392 Wrangler Extreme Recon - The Best Daily Driver

I finally got my 392 Wrangler Extreme Recon about 3 weeks ago and this is easily one of the best and most fun cars I've ever had (including exotics), and I've gone through a lot of cars. Anyone looking for one "do it all" car, look no further. One of the best sounding stock exhausts I've ever heard, incredible power for a big heavy SUV, no turbo lag (obv), the one touch power top is awesome, solid sound system, and you can drive it literally anywhere. The ride height makes you feel like king of the road with the lift and 35" tires. Wranglers also have one of the biggest modding communities too so plenty of options to customize, though I'll probably leave it mostly stock.

I tend to go through cars every 12-18 months and get something else but I seriously think I might keep this one for a long, long time. An 8-year 85k mile warranty was only $1200 too. I just paid $460 for a gas cap (lol) on my Aston Martin. Will be surprised if these things are ever worth less than ~$65-70k even with high mileage. Yes, the gas mileage is awful (12mpg over the first 1000 miles) but you've got to pay to play. Gives the FF a run for its money in the bad gas mileage competition.

Absolute 10/10 car, highly recommend for anyone that might be on the fence. I doubt we will ever see another high powered NA engine SUV again.


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Where is the love button!!!!

 

very cool (especially in the 'looks' department) but, a couple corporate cousins say, "hold my beer" with 700+ hp supercharged Hellcat power

Jeep Grand Cherokee 'Hellcat' Trackhawk
https://www.caranddriver.com/jeep/grand-cherokee-trackhawk

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Ram 1500 TRX
https://www.caranddriver.com/ram/1500-trx

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TRX is way too big, wouldn’t even fit in my garage. I loved the Trackhawk when I test drove one but the interior feels dated and it doesn’t sound as good IMO. I prefer the NA power over supercharged.

 

Oh yeah and you can’t take the top down and doors off on a trackhawk or TRX

 

About to order one of these (without the extreme recon, don’t need that). The 392 is stupid fun to drive.

 

I think the XR package can’t be ordered for 2023 anyway. The more I drive it the more I love it. Such a fun car

 

FWIW, tons of people are reporting owning 2023 XR’s on the various Jeep forums.

 

Pro tip, you DEFINITELY want the XR package, if only for the factory 4.56 gearing. It’s much more responsive.



Here’s a list of what’s included in the XR package:

35” Tires
Wider Wheels
4:56 Gears
Shocks/springs(same height)
Sway bar links
Tailgate reinforcement
Spare tire relocation kit
Spare tire carrier
E-Assist Brake Vacuum Booster
Tail lamp extensions
Fender extensions
Jack Spacer
110 mph speed limiter versus 99
Bump stops
Steering box
Steering pump calibration
Blind spot/backup sensor calibrations are different

Lastly, the difference in shocks is sneaky important. Here’s an exchange with a Jeep factory guy detailing how the shocks are different/better. The forum experts concluded that the XR has Mopar white labeled Bilstein racing shocks.

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The XR does ride noticeably better than the regular V6 JL Wrangler I had before this, not sure how it compares to the regular 392. I think the XR package is great value if you can get it, seems they keep putting it on restriction for orders. XR 392's will definitely command a premium over regular ones on resale market.

 

Not questioning the value if you go off-road a lot….which I probably won’t.

Can’t order it right now anyway (confirmed yesterday). There are several components that are not available right now….. but the dealer thinks it may not come back this model year.

 

Could not agree more just picked up my 23 XR this past week after a five month wait . Such a fun vehicle and to top it off has the best road manners and steering feel of any current JL. If you plan to order I highly recommend ordering an XR there is a noticeable difference between the two. I most likely won’t off road it either but the better gearing and increased presence are so worth it. It makes my wife’s 4XE Rubicon look small. The XR is currently on constraint but I believe it will return, same thing happened in 22.

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Giving an old thread some love here. Bad weather in LA today means that the 392XR took duty. I honestly find myself driving this more and more. It barely fits in my office garage so its still (mostly) stock now but I want to send it to AEV for the JL370 upgrade. Changing offices late this summer to a space where I've got a few more inches of clearance so likely will send it away this summer. Its stupid how much I love this jeep. I'm not sure you can have more fun for less than $100k.

 

Drive a taller Jeep before you make yours one. The stock suspension is darn good, way better than it has a right to be. And the stock suspension will take you farther off the beaten path than almost anyone has been. Taller Jeeps tend to drive like crap.

Excellent engine choice!!! It looks awesome!!!

 

That’s the beauty of the way AEV has engineered their packages. Actually doesn’t raise the Jeep that much but clears 37s and their suspension improves both on and off road. Premium price but rad stuff.

 

Here’s a detailed review of a JL370 pack’d 392 if you are interested

 

Gous, how does this vehicle drive on the highway, thats 90% of my use. Regular jeeps not so great. Can I cruse comfortably at 80-90 or does it feel tippy.

 

It’s not awful and will easily hold 80-90 but if that’s what you are doing 90% of the time with it, I’d imagine it would get a bit tiresome. It’s loud and a bit flighty. I happily take it on the highway but that’s probably 10% of my time in it so it’s great

 

A Vegas hotel room full of hookers says otherwise


Still waiting on my standard model 392…..closing in on 5 months.

 

I waited 10 months for mine. Painful!

 

Thanks for the feedback.
prob most of my daily use is driving around a small town and to the beach hiking etc. But its florida so 50% of the yearly mileage is highway.

 

The beginning of December 2022 I picked up a zero option new 23 Gladiator manual in white, for 37.7 OTD - including the tax.

 

At the end of the day it’s still a Jeep but for a Jeep it rides very well. You really don’t have to fight with the truck it tracks straight at 80 no problem. It’s not loud in the car but it is not quiet by any means. I got a SOT hot heads headliner and that improved the noise slightly. Very easy to keep the Jeep at 80-90 if that’s what you desire.


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I guess its all relative. Just got back from a trip to Ojai from Los Angeles (about 60 min on highway). I went a few days early and took the 392 because the weather was awful. Wife came up with the kids a few days later in our new escalade. We swapped cars for the drive home. If I had a long highway commute I would choose the escalade 10 times out of 10. And this is coming from somebody who's owned a lot of cars and I genuinely think I'm enjoying my 392 as much or more as almost anything I've ever owned. I think its one of the greatest cars ever made, huge fanboy... just don't love it on the highway.

 

It was incredibly windy here yesterday and driving at 75mph you could definitely feel the car moving side to side a bit, and there was a ton of wind noise. I have the one touch roof. My Macan was a lot quieter on the highway, no questions. The hardtop might be better but there still isn't much insulation like there is in a luxury SUV.