Well I finally manged to put 3000 miles on the new 2012 JK. Took a little while. Not really much difference on the ride comfort from the 2007, though my wife said it drives nicer than her Honda Pilot. The engine and transmission make the most impression when you go to pass someone on the freeway (you actually can do this now). I am averaging about 16.5 MPG in the city with it, and I don't really baby it. I gained about 2 MPG over the 2007 so a little savings at the gas pump, to bad I'm paying twice as much now as back then. The black seats in the 2012 get dirty really fast and I am constantly vacuuming and cleaning them out, doesn't help that we are constantly at the beach and trek sand into the Jeep. I can never seem to vacuum it all out. The plastic interior is really easy to just wipe off with a rag and seems much more durable than the soft plastic that the '07 had, at least I haven't scratched it carrying lumper and stuff home from the hardware store. Offroad it is just as impressive, still a big vehicle on tight trails (some of these are tight for the old TJ's), climbs hills and obstacles even better than before with the extra power from the engine, especially in some of the sand washes that I have to deal with around here. Downhill the hill decent control is really nice, almost like driving a manual and using engine braking to maintain a slow speed. Haven't been able to see if the brakes would get hot on a really long down hill decent, but the short ones around have not been an issue. The new soft top without the plastic pieces on the side is really nice to take down and put up (especially in the rain), still alot of top to handle by yourself, but a little easier to fold and put down with out those pieces getting in the way. Note on leaving the top down during the day, be careful about that center console cover, it will try to take the skin off your arm, it really gets hot. The center console has two buttons to either open just the top, or open the center bin, I still havent gotten used to witch button does what. Moving the locker and anti-sway bar buttons over to the left side of the dash make me search for them, 5 years of having them on the center console will do that to you. Though these are much better located for reach. I ordered the heated seats with this one, and on those days where it's still nice enough to have the top down, but you don't want to run the heater, kicking on the seats and letting them warm you backside is really nice.
So far I have only had it into the dealership for an oil change and to have the 430N radio replaced since it decided to give up the ghost early in it's life. Internal hard drive failure was the cause. Radio still worked, only the hard drive failed, working with computers I've seen enough hard drives that just die early, so I'm not to concerned with having it die. I took it in on a Saturday, and by the next Saturday had the replacement installed, it actually showed up on Wednesday, so for a change I am pleased with the parts availablility.
I am pleased with the 2012. Thought the 2013 has a few minor items like interior lighting upgrades that I might see how they did.
