Considering purchasing a 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee

[BlackWorksInc]

I'd bet that 99% of 120 Platform buyers never take their truck offroad.

I understand what you're saying and my statement can be mis-read as I was a bit subtle there. But when I said;

​

"...majority of potential 120 Platform buyers needs if they are seeking any off-road capability..."

I was trying to cover owners who are looking into 120 platform vehicles FOR the off-road capability that may use it; not just the window shoppers looking for the 4WD badge as they are people who would be fine in a MiniVan or CUV as much as a real truck or SUV.

I will tell my wife that she is indeed, unique people. :heh:

Well, if the label fits... I was trying to be nice and not go all Politically ranty/Demographically prejudice based on the owners of Ridgelines I have met/seen.

 

[cbreze]

Yes to reliability! Definitely where it's at in my book. I don't want to look good with flashers on and the hood up by the roadside, looking good going up a rocky trail is much preferred.
My SR5 4R is my fifth Toyota since 1974. I keep coming back for one very good reason.
That said tho, it is a damn shame how the jeep quality has nosedived so badly in later years. I recall back in the day, way back, that jeeps were the king.

 

[1engineer]

Yes to reliability! Definitely where it's at in my book. I don't want to look good with flashers on and the hood up by the roadside, looking good going up a rocky trail is much preferred.
My SR5 4R is my fifth Toyota since 1974. I keep coming back for one very good reason.
That said tho, it is a damn shame how the jeep quality has nosedived so badly in later years. I recall back in the day, way back, that jeeps were the king.

Back in the day? I had a 1967 Jeep Commando and a 1978 Cherokee Chief. The Commando wouldn't run long enough to like it (and when it did it just blew the head gasket...7 times) and the Cherokee rusted away (36K before holes appeared in the floorboard) before I could like it. Have to lol on the quality "back in the day."

Bottom line is different business models. Toyota makes it up front on the new vehicle sale with a few parts. Jeep makes it on the back end with the sale of LOTS of parts. Ever wonder why Jeep, Dodge, GM and Ford all offer huge buyer incentives up front? Yeah that's why.

 

[cbreze]

Back in the day? I had a 1967 Jeep Commando and a 1978 Cherokee Chief. The Commando wouldn't run long enough to like it (and when it did it just blew the head gasket...7 times) and the Cherokee rusted away (36K before holes appeared in the floorboard) before I could like it. Have to lol on the quality "back in the day."

Bottom line is different business models. Toyota makes it up front on the new vehicle sale with a few parts. Jeep makes it on the back end with the sale of LOTS of parts. Ever wonder why Jeep, Dodge, GM and Ford all offer huge buyer incentives up front? Yeah that's why.

I was reminded more of my old 51 willys. Got it when it was 25 years old already and although it was no highway cruiser it would do a back road like nobody's business, and it was easy to fix which was seldom needed. Then there were all the CJ5's . Never had many issues with those. Sounds like you had a bit of bad luck 1E. Cherokees yes and commandos yes, not so good.
I agree with your business model explanation. It's almost as if they make them to break down knowing they'll do better on the repair end. Some people must be gullible enough to fall for the incentives unaware of what's coming.

BTW, trivia question. You all know how they came by the name Jeep, right?

 

[harper7]

I understand what you're saying and my statement can be mis-read as I was a bit subtle there. But when I said;

​

"...majority of potential 120 Platform buyers needs if they are seeking any off-road capability..."

I was trying to cover owners who are looking into 120 platform vehicles FOR the off-road capability that may use it; not just the window shoppers looking for the 4WD badge as they are people who would be fine in a MiniVan or CUV as much as a real truck or SUV.



Well, if the label fits... I was trying to be nice and not go all Politically ranty/Demographically prejudice based on the owners of Ridgelines I have met/seen.

Just an FYI....4Runners and it's siblings changed to the J150 platforms in 2009..... Toyota Land Cruiser Prado - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[BlackWorksInc]

Just an FYI....4Runners and it's siblings changed to the J150 platforms in 2009..... Toyota Land Cruiser Prado - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Odd... The frame dimensions aren't significantly different between the 5th and 4th gens last I checked, I would assume its materials and possibly a reinforcement or two as the suspension systems and rough geometry between the 120 and new 150 platform is nearly the same.

But good to know for future reference I guess.

 

[tacobill]

I understand what you're saying and my statement can be mis-read as I was a bit subtle there. But when I said;

​

"...majority of potential 120 Platform buyers needs if they are seeking any off-road capability..."

I was trying to cover owners who are looking into 120 platform vehicles FOR the off-road capability that may use it; not just the window shoppers looking for the 4WD badge as they are people who would be fine in a MiniVan or CUV as much as a real truck or SUV.



Well, if the label fits... I was trying to be nice and not go all Politically ranty/Demographically prejudice based on the owners of Ridgelines I have met/seen.

I appreciate that. For my wife it's absolutely perfect. She'll never go off road further than a horse trail/dirt road. She can haul her horse trailer and Paso Fino just fine, and pick up 24 bales of hay.

Back on the Jeep.-1 in 2 will see the shop for repairs, according to 1engineer, and I don't doubt his statistics. Rather than a 2014 JGC, I'm looking at trading up to a 2013 Limited.

 

[harper7]

Odd... The frame dimensions aren't significantly different between the 5th and 4th gens last I checked, I would assume its materials and possibly a reinforcement or two as the suspension systems and rough geometry between the 120 and new 150 platform is nearly the same.

But good to know for future reference I guess.

Nearly identical frame to the eye and dimensionally but I believe they just shored up some of the weak areas that were exposed mostly by the FJ guys that offroaded them hard.
From Toyota's 2010 4Runner press release.........To build on its tradition of rugged body-on-frame construction,extensive frame and body reinforcements have been added, using high-tensile materials to add strength without adding weight.
The new 4Runner is also equipped with a stronger rear differential over the previous model, thanks to a gear ring that has increased in size from 7.87 to 8.18 inches.

Toyota | 2010 Toyota 4Runner Add to Rich Heritage With More Power, Better MPG

 

[2013Trail]

Interesting; do you have an example of something that was defective and was not covered?

Also, I may have failed to properly communicate. When I said, "last week I drove a 2013 Jeep Grand Cherokee", I really should have said, "last week I drove a 2013 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited over 2,100 miles all the while beating it like the rental car it was.".

Here is the exhaustive list of problems and dislikes I encountered:

• The Garmin factory nav sucked (I think all OEM navs suck, even the Toyota units I have interacted with)
• The electrochromatic mirrors did not remember which state I left them in, and turned back on every time I started the car
• The 120 VAC outlet had to be manually activated each time the car was started
• The cargo cover was finicky to secure and left nonpermanent marring on the plastic interior
• The "bling" on the sideview mirrors caused reflections in the cabin
• The XM radio would skip from time to time, even on the clear-skied, wide-open prairie
• Hesitation on launch if the accelerator isn't assertively pressed, though the 4Runner has similar issues. I just floored it when I wanted response, and I got it. (Thanks to this forum for planting that seed in my mind, btw)

...oh, and the liftgate struts could have opened the liftgate faster, but I am really starting to reach here.

Then again, perhaps I got the last remaining JGC that hasn't been recalled & subsequently crushed (haha).

I think Roadkill is asking about the defects you said existed on your uncle's 2013 GC, Not the GC that you rented.

 

[Roadkill]

I think Roadkill is asking about the defects you said existed on your uncle's 2013 GC, Not the GC that you rented.

You are correct: I was inquiring about those defects. I really was/am interested... especially regarding claims that the manufacturer wasn't honoring the warranty.

However, as you can see, that post you quoted was mine as well.

I was attempting to explain that I wasn't basing my opinion on a short test drive under a dealer-controlled scenario. So, even under a real world scenario, I didn't find much to dislike. In case it wasn't clear, I found those "irritations" I cited to be negligible.

Jeep had such a reputation in my mind that I expected something to be broken or to break down even during the week I had it. It was quite cathartic to have this play out so smoothly.

 

[Roadkill]

Why is this thread so addictive? I find myself checking out new posts like 10 times a day.

Sweet deity, and I thought I was an (erstwhile) lurker. 26 posts since 2007? That deserves a tip of the hat.

 

[Jayhawk5G]

Bottom line is different business models. Toyota makes it up front on the new vehicle sale with a few parts. Jeep makes it on the back end with the sale of LOTS of parts. Ever wonder why Jeep, Dodge, GM and Ford all offer huge buyer incentives up front? Yeah that's why.

While I don't doubt part of internal business model is parts sales for Jeep, and service repairs for the dealers, I doubt the incentives are linked. I see incentives as a way to A) Clear inventory that is selling slower than the company would like (last gen models still on dealer lots or models that have not been as popular as company assumed they would) and B) Because the company wants to be a market leader in that vehicles category. Toyota is doing this right now with the Camry to stay market leader: Toyota Camry incentives and fleet sales cranked to keep sales crown, insiders worried - Autoblog

You are correct: I was inquiring about those defects. I really was/am interested... especially regarding claims that the manufacturer wasn't honoring the warranty.

However, as you can see, that post you quoted was mine as well.

I was attempting to explain that I wasn't basing my opinion on a short test drive under a dealer-controlled scenario. So, even under a real world scenario, I didn't find much to dislike. In case it wasn't clear, I found those "irritations" I cited to be negligible.

Jeep had such a reputation in my mind that I expected something to be broken or to break down even during the week I had it. It was quite cathartic to have this play out so smoothly.

Even with your longer experience with the Jeep, it's not so much that the vehicle was just going to explode or all the wheels were going to fall off. The issue is that you are much more likely to have a major repair under warranty, and that the vehicle will not age as well as the 4Runner. There was a long list of items that needed replaced on my last JGC from the turn signal switch which was causing the gauge cluster and stereo lights to flicker, to an oil pressure sensor that was causing MDS to act up, to a leaking pinion seal, to the dust shield on the transmission selector that stuck and then ripped itself out which then required the entire piece the selector sat in which also had a traction control switch attached and a $500 price tag, etc.

 

[1engineer]

While I don't doubt part of internal business model is parts sales for Jeep, and service repairs for the dealers, I doubt the incentives are linked. I see incentives as a way to A) Clear inventory that is selling slower than the company would like (last gen models still on dealer lots or models that have not been as popular as company assumed they would) and B) Because the company wants to be a market leader in that vehicles category. Toyota is doing this right now with the Camry to stay market leader: Toyota Camry incentives and fleet sales cranked to keep sales crown, insiders worried - Autoblog

It was an attempt at word play - "bottom line."
Incentives I think would have to be linked as every business looks eventually at their bottom line no matter how they got there.
I'm sure it's much more complex than this but if you have two areas of the business with the potential to make a profit you can marginalize one and keep the other. Our company does it all the time on a small scale.

 

[veloindy]

Not that this means anything in this discussion, but, a coworker just took delivery of a 2013 GC. I gotta say, if reliability wasn't a concern, I'd take a serious look. It was a very well put together vehicle, especially the interior. I can see why Road and Track and other trade rags like it. It's what the majority wants.

 

[Whiplash Willy]

BTW, trivia question. You all know how they came by the name Jeep, right?

 

[zznalg]

Sweet deity, and I thought I was an (erstwhile) lurker. 26 posts since 2007? That deserves a tip of the hat.

Naw, that would be pretty pathetic. I registered in '07 but have been pretty much gone since then. I've only been checking this site since I bought my current 4R 3 months ago.

 

[cbreze]

Ha!Ha, LOL, seriously? Nah.

Just messin with ya. There's alot of possibilities. I thought maybe we could come up with some more. The jeep character from popeye is one of them for sure. I think the GI's back in the day were really into comics and popeye was right up there. The one that makes the most sense to me is GP, general purpose vehicle. The web is full of theories. It's interesting that there is no definitive answer tho.

 

[Steamfitter]

http://www.jeepforum.com/forum/f309/

Wow is all I can say... You buy a loaded 2014 Gc and two weeks later it won't even start?!? I would be livid. How is jeep even still in business? Are people really that stupid? ...and to think our government bailed out Chrysler... Wow.

 

[cbreze]

WK2 Grand Cherokee Forum - JeepForum.com

Wow is all I can say... You buy a loaded 2014 Gc and two weeks later it won't even start?!? I would be livid. How is jeep even still in business? Are people really that stupid? ...and to think our government bailed out Chrysler... Wow.

I don't understand either, how their still in business that is. Even with a lifetime warranty the hassle of breakdowns would be aggravating to say the least.

 

[1engineer]

WK2 Grand Cherokee Forum - JeepForum.com

Wow is all I can say... You buy a loaded 2014 Gc and two weeks later it won't even start?!? I would be livid. How is jeep even still in business? Are people really that stupid? ...and to think our government bailed out Chrysler... Wow.

I don't understand either, how their still in business that is. Even with a lifetime warranty the hassle of breakdowns would be aggravating to say the least.

Do you know how powerful suggestion is to the human mind? Do you guys know how advertising prods and steers us every single day to do, buy or use a product we do not need or want or even really like? The statistics would scare you. In this case of Jeep you have:

Macho advertising
Trail rated badge
The JK (which really is tough but still breaks a lot)
Tons of cool options
Inexpensive compared to the "Real" luxury SUVS?
Use of verbiage like "Quadra" and anything else designed to convey tough image.

Add all those up and you get lots and lots of buyers who, even though it breaks, still think it was a fluke and subliminally think its a tough vehicle. Not only that, they will get fed up with this one and then turn around and go out and buy another one! It's sad but true that people can be "led" to do about anything. Go visit the Jeep website and tell me if you don't think its the toughest vehicle out there and dripping with luxury. Never mind the other part of your brain saying "Hmmm, other vehicles with all this crap cost $10-30K more so this must be a great deal!"

Mercedes GL
Lexus 470
BMW 5
Toyota LC

and the list goes on to get some of the same features in a dependable platform. Then you have Jeep. Offers all the same cool features as in the list above for a lot less...until you actually use it.