want a new vehicle

[FSHKPR]

i am thinking about changing vehicles mainly because i want to get a deck boat and i dont think my chev venture van would be able to tow it. have been looking at suv's mostly the trailblazer and the jeep grand cherokee. just wondering what some peoples expierence with these two vechiles are. happy. disapointed problems with ect. thanks

 

[crazy charlie]

Re: want a new vehicle

I have owned both vehicles you mentioned and there is absolutely noooooooooo comparison.The Jeeps quality puts the chevy to shame.We have 3 jeeps in out driveway,My wife has a 2004.I have a 1995 with 148,000 which drives like a 2-3 year old vehicle,and we keep a 93 Cherokee as a spare.My sister has two jeeps,my neighbor has 5.Everyone has the same opinion They are built to last and they dont break.Your timing could not be better because the rebates for 2004 are through the roof.I think we got a total of $5500 in rebates when I got my wife hers for Christmas.Now that Daimler Benz is involved in some of the engineering ,the vehicle is even better than in the past.Good luck shopping Charlie

 

[FSHKPR]

Re: want a new vehicle

thanks charlie. i like the looks of the jeep better too, not too mention they seem about 2000 cheaper than the trailblazer. how heavy have you towed with the jeeps? and how does it handle<br />thanks again

 

[crazy charlie]

Re: want a new vehicle

I have towed 5000 on a few ocassions but usually 2-3000 with no problem.We do some deep sand beach driving in 4x4 and have never had a problem though we have towed just about every kind of 4x4 you can imagine out of trouble with our jeep.It gives you a comfortable carlike ride on the road and it is the absolute best off road,bar none!!The Jeep Greand has had unibody for over 10 years and thats why you can have one like mine with 148,000 miles and it still feels relatively new when you drive it.No squeeks or rattles like most suv get after a few years.The right hitch is a little pricey because it goes through the bumper instead of under it.Charlie

 

[SpinnerBait_Nut]

Re: want a new vehicle

I have 2, a '96 and a '88.<br />Both Cherokees and they are tough.<br /><br />The '96 has 140+K miles on it and the motor is still clean as it can be and runs like it has 20 mile on it.<br /><br />The '88 is a little different breed, but still good.<br />Both are 4.0L vehicles.

 

[KM2]

Re: want a new vehicle

Had a 00 GC loaded with a 4.0 engine loved the truck might still have it if it had the v8. I was impressed with the fit, finish and quality of the truck. Towed well but I felt the 4.0 was a little underpowered towing 3500# Never had a problem and my only compliants are the gas mileage wasn't that good for a 6 cylinder and the rotors warp. They are designed to do some off roading, ours had the quadradrive 4x4 system. I really couldn't get that thing stuck.

 

[red10]

Re: want a new vehicle

if ya can keep the tranny from going out you got a good vehicle

 

[magster65]

Re: want a new vehicle

Take one of these for a test drive.<br />

<br />I liked it enough to buy one. The mileage isn't great but it's really powerful (5.9 liter) and handles like a car.

 

[PW2]

Re: want a new vehicle

I concur with the opinions on the Jeeps. I've had 3--The first one a 89 Cherokee that I got 270k miles out of before selling it--it was showing some wear and tear, but still ran good.<br /><br />The next one was a 93 Grand Cherokee that I just retired--with almost 400k km's on it ( bought in Canada) Starting to burn a little oil, and as I need a dependable vehicle for work, it was time.<br /><br />I just bought a 2000 Grand Cherokee with 50k miles on it, and seems to run perfect--and at less than half the price of a new one, 50k miles did not worry me much.<br /><br />All have had the 4.0 litre engine, and while it easily pulls a 17 ft boat, I'm not sure I would want to pull a very heavy trailer behind it.<br /><br />But aside from the usual stuff that goes, I have had no engine/transmission/drive train problems with any of them at all. The 4.0 liter engine seems to be bullet proof. Apparently some of them have transmissions that are all time 4wd, and I don't know too much about them, but I would get one that has 2wd as the standard, that can switch to 4wd when necessary.<br /><br />But they all seem to have lots of power, and I get 20+ mpg on the hiway with all of them, towing a trailer or not.