What's the skinny on Jeep?

[LTC8K6]

Honda's are known for some of the worst auto trannys, though.

 

[gorcorps]

Test drove a high-spec Jeep GC and it was pretty impressive. Of course that doesn't tell anything about reliability, but the interior was very nice and the drive was confident. The features are pretty nice when you start adding the Quadra-drive and off-road packages. You can retain some decent driving dynamics without sacrificing too much with better off-road options. That's definitely not the case with the Wrangler.

I have a 2014 GC Limited and love the interior. I actually love everything about the car when it works, but the problem is that Chrysler seems to be continuing their habit of shoddy electrical systems... which is not what you want in a car with a ton of electrical features. It was in the shop over a month with electrical problems that they couldn't track down.

I'm a big fan of the design, but I just can't trust it long term.

 

[CropDuster]

Test drove a high-spec Jeep GC and it was pretty impressive. Of course that doesn't tell anything about reliability, but the interior was very nice and the drive was confident. The features are pretty nice when you start adding the Quadra-drive and off-road packages. You can retain some decent driving dynamics without sacrificing too much with better off-road options. That's definitely not the case with the Wrangler.

My wife has a 2014 Overland, 5.7L, 4x4 with the Quadra Drive/Lift. 24k miles so far and nothing but oil changes and a recall for brake booster they fixed same day. Chrysler's down fall for me in the past has been their transmissions, but with the ZF 8 speed I have confidence there. I did buy an extended warranty to cover the electronics, but I don't trust any manufacturers when it comes to that. Living on a dirt road will rattle shit loose in time.

My biggest complaint with it so far has been the P rated LRR tires that came on it, they're at least half worn already. I'll probably stick some terra grapplers on it when it's time to replace them.

 

[exar333]

My wife has a 2014 Overland, 5.7L, 4x4 with the Quadra Drive/Lift. 24k miles so far and nothing but oil changes and a recall for brake booster they fixed same day. Chrysler's down fall for me in the past has been their transmissions, but with the ZF 8 speed I have confidence there. I did buy an extended warranty to cover the electronics, but I don't trust any manufacturers when it comes to that. Living on a dirt road will rattle shit loose in time.

My biggest complaint with it so far has been the P rated LRR tires that came on it, they're at least half worn already. I'll probably stick some terra grapplers on it when it's time to replace them.

Very nice.

I have driven the Pentastar V6 and the SRT 6.4L (IIRC?) engines. How is the 5.7 hemi? I liked the 6.4L SRT, but somehow felt it wasn't as fast as it ought to be? Maybe it was the gearing, but I was hoping for a little more excitement there, like the SQ5, especially for the price jump.

I like where Jeep is going though, with select-able terrain options. That has been sorely lacking on more 'affordable' US vehicles for a while. Nice to see that offered, especially for those of us in inclement climates or wanting to go off the road. It makes a big difference.

 

[evident]

Honda's are known for some of the worst auto trannys, though.

maybe back in 1999-2004, but all of their products are fine now.

 

[JulesMaximus]

How do you like the Murano so far? I actually saw a 2015 for the first time in a parking lot (orange color) and I was pretty impressed with the exterior design. Looks a lot more like an Infiniti, and a lot less bulbous/round as the current Pathfinder. Looked really sharp from afar and when I got close enough to see it was a Murano I was pretty surprised.

Well, Infiniti is the luxury brand of Nissan (which are both owned by Renault).

I wouldn't buy a Jeep. No freaking way. I rented one once (a Wrangler) and it is hands down the most miserable vehicle I've ever driven.

On a side note, I used to work in the car rental industry as a branch manager in the replacement rental market and Jeep customers were regular customers of mine when their vehicles were in the shop. I'd see the same people over and over and over again.

 

[gorcorps]

Well, Infiniti is the luxury brand of Nissan (which are both owned by Renault).

I'm well aware, but there's always been a distinct design difference of the Infiniti crossovers compared to the Nissan side. The new Murano looks a lot more (on the exterior) like the Infinitis than they ever used to. Looks good

 

[exar333]

I'm well aware, but there's always been a distinct design difference of the Infiniti crossovers compared to the Nissan side. The new Murano looks a lot more (on the exterior) like the Infinitis than they ever used to. Looks good

I actually think the new Murano looks much nicer (on the outside) vs. anything from Infiniti. It looks great and especially the front is WAY better than Infiniti. Nice design overall.

 

[CropDuster]

Very nice.

I have driven the Pentastar V6 and the SRT 6.4L (IIRC?) engines. How is the 5.7 hemi? I liked the 6.4L SRT, but somehow felt it wasn't as fast as it ought to be? Maybe it was the gearing, but I was hoping for a little more excitement there, like the SQ5, especially for the price jump.

I like where Jeep is going though, with select-able terrain options. That has been sorely lacking on more 'affordable' US vehicles for a while. Nice to see that offered, especially for those of us in inclement climates or wanting to go off the road. It makes a big difference.

I think the 5.7L has plenty of pep with the 8 speed. it cuts down to 4 cylinders under light load between 35-65 pretty seemlessly, or you can disable it with the Eco button. I averaged 24-25MPG when we brought it home from Atlanta. We went from a 2003 Escalade with the 6L and AWD, so same power and twice the gears in a lighter vehicle seems fast enough to me. Cross shopped against the X5 35i and thought the Jeep offered way more for the money, and I drive a 335i FWIW.

True Blue pearl coat with the indigo interior

 

[exar333]

I think the 5.7L has plenty of pep with the 8 speed. it cuts down to 4 cylinders under light load between 35-65 pretty seemlessly, or you can disable it with the Eco button. I averaged 24-25MPG when we brought it home from Atlanta. We went from a 2003 Escalade with the 6L and AWD, so same power and twice the gears in a lighter vehicle seems fast enough to me. Cross shopped against the X5 35i and thought the Jeep offered way more for the money, and I drive a 335i FWIW.

True Blue pearl coat with the indigo interior

Love the color. That is a great looking vehicle.

 

[evident]

Love the color. That is a great looking vehicle.

new GCs and even the cherokees look really good imo.

coworker had tons of electrical issues with his GC within 5K miles and ended up trading it in for a wrangler

 

[FeuerFrei]

I see a lot of late model Cherokees driving around with one headlamp eyebrow off. Telltale sign of overall reliability?

 

[natto fire]

I have owned two of them, a'92 Cherokee and '00 GC. My mom has owned 5 of them, including a MT Cherokee.

I loved my '92, it still had a lot of non-Chrysler parts, and gave me very little trouble until I sold it in 2009, with 180K on it. I got the GC afterwards, and while it was still a solid vehicle, I replaced numerous sensors and was always worried about the transmission that made a weird noise in first gear and shifted hard into second.

The newest my mom had was an '04, and she later traded it in for a Subaru. We both gave up on the brand after the Chryslerfication reached critical mass, and the I6 was dropped. I hear the pentastar is a great motor, much more efficient than the AMC design. When I was driving Jeeps, I didn't give two shits about efficiency, and just wanted a motor that would more than likely start when I turned the key, and was in the middle of nowhere.

My brother owned a Dodge Neon, and my mom and dad a Dodge Intrepid. From what they went through with those vehicles, and friends that have Chrysler minivans, I would never purchase a Chrysler vehicle unless the price was considerably slashed for the rattlebox interior and faulty electronics nightmare.

The newer GC is definitely a posh machine, and has gotten good reviews. I no longer need a vehicle like that being mostly road bound. I never understood why people buy such offroad capable vehicles and then drive them on roads 99% of the time. Every Jeep I have ever driven handles very poorly on the road, but makes up for it with ground clearance and a good 4wd system.