Looks like I am going to the dark side

[03_4x4Runner]

It looks like I may be buying a 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee. I know I may regret it later as my 2003 4runner V8 has not had any problems since new. I swore last time I had a Chyrsler product it would be the last. I sat in the new Jeep today but did not drive it yet. I was impressed so far. I can not wait to try out that hemi. I also like the adjustable height control as I off road often and can put it back to stock hieght the rest of the time. The new 4runners have really disappointed me. The only one I like the look of at all is the trail edition but they took out to many features for me. I was hoping the 2011 4runners would have made some changes but it looks like they are staying the same. I like the FJ cruiser for off roading but you can not see out of the darn things.

 

[Physgirl]

We had considered the new Jeep but the first year of a completely new motor dissuaded us. I rode in a co-workers 2008 GC recently and even though the interior still smelled new the brakes were squealing, the door hinges creaked and I did not prefer the ride quality. This was a lower end model with the 3.7L, leather etc. Best of luck to you, but Toyota quality made up my mind for me.

 

[westwind77]

I will say, the new 11' new design does look pretty sweet, inside & out. If I was looking today no doubt the new 11' Jeep would be a high possibility. I know the previous ones were too small for me, inside i felt cramped, how did you feel in the new one? I do like my 4R, I think it fits what I was looking for to the best of what was available. If I am not mistaken though the $$$ is way up there, would mostly likely knock it out for me.

 

[SeattleMike]

In my lifetime, the only car company that was worse than Chrysler in quality was...

Fiat.

It seems fitting that one owns the other now.

On paper, the 2011 GC looks great. But I'd rather be driving in a "disappointing" Toyota 4Runner than sitting in a Grand Cherokee on the side of the road waiting for AAA. My opinion might change if the quality is there initially and improves over the years, but not right now.

 

[03_4x4Runner]

I will say, the new 11' new design does look pretty sweet, inside & out. If I was looking today no doubt the new 11' Jeep would be a high possibility. I know the previous ones were too small for me, inside i felt cramped, how did you feel in the new one? I do like my 4R, I think it fits what I was looking for to the best of what was available. If I am not mistaken though the $$$ is way up there, would mostly likely knock it out for me.

I thought it was fine inside. Similar to the 4runner. The one I am looking at is around 44k but it has all the options I want. I know I will not be able to keep it as long as a 4runner before it starts having a lot of problems.

 

[harper7]

It looks like I may be buying a 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee. I know I may regret it later as my 2003 4runner V8 has not had any problems since new. I swore last time I had a Chyrsler product it would be the last. I sat in the new Jeep today but did not drive it yet. I was impressed so far. I can not wait to try out that hemi. I also like the adjustable height control as I off road often and can put it back to stock hieght the rest of the time. The new 4runners have really disappointed me. The only one I like the look of at all is the trail edition but they took out to many features for me. I was hoping the 2011 4runners would have made some changes but it looks like they are staying the same. I like the FJ cruiser for off roading but you can not see out of the darn things.

I can understand your gambling that Chrysler has changed their ways and have started building reliable products.Because they said they did in the commercial.
Proven reliabilty,by the way, from previous Toyota 4Runners was at the top of my list in buying a new truck.

Your statement I don't understand is your saying

I like the FJ cruiser for off roading but you can not see out of the darn things.

The new 4Runners and FJ's are built on the same platform and have pretty close to the same off roading capabilities and you CAN see out of the 4runners better.

Many would argue,including me, that the new TE's in the same hands and outfitted the same are more capable then FJ's offroad.

Good luck in advance with your new Jeep GC and only time will tell if Chrysler has changed it ways. I'll admit they do look pretty sharp in person.
Maybe I'll see you on the trail with one!

 

[StuB]

Chrysler is still not "out of the woods yet". Their economic recovery is hanging by a thread and the new Grand Cherokee is about the only offering Chrysler has for the near future outside of the Wrangler and the Ram Truck division that is selling. The new Fiat sourced small cars are perhaps too far away to do any good. In other words, the corporate product pipeline is going to be fairly empty for awhile.

IMHO, Chrysler's survivability is far too dependent on this new Jeep and the Ram's sales which is a recipe for potential disaster bolstered by the stark fact that Fiat can walk away from Chrysler at any time. Their "deal", as struck by Timothy Geitner and crew, allows them to simply do that more or less.

 

[dsir56]

Have you considered resale value?

 

[PolkManiac]

It was an earlier model, but I had a 1999 5.7L ToTL Limited model for a couple of years and I'll never own another Chrysler product again. That thing was such a POS, I had to trade it in after a couple years due to all the problems and ended up looking about $15k on that vehicle.

I still categorize that as the worst decision that I've ever made, buying that Jeep Grand Cherokee.

 

[PolkManiac]

Also, probably makes more sense for this topic to go in another area if someone wants to move it...

 

[grizz521]

I think you will be making a HUGE mistake buying a Chrysler. Resale value, longivity, lack of reliability. Al Bundy was the only guy able to keep a Chrysler (Dodge) on the road. Dont go to the dark side

 

[Quentin]

As my father said, many times, and specifically when I got my VW: "if you're going to be dumb, you better be tough." How he consistently turns out to be right, I'll never know.

FWIW, the new JGC seems like a fine vehicle. It looks sharp and should do fine offroad. I do wonder about the durability, though. Good luck.

 

[dk27]

Whatever you get best of luck with it. I'm really surprised your that set on the vehicle without driving it, however. Definitely take that thing for a couple spins before being set on it even if you're tickled to death with it.

 

[sgsymon]

As a former Chrysler and Grand Cherokee owner, I will never get another Chrysler product. And mine was under warranty the whole time I had it.

I hope to have my first 4Runner by the end of the month!

 

[jca21]

only jeep i'd buy is a USED wrangler.

cheap parts and easy to fix.

the grand cherokee looks nice but i'm not quite sure how it'd stack up to the 4runner based on everybody's points above.

 

[atv223]

Until about 2 months ago, I have been exclusively driving Jeeps since 1991. My last one was a 1998 GC (inline 6). I bought it new in 98 and was very happy with it. Based on that, my buddy bought a 99 GC (which was a new model year from the 98). From the day he brought it home, he had nothing but problems and ended up getting it taken back under the lemon law. I have hear that '98 and earlier GC run forever, but later models have all kinds of issues and problems.

My wife had a Toyota Camery which we drove the the scrap yard after 15 years and 247,000 miles (Should have stopped at 225,000, put a chunk of change it her after that).

I would have loved to keep my Jeep tradition going, but I really wanted a car with a lot of reliability, even if it lacks in some interior and electronic refinements.

Good luck with your GC, I hope that Chrysler has turned things around for the better.

 

[Jed]

It looks like I may be buying a 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee.

I say go for it! Don't let reliability become too much of a concern. The fact of the matter is that all cars have problems that are common to the entire line. 4Runners are definitely among the more reliable midsize SUVs, but things like frozen front calipers and disgustingly smelly catalytic converters are things we have to deal with as 4Runner owners.

The new Grand Cherokee is a seriously good looking vehicle and the new 4Runner, well, lets just say it hurts my eyes every time I look at it. Plus, if you're used to the 4th gen 4Runner, the new Grand Cherokee has a lot in common with it. As you know, you can get your V8 and you'll still have a full-time 4wd system.

 

[453030]

I ordered my Trail 14 weeks ago and it finally arrived yesterday. I will admit, when the GC pics were surfacing I gave it some thought, but never too seriously. Mainly because the 4Runner fits me much better.

The Cherokee looks less truck-like inside and out. I do like what they offer with the drive systems and air suspension, but the aesthetics are not for me.

As far as reliability goes, I previously leased a 2007 LR3 for my wife. I have to tell you, we did not have a single out of the ordinary issue with it over 30 months. Search the net and you will think you are simply burning your money when you get a Land Rover. However, when the lease expired and I contemplated purchasing it, I knew I could not own it. The extended warranty options were incredibly expensive. Close to 8k to take it out to 85000 miles or so. Even the service manager cautioned me when I asked him, saying he had seen units be perfect for a few years and then develop every problem under the sun.

So when it came time to purchase and own a vehicle for the foreseeable future, I turned to Toyota, who happens to make this very appealing-to-me 5thG 4Runner. A real easy decision.

I would entertain leasing as it is a new model. With a Toyota that did not concern me at all, but with an all new Cherokee you have to cover yourself with an extended warranty if you plan on owning it for a while. Good luck with it.

 

[M1911]

I think the new Grand Cherokee looks very nice, inside and out. But I have to admit that I'm concerned about the reliability. I hope to run my '03 4Runner for another 90,000 miles, so by then we'll probably know whether FIAT has helped Chrysler's reliability or not.

 

[Froglips]

Please don't. My last 3 vehicles were Chysler products and I will never never never own another Chrysler product again. Having to have the transmission rebuilt 3 times in 45,000 miles is just not acceptable.