A few years ago I'd say the Cherokees.  They are good performers off road, good drivers on road, simple underpinnings, easily modified, the driveline was time tested, they are comfortable, can haul the family, and the gear.   Since they remained basically unchanged since 1984, parts are easy to find, as well as aftermarket.

If I were looking for a vehicle that had to be my everything from toy to driver, it would be the Rubi, with the 6 spd., 4.0, canvas top, half doors.  Maybe even the Unlimited for added interior room all the way around.  This wins out over the Cherokee for the obvious reason- removeable top.  Otherwise, it's basically the same as the Cherokees as far as ease of modifying goes, simple underpinnings, and the aftermarket choices.. but out of the box this ride would fill the bill better than all others.

The Grand would work, but it certainly doesn't fall in the 'simple' category. Too much luxury meaning too much crap that can break as the years tick on.

for the record, I don't own any of these.. so no bias here.  debt isn't a friend of mine.

I'm sure it's awesome, but I can't haul all my kids in one.  

Again I have not missed the point. My point is this thread has put more weight into conveniences and luxo type things. My feeling is the best all around jeep should FIRST be based on out of the box offroadability. Now I do not own a Rubi, so I am not biased, I have driven one though.

Mild to moderate wheeling (which is what I enjoy any of these would work even a KJ.) However once you go over a moderate trail anything that requires 33 inch tires or more do not tell me that all of jeeps lineup would perform the same on it.

The FACT is that certain jeeps were built for primarily different things. If you tell a guy to pick a stock Rubi, stock ZJ, or stock XJ to climb a trail rated for 33 inch tires minimum the best choice is the Rubi, it was built for this reason. If you come back and say that is flawed then DC just f'd up because they have done alot of r & d and put awesome stock goodies in a vehicle that isn't any better offroad than a ZJ, TJ, WJ, etc. even with these gadgets. That just doesn't jive.

If your goal is to have the best all around jeep with commuting and light wheeling being in the primary activities then you're right ZJs probably are #1 BUT My whole premise is that this is not what separates a jeep from the crowd. Stock offroad ability should be what is the PRIMARY determinate in calculating what is the best "all around Jeep"

Now can you BUILD a ZJ XJ to do better hell yeah you can but that is a different can of worms. You have your view and I have mine. The thread asked for opinions so i gave mine i don't appreciate you freakin' out accusing me of being biased i am not. Also if you read what i wrote i did indead say ZJs were great too. XJs and ZJs are what saved the Jeep from being extinct we are lucky the came into existence. Thats it.

Who the hell is freaking out? Not I that's for sure. I SAID best OFFROAD JEEP RIBICON, dude I WAS AGREEING WITH YOU.  

Okay,

I AM CONFUSED NOW! LOLOLOL

It's that DAMM BREE! she's getting into our jeep filled heads!! LOL  

I hope I didn't freak out by saying I can't haul my kids in a Rubicon.  Sounds like we all need a trail run!!  

What we all need is another 5grand to buy more gear!!!  

5Gs? I think so!

CAPPA PAY UP SUCKA!!

I got thinking about this...wouldn't the best all around jeep of all time be well....the very 1st jeep?

just another of my $.02

Amen brother!!  Of course once that was gone we would find something wlse we just gotta have!  

O.K., O.K., so what do you factor when equating the best Jeep ever built??????? Hmmmm, is it leather interior?,  electronic compass and thermometer built into the solid/non-removable top? Maybe a built in DVD player?, Electronic 100 way adjustable seats?, Heated seats?, matching running boards?, child locks?, child safe windows?, Being able to pull away from the boat launch after picking up your $45 000 ski boat when there is a bit of sand under your tires. If you are trying to find the best Jeep for your grandparents or Ned Flanders then the XJ, Cherokee, Liberty...etc would definately be at the top of the list. More power to you if this is what you need out of a vehicle. But lets be honest here, a new Blazer, Explorer or Durango would do the job just fine. When I think of the best "Jeep" ever, all years, models, and makes together. What seperated Jeeps from others? In my opinion, cranking up the heat on a cold winter day while your hard top and doors protect you from the elements, flash ahead 6months, same Jeep same road=No top, No doors, No windshield if you want. Hair blowing in the wind, bugs in your teeth, ahhhhhh now thats a Jeep. My 1st Jeep style vehicle was a JL80 Suzuki(pre-samari) I would take that over any luxury SUV any day unless I was doing a road trip across the country. Ive also owned a 76 cj7, 76 cj5 and now I have an 04 Rubi. To me its about versitlity, and I would sacrifice ergonomics for wind blowing up my shorts on a hot summer day. Why sit in a secluded bubble of steel separated from the environment in which we live when we can open up the picture a bit? Sitting in any SUV  or vehicle with a hard top and and doors in place is like a horse with blinders on. It is a very limiting experience.  Sorry to go on and on.  This is only my opinion. With my experience so far the best all around Jeep is the Rubicon by far. Creature comforts and Jeep nostalgia and above exceptional 4x4 capabilities. Have a good day all.  

You have some good points,but why is it ppl think only soccer moms drive grands? I have yet to see one drive by me without a guy driveing. With that said Of course no one is going to buy a brand new high price grand and wheel it. unless they are rich! But remember the ZJ's that are now being wheeled were new at one time as well.

as for having the top down in a cj,yj or tj....Ya I think that is pretty cool too. But with the top down you have the sun beating down on you making you hot as hell, and giveing you a sunburn as you "look cool"

There are good and bad things about everything and we can go back and forth on this topic forever!! It's a personal thing.

On another note it is the grand who wins TRUCK OF THE YEAR in the offroad mags,beating out all even the hummer and tj. So there must be somthing about it professanials(sp) like. and THEY DID wheel it pretty hard in that contest.

Just enjoy what you have !!

Best Jeep IS a pretty open ended question, and certainly based on personal preferance.  There are just too many variables..  I certainly think the original poster got what he was looking for; some good and bad points on all Jeeps.

A note on the top off comment.  two words that save my fair skinned ass from becoming a lobster: Bikini top. :-)

I think that Bree knows a thing or two about bikini tops!! LOL