Jeep Liberty any good?

[Yzzim]

Thinking of upgrading from my 97 Pontiac Grand Am to a Jeep Liberty. A local dealer has a Liberty with 26,000 miles for $13,900. The thing looks pretty sweet, has a 3.7L V6, the only thing I don't like is it's black but I suppose I could get over that.

So what do you think? My Grand Am has 92,000 miles on it and I'd really like to get rid of it before it hits 100,000 miles. Could probably get the thing for $9,000 after trade-in and negotiations (I know the guy pretty well).

Any comments on the engine? Good or bad? Anything I should look for when/if I test drive it?

 

[Crappopotamus]

BUY A NISSAN!!!

 

[Yzzim]

Originally posted by: Crappopotamus
BUY A NISSAN!!!

Um, the title was not "what vehicle should I look for"

Comments for/against the Liberty would be well appreciated!

 

[SaigonK]

here is what I know of them.

A friend of mine bought one for his wife, they like it to tool around town, and go fishing in it, etc.
But they are adament about not hauling anything with it, because it just cant handle it. It overheats and bogs way down hauling a snowmobile trailer.

 

[krunchykrome]

I like the renegade edition. Is it 5spd or Manual? 4WD?

 

[Yzzim]

Originally posted by: SaigonK
here is what I know of them.

A friend of mine bought one for his wife, they like it to tool around town, and go fishing in it, etc.
But they are adament about not hauling anything with it, because it just cant handle it. It overheats and bogs way down hauling a snowmobile trailer.

a snowmobile trailer? lol

Well I don't plan on doing any hauling. Just want something that is big enough for camping/sporting gear without having to pack crap in the trunk + passanger sets.

 

[Yzzim]

Originally posted by: krunchykrome
I like the renegade edition. Is it 5spd or Manual? 4WD?

it's an automatic, and I believe it's 4wd. Haven't actually driven up to it and taken a close look at it. Wanted to see what the car gurus here at AT thought about it first............................................. + the g/f....

 

[Heisenberg]

I think they're okay for around town/light offroad duty. From what I've heard they aren't nearly as tough as the wrangler's. Of course, this is all second and third-hand stuff, so it may not be completely accurate.

 

[WinkOsmosis]

Cherokee is better.

 

[bradruth]

Originally posted by: Yzzim

Originally posted by: krunchykrome
I like the renegade edition. Is it 5spd or Manual? 4WD?

it's an automatic, and I believe it's 4wd. Haven't actually driven up to it and taken a close look at it. Wanted to see what the car gurus here at AT thought about it first............................................. + the g/f....

*whip*

But seriously, it's probably a good fit for you from what I can tell. Go take it for a drive!

 

[Yzzim]

Originally posted by: bradruth

Originally posted by: Yzzim

Originally posted by: krunchykrome
I like the renegade edition. Is it 5spd or Manual? 4WD?

it's an automatic, and I believe it's 4wd. Haven't actually driven up to it and taken a close look at it. Wanted to see what the car gurus here at AT thought about it first............................................. + the g/f....

*whip*

But seriously, it's probably a good fit for you from what I can tell. Go take it for a drive!

Nah, it's completely my decision. I can do whatever I want.

At least that's what i hope she says

Might go take a closer look at it now, brb

 

[bradruth]

Originally posted by: Yzzim

Originally posted by: bradruth

Originally posted by: Yzzim

Originally posted by: krunchykrome
I like the renegade edition. Is it 5spd or Manual? 4WD?

it's an automatic, and I believe it's 4wd. Haven't actually driven up to it and taken a close look at it. Wanted to see what the car gurus here at AT thought about it first............................................. + the g/f....

*whip*

But seriously, it's probably a good fit for you from what I can tell. Go take it for a drive!

Nah, it's completely my decision. I can do whatever I want.

At least that's what i hope she says

Might go take a closer look at it now, brb

Haha, good luck.

 

[nan0bug]

I don't have any experience with them firsthand, but I do know that most of the people I know who own late-model Jeeps complain about the reliability. My friend Matt got rid of his Jeep Cherokee because of poor reliability and bad service from the dealer.

 

[BurnItDwn]

too bad they don't make the cherokee sport any more ... those things are friggin solid.

I can't say much about the liberty though

 

[MikeyIs4Dcats]

buddy tested the Liberty, Xterra and Escape. Went with the Escape. It seems nice from what I've ridden in it...

 

[BCYL]

The Liberty gets lousy gas milage, but the engine doesnt really make that much power...

 

[MikeyIs4Dcats]

oh, and a friend's dad traded his Lexus SUV in for a Sante Fe. Says he loves it even more....

 

[Yzzim]

Just got back from looking at the Liberty. It's a Limited Edition 4wd, cd, power windows/locks. 3.7L V6 with 26,000 miles. No sunroof/moonroof, looks to be in excellent condition.

It was a little hard to see because it was up on a ramp. I tried to step on the ramp and peek up to look inside the best I could. Cloth seats looked to be in excellent shape.

No one was at the dealership at the time (it's 7:30pm here) so maybe I'll try tomorrow.

 

[Furyline]

I drive a Liberty. It's a fine vehicle, nothing outstanding. I get about 17 mpg. It has both full time and part time 4WD, and I find it very useful for the snow we get in Michigan. I've never really had any problems with it, it runs fine and has a cool look. It's a solid car. I regret every day that I didn't get the heated seats, though. (nevermind if its got cloth seats)

I have no problems driving the Liberty, but I wouldn't buy another one.

edit: the only engine issue i've had is that every once in a while it'll get a little jerky and then it will hang up in 3rd gear and then suddenly lurch into 4th. It's a minor annoyance really.

 

[Yzzim]

Originally posted by: Furyline
I drive a Liberty. It's a fine vehicle, nothing outstanding. I get about 17 mpg. It has both full time and part time 4WD, and I find it very useful for the snow we get in Michigan. I've never really had any problems with it, it runs fine and has a cool look. It's a solid car. I regret every day that I didn't get the heated seats, though.

I have no problems driving the Liberty, but I wouldn't buy another one.

I've told myself that the next vehicle I get is going to have 4wd no matter what. Minnesota winters suck.

How come you wouldn't buy another Liberty? Seems like the only thing that is a negative about the vehicle is that it's a gas hog and underpowered.

 

[goog]

Review

 

[acemcmac]

Last GF's dad had a Jeep suv... i think it was a cherrokee... giant POS... had more electrical problems than you could shake a stick at.

you're looking at spending 13k ish? you can get a Mustang GT or a Mustang Convertable V6 for the same price/year/condition :beer:

SUV's are for girly men anyway

 

[Yzzim]

Originally posted by: acemcmac
Last GF's dad had a Jeep suv... i think it was a cherrokee... giant POS... had more electrical problems than you could shake a stick at.

you're looking at spending 13k ish? you can get a Mustang GT or a Mustang Convertable V6 for the same price/year/condition :beer:

SUV's are for girly men anyway

I'm sure I'll look manly trying to dig my mustang out of the ditch after attempting to drive through 6 inches of snow.

 

[Furyline]

Originally posted by: Yzzim

Originally posted by: Furyline
I drive a Liberty. It's a fine vehicle, nothing outstanding. I get about 17 mpg. It has both full time and part time 4WD, and I find it very useful for the snow we get in Michigan. I've never really had any problems with it, it runs fine and has a cool look. It's a solid car. I regret every day that I didn't get the heated seats, though.

I have no problems driving the Liberty, but I wouldn't buy another one.

I've told myself that the next vehicle I get is going to have 4wd no matter what. Minnesota winters suck.

How come you wouldn't buy another Liberty? Seems like the only thing that is a negative about the vehicle is that it's a gas hog and underpowered.

goog's linked review is very good. I have a few issues with the interior design of the Liberty. First, the power window controls are set between the driver and passenger seats. And the cupholders are right infront of those controls. So if you have a drink in there, its a pain to do the windows. And then the stick is in front of the cupholders, so its annoying putting it in park and having the straws poke into your arm. And it doesn't really seat 5, the middle seat in the back is a joke, the floor comes up right there so the guy basically rests his chin on his knees. And the cupholders in the back are in the doors like next to your legs. So there are some annoying things that I would like to see changed in this car.

That said, I'll still probably drive the thing into the ground. I enjoy driving it for the most part, the radio controls in the steering wheel are cool, and its great in the snow. But it could certainly be better. It works out fine for me and I'm sure it'd work out fine for you, too. But I think you should check out some similar cars just to compare, there could be something better out there.

 

[bradruth]

Originally posted by: Yzzim
I've told myself that the next vehicle I get is going to have 4wd no matter what. Minnesota winters suck.

I hear ya. I'm in ND, so I can more than relate. What part of MN are you at? Right now I'm driving a '91 Chevy Corsica...not exactly snow-friendly, but it does have front wheel drive and a handbrake.

My next vehicle will probably be a Chevy Silverado 1500 4WD, but I probably won't be able to afford one for at least a few years. :disgust: