When the Jeep Wrangler was redesigned for 2007, most all the attention went to the Unlimited, the extended model with, for the first time in a Wrangler, four full doors and genuine rear seats.

And as nice as the Unlimited is, it remains 173.4 inches long. That's more than 20 inches longer than the regular two-door Wrangler. So for dedicated off-roaders_and I'm not really sure why anyone else would buy a two-door Wrangler_the Unlimited is nimble for its size, but can't match the regular Wrangler for maneuverability.

The test vehicle is a two-door 2008 Wrangler Rubicon, named after the brutal Jeep trail on the California/Nevada border. I've driven the Rubicon Trail, in a Jeep, but that had to be_what? Fifteen years ago? Twenty? What's surprising is how little the Jeep has changed; it's certainly the most traditional, old-fashioned vehicle currently available in mass-market in the United States.

Which is great, because the Wrangler Rubicon is a genuine mountain goat off the road, with a stiff suspension, lots of ground clearance and meaty 17-inch radials on handsome five-spoke cast aluminum wheels.

What's not great is that the Wrangler Rubicon just isn't that much fun to drive on the road. That stiff suspension translates to a moderately jarring ride, especially on rougher pavement. The very quick steering that makes it dart around rocks and trees with alacrity makes it a little scary to change lanes in heavy traffic. All these are things that true Jeep fans not only willingly overlook, but also embrace as endearing nuance.

What I couldn't warm up to was the rather tepid performance of the 3.8-liter, 202-horsepower V-6, especially with the six-speed manual transmission. I prefer an automatic transmission even for the Rubicon trail_especially for the Rubicon Trail_as the light, grabby clutch and the long shift throws on this transmission would just be too much work off-road, and very nearly is on the road. You still get the same mileage with the four-speed automatic transmission - 15 miles per gallon city, 19 mpg highway_and it's worth the extra $825, especially given the heady $31,365 list price of the manual-transmission test vehicle.

It was, at least, heavily optioned, with a three-piece hard top and a soft top stored just below the rear window; a navigation system, Sirius satellite radio, and a "power convenience group" that included power windows, keyless entry, an alarm and power locks. The Rubicon already is pretty loaded for a Jeep with traction control, heavy-duty front and rear Dana 44 axles, stability control and antilock brakes.

I like the Jeep Wrangler Rubicon, but not nearly enough to make it my daily driver, especially with the manual transmission, and especially at more than $31,000. The rear seat is uncomfortable and difficult to access, and there isn't that much storage space behind it. For regular commuting, the four-door Unlimited drives and rides better, and the extra room makes it genuinely useful as transportation. With two doors? It's still a toy, though one I can genuinely appreciate on the weekends. Just not so much Monday through Friday.

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