392 JLU (Common Issues) ?

jwolfejt

jwolfejt

Active Member
I am back in the market again for a new Jeep - was going to go with another Gladiator but bought another truck for truck stuff. Was wondering what everyone's experience with the 392 has been - are they as problematic as folks are saying they are - or are the bugs sorted out ? Stay away from the early years ? Was looking at used prices and holy cow - from $100k plus - $60k-$70k after just a year or 2 .... what happened ?

Would I be better off with a JLU with the 3.6 ?
 
OverlanderJK said:
I also don't think they were ever $100k plus. Dealers may have marked them at that but they were in the 80's at a good dealer.
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Actually, the current STARTING price on a new 392 is over $100k now or at least, according to their website.

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OverlanderJK said:
Stay away from the internet. Never heard of any problems with them from here or anyone I know with them.
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Brute has had some problems with his.

kevman65 said:
The only complaint I remember reading about is the transfer case is a little weak for the power plant.
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It's the clutch packs in the transfer case that 'can' become problematic especially with hard use. They end up failing and it becomes a real problem. The solution is to rebuild it using just the front half of a Sport model transfer case or upgrade to something better.
 
jwolfejt said:
I am back in the market again for a new Jeep - was going to go with another Gladiator but bought another truck for truck stuff. Was wondering what everyone's experience with the 392 has been - are they as problematic as folks are saying they are - or are the bugs sorted out ? Stay away from the early years ? Was looking at used prices and holy cow - from $100k plus - $60k-$70k after just a year or 2 .... what happened ?

Would I be better off with a JLU with the 3.6 ?
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The early ones lost their value because of the XR and final final final edition 392's that came out with 35" tires, 4.56 gears and full float rear end. Lately, the newer ones have been losing their value because apparently, there isn't going to be a final 392 now as was sold to everyone by Jeep.

All that said, if you can afford one, they really are exactly how Jeep should have been making the Wrangler from the get go. They are a ton of fun.
 
wayoflife said:
The early ones lost their value because of the XR and final final final edition 392's that came out with 35" tires, 4.56 gears and full float rear end. Lately, the newer ones have been losing their value because apparently, there isn't going to be a final 392 now as was sold to everyone by Jeep.

All that said, if you can afford one, they really are exactly how Jeep should have been making the Wrangler from the get go. They are a ton of fun.
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I can afford it - sold all my other stuff and didn't want to get into another loan (which I won't on this new one) - now the caveat is finding a decent CDJR dealer - most of them are geared towards low income/poor credit folks it seems. If anyone has a recommendation for a decent CDJR dealer I am all ears. I don't want to argue about nitrogen filled tires or some aftermarket remote accesories (that do the same thing the oem remote systems do). If they are willing to sell Mopar Care warranty at a reasonable price I wouldn't mind picking that up - I've dealt with 3 different CDJR dealers around me - they all were scumbags (one flat out refused to let me pay cash on a JTR... and were saying I had to fill out a credit app).
 
jwolfejt said:
I can afford it - sold all my other stuff and didn't want to get into another loan (which I won't on this new one) - now the caveat is finding a decent CDJR dealer - most of them are geared towards low income/poor credit folks it seems. If anyone has a recommendation for a decent CDJR dealer I am all ears. I don't want to argue about nitrogen filled tires or some aftermarket remote accesories (that do the same thing the oem remote systems do). If they are willing to sell Mopar Care warranty at a reasonable price I wouldn't mind picking that up - I've dealt with 3 different CDJR dealers around me - they all were scumbags (one flat out refused to let me pay cash on a JTR... and were saying I had to fill out a credit app).
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If you're willing to fly out and drive your purchase back, I would recommend buying from Petersen's in Nampa, Idaho. The RAM I just bought is the 4th vehicle I've bought from them and it's because they really do offer a no bullshit no haggle price. You do need to finance with Stellantis for 6 months but they do take the time to show how much you should pay on the first payment to help eat up interest, how much you should pay on the other 5 payments and then pay it off.
 
wayoflife said:
Actually, the current STARTING price on a new 392 is over $100k now or at least, according to their website.

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Brute has had some problems with his.


It's the clutch packs in the transfer case that 'can' become problematic especially with hard use. They end up failing and it becomes a real problem. The solution is to rebuild it using just the front half of a Sport model transfer case or upgrade to something better.
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Wtf? $100k? How can they justify that now?
 
wayoflife said:
If you're willing to fly out and drive your purchase back, I would recommend buying from Petersen's in Nampa, Idaho. The RAM I just bought is the 4th vehicle I've bought from them and it's because they really do offer a no bullshit no haggle price. You do need to finance with Stellantis for 6 months but they do take the time to show how much you should pay on the first payment to help eat up interest, how much you should pay on the other 5 payments and then pay it off.
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I was offered a $7k discount on my current truck - but i had to finance to get that deal - so i did that - made 1 payment and then just paid the thing off. These interest rates are ridiculous - best iw as able to get was 3.9% - so unless they have a deal like that I am not even remotely interested in running credit - i'd just do a wire/check and want to drive it back. I've never had a dealer before flat out tell me that they don't/wont sell a car cash...
 
jwolfejt said:
I was offered a $7k discount on my current truck - but i had to finance to get that deal - so i did that - made 1 payment and then just paid the thing off. These interest rates are ridiculous - best iw as able to get was 3.9% - so unless they have a deal like that I am not even remotely interested in running credit - i'd just do a wire/check and want to drive it back. I've never had a dealer before flat out tell me that they don't/wont sell a car cash...
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Oh, they'll sell for cash but they get big kickbacks from the lender if they can get you to finance. That's how they can offer better deals. And technically speaking, you really don't have to pay the whole 6 months but I do just because they've been so good to me and so long as you do it like they explain it, there isn't much penalty to you.
 
jwolfejt said:
I was offered a $7k discount on my current truck - but i had to finance to get that deal - so i did that - made 1 payment and then just paid the thing off. These interest rates are ridiculous - best iw as able to get was 3.9% - so unless they have a deal like that I am not even remotely interested in running credit - i'd just do a wire/check and want to drive it back. I've never had a dealer before flat out tell me that they don't/wont sell a car cash...
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When I bought my Gladiator in Pa the dealer wouldn’t take an out of state check but Chrysler financing had a 0 percent 36 month option so I did that. The dealers also usually do a short credit report on cash purchases for banking and reporting. When I was in the business years ago we had more than a few drug dealers paying cash and the authorities would want to see the paperwork during their investigation ETC.
 
benatc1 said:
I would say the only complaint is, I never want to drive a 3.6 again lol.. they are more expensive to own as well, insurance is higher, gas is higher, but it’s totally worth it if you can swing it.
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I am 43 with a spotless driving record so insurance isn't going to be a huge deal. It's not like the JLUR's get stellar gas mileage anyway and if your too worried about that (like i see some people complaining about when they buy a Jeep) - you are in the wrong vehicle (if that is a big priority). It's probably going to get in the neighborhood of what my power wagon got - and I am fine with that - only thing i'd wish i'd have is a higher capacity tank. IMO the 3.6 is a great engine and I NEVER personally had any issue with them (not that they don't have some common problems/faults ... i.e. oil cooler being the main one to think of). I just remember driving my power wagon and thinking to myself ... man this would be awesome in a Jeep.
 
jwolfejt said:
I am 43 with a spotless driving record so insurance isn't going to be a huge deal. It's not like the JLUR's get stellar gas mileage anyway and if your too worried about that (like i see some people complaining about when they buy a Jeep) - you are in the wrong vehicle (if that is a big priority). It's probably going to get in the neighborhood of what my power wagon got - and I am fine with that - only thing i'd wish i'd have is a higher capacity tank. IMO the 3.6 is a great engine and I NEVER personally had any issue with them (not that they don't have some common problems/faults ... i.e. oil cooler being the main one to think of). I just remember driving my power wagon and thinking to myself ... man this would be awesome in a Jeep.
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Aside from driving record, insurance will always be based on the value of the vehicle, there's just no way around it and a $100k vehicle is going to cost more than a $50k. Of course, if you're cool with that, more power to you.
 
wayoflife said:
Aside from driving record, insurance will always be based on the value of the vehicle, there's just no way around it and a $100k vehicle is going to cost more than a $50k. Of course, if you're cool with that, more power to you.
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Agreed - money is always a factor. I already got a quote and its not too far off from what I'd be paying on my 3500.
 
My only gripe with the 392 - is there is no soft top option ... not even at an additional cost - is there something different about the 392 that wouldn't allow a soft top to be installed ?
 
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