Jeep Liberty
- Thread starter buster
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Well, they're newer, so they won't have some of the aging problems that a 20 year old Cherokee would have.
With that said, I don't trust Chrysler automatics - and that's all you have. They're known to have transmssion problems. Ball joints also seem to be a problem with the Liberties. The 3.7 was pretty stout (has a torque curve similar to the venerable 4.0) ... but feels a bit underpowered since they are so heavy. Also the 3.7 has some head gasket issues.
The interior space is pretty large.
Unfortunately, the liberty was the begin of the sharp decline in Jeep Quality over the past few years.
With that said, I don't trust Chrysler automatics - and that's all you have. They're known to have transmssion problems. Ball joints also seem to be a problem with the Liberties. The 3.7 was pretty stout (has a torque curve similar to the venerable 4.0) ... but feels a bit underpowered since they are so heavy. Also the 3.7 has some head gasket issues.
The interior space is pretty large.
Unfortunately, the liberty was the begin of the sharp decline in Jeep Quality over the past few years.
I'd do more research it it was my purchase.
http://xfinity.comcast.net/slideshow/finance-worstcarsontheroad/jeep-liberty-jeep-liberty-sport/
http://xfinity.comcast.net/slideshow/finance-worstcarsontheroad/jeep-liberty-jeep-liberty-sport/
I like the Mercedes S550 on there...highest cost to own...REALLY?
Originally Posted By: Doog
I like the Mercedes S550 on there...highest cost to own...REALLY?
SHOCKING...
I like the Mercedes S550 on there...highest cost to own...REALLY?
SHOCKING...
LOL!!!
Well all cars have problems. I was considerng the Subaru Forrester but the 2.5L has HG issues I don't want to deal with. Jeep 4.0's are solid engines, but everything else is questionable.
On one of the Jeep forums, folks were saying the 3.7L is a solid engine with little issues.
Well all cars have problems. I was considerng the Subaru Forrester but the 2.5L has HG issues I don't want to deal with. Jeep 4.0's are solid engines, but everything else is questionable.
On one of the Jeep forums, folks were saying the 3.7L is a solid engine with little issues.
Decent vehicles. They won't touch the original Cherokee for sheer indestructibility, but unless you can find a 20k mile XJ that's been hidden in grandma's garage, a used Liberty is probably a safer bet. The drivetrains are reasonably solid,The 3.7 is fine with the weaker link being the 42RE automatic. Its more efficient than the XJ's AW4 (not to mention shifts a lot better- the AW4 is about as graceless as an Allison in a 1980 Greyhound bus) but its not as bulletproof.
Originally Posted By: zloveraz
Originally Posted By: Doog
I like the Mercedes S550 on there...highest cost to own...REALLY?
SHOCKING...
Yeah...well guess I'll trade all 3 of mine in on a Corolla.
Originally Posted By: Doog
I like the Mercedes S550 on there...highest cost to own...REALLY?
SHOCKING...
Yeah...well guess I'll trade all 3 of mine in on a Corolla.
Originally Posted By: buster
I was considerng the Subaru Forrester but the 2.5L has HG issues I don't want to deal with.
psst - get the Forester XT - turbo power and no HG issues!
I was considerng the Subaru Forrester but the 2.5L has HG issues I don't want to deal with.
psst - get the Forester XT - turbo power and no HG issues!
Originally Posted By: 440Magnum
Decent vehicles. They won't touch the original Cherokee for sheer indestructibility, but unless you can find a 20k mile XJ that's been hidden in grandma's garage, a used Liberty is probably a safer bet. The drivetrains are reasonably solid,The 3.7 is fine with the weaker link being the 42RE automatic. Its more efficient than the XJ's AW4 (not to mention shifts a lot better- the AW4 is about as graceless as an Allison in a 1980 Greyhound bus) but its not as bulletproof.
The 42RE actually seems to have shift logic from the one or two I drove. AW4 just kinda shifts when it wants, locks and unlocks the torque converter when it wants. Part of it is they used kickdown cables and the adjusters on the kickdown cables wear out and break. When you adjust a 13 year old cable, it just goes right out of adjustment. I'm not sure if it's worth replacing on mine.
42RE doesn't seem to last 200k unfortunately.
Some of the Gen1 liberties did get better automatic transmissions, though.
Depending on which model you get, I believe they were available with a "Full time" 4wd system (viscous center diff, AWD) ... which works excellent in the snow.
Decent vehicles. They won't touch the original Cherokee for sheer indestructibility, but unless you can find a 20k mile XJ that's been hidden in grandma's garage, a used Liberty is probably a safer bet. The drivetrains are reasonably solid,The 3.7 is fine with the weaker link being the 42RE automatic. Its more efficient than the XJ's AW4 (not to mention shifts a lot better- the AW4 is about as graceless as an Allison in a 1980 Greyhound bus) but its not as bulletproof.
The 42RE actually seems to have shift logic from the one or two I drove. AW4 just kinda shifts when it wants, locks and unlocks the torque converter when it wants. Part of it is they used kickdown cables and the adjusters on the kickdown cables wear out and break. When you adjust a 13 year old cable, it just goes right out of adjustment. I'm not sure if it's worth replacing on mine.
42RE doesn't seem to last 200k unfortunately.
Some of the Gen1 liberties did get better automatic transmissions, though.
Depending on which model you get, I believe they were available with a "Full time" 4wd system (viscous center diff, AWD) ... which works excellent in the snow.
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Originally Posted By: NHHEMI
Not much room in a Liberty and the 3.7L is kind of a dawg and gets poor MPG.
Compared to the 93-98 Grand Cherokee and Cherokee it replaced, they're pretty large inside. Size is comparable to the WJ grand cherokee.
The liberty is 1000 pounds heavier than the Cherokee it replaced. The engine makes the same amount of power.
Not much room in a Liberty and the 3.7L is kind of a dawg and gets poor MPG.
Compared to the 93-98 Grand Cherokee and Cherokee it replaced, they're pretty large inside. Size is comparable to the WJ grand cherokee.
The liberty is 1000 pounds heavier than the Cherokee it replaced. The engine makes the same amount of power.
My parents owned a 2003 Liberty Limited before they traded it on a 2005 Grand Cherokee. The Liberty was overall not that impressive. As NHHEMI noted above, it's quite small inside...or at least feels that way. The 3.7L engine is rather coarse and unrefined. It's also thirsty. And although the 42RE transmission isn't necessarily known for falling apart, it's also not Chrysler's strongest units out there. For the type of use you have in mind for it, though, few of these things may matter.
I like the idea of looking for an XJ Cherokee. I'd buy one instead of a Liberty in a heartbeat. Our family owned two XJs and both were great vehicles.
I like the idea of looking for an XJ Cherokee. I'd buy one instead of a Liberty in a heartbeat. Our family owned two XJs and both were great vehicles.
They named it Liberty for a reason....so as not to tarnish the Cherokee name reputation in America (lol),
Thirsty,small,weird looking,unstable (they almost rolled one on the Chrysler test track before launch and lowered it 1/4" to "solve" the problem)...overall a poor replacement for the 84-01 Cherokee however they didnt seem to rust as badly in the floors and rockers.
Now about that sister vehicle...Dodge Nitro...
Thirsty,small,weird looking,unstable (they almost rolled one on the Chrysler test track before launch and lowered it 1/4" to "solve" the problem)...overall a poor replacement for the 84-01 Cherokee however they didnt seem to rust as badly in the floors and rockers.
Now about that sister vehicle...Dodge Nitro...
The primary problem with the Subaru is the head gaskets, and Subaru indies are so experienced in replacing them that they're almost considered unpublished normal maintenance, kind of like the LIM gaskets on GM V-6s.
The primary problem with the Liberty is everything else, in addition to the incredible thirst of this porky little thing for the limited acceleration it produces.
If I were to choose, I'd probably go with the known issue of a 2.5 Subaru over the many surprises a cheap used Liberty might give you.
There are a couple of Liberty models that I saw for sale at indie used car lots in our area that were in your price range before any negotiation, and these were not really aged machines. That should tell you something.
The primary problem with the Liberty is everything else, in addition to the incredible thirst of this porky little thing for the limited acceleration it produces.
If I were to choose, I'd probably go with the known issue of a 2.5 Subaru over the many surprises a cheap used Liberty might give you.
There are a couple of Liberty models that I saw for sale at indie used car lots in our area that were in your price range before any negotiation, and these were not really aged machines. That should tell you something.
My Father had an '02 back in the day, and it was a good little SUV for him. It was thirsty, but he didn't have any issues with it. He had one of the very first ones produced too.
Someone on here has a roommate with one that has close to 200k neglected miles on it.
My biggest issue with one would be fuel mileage, but if you're buying it for thousands less than other vehicles you can buy a lot of gasoline with the savings.
Someone on here has a roommate with one that has close to 200k neglected miles on it.
My biggest issue with one would be fuel mileage, but if you're buying it for thousands less than other vehicles you can buy a lot of gasoline with the savings.
I'm getting one from my work soon; I was the only bidder in a sealed bid auction.
2002, 68k miles. 2.4 neon motor, stick shift. The 4 cyls only came with a stick shift.
It's a dog. The B-pillar is uncomfortably close. The front seat is like sitting on top of a joint compound bucket, with feet just dangling in the footwell. The transmission/ xfer case balloon the floor pan so wide it's like driving a cabover econoline van from the 1960s.
The cherokee was a much nicer vehicle. I got a cherokee from work under similar circumstances. Meat locker AC.
2002, 68k miles. 2.4 neon motor, stick shift. The 4 cyls only came with a stick shift.
It's a dog. The B-pillar is uncomfortably close. The front seat is like sitting on top of a joint compound bucket, with feet just dangling in the footwell. The transmission/ xfer case balloon the floor pan so wide it's like driving a cabover econoline van from the 1960s.
The cherokee was a much nicer vehicle. I got a cherokee from work under similar circumstances. Meat locker AC.
Originally Posted By: eljefino
The B-pillar is uncomfortably close. The front seat is like sitting on top of a joint compound bucket, with feet just dangling in the footwell.
This is the best description of the seating position I have ever read! I don't know why, but I liked the seating position. It kind of gives you the feeling of an old CJ.
The footwell is equally tight as the old XJ was.
Am I allowed to ask what your bid was? And what is your work doing with a stick shift?
The B-pillar is uncomfortably close. The front seat is like sitting on top of a joint compound bucket, with feet just dangling in the footwell.
This is the best description of the seating position I have ever read! I don't know why, but I liked the seating position. It kind of gives you the feeling of an old CJ.
The footwell is equally tight as the old XJ was.
Am I allowed to ask what your bid was? And what is your work doing with a stick shift?
Originally Posted By: dishdude
Am I allowed to ask what your bid was? And what is your work doing with a stick shift?
A gentleman never talks.
The jeep was part of some trade deal with a Toyota dealer for a client. Nobody really liked it so it got about 3000 miles a year put on it. The clutch isn't shot, either, and we taught some hipsters to drive on it.
IMO they'd be better off with an HHR; they don't go out in snow and don't need 4x4. Instead they got a monster Grand Cherokee to replace this stupid thing, which was then surplused.
Since we're vain, we vinyl wrapped it. Most of it came off very well with a heat gun, BTW. I still find little bits of our logos in the door jambs and other "fold over" areas.
Am I allowed to ask what your bid was? And what is your work doing with a stick shift?
A gentleman never talks.
The jeep was part of some trade deal with a Toyota dealer for a client. Nobody really liked it so it got about 3000 miles a year put on it. The clutch isn't shot, either, and we taught some hipsters to drive on it.
IMO they'd be better off with an HHR; they don't go out in snow and don't need 4x4. Instead they got a monster Grand Cherokee to replace this stupid thing, which was then surplused.
Since we're vain, we vinyl wrapped it. Most of it came off very well with a heat gun, BTW. I still find little bits of our logos in the door jambs and other "fold over" areas.
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