with it 95% of the time.
money.... well.... spent...
Not much I can do about gas milage except keep my foot out of the pedal, but in all honestly, it doesn't do much worse than my father's Dakota on the highway (it almost matches it without the doors on, and the parachute not on the top)
I like the wind noise. When the temp gets over 45-50 deg, F., the top and doors are coming off. In fact, the doors come off for good in May and I don't even look for them until about the end of September, or so. The wind noise is also very effective at cutting down the SWMBO chatter/ack.
My latest Wrangler is a 2006, which has coil spring suspension, as opposed to the old school leaf springs, so it's not the rough ride experienced in the "old days". It tracks well on the highway and does not give the fatigue in a long distance trip as the older models did. I drive it to the Chesapeake Bay area (I'm in Philly) at least 5-6 times during the summer, and I took it to Pittsburgh last May for the Penguins Stanley Cup parade with no issues. It's not a Cadillac, and I won't try to say it drives like one, but the newer models are way better. If I wanted a smooth ride, I wouldn't have bought it.
I didn't buy it for the interior either (which is usually speckled with mud of some kind anyway and is easy to clean because it is all vinyl) I will be getting neoprene (or equivalent) seat covers however, for the times that I forget /too lazy to put up the top, or am surprised with a n unexpected rain shower. The current Hefty(tm) seat covers aren't very stylish.
There are plenty of sources for a locking console to mount an aftermarket stereo in). I normally do not leave anything of value in the Wrangler to begin with, but if I do, it goes in the locked console) I have also gone so far as to put a sign on the dash. It reads....."There is nothing of value inside this vehicle, and it is not locked. Please feel free to open the doors (if they are still on the vehicle) and have a look around. There is also no need to cut holes in the vinyl top (if it is, in fact, still up) to gain access to the interior.... Thank You. " There is also the option of getting the hard top.
I spent < $20,000 on mine (used) from CarSense http://www.carsense.com which included the extended warranty that lasts for 5years/100,000 miles and covers damn near everything except consumables such as brakes, lights, etc. The dealer (in partnership/cooperation with Quaker State Oil) also offers a lifetime engine warranty (all parts that come in contact with oil) as long as I have the oil changed at a certified garage and use Quaker State oil (provided I keep the receipts) It is a 2006 Sport Model which pretty much has everything that a Rubicon has (including the same rear(s) ), except a few amenities and automatic lockers (which suck in the snow, anyhow) This (with the eventual upgrades I have planned) will probably be the last vehicle I purchase for myself for 20 years.
I have owned two other Wranglers in the past, and routinely beat the living tar out of them. Every repair becomes an upgrade, anyhow (stronger axles, better driveshaft, etc) The first was a 79 CJ which the tub had rotted into oblivion and I sold it to a guy that was going to make it a competition crawler. The second was a 97' Wrangler which was still in pretty good shape when I got rid of it. The only reason I broke down and bought this one is because it was the last year for the "straight 6" 4.0 liter (which, as someone has mentioned, is all but bulletproof), and I'm not too keen on the new "V" 6's as they have not been in use as long as the in-line 6's, but that's another conversation altogether. In fact, the best engine I have seen in a Wrangler is a Cumming's Diesel that someone had shoehorned into it (talk about some torque
)
Bottom line is that a Jeep Wrangler NOT a "comfort" vehicle, nor is it marketed as one. It is a vehicle for the more adventurous type that doesn't mind a little mud/wind/water on the skin. It is a a vehicle of function more than form and , as such, does not come with most of the creature comforts that other SUV's may have.
There is not a lot of head/leg room (I am short, so I don't care)
There is not a lot of cargo space ( but you would be surprised at what can be strapped on the roll bars) and what doesn't fit inside goes on the cargo rack.
It's loud. ( I can deal with it being that the trade's is being more "in" the environment as opposed to being shutoff from it.
It's slow and a bit bumpy (I can't go fast or ride "on air", but I can go damn near anywhere I please, when I please to do it)
There are security risks, but locks only keep honest people out, anyway (besides, if I needed to hear loud music, I'd fire up one of my 3000W PA systems that I use for my DJ Busines) If you need to steal the axe strapped to the front or the shovel strapped on the back, you probably need it more than I do.
If a Wrangler is "more capable from the showroom floor" as Widewing has stated is a matter of statistics and testing. Whether my Wrangler is "better" than another vehicle is a matter of total opinion.
I love my Wrangler, my kids love my wrangler (to the extent that if I lend it out to a friend for a joy ride and they wash it first for their SWMBO, they, including my daughter, call said friend a wimpy girl), and my wife loves my Wrangler (especially in this crappy snow we have been having).
So............... no matter what anyone's opinion is, the OP hit the nail right on the head.....
There is nothing else like it..
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