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Jeep comparison question=please dont flame me

Okay. Here is my situation. Since comtemplating buying a jeep (my wife is short, and the jeeps fit her extremely well, plus we do go camping a bit especially in winter time, I have a question comparing the liberty to the cherokee. I am trying to understand some of the posts here, and I am getting an impression, that a liberty is not really a jeep, its a pretender, and one of the other jeep selections is the only way to go. In fact, I sometimes see people saying that only buying an older jeep is the only way to go. So I am looking for some sound advice, since this is what my wife prefers, and this will be HER main vehicle, and she doesnt care which one. But she prefers the liberty.

I have an acura tl, and an older expedition, which I love and gets me everywhere, but my wife will not drive it. Says its too big for her. And I wont let her drive my acura, since she is a new driver.

She will be driving to work on paved roads everyday, but in new york we do get our share of snow, water on pavement, ice, wind etc. We go camping on unpaved roads, but nothing like serious wilderness. Grass, forest, and some serious mud can occur if it rains. Climbing very steep inclines will probably never happen.

Plus we plan on taking this vehicle on an extended two month vacation around the country for the months of July and August. She will be on sabbatical from her job.

So what I am asking, is help in deciding toward the liberty or the cherokee. I know the size and room differerence. And it will only be the two of us 95 percent of the time in the car. Is the cherokee worth the extra dollars for what you get, when the size is NOT taken into account. Can the cherokee get you out of situations(or into situations) that the liberty cant?

Much regards

Reply to
j.lef
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The Cherokee (XJ) and the Liberty (KJ) which replaced it are roughly the same size, although the XJ has more inside room and in a more usable format as well. The XJ is more competent off road as it has beam axles front and rear, but since you go on grass and unpaved roads that probably wont affect you much. One other thought - if your wife is a new driver, there is a realistic but small chance she is going to smash it up; I'd go for an older XJ if I were you !

Reply to
Dave Milne

If it's not going to see some serious offroad and the main purpose is a daily driver with a bit of light offroad now and then, then it really doesn't matter, imo. Buy what's either more affordable or more comfortable. I think the impression you are getting is correct if you are talking about "Serious Offroad" stuff. The new Jeeps come off the lot "ready" for offroad use but they are marketed more towards the proverbial "soccer mom" and "daily driver who wants the 4x4 'just in case'" buyers. Maybe some of the Cherokee and Liberty owners can give you specific pros and cons, but I don't think it is ultimately going to matter for what you want to do. My personal opinion, though, from watching the capabilites of both the new GCherokees and Libertees (STOCK) ...the Cherokee is capable of alot more offroad than the Liberty. I've never once been impressed by what the Liberty can do ...but more impressed with what it can't do. I've gone offroading with Cherokee owners quite a bit (most of them actually mostly stock) and they fair pretty well.

Good luck! Either way ...you're driving a JEEP and that's the only way to go!!!!

griffin

85 CJ7

Reply to
griffin

Anyone can get stuck or do something stupid it is personal choice on either vehicle. I say 4x4 = get stuck deeper or farther in the woods. Both have a good record and both are capable. Buy the one that suits your needs and likes. I have a 04 TJ Sahara and my wife an 04 WJ that suits our needs. The only reason she did not buy the KJ is that is was too small and that comes from a woman that is only 5'2".

Reply to
HarryS

Reply to
L.W.(ßill) Hughes III

I knew you loved my XJ Bill. :) KH

Reply to
Kevin in San Diego

Now I have one more thing to think about. LOL What could I expect on a class action suit do you think. It would help with my decision :)

Much regards

Reply to
j.lef

Reply to
L.W.(ßill) Hughes III

Reply to
RoyJ

Reply to
attnews

No, it was smartassed, vicious and stupid. Llwellyn has a hard-on for the Liberty evidently...not that it isn't a total soccer-mom pretender, but there's no evidence it's a killer. They had a problem with some ball joints and are replacing them.

It's probably a lot safer than a Kia.

Reply to
Ted Azito

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