A lot of good counterpoint in this thread. As a former owner of 3 Jeeps, I echo the comments about mileage, reliability, bang-for-the-buck vs other choices, etc....

It certainly looks like the tires are undersized and a lift/larger wheel setup would make it more off-road worthy...but that's not what you described for needs, Kat.

This is more of a sportscar for someone so hooked on SUV's that they aren't willing to actually BUY a sportscar.

Unless you can jack one on the cheap, I'd probably consider other options first. Dropping a V8 in the VX isn't a bad choice either. You're still more unique.

Even the post above provides some more unique options.

If you really want an off-road Jeep, maybe you should consider one setup for that? Do you really want/need 420hp? Would it be easier to add some of the STR8's styling cues to a "standard" model? Or vica-versa?

IMO, the best option is to own a sportscar for summertime...and swap out pony duties to the VX on other days. Older, low-mileage cars can be a good option if you have to pay personal property in your state. Often you can save almost enough to pay for the extra vehicle insurance.