With apologies to The Rolling Stones and a few others, time is no longer on the Wrangler's side it seems. The machine so heavily linked with the US brand's image has been gussied up, given extra doors and even a diesel, but is now long overdue for a serious overhaul. Recent experience in three light-commercial utilities - which were preferable to drive over the Jeep - has reinforced the Wrangler's need to venture into the 21st century. As a tough and chunky five-seater, with the ability to go soft-top or topless, there's not much that can directly compete here. There are wagons on offer with comparable off-road prowess - but not the bloodline - and in most cases better on-road manners, but the Wrangler Unlimited is not completely without merit. A decent six-speaker sound system, including speakers on the roll bar for topless tunes, cloth trim, locking centre console, heated power-adjustable exterior mirrors, power windows, tyre pressure warning, leather-wrapped steering wheel with audio controls (on the back of the wheel), leaving the front of the helm to accommodate the cruise and trip computer buttons.

The shortest part of this story is the technology section - most of the technology in this car relates to safety systems, although there's an optional touchscreen sound and satnav system, with Bluetooth and 30-gig hard-drive, but technology is not this car's forte.exterior door handle 2002 toyota corolla It's hard to define the Wrangler's exterior - urban warfare chic maybe? garage door seal vancouverWhatever the theme, it hasn't changed a great deal - for better or worse - since the first Jeep bounced its way across battlefields in World War II.front door canopy with pillars The company played with it once - square headlights - but the shock and awe, disbelief and outcry from Jeep faithful quickly saw the round lights return, while some wonder still about the introduction of the four-door. the garage door company southampton reviews

Jeep says the interior has had a major revamp for the model update - with some new materials and a dash makeover. There are still some ergonomic issues, with some switchgear in odd places - the power windows are in the middle of the centrestack, the door unlock button sits beneath the driver's right knee and the left knee can knock the transmission into manual change mode. sliding patio doors lubricantThe pedal placement is atrocious - the brake pedal is too high and the throttle pedal is buried off to the right; garage doors fife areatilt-only adjustable steering finishes off what is not the greatest set-up for the driver. It's not the most comprehensive list but there's stability control (that can be backed off but not completely disabled) with anti-rollover function, anti-lock brakes with emergency assistance, hill descent control, dual front and front-side airbags are on the safety features list.

It also has the padded full-steel roll-cage The image of off-road glory starts when you look above the centre rearvision mirror - the windscreen is edged with a decal that has the Jeep's front-on look on the glass. It's an image thing - but the road drive before you turn a muddied wheel in anger might temper your enthusiasm. The diesel might well be claiming a fuel economy advantage of four litres per 100km over the petrol sibling but it's not the liveliest oil-burner in the SUV segment. The lag seems to be exacerbated by the transmission's sleepy attitude and a throttle pedal that requires a sizeable prod before anything happens - departure then occurs in an unintended rush. The shift from left to right-hand drive has done the driver no favours - the aforementioned pedal position has the brake pedal high and the throttle pedal is as far to the right as it can be. There's underbody protection, low range, 257mm of ground clearance, solid front and rear axles, short front and rear overhangs - all of which points to off-road intent.

Once off the beaten track, the Wrangler feels less ponderous and dozy, clambering over mounds and tearing up dirt tracks with abandon - in four-wheel drive mode the four-door feels more secure on dirt roads, where in rear-drive mode the pessimistic and blunt stability control is a common interrupter. Cargo space of almost 500 litres is useful, as is a braked towing capacity of 2300kg, although neither is class-leading. Jeep's slogan "Don't Hold Back" is being invoked here - as an owner of one of this car's ancestors, it pains me greatly to say this, but as Gough said "It's time." Time this car had some attention - the new Grand Cherokee is an example of what the brand can do to bring its machines up to par and the Wrangler needs some similar and serious TLC. JEEP WRANGLER UNLIMITED SPORT CRD AUTO Price: from $42,000Warranty: 3 years, 100,000kmResale: 54%, Source: Glass's GuideService Interval: 12,000km or 6-monthsEconomy: 8.3/100km, on test 13; 213g/km CO2, tank 85 litresEquipment: Four airbags, ABS, EBD, stability and traction control.

Crash rating: N/A starEngine: 147kW/460Nm 2.8-litre DOHC 16-valve turbodiesel four-cylinder, five-speed autoBody: Four-door, 5 seatsDimensions: 4751mm (L); 2947mm (WB)Weight: 1858kgTyre size: 245/75R17Spare tyre: full size Price: From $44,490Engine: 2.5-litre, 4-cyl turbodiesel, 131kW/350NmTransmission: 5-speed automatic, four-wheel driveBody: 5-door wagonThirst: 9.8l/100km, CO2 259g/km"The Triton's cousin sits in the Pajero's shadow but deserves more attention." Price: from $44,990Engine: 4-litre, V6 petrol, 200kW/380NmTransmission: 5-speed automatic, four-wheel driveBody: 5-door wagonThirst: 11.4l/100km, 95RON, CO2 267g/km"There's no diesel but the `Tonka Truck' image factor applies, which has the off-road ability." Although Jeep has produced many successful and popular vehicles, when most people hear the word Jeep they most often think of the off-road conquering, removable topped Jeep CJ andThere is no denying that these vehicles have been the backbone of the company, incorporating

innovative new features with the reliability of years of experience. Even though these vehicles share some of the same benefits and core elements, each model has its own unique characteristics. The first Jeep CJ or Civilian Jeep was introduced in 1944 as a public version of the famous military Jeep from World War II. Although the CJ-2 bore the CJ name, it was never really available for civilian use. The CJ-2 was mainly a prototype used for testing purposes with a limited amount being produced. In 1945 the CJ-2A replaced the CJ-2. The CJ-2A was intended to be used as an agricultural vehicle with various implements. In 1949 the CJ-3A was introduced and replaced the CJ-2A the following year. CJ-3A featured a 1-pc windshield with wipers at the bottom and heavier suspension for the various agriculturalThe CJ-3B was introduced in 1953 with a taller grille and hood to accommodate the new Willys HurricaneThe CJ-3B was produced until 1968 although the design was licensed to various international manufacturers.

The CJ-5, produced from 1954-1986, introduced an all new curved body style. Available with 2.2L L4, 2.5L L4, 3.1L L4 diesel, 3.7L V6, 3.8L L6, 4.2L L6, or 5.0L V8 engines, the CJ-5 featured body on frame construction with removable Jeep top and doors as well as fold down windshield. Front and rear leaf springs were attached to solid front and rearFrom 1954-1971, the CJ-5 featured an 81” wheel base. In 1972, an additional 5” was added to the fenders and hood to accommodate new engines as well as the wheel base stretched to 83.5”. The tub, frame, and windshield frame were modified slightly in 1976 causing older model soft tops not to fit new models. Although the hood, grille, and fenders were shared with the CJ-7 and CJ-8, the CJ-5’s most noticeable difference is the curvature of the door openings. Introduced in 1955 as a 1956 model, the CJ-6 was a basically a CJ-5 with a 20” longer wheel base. in the US, most CJ-6 models were sold to Sweden and South America until production ceased in 1975.

Introduced in 1976, the CJ-7 featured a longer wheel base (93.4”) than the CJ-5 and lacked the noticeable curvature ofThe CJ-7 was the first model available with an optional Quadra-Trac all-wheel drive system as well as a part-time two speed transfer case. An automatic transmission, steel doors, and molded hardtop were also new options not previously offered. Available with 2.3L L4 diesel (export only), 2.5L L4, 3.8L L6, 4.2L L6, or 5.0L V8 engines, the CJ-7 featured body on frame construction with removable top and doors as well as fold down windshield. Front and rear leaf springs were attached to solid front and rear axles. Production of the CJ-7 ended in 1986 with the introduction of the YJ Wrangler. Introduced in 1981, the CJ-8 Scrambler was a pickup version of the CJ-7 and featured a 103” wheel base and pickup bed. Produced until 1986, few Scramblers were manufactured. Sharing many of the same body and drive train parts, the CJ-8 was available with many of the options of the CJ-7 excluding the Quadra-Trac system.

Built to replace the much-loved, but slower-selling Jeep CJ, the Jeep YJ Wrangler was introduced in 1987. Using the same body on frame construction and leaf spring suspension with solid axle, the YJ Wrangler featured a wider wheel base with wider leaf springs, track bars, and sway bars for added comfort and handling. Although the YJ sported a new grille, hood, fenders, and larger windshield, the body was very similar to the replacedYJ Wranglers came equipped with a 2.5L L4 or 4.2L L6 engine until 1991 when a fuel injected 4.0L L6 engine wasIn 1992 the roll cage was lengthened to allow for rear shoulder belts and optional anti-lock brakes were available the following year. In 1994 a center high mount stop lamp was added as well as an optional automatic transmissionThe YJ was manufactured until early 1996, but sold as a 1995 model. YJ Wrangler models can be easily identified due to their unique rectangular head lamps. Released in the spring of 1996 as a 1997 model, the TJ Wrangler replaced the YJ.

The TJ Wrangler featured a multi-link coil spring suspension, based off of the Jeep Grand Cherokee, for improved ride and handling as well as the return of the classic styling of the CJ head lamps. The TJ Wrangler can be easily identified due to the rectangular front turn signals mounted in the front fenders. The same 4.0L L6 and 2.5L L4 engines were available until 2003 when a 2.4L L4 replaced the 2.5L. A right hand drive TJ Wrangler was also available for export as well as US rural postal carriers. Minor changes occurred throughout the years such as a 19 gallon fuel tank being added in 1999 as well as new mirrors, seats, interior trim, and sound bars arriving in 2003. Also in 2003, a new skid plate was installed to take make way for the new 4-speed automatic transmission and larger NV241OR transfer case available on the Rubicon models. manual transmission was available on all models until a 6-speed replacement was introduced in 2005. Named after the Rubicon trail in the Sierra

Nevada Mountains, the TJ Wrangler Rubicon was introduced in 2003. The Rubicon featured front and rear Dana 44 axles with air-actuated locking differentials as well as 4.10 gear ratios. A new heavy-duty NV241OR transfer case with a 4.1 low range rounded out the drive train upgrades. Providing a unique look for the Rubicon models, diamond plate rocker panels and 16” alloy wheels with Goodyear MT/R tires came as standard equipment. In 2004, Jeep introduced the Wrangler Unlimited which was a TJ Wrangler with a 10” longer wheel base. known as the LJ, the Unlimited came standard with a Dana 44 rear axle and was also available with the Rubicon package. With additional rear passenger leg room and larger cargo capacity, the LJ is rated with nearly double the towing capacity of the shorter wheel base models due to the increased wheel base. The 2007 Jeep Wrangler JK introduced a completely redesigned platform as well as the firstSignificantly larger than the model it replaced, the 2-door JK Wrangler has a 2” longer wheel base

and 3.4” wider track. Although designed with a longer wheel base and wider track, the JK is 2.5” shorter overall than the TJ to improve approach and departure angles. Continuing the use of body on frame construction with multi-link coil spring suspension, the JK Wrangler is offered as a 95.4” wheel base 2-door or 116” wheel base 4-door model. Still available in a right hand drive configuration, the 2-door JK Wrangler comes standard with four wheel drive while the 4-door Unlimited JK Wrangler is available in two or four wheel drive. Powered by a 3.8L V6 or 2.8L turbo diesel (export only) engine, the JK is available with a 6-speed manual or 4-speedFour wheel drive models come standard with the Command-Trac NV241 transfer case while the Rubicon upgrades to the Rock-Trac version of the NV241. For added safety, stability control, off-road tuned anti-lock braking system, and traction control are now available and in 2009 Hill Start Assist was added.

The JK Wrangler is the first Wrangler available with some the standard features many vehicle have had for years such as power windows and door locks as well as seat-mounted side air bags and navigation system. New to the JK, a Sunrider convertible soft top comes standard while an optional 3-piece modular hard top is also available. Holding true to the Jeep tradition, all JK Wrangler models feature a removable top and doors as well as fold down windshield as well as a great selection of Jeep accessories and parts. Available in 2- and 4-door configurations, the Rubicon package still provides the Wrangler with the ultimateFront and rear Dana 44 axles with a 4.10 gear ratio are still choice running gear while the air-actuated locking differentials have been replaced with electronic versions. transfer case with 4.1 low range drives the wheels while an all new electronic sway bar disconnect provides improved off-road performance. The TJ diamond plate rocker panels were replaced with body