Jeep Liberty

[Spazdog]

I see a few high mileage Liberties every month.

Completely unexceptional vehicles.

When they first came out, Jeep enthusiasts moaned and cried that it wasn't a real Jeep because it had independent front suspension. Whatever.

The suspension isn't really the problem. The main problem is that you can get a 4Runner or Pathfinder that is a couple years older for about the same amount of money. It will last as long/longer and is more pleasant to drive. Or an Explorer. Or a Grand Cherokee. They made Blazers until 2005. You can get a pretty good Blazer for that kind of money
I like the Blazers. CPI spider be [darned]

 

[The_Jeff]

"My daddy bought me this jeep. Isn't it cute?" Target demo:

 

[SwampSurvivor]

Originally Posted By: eljefino
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.


When I bought my Cherokee in 2010 I was told the A/C didn't work on it ... but the seller would fix it for me.

It's worked ice cold for the last two summer ... never serviced either.

 

[caravanmike]

the only thing I have to add is the liberty does not have the 42re transmission it has the 42rle transmission (03 and up). they are totally different designs with the 42re having bands and sprags and the 42rle being fully electronic.

if you want the one with the strongest automatic the 02's came with the 45rfe ram tansmission while the 42rle was developed for production!

ps: I have 2 liberties in the family and have no problems with either.

 

[VNTS]

Ahh

I think your thinking about the CRV, RAV4 etc I have yet to see a male drive either!

Or did the RAV4 Jeannie tell you otherwise LOL

Originally Posted By: eljefino
"My daddy bought me this jeep. Isn't it cute?" Target demo:

 

[Hokiefyd]

Originally Posted By: VNTS
I think your thinking about the CRV, RAV4 etc I have yet to see a male drive either!


I proudly drive one. Best car I've owned.

 

[SLCraig]

I'm a Chrysler guy deep down inside but I can't recommend that vehicle.

Small, terrible MPG, gutless. Reliability is average though, the 3.7 works, it just feels underpowered.

 

[VNTS]

You sir are in the minority. CRV and RAV4 are young chick mobiles or mommy mobiles.

Originally Posted By: Hokiefyd
Originally Posted By: VNTS
I think your thinking about the CRV, RAV4 etc I have yet to see a male drive either!


I proudly drive one. Best car I've owned.

 

[dja4260]

My parents have an 06 or 07 Liberty. The interior is cheap plastic and the window regulators go out all the time. We've done both front wheel bearing @60k. Other then that it's been decent. Gas mileage is terrible but that is expected. The short wheel base and 4 wheel drive makes it enjoyable during the winter.

My parents would love to sell it but it's not worth anything and is long paid off.

I personally don't care for it and would avoid. I'd rather have a more refined CRV etc.

 

[Hokiefyd]

Originally Posted By: VNTS
You sir are in the minority. CRV and RAV4 are young chick mobiles or mommy mobiles.


I am secure enough in myself to buy a vehicle that I like rather than buy a vehicle that I like to be seen in.

You're right: men like me ARE in the minority.

 

[k24a4]

Originally Posted By: Hokiefyd
Originally Posted By: VNTS
You sir are in the minority. CRV and RAV4 are young chick mobiles or mommy mobiles.


I am secure enough in myself to buy a vehicle that I like rather than buy a vehicle that I like to be seen in.



Agreed. Image is not everything. One of the few benefits of getting older: you stop worrying about what other people think, especially with regard to the superficial things that, ultimately, don't matter.

And, yes, I own a Miata. Without question the most enjoyable car I've ever owned.

Pssst, Buster, don't sell the Honda...

 

[IndyIan]

My sister has 06 or 07 Liberty, she had one before that was a 6spd manual but maybe that's only for Canada?
Anyways, the automatic one has some rev flare now at 100k miles but has had that for a year or so. No other issues really, same bad gas mileage as everyone else, nothing really wrong with how it drives but not a vehicle I'd recommend either. Maybe its the dodge Caliber of the small SUV segment?

 

[SwampSurvivor]

Originally Posted By: IndyIan
My sister has 06 or 07 Liberty, she had one before that was a 6spd manual but maybe that's only for Canada?
Anyways, the automatic one has some rev flare now at 100k miles but has had that for a year or so. No other issues really, same bad gas mileage as everyone else, nothing really wrong with how it drives but not a vehicle I'd recommend either. Maybe its the dodge Caliber of the small SUV segment?


Nope, that's the Jeep Compass and Patriot!

 

[Brons2]

I rented a Patriot and at least it got good gas mileage. I got 30MPG in mainly highway driving.

 

[gofast182]

Originally Posted By: k24a4
Originally Posted By: Hokiefyd
Originally Posted By: VNTS
You sir are in the minority. CRV and RAV4 are young chick mobiles or mommy mobiles.


I am secure enough in myself to buy a vehicle that I like rather than buy a vehicle that I like to be seen in.



Agreed. Image is not everything. One of the few benefits of getting older: you stop worrying about what other people think, especially with regard to the superficial things that, ultimately, don't matter.

And, yes, I own a Miata. Without question the most enjoyable car I've ever owned.

Pssst, Buster, don't sell the Honda...

First I've driven 3 Liberties, various years, two as rental cars. They're awful. The 3.7 is coarse and gets poor mpg, the shape of the floor/body makes the front feel very cramped and uncomfortable, and the handling is so bad [on road] you always feel like you're on the edge of the vehicle's capability which is scary.

For that money one could get an early '00s CR-V or Forester and be much happier and more confident in the vehicle. To the poster who thinks CR-Vs are only girl cars, must not pay attention to them on the road. I see many middle-aged to older men driving them, too, and I was never ashamed to drive the one my wife and I used to have as it was relatively attractive and quite entertaining for what it was.

 

[The_Jeff]

So I got my work surplus 2003 liberty 4 cyl with 68,000 miles.

I can't believe anyone would buy this new!!! They must have regretted it because they traded it at 33k then my work was snookered into trading for it.

The manual transmission whines like a school bus. I suppose it's "heavy duty straight cut gears" but it strikes me as something we put up with in 1955. The shifter is notchy and balky. I've had three dodge dakotas with similar "top loader" transmissions (NV 1500 series?) that shifted great. Somehow they screwed this up.

There's no power under 4000 RPMs. Above that it does take off acceptably.

It dings at me after I start it to warn of low washer fluid. I thought it was something serious like a door open or no seat belt.

Paint is jumping off the underside of the floorpan and rust is starting. There's also some inside the passenger's door on the rear fender where moisture collects.

I guess if I had to say something nice about it, the AC is cold. The compressor is only running about 20% of the time at 65'F ambient. I don't feel it kicking on and off. Am used to GM CCOT continuously variable compressors. The OE chrysler battery lasted ten years, I ripped it out due to slow starting.

There's a button one has to press to remove the ignition key. In hindsight I figure this design is meant for automatic transmissions and the button simply activates the gizmo that being in "park" otherwise would have done. They're trying to spin it as a convenience feature, but I don't believe it.

 

[SwampSurvivor]

Originally Posted By: eljefino
So I got my work surplus 2003 liberty 4 cyl with 68,000 miles.

I can't believe anyone would buy this new!!! They must have regretted it because they traded it at 33k then my work was snookered into trading for it.

The manual transmission whines like a school bus. I suppose it's "heavy duty straight cut gears" but it strikes me as something we put up with in 1955. The shifter is notchy and balky. I've had three dodge dakotas with similar "top loader" transmissions (NV 1500 series?) that shifted great. Somehow they screwed this up.

There's no power under 4000 RPMs. Above that it does take off acceptably.

It dings at me after I start it to warn of low washer fluid. I thought it was something serious like a door open or no seat belt.

Paint is jumping off the underside of the floorpan and rust is starting. There's also some inside the passenger's door on the rear fender where moisture collects.

I guess if I had to say something nice about it, the AC is cold. The compressor is only running about 20% of the time at 65'F ambient. I don't feel it kicking on and off. Am used to GM CCOT continuously variable compressors. The OE chrysler battery lasted ten years, I ripped it out due to slow starting.

There's a button one has to press to remove the ignition key. In hindsight I figure this design is meant for automatic transmissions and the button simply activates the gizmo that being in "park" otherwise would have done. They're trying to spin it as a convenience feature, but I don't believe it.


We had a wrangler with the NV transmission, after the one with the AX15 transmission - there was a noticeable amoutn of gear noise.

The neon 2.4 is a polar opposite of the AMC 150 it replaced. The AMC150 had low end torque, but nothing up high. The Neon 2.4 has nothing down low, but a little up high.

 

[Spazdog]

Originally Posted By: Miller88


The neon 2.4 is a polar opposite of the AMC 150 it replaced. The AMC150 had low end torque, but nothing up high. The Neon 2.4 has nothing down low, but a little up high.


Yeah, my 2.4 only makes about 220 ft-lbs of torque at 2300 rpm.

I think the Wrangler 2.4 really needed a turbocharger. It would have had 30 odd more horsepower and 10 or so more ft-lbs of torque than the 4.0

 

[01rangerxl]

Originally Posted By: dishdude

Someone on here has a roommate with one that has close to 200k neglected miles on it.


That's me, but I moved to another state, so I don't get to witness the Liberty abuse first hand anymore. Last I heard a couple months ago it was still kicking, barely.

It has over 220K miles on it now. It's an '04 Sport 4WD with the 3.7/auto. OCIs have usually been 10K miles or more on conventional oil. It gets a new used tire (just one) whenever one is too bald to use or pass a state inspection. I had to teach my roommate to just go ahead and add a quart when the oil light comes on rather than adding just a little from the bottle until the light goes off. The worst problem to date has been a severe trans shudder that started around 180K miles. A fluid change, the first one it ever got, temporarily stopped that, but it has returned. The front suspension is pretty questionable, but is still attached. Lots of body issues like broken power windows and a broken trunk latch, a few mechanical issues like a leaking PS rack and a CEL for something. A couple times the gauge cluster went totally dead while driving, but came back after a restart. A/C hasn't worked for a year, and the original radio developed a mind of its own. It hasn't been without problems, but it hasn't received much care at all either. It gets the bare minimum needed to keep it going, and even with that it does pretty well. The engine runs surprisingly smooth and strong, it actually rides pretty decently considering how neglected the entire suspension is not to mention the used tires, most of the time it shifts well, and it has never once broken down. It always starts and goes where you need to go. If it had been well cared for and problems were fixed when they cropped up, it would still be a pretty decent little SUV. Unfortunately, I think it has one tire in the junkyard right now. The multitude of problems it has that have been let go over the years will make it not worth repairing when the trans finally bites the dust completely. The paint and interior are pretty rough since it has never received a detailing since about 50K miles. I think the 3.7 will go much longer as long as the oil is topped up.

 

[Hokiefyd]

Originally Posted By: eljefino
There's a button one has to press to remove the ignition key. In hindsight I figure this design is meant for automatic transmissions and the button simply activates the gizmo that being in "park" otherwise would have done. They're trying to spin it as a convenience feature, but I don't believe it.


That's something that cars with manual transmissions used to have, but I didn't know they were still using them. My '07 Corolla (with a 5-speed) didn't have a button to remove the key. My dad's '92 Mustang did. I think my '95 Nissan truck did.