Jeep Grande Cherokee

NB

This is off-topic so if you'd like I can start another thread, but I was just wondering how you'd found the Jeep?

Over the last couple of years we've come close to picking one up, but have always chickened out at the last minute. I notice the prices here in the UK appear quite reasonable and it's not a huge vehicle compared to some of the other 4x4's. Duties would be a mixture of city, motorway and frequent excusions to Wales.

J

Jay,

I have had the Jeep for two years now and its been very reliable. I have done approximately 30,000 miles in it. A mixture of motorway, fast A roads and trickey country roads.

I have done numerous long trips to London and it's been very comfortable. The Jeep loves long distance hauls and having the 4.7l means its effortless. I have plenty of acceleration for safe overtaling and plenty of grunt for pulling power.

We have two young boys and there's plenty of room in the back. There safe and there's plenty of room between them to stop them hitting each other.

Road handling wise its very good for a 4 x 4. Originally when I first had it it came with off road tyres and they were a bit suspect. Swoping to proper road tyres increased road holding dramatically. I find there is very little that phases the jeep. Its a good all round car.

As for carrying spece, well I moved most of my partnres house from London to Leicester in the back of mine. Its surprising just how much they can carry.

Cost wise, Insurance is around £500. Servicing costs can be on the high side if anything goes wrong. Petrol wise, I get around 17 mpg which isn't the best.

As for the competition, well you can pay an aweful lot more for less if you know what I mean.



Regards


NB

NB

Thank you very much.

FWIW I checked out the Jeep.com site and had a peek at the new version. It's bit of a beast, not sure if I like the family look 4 round headlights or the squared off body.

J

PS looks like the 4L is gone as well. Did you drive that before the eight?

PPS Does the dual zone body temperate climate control actually work?

Jay,

I prefer the look of the current 4.7l. I think its the best looking Jeep they do. I am not convinced by the look of the current range of diesels they look almost commical.

I had a 4.0l Jeep for over three years beore part ex-ing it for my current jeep.

For the first two and a half years I had a very good reliable car but after a power surge on the motorway it just never seemed the same again. After that I seemed to be in the garage on a monthly basis and they couldn't seem to sort the problems out.

Having had both I much prefer the 4.7l, its considerably quicker and in general handles better. However the 4.7l can lul you into a false sense of security and you can take roundabouts and corners quicker than you should. I find the 4.7 can slide on roundabouts quite easily and slide easier in the wet. Its nothing serious just an observation.

One thing to remember the 4.0 can be converted to Lpg wheras the 4.7 can't.

As for the dual zone climate control, I haven't noticed any benefit and I am not convinced you can have half the car warmer than the other.

The last piece of advice is to go for the 10CD multiplayer with the Infinity gold speakers. Its the best in-car system I have ever heard and much better than the BOSE in my Nissan.



Regards


NB

NB

Thanks for that. Whilst no one appears to be commenting the new one, I hope you don't mind if I ask a few more questions. Someone might turn up

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I prefer the look of the current 4.7l. I think its the best looking Jeep they do. I am not convinced by the look of the current range of diesels they look almost commical.

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So do I. The new one looks bulky and the front aspect doesn't look nearly as good as the current car.

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I had a 4.0l Jeep for over three years beore part ex-ing it for my current jeep.

For the first two and a half years I had a very good reliable car but after a power surge on the motorway it just never seemed the same again. After that I seemed to be in the garage on a monthly basis and they couldn't seem to sort the problems out.

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A power surge like that would destroy anyones trust in the vehicle. Did they ever work out the cause. Has it happened to other owners? A considerate friend has pointed out the issue with the rear seatbelts. I believe there have been cases where the seatbelt has unbuckled in an accident. I assume you know about that?

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Having had both I much prefer the 4.7l, its considerably quicker and in general handles better. However the 4.7l can lul you into a false sense of security and you can take roundabouts and corners quicker than you should. I find the 4.7 can slide on roundabouts quite easily and slide easier in the wet. Its nothing serious just an observation.

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You mentioned changing the tyres in your last post, what are the best in your opinion? Was there much of a real world difference between in fuel usage between the 4 and 4.7?

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As for the dual zone climate control, I haven't noticed any benefit and I am not convinced you can have half the car warmer than the other.

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Neither am I. There's some kind of infrared sensor that detects the body heat of the driver and adjusts the climate control to suit? Bullshit?

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The last piece of advice is to go for the 10CD multiplayer with the Infinity gold speakers. Its the best in-car system I have ever heard and much better than the BOSE in my Nissan.

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I've had a bad experience with multiplayers (must be my driving or CD's!), all 3 I've ever had crapped out at some stage. The last, in an Audi, was taken out and the manufacturer refused to change it because it hadn't been bought new in NZ, even though the car had been bought new in NZ!

I used to have a pair of Infinity speakers, but that's another story

Cheers
J

Hi Jay,

I have no problems with all the questions your asking, if I can help a fellow forum member out then I am happy to do so.

I am dissapointed that no-one else has entered the conversation particularly our American friends. I believe Chrysler Jeeps are more popular there and I understand the Grand Cherokee has just been awarded the world's best 4x4 award.

I have found a decent report of the new jeep on the website and answered most of the questions I had.

The new bulky look is a step backwards in my view. Its too square and looks more like a landrover which I am not keen on.

As for the tyres I have good year wranglers on which my garage tell me are very good. I am not convined they are the best. I prefer Bridgestones especially in the wet. It makes me laugh I take the Jeep out in wet and bad weather thinking it's safer but I get far more grip in my Nissan. I am going to consider changing the tyres again soon, I want more grip in the wet than I am getting now.

Th power surge was nasty and left me accelerating flat out at eighty on the motorway, luckily I got the Jeep back under control but it blew out the alternator and a couple of fuses. After that I had numerous electrical problems that cost me about £3k in the last few months. Its not surprising I lost confidence and got rid of it. Its a shame as the original $.0 jeep was a good car.

I am aware of the rear seat belt problem but I believe the best course of action is not to have an accident in the first place. There is also a question about safety at speed. In particular if you swerve to miss something at speed then the Jeep will tip over. Again driving sensibly can avoid this. The jeep can also become unstable at anything over 90 (allegedly) but its not the kind of car for those speeds. There are handling kits to get arround these problems but I don't want to go down the route of modifying the Jeep. Its an expensive route!

The body temperature sensor is a load of BS used to sell the car, anyone who falls for that one shouldn't be driving in my opinion!

I must be fortunate, I have never had a problem with CD's in any car. My cd player in my Supra was 12 years old and never had a real problem. lucky me I guess!



Regards


NB

NB

quote:

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I have no problems with all the questions your asking, if I can help a fellow forum member out then I am happy to do so.

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Thx again.

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I understand the Grand Cherokee has just been awarded the world's best 4x4 award.

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Really? Jeep doesn't even get a mention in the popular mags over here. The reviewers appear to be creaming themselves over the new Disco though.

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It makes me laugh I take the Jeep out in wet and bad weather thinking it's safer but I get far more grip in my Nissan.

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It's no sports car

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Th power surge was nasty and left me accelerating flat out at eighty on the motorway, luckily I got the Jeep back under control but it blew out the alternator and a couple of fuses. After that I had numerous electrical problems that cost me about £3k in the last few months. Its not surprising I lost confidence and got rid of it. Its a shame as the original $.0 jeep was a good car.

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That's a shocker. You must've really liked the Jeep to have bought another after that experience.

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The body temperature sensor is a load of BS used to sell the car, anyone who falls for that one shouldn't be driving in my opinion!

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Does it actually come out with a reading you can inform your passenger with? Hell, you're 92', don't you like my driving!

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I must be fortunate, I have never had a problem with CD's in any car. My cd player in my Supra was 12 years old and never had a real problem. lucky me I guess!

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Well then it's my CD's

Cheers
J

Check out:-

http://www.jeep.co.uk/jeep/pdf/grandcherokee-4x4-award.pdf

The Grand Cherokee has won many awards in this country.

Quote:-

That's a shocker. You must've really liked the Jeep to have bought another after that experience.
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Yeah, I love the Jeeps, I really wouldn't swap them for anything else.

It's no sports car
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Are you sure?

No seriously the 4.7l isn't slow by any strech of the imagination. You sometimes forget you are in a large 4x4. I launched her tonight and even in the wet II had hit 40 ina couple of seconds. The cars behind were trailing in my wake.

The Jeeps comfortable and spacious. It has everything you could want. Its responsive and can overtake within the blink of an eye.

Sure its not perfect but what is?

Personally I would like sharper brakes and after the Nissan the steering could be better but if you remember your driving a 4x4 then you can't go wrong.



Regards


NB

quote:

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Originally posted by NB:
Th power surge was nasty and left me accelerating flat out at eighty on the motorway, luckily I got the Jeep back under control

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NB,

phew! Not nice with a 4L engine!

what did you do to get out of it? I guess I'd have tried switching the ignition off, then maybe putting it in neutral and hoping the rev limiter was still working.

Mind you, switching the engine off in our Granada would be a desperation measure. The steering is *impossible* if the engine is off. What would I do if it didn't come back!!

cheers, Martin

E-mail:- MartinPayne (at) Dial.Pipex.com. Put "Naim" in the title.

Martin,

I was on cruise control at the time, I was accelerating using the cruise control. As it happened the automatic gearbox changed down as I moved from accelerate to coast as someone had pulled out in front of me. Instead of slowing down the jeep accelerated harder.

I used the brakes and the cruise control off button before hitting the car in front of me up the backside. I was lucky as even the 4l jeep can accelerate rapidly upon kickdown.

I didn't realise it at the time but it blew out the alternator and the electrics on the drivers door. Next morning the electrics had completely gone and the only way I was moving was on the back of the RAC tow truck!



Regards


NB

I have a 5 month old Grand Cherokee 2.7CRD sport. I have had no problems in 8.5K miles and although it's not perfect I still reckon that it was the best value large 4X4 available at the time. The CRD engine is by far the best Diesel to be fitted to a Jeep thus far (it is the 2.7l Mercedes Turbodiesel) and I see around 25mpg with a mixture of town and 90mph Motorway driving. For a heavy 4X4 diesel it is pretty rapid (almost exactly the same performance as the 4.0L petrol)As everyone else says, it ain't no sportscar but it can be hustled through the bends at a pretty reasonable speed - I have found the wet weather grip in particular to be excellent. It is also by far and away the best towing machine I have ever used. I regularly pull 1.6tonnes of car transporter with my rally car on the back, and it is simply effortless, especially with the cruise control and the auto box.
On the downside the fit and finish are typically poor, it's a bit noisy, the seats are too soft and it doesn't handle anything like as well as the X5.

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Originally posted by NB:
I am dissapointed that no-one else has entered the conversation particularly our American friends.
NB

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We all drive imports - and listen to foreign hifi!

Regards,
Davie

Quote:-

I have found the wet weather grip in particular to be excellent.
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BLT,

What tyres have you got on your Jeep?



Regards


NB

Er I'm not sure - I think that they are Goodyear Wranglers, I'll take a look next time I get a chance. The wheels are slightly smaller (16") and higher profile because mine is the "Sport" model.

I have 16" wheels on my 4.7 with Wranglers on and the grip in the wet is quite poor.

I am looking to up-grade the wheels to 20" with continental road tyres on it.



Regards


NB

I've got Goodyear Wrangler S4's, 225/75 X 16. May be a bit narrower than your tyres or a newer version of the tread pattern.
20" Wheels - Blingtastic!

Pretty much the same tyre as what I have, how do you find yours on roundabouts in the wet?

I find mine can slip away if your not careful.

http://www.kahnwheels.com/cgi-bin/trolleyed_public.cgi?action=showprod_JEEPRSC20

What do you think, pretty cool?



Regards


NB

Strangely, wet roundabouts are no problem and I have seen cars in front starting to understeer and run wide at the same speed as me. Perhaps the diesel grips better at the front (I presume you are seeing understeer) due to the different weight of the engine? The only problem that I have with the handling is that the "fly by wire" throttle stops me from using left-foot braking round corners.
The Khan wheels are pretty good - I had a set on my Smart car.

I have to say the old 4.0l I had was substantially better on wet roundabouts. I always thought the difference was down to the speed I was taking roundabouts in the new Jeep but having spoken to a few people I find its quite a common problem.

Hence the need for bigger wheels, the garage owner runs a Grand Cherokee himself and he has massive 22" chrome wheels on his which look very impersive.

I am due to take mine in for service soon and I have one or two issues with them like the handling and braking which both could be better for such a powerful vehicle.



Regards


NB

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Originally posted by NB:
I have to say the old 4.0l I had was substantially better on wet roundabouts.

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But you'd still take the 8 over the 6? Not much difference fuel economy wise, they both suck

Jay

Ah but huge difference BHP wise



Regards


NB