considering a 2004 Explorer

I just bought an '04 Explorer XLT, and I love it. I ruled out the Grand Cherokee during my shopping, because it was too small inside. I also wanted the third row seat in the Explorer, which I don't think was available with the Jeep.

You should look at this website:

I think youwill feel safer in the Explorer.wth

I found the ('04) Cherokee very cramped, especially for my legs. The transmission kicked hard on the upshift and the dash had a very simple, boring design.

I went with the '03 Explorer XLT instead. I'm very pleased with it. I'm sure the '04 is/will be at least as good as the '03.

Well, we had a '00 Grand Cherokee Ltd (same trim level as an EB/Ltd, same body style as the '04) and traded it for an '02 Explorer Limited (same body style, etc., as the '04). Traded it because Jeep/Chrysler bought it back as a Lemon (brakes warped every 6,000 miles!!) Let's put that down as an anomaly and not relevant to a fair comparison. (After all, EVERYONE makes a lemon ... now & then!!)

Here's my take:

Jeep: much more powerful V-8 (downright zippy in the Limited we had!!), better ergonomics (by far), better use of electronics (by far), a lot of nice little touches. Great marketing (all of the invites to the Jeep get together actually make it look like it might really be fun to run your $40,000 SUV through the mud!!) Probably better in more severe off-road conditions.

Ford: FAR more reliable, FAR more solid, availability of the third row seat, availability of the rear AC/heat, FAR better handling with the independent suspension in the rear, equally adept at running through snow and muck most of us REALLY drive through, more room in the back (with the back seat down), and a FAR better record of long-term reliability (just see how many folks in this newsgroup are at 150,00k + miles ... in the Jeep groups there is a deathly silence on the subject of longevity!!)

I see Jeep has a really snazzy new plan for the 2005 model. If it's really as high tech as it sounds AND they get the mechanical reliability fixed ... I'll be interested ... maybe in 2006. If not, consider me a FORD owner for a LONG time!! Our Explorer has been PERFECT!!

Cheers!!

Ken

Ignoring his agents recommendation,"Ken" thrust open the hotel room door and said to the gathering crowd:

Not a Jeep but..

I traded in my 99 Durango and went back to an Explorer having owned an

93 in the past that I traded in for the (then new) 99 Durango. After owning the Durango for 4 years, (60k miles), the transmission was ready to go, the auto down on the drivers window was dead, the ABS sensor was replaced twice, the ABS CAB module was dead and needed replacing, the battery had died within the first year, the rear center brake light *always* had one or two bulbs that were loose and unlit, (a well known design flaw in the light assembly), the "chrome" lugnuts had broken off 6 of the lugnuts, (Chrysler being so cheap that they merely put a "shell cap" of chrome over the nuts that frequently just fell off, the windshield washer motor was dead and finally we lived with the fact that the rear a/c system never blew cold air after almost a dozen trips to the dealer, they basically said that's the way they all are, confirmed by other Durango owners I have spoken to.

The problems I listed above are *typical* for Durango owners. TYPICAL. That's the scary part. Don't take me the wrong way, I LOVED that truck with the 5.9L engine it had remarkable pull (at 9mpg btw), but it could go anywhere, anytime and pull anything behind it while going there. However, after that "Chrysler Moment (tm)", I'm having serious doubts about ever having another Chrysler product again.

Of course YMMV.

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People are more violently opposed to fur than leather because it's safer to harass rich women than motorcycle gangs.

-Unknown

Remove "die spam" to email

The "Chrysler" moment is a tradition in my family. I think at least one member of th elast three generations has wned at least one Chrysler product. My Father actually has owned three (one car, one pick-up, one dump truck). My SO has had one as well. I suppose as long as new people keep coming along Chrysler will survive. Maybe Chrysler can target their advertsing this way...for instance - "Have you owned you Chrysler Product Yet? Why wait, get it over while you are young enough to recover from the experience!" Yeah, I can see that.

Regards,

Ed White