The first few years I was on the TexAgs, I really enjoyed the Automotive Board. However, for the past 12 years, I've been living in Automotive exile in Australia.

Later this week, I'll finally get my house back, my garage back and I can't wait to get back into the car game.

Sandwiched between trips to Tokyo last week and Bangalore next week, I took a few minutes in Houston last weekend to buy a new 2020 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon in Bikini Pearl which I immediately needed to drive to Waco.

While it's going to spend a fair bit of "Mall Rated" time in the Glendale Galleria and at "Americana on Brand" once I get it to Los Angeles this Friday, ultimately this vehicle will make it to my "off the grid" property in Nevada. So, enjoy my Rule #1

Left quarter @ parents house


Right quarter @ parents house


Front Seats


Rear seat folded down


Had to catch the redass 92 on the odometer


I don't know how long the satellite subscription is but I'm enjoying it while it lasts


Parking Garage at NG in CStat


Dixie Chicken parking lot


Dixie Chicken parking lot different angle


I thought I was being unique with the color but... at lunch in Waco, I found a clone of my truck


And tonight, my truck Emailed me. Which honestly is kind of creepy.

Nice! Which power train?

I rented one with the turbo charged inline 4. It hauled some serious ass for a Wrangler. They've come a long way since my 97.

No Boricua flag on mirror.




You need another of that sweet-ass blue M-cars, sir.

STAT!

Looks too automatic for me but otherwise really nice ride!

Bob_Ag said:

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Nice! Which power train?

I rented one with the turbo charged inline 4. It hauled some serious ass for a Wrangler. They've come a long way since my 97.

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I bought the V6. I had test driven one with the Turbo 4 and had one as a rental for a week.
I think the Turbo 4 actually accelerated a little faster a full throttle but, in between, it was a little too squirrely for my taste. One other big difference is the suspension in the Rubicon. It is a lot more comfortable to drive than the Sahara I rented.

BigRobSA said:

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No Boricua flag on mirror.




You need another of that sweet-ass blue M-cars, sir.

STAT!

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Rob, don't get me started on my missing M3.

I do have a Puerto Rican flag to hang from the mirror but, I wanted to get a few miles on it before I decide if I want to reduce my vision at all. Especially where I'm going in Kalifornia where pedestrians feel entitled to step out in front of you.

Also, I got the blind spot detection thing specifically because of the lane splitting motorcycles in California.

I'm thinking of moving the American Flag to the side of the Jeep. It looks a little too cluttered otherwise.


And my AR-15 Hello Kitty was surprisingly difficult to put on because that's not one single sticker but a bunch of smaller ones.

nice color

holy crap that neighborhood street is wide. you could u-turn a bus on that thing

Flaith said:

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nice color

holy crap that neighborhood street is wide. you could u-turn a bus on that thing

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gotta have at least one drivable lane when a rain shower takes up ten feet of each edge.

Stand Up And Shout is a banger.

Why's there only two pedals?

1agswitchin4lanes said:

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Why's there only two pedals?

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HBCanine08 said:

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1agswitchin4lanes said:

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Why's there only two pedals?

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I haven't driven a manual other than motorcycles since last May when I blew the engine in my car. I got in my truck yesterday and went for a non existent clutch pedal.

aggieforester05 said:

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Looks too automatic for me but otherwise really nice ride!

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Thanks. I've spent the past 8 years with a manual transmission and needed a break. Especially for driving in Los Angeles traffic.

Flaith said:

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nice color

holy crap that neighborhood street is wide. you could u-turn a bus on that thing

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Thanks. Yeah, that street is bizarre.

Lesson 1 learned from my parents that I can share with you all is, don't wait until you're 80 years old to move out of your 2 story house into a one story house. If you have to move in a hurry, you might not have the best choices available.

Lesson 2 is don't assume your physical abilities will hold up into your 80s. They probably won't. And if you wind up needing a walker, that two story house will be a complete NO GO.

If you're able to pick up a Famicom and Super Famicom while you're in Tokyo I'd gladly pay expenses. Completely serious, not trolling!

HollywoodBQ said:

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aggieforester05 said:

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Looks too automatic for me but otherwise really nice ride!

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Thanks. I've spent the past 8 years with a manual transmission and needed a break. Especially for driving in Los Angeles traffic.

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If it's the 8-speed, it is the best automatic I've ever driven. Actually allows you to use the torque curve without slipping the torque converter, has smooth fast shifts and is consistent. Having the close ratios also helps because when it downshifts unexpectedly during moderate acceleration, it isn't a huge change that sends the rpms to the moon. Paddle shifting is still garbage at high rpms, but that's pretty much the case across the board for torque converter automatics. Having eight gears also helps the acceleration, keeps optimal torque to the ground for the speed you're going, and helps fuel economy. I still prefer to row my own, but if I have to drive an automatic that's a good one. I'm sure you'll enjoy it, especially when you do the hemi swap. Congrats!

aggieforester05 said:

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I'm sure you'll enjoy it, especially when you're stuck in SoCal traffic. Congrats!

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Welcome back!

HollywoodBQ said:

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BigRobSA said:

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No Boricua flag on mirror.




You need another of that sweet-ass blue M-cars, sir.

STAT!

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Rob, don't get me started on my missing M3.

I do have a Puerto Rican flag to hang from the mirror but, I wanted to get a few miles on it before I decide if I want to reduce my vision at all. Especially where I'm going in Kalifornia where pedestrians feel entitled to step out in front of you.

Also, I got the blind spot detection thing specifically because of the lane splitting motorcycles in California.

I'm thinking of moving the American Flag to the side of the Jeep. It looks a little too cluttered otherwise.


And my AR-15 Hello Kitty was surprisingly difficult to put on because that's not one single sticker but a bunch of smaller ones.

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If I may ask, just curious. What is the significance of the hello kitty with ar-15 sticker?

Your life is now over.

The Fife said:

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If you're able to pick up a Famicom and Super Famicom while you're in Tokyo I'd gladly pay expenses. Completely serious, not trolling!

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I was in Tokyo last week. I should have posted my travel schedule in advance

I'm going to Bangalore next week via Singapore in case you need anything from there.

Hemi swap. Now that's funny.
Yeah, so far the 8spd Auto has been pretty good.

Exsurge Domine said:

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If I may ask, just curious. What is the significance of the hello kitty with ar-15 sticker?

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it's just something I found while cruising Army surplus stores with my VMI Cadet daughter.

I think it's hilarious because Hello Kitty is so cute but, oh yeah, even she carries the most evil of all weapons, the scary black AR-15.

Street Fighter said:

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Your life is now over.

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Look, I'm not going to your crazy level of mods. But, I've already got a few planned.

HollywoodBQ said:

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Flaith said:

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nice color

holy crap that neighborhood street is wide. you could u-turn a bus on that thing

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Thanks. Yeah, that street is bizarre.

Lesson 1 learned from my parents that I can share with you all is, don't wait until you're 80 years old to move out of your 2 story house into a one story house. If you have to move in a hurry, you might not have the best choices available.

Lesson 2 is don't assume your physical abilities will hold up into your 80s. They probably won't. And if you wind up needing a walker, that two story house will be a complete NO GO.

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Truth. Will never own a 2 story.

HollywoodBQ said:

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Exsurge Domine said:

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If I may ask, just curious. What is the significance of the hello kitty with ar-15 sticker?

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it's just something I found while cruising Army surplus stores with my VMI Cadet daughter.

I think it's hilarious because Hello Kitty is so cute but, oh yeah, even she carries the most evil of all weapons, the scary black AR-15.

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Very cool, I get it

HollywoodBQ said:

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Exsurge Domine said:

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If I may ask, just curious. What is the significance of the hello kitty with ar-15 sticker?

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it's just something I found while cruising Army surplus stores with my VMI Cadet daughter.

I think it's hilarious because Hello Kitty is so cute but, oh yeah, even she carries the most evil of all weapons, the scary black AR-15.

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Ahhhh Lexington VA. Nice town. I swear I saw an identical jeep in Roanoke 2 days ago. That wasn't you was it?

great choice. first things first. drop that tire psi to 33 or so pounds. will drive much better.

HollywoodBQ said:

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The Fife said:

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If you're able to pick up a Famicom and Super Famicom while you're in Tokyo I'd gladly pay expenses. Completely serious, not trolling!

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I was in Tokyo last week. I should have posted my travel schedule in advance

I'm going to Bangalore next week via Singapore in case you need anything from there.

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Ah, dammit... unless they somehow have either of those in Singapore but I doubt it. Let me know if you're going to Japan again though.

Not trying to make money, but there are a lot of people around here who fly to Japan and ship things back to themselves to sell at cons. Their markup tends to be crazy from what you can find online but I guess someone's buying. If I take a trip over there I'll probably set aside a day to do the same kind of thing for my own use.

I meant to post this a few weeks ago but, I did make it to LA.
So far driving this rig in LA traffic hasn't been too bad.