5th gen runner vs new grand cherokee
- Thread starter Schargedtaco
- Start date
BlackWorksInc
New member
Look you want a luxury SUV, get a Mercedes ML or GL class that uses most of the components of the JGC and does it more reliably and just plain nicer. You want a trail rig from Jeep, get a Wrangler... otherwise you're just polishing a unibody turd.
1engineer
Moderator
Um,
Model Starting At*
4Runner SR5 2WD Automatic (V6) $27,565
4Runner Sport Edition 2WD Automatic (V6) $28,730
4Runner Limited 2WD Automatic (V6) $33,765
4Runner SR5 4WD Automatic (V6) $29,840
4Runner Sport Edition 4WD Automatic (V6) $31,005
4Runner Limited 4WD Automatic (V6) $36,040
4Runner SR5 2WD Automatic (V8) $28,815
4Runner Sport Edition 2WD Automatic (V8) $29,980
4Runner Limited 2WD Automatic (V8) $35,015
4Runner SR5 4WD Automatic (V8) $31,090
4Runner Sport Edition 4WD Automatic (V8) $32,255
4Runner Limited 4WD Automatic (V8) $37,290
New 4Runner Limited (V6) in 2003 was $36,040 with no options. New one now is $40K or so. 10 year difference, $4K in dollars. I don't say what I don't mean. The above list came directly from the 2003 Toyota website. Google "wayback machine" so you can get accurate information. Did you think I meant what the 2003 costs now used? Of course there is a big difference between those. I meant then new in 2003 versus now new in 2013.
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Donkey
New member
No, electronic limited slip. Check out the mad flex:
Look at pic 3 here 2013 Four Wheeler Of The Year - Four Wheeler Magazine
Or this
This type of limited articulation gets you stuck jumping a curb looking for a tailgating spot...
My last grand Cherokee had solid axles and quadradrive, it could lock both the front and rear differentials. The georotor pumps required a half of a turn but the system worked. This new model is a 4wd minivan in comparison. What good is air suspension that eliminates down travel in "off road" mode? At least they still have the wrangler but clearly todays grand is designed for the highway and snowy roads.
Jeremy556
New member
I've actually seen quite a few new JGC on the trails around Ouray, always rentals. They tend to run into problems when they try to take Mineral Creek (4 rated trail) to get to/from the Engineer Pass from Ouray. Low profile, fully aired up, highway car tires and low hanging plastic pieces don't fare well in the rocks.
LandCruiser
New member
Maybe because it's the flagship model of the range, maybe because she's been lucky, but my mom has now had her SRT8 JCG for over a year and close to 25k miles without any problems. But I've heard that Chrysler's crack assembly line workers left a couple of their doobies in the headliners that may catch fire when coming in contact with loose wiring.
Its acceleration is simply nuclear. I borrowed it when I flew in to visit the family and had too much fun with the launch control and merging on highway onramps...
I have not been in anything short of a Merc that delivers stupidly blisteringly high horsepower and fast acceleration in such a loud and wasteful way while propelling close to 3 tons of pig iron down the highway.
Off road? I think those fat highway tires would bog down in a puddle.
Its acceleration is simply nuclear. I borrowed it when I flew in to visit the family and had too much fun with the launch control and merging on highway onramps...
I have not been in anything short of a Merc that delivers stupidly blisteringly high horsepower and fast acceleration in such a loud and wasteful way while propelling close to 3 tons of pig iron down the highway.
Off road? I think those fat highway tires would bog down in a puddle.
Schargedtaco
New member
I think the reason 2014 4runners are only up 4k from 2003 is toyota actually had them priced in 03 and prior at a price point to cover the quality high end components and engineering they where putting in them. Now 10 years later the competition has really stepped it up in quality, price and reliability, warrenties, look at Kia for example taking away a good portion of sales. Although toyota is still reliable I'd hardly call the quality in materials, workmanship that of a 3rd gen with all that cheap plastic throughout. Heck my 1997 limited retailed around 32-35k back then. Rather than upping the price accordingly on a 2014 they are cutting costs where they can in materials and trying to stay competitive on price to compete with everyone whi has stepped it up. although still great trucks they are not what they where 10 years ago.
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Whiplash Willy
New member
If you look through the Jeep Forums, and other auto maker forums (VW for example) you will see many users bragging about going 20k, 40k, 60k...without any major problems. There is a reason for that, and it isn't something anyone should be proud of. Any new car should be able to do that.
In the Toyota Forums, you see people bragging about going 100k, 150k, 200k+ without any major problems, and there is a reason for that.
All of the fancy gadgets and gizmos the competing CUVs have over the 4runner are inciting, but can also be a double edged sword.
Also...I find that comment about the penstar v6 being the best engine ever made quite amusing
In the Toyota Forums, you see people bragging about going 100k, 150k, 200k+ without any major problems, and there is a reason for that.
All of the fancy gadgets and gizmos the competing CUVs have over the 4runner are inciting, but can also be a double edged sword.
Also...I find that comment about the penstar v6 being the best engine ever made quite amusing
3 transmissions replaced? No major issues?#@! What happens when warranty runs out?
I just bought my T4R. I considered and rejected the JGC. I will share some of my insights which hopefully you will find helpful:
Other than the Prius "scare" a couple years back, I haven't seen any data on the decline of TMC quality.
The painted dash panels are a little bit of a let down, but I'm overall impressed with the materials in my T4R.
Subjective. If you like it, you like it.
T4R has become a niche vehicle. I expect with its "rugged, outdoorsy" lifestyle that Utah, like Colorado, Montana and Wyoming, is one of Jeep's best states.
You got me there. Everyone knows that doctors are the most savvy car buyers of all.
As others have stated, since the T4R is one of the few remaining a body on frame SUVs, it has become a niche vehicle. The Toyota customer base has in general defected over to crossovers that weren't available during 3rd Gen, including Toyota's own mass-produced Highlander. You can get an SR5 for $30K. That doesn't seem "ridiculous" to me. All vehicle styling is subjective, but to my eye, the slab-sided 5th Gen looks very contemporary compared to the 4th Gen and previous. Other than wheels, Limited looks identical. As others have mentioned, one thing that I especially disliked about the JGC is the slanted rear body area. This attempt at "styling" cuts in to cargo capacity and undermines one of the core purposes of a sport utility vehicle! You want bland? Look at a Pilot. That thing's a Saltine box.
Based on past sales, a 10 year old T4R will retain much more of its initial purchase price than a Jeep will.
Other than the Prius "scare" a couple years back, I haven't seen any data on the decline of TMC quality.
The painted dash panels are a little bit of a let down, but I'm overall impressed with the materials in my T4R.
Subjective. If you like it, you like it.
T4R has become a niche vehicle. I expect with its "rugged, outdoorsy" lifestyle that Utah, like Colorado, Montana and Wyoming, is one of Jeep's best states.
You got me there. Everyone knows that doctors are the most savvy car buyers of all.
As others have stated, since the T4R is one of the few remaining a body on frame SUVs, it has become a niche vehicle. The Toyota customer base has in general defected over to crossovers that weren't available during 3rd Gen, including Toyota's own mass-produced Highlander. You can get an SR5 for $30K. That doesn't seem "ridiculous" to me. All vehicle styling is subjective, but to my eye, the slab-sided 5th Gen looks very contemporary compared to the 4th Gen and previous. Other than wheels, Limited looks identical. As others have mentioned, one thing that I especially disliked about the JGC is the slanted rear body area. This attempt at "styling" cuts in to cargo capacity and undermines one of the core purposes of a sport utility vehicle! You want bland? Look at a Pilot. That thing's a Saltine box.
Based on past sales, a 10 year old T4R will retain much more of its initial purchase price than a Jeep will.
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eddiebx
New member
You know it's bad when having THREE transmissions replaced in a row is not considered a major issue :lmao:
Maybe Jeep owners had to redefine the term "major issue".
Erie4Runner
New member
This June I bought a new 2013 Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo, drove it for 6 weeks / 3k miles and in August traded it in for a new 2013 4Runner SR5.
We have owned multiple Jeeps, all <2006 TJ's and a 97 Cherokee Sport. The new Jeep is a great CAR. It's silent inside and the automatic transfer to 4 wheel drive is good enough for Cleveland snow. There is nothing special about it anymore. Add in the fact that they are now an Italian car company.
The 4Run is what the Jeep marketing department wants people to think a Jeep is.
We have owned multiple Jeeps, all <2006 TJ's and a 97 Cherokee Sport. The new Jeep is a great CAR. It's silent inside and the automatic transfer to 4 wheel drive is good enough for Cleveland snow. There is nothing special about it anymore. Add in the fact that they are now an Italian car company.
The 4Run is what the Jeep marketing department wants people to think a Jeep is.
vicpick58
New member
Jeep lost me as a customer after owning 2 grand Cherokees for well over 200 thousand miles each. (2000 and 2004)
I just could not do another one, the WK2 is going the wrong direction in my opinion. Less cargo room, and independent rear suspension among a few other things took it off my list.
I am so happy that Toyota has kept the 4Runner what it should be. I am enjoying not having all the mechanical issues too.
I just could not do another one, the WK2 is going the wrong direction in my opinion. Less cargo room, and independent rear suspension among a few other things took it off my list.
I am so happy that Toyota has kept the 4Runner what it should be. I am enjoying not having all the mechanical issues too.
BlackWorksInc
New member
Look, warranty is nice and Toyota does a good job with warranty for the most part; lately they're getting a little stingy... but that's another topic...
Point being, RARELY have I heard a person say "I've had the transmission in my Toyota replaced 3 times in under 80k" warranty or not that's a sign of the quality going in your vehicle.
philsey
New member
Bingo!
WhiskeyTango0311
New member
Spend some time on the Jeep forums and see a prevailing theme: TIPM, transmissions, Pentastar lifter issues, etc.
I had a brief fit of stomping my feet when I heard Toyota may discontinue the FJ (I loved my FJ), thus I began perusing the Wrangler forums and recalling having fun in a couple of them in college. It only lasted about two months after seeing those recurring problems above. Pair that with sub-par customer service from corporate, a reluctance to perform the warranty work on the vehicles with "known issues", and I ran away from Chrysler/Fiat/Jeep back to the 2007 T4R in my driveway.
Again, I know we are discussing the Grand Cherokee, but....
Anyhow, going to buy another Toyota tomorrow or Saturday - the wife needs a 5th Gen.
I had a brief fit of stomping my feet when I heard Toyota may discontinue the FJ (I loved my FJ), thus I began perusing the Wrangler forums and recalling having fun in a couple of them in college. It only lasted about two months after seeing those recurring problems above. Pair that with sub-par customer service from corporate, a reluctance to perform the warranty work on the vehicles with "known issues", and I ran away from Chrysler/Fiat/Jeep back to the 2007 T4R in my driveway.
Again, I know we are discussing the Grand Cherokee, but....
Anyhow, going to buy another Toyota tomorrow or Saturday - the wife needs a 5th Gen.
Bay33saw
New member
Tada.. See Pat :tape2:
