Hot in the Lot
From Simple to Superior
NEIRAD enilno edition
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With the end of summer rolling around the corner, everyone is trying to soak up the last rays of the sun, and junior Dylan Torey is no exception. In his 2009 black Jeep Rubicon, Dylan can cruise through the streets in what is practically the framework of his car. “I love taking the doors and the roof off. It feels like I’m always outside,” Dylan says.
This was obviously not the sole reason for Dylan’s purchase. There are countless other features that Dylan loves about his car; for one, its off-roading capabilities. “The Rubicon can’t be compared to any other car when it comes to off-roading or driving in the snow. It is on a completely different level,” Dylan says. He plans to take it for some rough riding in upstate New York this fall.
There are three levels of the Jeep Rubicon that range from $25,000 for the base model to $30,000 for the high end model that Dylan owns.
While he loves his car for its simplicity and versatility, there are certain aspects Dylan would like to improve. “The only downfall of this car is the acceleration and speed, but I used this to my advantage when convincing my parents to make the purchase.
Also, the speed and acceleration is easily fixed by an aftermarket chip you can install,” he said. Luckily, Dylan is mechanically inclined, so he was able to install this Jet Performance chip module. It costs him about $270 and will provide more torque and about 25 extra horsepower.
Dylan crossed the Rubicon when he amped up his vehicle by installing this simple device; the custom additions don’t stop there. Before you see him rolling your way, you will be sure to hear, if not feel his 12-inch Sony Xplode subwoofer shaking the earth. “The sub tops off an already great sound system,” Dylan says. From first-hand experience of hearing and feeling the sub, one can be sure it tops the Richter scale.
Now, everyone can relate to the road-rage experienced when you’re driving along at night and are suddenly blinded by oncoming high-beams. You honk and maybe even yell out the window, but you know you really have had no effect.
Dylan surely can relate to this frustration, and he stood up and did something about it. With the flick of a switch, his custom-installed Delta Tech LED light-bar, featuring six 55-watt lights instantly blinds the competition, and would surely fry any vampire that may be so unfortunate to step into its path. (And fry some wallets at a price tag of $1,000)
It looks like something straight out of the “Blade” trilogy. As it turns out, the Darien Police weren’t too happy with such an addition, so Dylan has to be careful about where he unleashes the light’s power. In case of such a run-in with our beloved Darien PD, Dylan has installed 30 per cent tints on his windows to conceal his identity before he makes a quick get-away, or, in other words, pulls over! “I love the light-bar. It literally turns night into day while you’re driving in the dark. It’s annoying how I already got reported though...after one day,” Dylan laughs.
All by itself, the 2009 Jeep Rubicon is a great car, especially for teenaged drivers. It is simple but versatile, and by no means a boring ride. When you throw in the custom additions Dylan has, this car is almost irresistible.
He could easily switch out his winter hard-top roof to the soft-top for summer fun, which sadly has come to and end. He will soon be dusting off the hardtop for road time.
This car has everything that the average teenager would dream of in a car, and can easily win over parents. If you see, hear, or even feel Dylan coming down the road, be prepared to pull over and admire the Rubicon as it passes.While it may look simple on the outside, you know all that went into making the car the entertainment system that it is even if it has to sit in his driveway on Holly Lane in the day until he gets school parking privileges next year.
