YACT: What would you choose?

[Scouzer]

So I may be moving fairly far north. Fort Nelson, BC I think. Look it up on Mapquest.

Anyway, its on the Alaska Highway. Not the most friendly piece of road in the winter. So I think one of these two vehicles would be best.

Most important to me - gas mileage.

Second - fun to drive.

Third - some off road capability. I doubt I'd OFFROAD that far north but I would definitely be taking it down some sketchy excuses for road.

What say you?

P.S. I am an import fanboy but they are out of the question that far north. No dealership coverage up there, it'd easily be 10 hours to the nearest Honda dealership.

 

[minendo]

Most important to me - gas mileage.

Second - fun to drive.

Third - some off road capability. I doubt I'd OFFROAD that far north but I would definitely be taking it down some sketchy excuses for road.

You just eliminated both options.

 

[Journer]

liberty's suck so bad....worst 'jeep' ever if u can even call it that...

for what you want get escape hybrid 4wd...awesome mileage and good enough for ur crappy roads

 

[Scouzer]

Originally posted by: minendo

Most important to me - gas mileage.

Second - fun to drive.

Third - some off road capability. I doubt I'd OFFROAD that far north but I would definitely be taking it down some sketchy excuses for road.

You just eliminated both options.

Elaborate.

 

[iamwiz82]

We have a 2006 Liberty now and it is a fun little SUV to toss around. It's not that tippy, compared to the Explorer it replaced, and the interior build quality is WAAAAY better than an Escape.

This is our 4th Jeep(1993 Grand Cherokee, 1999 Cherokee, 1999, Wrangler), so I have a lot of experience with them. This one has the best build quality out of the four. Don't expect a speed demon.

 

[Scouzer]

What kind of mileage are you getting?

 

[iamwiz82]

Originally posted by: Scouzer
What kind of mileage are you getting?

Not so great. 19ish in most suburban city driving. I'd suspect you'd get over 20 in a rural area where there is no stopping.

 

[pclstyle]

Originally posted by: iamwiz82
We have a 2006 Liberty now and it is a fun little SUV to toss around. It's not that tippy, compared to the Explorer it replaced, and the interior build quality is WAAAAY better than an Escape.

This is our 4th Jeep(1993 Grand Cherokee, 1999 Cherokee, 1999, Wrangler), so I have a lot of experience with them. This one has the best build quality out of the four. Don't expect a speed demon.

traitor

how could you drive a liberty AFTER you'd owned a wrangler? liberty's not a jeep, it's a compromise

 

[iamwiz82]

Originally posted by: pclstyle

Originally posted by: iamwiz82
We have a 2006 Liberty now and it is a fun little SUV to toss around. It's not that tippy, compared to the Explorer it replaced, and the interior build quality is WAAAAY better than an Escape.

This is our 4th Jeep(1993 Grand Cherokee, 1999 Cherokee, 1999, Wrangler), so I have a lot of experience with them. This one has the best build quality out of the four. Don't expect a speed demon.

traitor

how could you drive a liberty AFTER you'd owned a wrangler? liberty's not a jeep, it's a compromise

Meh, my priorities change. I realize that the Liberty is a heck of a DD compared to the TJ. The TJ was always breaking things because it had 35" tires. Try driving a lifted TJ for 5 hours on the freeway.

Not to say I wouldn't want another TJ, but if I get another it will be strictly a toy.

 

[archcommus]

I can't believe Libertys are so tiny and they advertise the new ones at only 23 mpg highway. That's crap, even for a 6 cylinder.

 

[iamwiz82]

Originally posted by: archcommus
I can't believe Libertys are so tiny and they advertise the new ones at only 23 mpg highway. That's crap, even for a 6 cylinder.

It weighs 4500lbs and is capable of towing 5,000lbs. It's a stronger platform than any of the cute utes. I believe the next closest is the new Rav4 at a staggering 3500lbs.

 

[EngenZerO]

subaru sti

 

[VTHodge]

I drive a Mazda Tribute, which is very similar to the Ford Escape, and I am very happy with it. I get aroud 22 mpg with mixed driving (max at about 25-26 pure highway).

I drove a Liberty for about a month (rental) and did not like it that much. The interior felt very small to me, especially compare to the Tribute.

I would probably recommend the Escape Hybrid.

 

[imported_Pablo]

Originally posted by: archcommus
I can't believe Libertys are so tiny and they advertise the new ones at only 23 mpg highway. That's crap, even for a 6 cylinder.

They aren't that tiny... they've got a good bit of interior room...

 

[iamwiz82]

Originally posted by: VTHodge
I drive a Mazda Tribute, which is very similar to the Ford Escape, and I am very happy with it. I get aroud 22 mpg with mixed driving (max at about 25-26 pure highway).

I drove a Liberty for about a month (rental) and did not like it that much. The interior felt very small to me, especially compare to the Tribute.

I would probably recommend the Escape Hybrid.

The Liberty/Escape are within an inch of each other on pretty much all interior measurements.

 

[archcommus]

Originally posted by: iamwiz82

Originally posted by: archcommus
I can't believe Libertys are so tiny and they advertise the new ones at only 23 mpg highway. That's crap, even for a 6 cylinder.

It weighs 4500lbs and is capable of towing 5,000lbs. It's a stronger platform than any of the cute utes. I believe the next closest is the new Rav4 at a staggering 3500lbs.

Wow, I'm impressed. They look so small on all the new commericals.

 

[Pacfanweb]

Originally posted by: iamwiz82

Originally posted by: archcommus
I can't believe Libertys are so tiny and they advertise the new ones at only 23 mpg highway. That's crap, even for a 6 cylinder.

It weighs 4500lbs and is capable of towing 5,000lbs. It's a stronger platform than any of the cute utes. I believe the next closest is the new Rav4 at a staggering 3500lbs.

Nope. The Liberty's curb weight in its heaviest config is 3898 lbs for the 2wd, 4115 for the 4x4. (unless you order one with a diesel). You quoted the GVWR, which is fully loaded with passengers, cargo and gas.

And regardless of what it's rated to tow, you'd have to be a complete idiot to hook 5000lbs behind a Liberty or Escape. I would go no higher than maybe 2500-3000, max.
Factory tow ratings you have to take with a grain of salt.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Originally posted by: iamwiz82
We have a 2006 Liberty now and it is a fun little SUV to toss around. It's not that tippy, compared to the Explorer it replaced, and the interior build quality is WAAAAY better than an Escape.

This is our 4th Jeep(1993 Grand Cherokee, 1999 Cherokee, 1999, Wrangler), so I have a lot of experience with them. This one has the best build quality out of the four. Don't expect a speed demon.

Has Jeep addressed the reliability issues that plagued them in the 90s? I used to rent cars to Jeep owners over and over and over. They were some of my best repeat customers.

Horrible vehicles. I'd never own one.

 

[iamwiz82]

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus

Originally posted by: iamwiz82
We have a 2006 Liberty now and it is a fun little SUV to toss around. It's not that tippy, compared to the Explorer it replaced, and the interior build quality is WAAAAY better than an Escape.

This is our 4th Jeep(1993 Grand Cherokee, 1999 Cherokee, 1999, Wrangler), so I have a lot of experience with them. This one has the best build quality out of the four. Don't expect a speed demon.

Has Jeep addressed the reliability issues that plagued them in the 90s? I used to rent cars to Jeep owners over and over and over. They were some of my best repeat customers.

Horrible vehicles. I'd never own one.

?

Jeep owners are some of the most loyal in the business right now. I have never heard of any reliability issues other than the Grand Cherokee axles in the late 90s, and that was because they made the switch to aluminum in the rear differential.

I think pretty much every 4.0L engine produced in the almost 20 years it was around leaked from the rear main seal, but it was always so small that no one bothered to fix it. We are talking less than half a quart per 3,000 miles.

 

[iamwiz82]

Originally posted by: Pacfanweb

Originally posted by: iamwiz82

Originally posted by: archcommus
I can't believe Libertys are so tiny and they advertise the new ones at only 23 mpg highway. That's crap, even for a 6 cylinder.

It weighs 4500lbs and is capable of towing 5,000lbs. It's a stronger platform than any of the cute utes. I believe the next closest is the new Rav4 at a staggering 3500lbs.

Nope. The Liberty's curb weight in its heaviest config is 3898 lbs for the 2wd, 4115 for the 4x4. (unless you order one with a diesel). You quoted the GVWR, which is fully loaded with passengers, cargo and gas.

And regardless of what it's rated to tow, you'd have to be a complete idiot to hook 5000lbs behind a Liberty or Escape. I would go no higher than maybe 2500-3000, max.
Factory tow ratings you have to take with a grain of salt.

GVWR is closer to 5600lbs for the 4wd V6. And you are correct about the weight, I think I looked up the diesel, but I cannot find the website now.

Personally, I wouldn't worry about towing 5,000lbs with a properly loaded trailer with brakes with a Liberty.

 

[Scouzer]

Originally posted by: VTHodge
I drive a Mazda Tribute, which is very similar to the Ford Escape, and I am very happy with it. I get aroud 22 mpg with mixed driving (max at about 25-26 pure highway).

I drove a Liberty for about a month (rental) and did not like it that much. The interior felt very small to me, especially compare to the Tribute.

I would probably recommend the Escape Hybrid.

With the V6?

That's excellent mileage.

My friends keep saying Ford Ranger, but I'm not so keen on that...

 

[lokiju]

Liberty sucks, friend had one and it was not good on gas, not fun to drive, and just an all around badly made car.

 

[iamwiz82]

Originally posted by: Scouzer

Originally posted by: VTHodge
I drive a Mazda Tribute, which is very similar to the Ford Escape, and I am very happy with it. I get aroud 22 mpg with mixed driving (max at about 25-26 pure highway).

I drove a Liberty for about a month (rental) and did not like it that much. The interior felt very small to me, especially compare to the Tribute.

I would probably recommend the Escape Hybrid.

With the V6?

That's excellent mileage.

My friends keep saying Ford Ranger, but I'm not so keen on that...

The Ranger is an ageing plaform, at best. It's way beyond it's useful life at this point and it shows in it's road mannerisms and overall ability. They keep trying to polish it up, but Ford just won't cut the cord.

 

[desy]

Chev Equinox?

 

[Doboji]

RAV4....