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Test drove a 2012 SRT8 Jeep today....my review.

2K views 8 replies 4 participants last post by  Scottina06 
#1 · (Edited by Moderator)
Well I got to drive a Mineral Grey fully loaded one today. Let's me start off be saying this was the first time I had been in one. The guy who placed the order had backed out the day before, so lucky for me I went there at the right moment allowing me to test drive it.

Now before I begin I don't want any WK1 or WK2 owners to get their panties in a bunch over what I have to say, this is my opinion, and mine alone.

Exterior - The rumors of the rims looking better in person or really quite true, they look much better in person, but I'm still not a fan. Those front brakes are massive, they look soooo much bigger in person, and are hands down my favorite part of the new Jeep. Other than that, the rest of it doesn't really do it for me. It was parked right beside an Overland, and from the back they are hard to tell apart from father than 20 feet. After the test drive I parked next to mine and it looks a lot bigger. They are taller, and a bit wider. It's tires look massive on it. When you look at it from the back, it's like looking at a BWM X5M, all you see is rubber back there. Some people like that look, I do not. To me there is way too much chrome as well. Color was really nice, but I would go with black myself. I just found the overall look ok. Built rock solid. Sounds way better when you close the doors than on a WK1.

Interior - Well this is the first part of my review people are going to get upset. It doesn't help that I was in a 2012 300 SRT8 right before. But I have no idea what the big deal is? I didn't think the interior was all that much better than my 08. Sure the steering wheel is cool as hell, and the seats have vents, but it still felt cheap to me, and Jeep just didn't put nearly the same kind of care as it did with the 300. The inside to me is in NO way even comparable to a BMW or AMG. The whole Nav area all the way to the nob that changes from track to snow might as well came out of the WK1. The stereo..... well that thing ****ing rules!!! Amazing sound. This one had the Pano-roof which is cool, but I have a 4 year old. Wouldn't give that screen up for anything. Back seats have more room than the WK1, but still not much room back there. Again the 300 has more leg room. I don't know why I keep comparing it to the 300 SRT8, maybe to try to justify the 15K difference. And this Jeeps sticker was 64, the 300's was 51. So back to the interior, I think it's a step up from the WK1's, but not by much. It's more gimmicky, that's about it.

Performance - Well it definitely doesn't pull as hard off the line as the WK1. That's without question I think now, but it was good to feel it for myself. The brakes are amazing, but it feels a lot heavier, so it feels like your braking harder, giving the allusion of better braking I think.Not sure if that came out right, or you guys get what I'm trying to say with that. But anyways, I love the brakes on WK1, and these feel just as good with new car bite. You sit higher, it feels bigger, and heavier. To me the WK2 is much more comfortable at high speeds than the WK1, this thing rules on the highway. I never got it passed 160 but it didn't want to slow down and felt like you could keep climbing all the way to 270 with ease. It takes corners rock solid, but again with the taller COG I don't feel as confident as I do in the WK1. I autocross, and with Vreds on my stock suspension there is no way the WK2 could be thrown around like the WK1. That's just how I feel. Throttle felt great, engine is awesome. Exhaust I didn't like. Too quite, farts, and doesn't have the same rumble as my stock exhaust.

Well that's about it. I think it has a lot of potential, but until SRT figures a few things out with this Jeep I'll wait for the next one. I can not understand how they could be asking 15k more for that than the rest of SRT line. Not for me. Please try to understand this was an opinion.
 
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#5 ·
by the way...I had to edit your thread and remove all the weird links....ebay etc. All I can figure is you posted this on another forum that allows spam links in posts???
 
#9 ·
I finally saw one in person....build quality is not even close...the 2012 wins hands down. The interior was sooo lovely! Not gonna comment beyond that...cause I think the wk1 and wk2 are both AWESOME vehicles!
 
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