i am currently deployed overseas, and got to talking to one of my squad leaders. he is a sales manager at my state's biggest marina seller (Wisconsin). It is a Honda dealer, and i asked him to check into a new rubicon for me. get this, he can get me a new in box 2008 rubicon, camo color pattern, for a final, taxes included, drive away price of $5,665. now, i looked up a 2008 against a 2009 rubicon, and the only difference i could find is that the 08 is full-time 4wd and the 09 has traxlock switchable 2wd / 4wd. is there any other difference between the 2? do you think this is a good deal for an 08? i think it is and want to buy it on my leave in november for deer hunting. please let me know what you think.

 

I don't think the Rubicon ever was full-time 4X4...not from day !!

Do you actually need an automatic? I would personally go with the manual trans Foreman 500 instead, if I wanted something in the 500 class.

 

you are right. after further research, the 08 does have traxlock. i plan on doing a heavy dose of snow plowing, so thats why i am in the market for an automatic. otherwise, i agree, i love manual shift and would go with a foreman S.

 

Just how much shifting does one have to do while plowing? Isn't it pretty much a low gear affair? The Foreman is a pain to get in and out of reverse, but the Rubicon isn't going to be that much easier.

Sorry, but I just could never understand why Honda came up with this needlessly complex transmission, as a solution to a problem that doesn't exist. I'm not a fan of ES shifting on the Foreman either, but at least it is a solution for those who are not willing to shift with their foot.

 

well, i dont think alot of shifting is needed. it is, in fact, a low-gear affair. the thing is building momentum. that one up-shift while plowing would be pretty tough on the auto clutch. the hydrostatic transmission design is complex, but if it holds up in bulldozers and 10,000 + miles as others on here have on their rubicons, i think its pretty decent. I think my second choice would definitely be a foreman S. i will ask him to see the price of those. if they have one for like a thousand less than the rubicon, i will def. take it.