Just wondering what the standard warranty is?
I'm thinking about trading in my Saab for something a bit more utilitarian (for the bikes of course :D)
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Just wondering what the standard warranty is?
I'm thinking about trading in my Saab for something a bit more utilitarian (for the bikes of course :D)
I have a Jeep and I inherited a 1997 Toyota van.
the van gets much more use as a bike carrier than the jeep.
Keeps the bikes inside, dry and safe.
I can also sleep in it, haul dogs and furniture or topsoil or whatever.
Thanks Zen! Your insight is always much appreciated :)
Quote:
Originally Posted by ASammy1
Check Consumer Reports. You can't get much lower ratings from them than the Jeep family gets.
Maybe look at a Subaru, Honda Element, Fit, anything but a Jeep.
We have a 99 jeep wrangler and a chrysler town&country van. Like Zen was saying the van gets a lot more use for the bikes. Now that my kids are all grown up and drive their own vehicles I use the van to transport our German shepherds and our bikes. Plus it also gets used for the kayaks and camping as well. My DH just loves his jeep though. It does have a bike rack for the back hitch and a huge bar system that goes from the front to the back. We use it to carry the kayaks. He just loves that Jeep. Im thinking of selling our mustang convertible because we use the jeep more. Our daughter also drives a 98 jeep larado that has 240000. miles on it and has had no problems. Both my sons also have cherokees that they use to drive off road. I guess were a jeep family. LOL
More on the Jeep-
it's fun to drive. I do love my Jeep.
But.
Gas mileage is not good. It's heavy because of the 4WD, it's a truck chassis with a little Jeep body on top.
I don't know what the warranty is but keep in mind it's a Chrysler (now Chrysler/Fiat) product.
My boyfriend has a Toyota FJ Cruiser and we both love it. It's a fun truck. But, it's also great as a daily driver and the 4WD (at least in the auto-transmission model) is not full-time, so running it in 2WD on the streets saves a little gas. He takes it offroading, too, and has probably driven the FJ as hard as anyone and it still runs fine. He has a spare-tire-mounted rack for our bikes, but both our bikes can easily fit inside (with front wheels taken off) if we fold down the backseat.
I understand not everyone is crazy about the styling... but I just thought I'd throw it out there as a jeepy alternative. :D
Never seen one in person, but many people are talking about the new Nissan cube for people who don't like the Honda Element.
I'd be curious to hear anyone's opinions on that option.
http://www.nissanusa.com/cube/
( I think it's ugly)
Not a newer one, but we're on our 3rd Jeep. This is our second Grand Cherokee (1999). Nothing special. We needed something quick, after DH got hit head-on in the Cherokee, and this was available for just a little more than we got for the totaled one. We like to have 1 vehicle that can make it to work in winter storms (which we get a lot of). I way prefer my VW Jetta TDI wagon - wish it had more ground clearance (and 4x4). The Jeep gets atrocious gas mileage. We haven't really had trouble with any of them, so far.
My boss (and his entire family) would drive nothing else, but he also doesn't believe in global warming.:rolleyes:
If you don't go off-road, and if you don't live where you need to get through a foot of snow from time to time, I'd look at something else. I've been driving it for over a week straight (DH usually drives it) because last Tuesday we got dumped on with 15" of wet, heavy snow, our driveway is 1/8 mile long, and the road didn't get plowed. After a couple of days DH took my car on a trip (48 vs 17-ish mpg). I am really looking forward to getting my car back. It isn't terrible, it just isn't great.
On the plus side, when we bought this one, I was very "up" on Jeeps, after DH's accident. Head-on collision with an old lady who had crossed into his lane. Totaled the Jeep, set off both airbags, crunched her car quite badly, and he didn't have the slightest injury.
I've had many jeeps. My driving career started with a 1981 Jeep Wagoneer. My first car of my own was a 1985 Jeep CJ Laredo. Then I bought a 1993 Jeep Wrangler when the opportunity presented itself. The last Jeep I owned/drove was actually my husband's car. We wanted a 4WD vehicle when we left FL, so we bought a 2004 Jeep Unlimited.
I've been happy with all my Jeeps, but that's because I'm a Jeep lover. They are not practical. They get lousy gas milage (the reason we traded in the Unlimited for our current 2005 Toyota Matrix). They drive like crap (really). They tend to be fairly high maintenance. They do have a personality, and they are fun. I miss driving around without my doors (a common occurance when I had my CJ), but I'm a grown-up now and owning a Jeep is just not practical. If you drive one and love it, then it's worth it. Don't talk yourself into it saying that it will be practical - it's an agrument that you will lose (this coming from a Jeep lover!). This is how we ended up with the Unlimited. We talked ourselves into and then, for the first year, spent entirely too much time trying to talk ourselves into keeping it. We finally gave up after owning it for only a year. What a colossal waste that was!
That Nissan Cube looks interesting. I like it because it's different but I can't say that I'd actually buy one. I wonder what kind of gas mileage it gets? It doesn't say on the website but I can't imagine that it would be good (with that profile).
Eventually I found the comment that nissan is expecting 35-40 mpg for the Cube (which I'm weirdly attracted to) :). May still be too early for them to have the final estimation?
I have a very honest old-school auto mechanic. He prefers to work only on American make cars, and told me last time I was in "whatever you do, don't buy a Jeep" -they were working on a Jeep in the next bay. Tokie
OMG, it's horrible!Quote:
Originally Posted by TsPoet
Ok, so I didn't do it. The dealership offered me $4000 less than KBB trade in value.
So now back to square one. I'm from Detroit, so I'm trying to get back into an American car to appease the family.
Any suggestions?
Who constitutes "the family"?Quote:
Originally Posted by ASammy1
Who's paying for the vehicle?
There is no American-made vehicle that comes to mind to fit what you're looking for :o
Why not a Toyota Hilux? Are they available in the US? If so, the diesel, 2 wd, manual versions aren't too bad. Nice tray for the bikes & tons of room in the back to throw all your "stuff".
I kinda like the Cube. I don't like that odd window, but I like the thing. I'd like to see if it is as big as the Element. I hate that the website is not interactive enough to see everything inside. I am NOT going to the Nissan dealer to look at it, because I'm not in the market.
Karen
That Cube looks like it has some blind spots, like that windshield/door post.
Can't get them in the US.Quote:
Originally Posted by crazycanuck
My Element has HUGE blind spots all the way around. I am always rubbernecking to see around them, especially in parking lots and left turns.
Karen
That brings up the old "what's an american car? A Honda built in Ohio, or a Chevy from Mexico?" question
another vehicle that coming from a Detroit- albiet made overseas is the Ford Transit Connect www.fordvehicles.com/transitconnect
I find the Prius to be great for hauling stuff, and it holds 2 bikes easily. Despite being a midsize car, it's having a hatchback and rear seats that fold flat make it very practical. I would guess that a Matrix would be similar.
I had a Pontiac Vibe (same as Matrix) from 2002-2008 and it was a great little car. Too bad my now ex-husband trashed it :mad:Quote:
Originally Posted by ny biker
2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee here. The brakes need to be replaced twice a year, the warranty on everything just about sucks. I don't have a lead foot, and I don't abuse the brakes either. My maintenance/service bills are about 3-4 times the amount of my monthly payment!! Not worth it.
Keep in mind that SUV's are in general more expensive than smaller cars. Brakes, tires, etc, that all adds up, and they get worn out much quicker than smaller cars.
I also have a 2003 VW Golf. It's a pain in the butt to get my bike in there, but so far, the little Golfy has been good. Over 80,000 miles on it, and no major issues!
Sometimes you just get a bad one, I guess.Quote:
Originally Posted by Fujichants
My Wrangler is 11 years old (bought new). I've taken good care of it and maintenance has been next to nothing.
14K well spent:)
I guess I did end up with the lemon of the family. Or maybe the newer ones are just crappy. My mom used to have an older one - 98 or 99? And that car was great. She loved it and it never had any issues. Too bad it was stolen.Quote:
Originally Posted by Zen
I'm trying to think of other American SUV's. None come to mind that I think would be worth buying.