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Car and Driver: New Jeep models

Manhattan said:
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... pretty sad when a used Toyota beats anything new out of Detroit
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It's not like you picked a Camry, that's an
EXCEPTIONALLY good used Toyota. I started pricing 06s this past fall as a possible replacement for my wife's Audi... Still a bit too rich for us, but if I had the means and was looking for the best vehicle to own for the next 10 years, that would be it. My 93 FZJ80 has convinced me on Toyota trucks.

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With new ARB ;)
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I love those land FZJ80's. 10 years ago I spent about a year looking for a good use one here in KS(needed a boat towing camping rig), and couldn't get it done. The FZJs, like CJs, all had serious corrosion problems (ironic that I passed over this to buy a 1999 silverado that later proved to have the dredded rusty rails).
 
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Bushmaster6 said:
...My 93 FZJ80 has convinced me on Toyota trucks.
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My sister's '90-something rusted-to-structural-failure frame tundra would convince you otherwise. Oh, and her '80-something landcruiser that I've never seen running, too. She bought a Ford F-150 a few years ago, and hasn't looked back -completely thrilled with how nice "other vehicles" are (i.e. US vehicles), after owning a BMW 320i, VW bus and the two toyotas mentioned above, plus some type of toyota mini van.

Lastly, a moderator should change the title of this thread to "Car and Driver: Foreign model love affairs". LOL :)
 
This thread did kinda take on its' own life; prolly not the most productive direction.

I know it's hard to imagine that a group of Jeep CJ fanatics would prefer a simple, rugged, inexpensive and utilitarian rig (and compromise a car like ride, 14 airbags, and a 5 star insurance crash rating). Unfortunately, we are outnumbered 3000 to 1 by the market (and the government has legislated safety to the point that a 2,900 lb, utilitarian truck simply cannot be built and certified as a car or truck - they make these now, but call them UTV's).

My current (and will be for the next 5 years or so) towing, camping, boating, hauling vehicle is a 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee HEMI. We've had it about 4 months (it's my wifes daily driver, I have a company car and the Scrambler is my toy) and I love it. After lot's of looking and comparison, there simply isn't any competition to it (at the price point, with it's capabilities). The HEMI with the factory hitch package comes with self-leveling rear air suspension, and it works great, I can attach the boat or the Scrambler trailer and it levels right out. I can honestly say that with the (5000 lb) scrambler and trailer behind it there is very little difference up to about 45 MPH. Around town without the trailer, it is absolutely ridiculous how well it drives, sounds and turns, if you can afford the fuel (big if) you can drive it in the same manner that I regularly drive my VW CC. The HEMI sounds BadA$$. As for price, I shopped for about 3 months before I pulled the trigger to dial in the perfect VALUE; the GC's can get downright stupid with completely unnecessary options. We bought a Laredo X that had the HEMI, towing package, and NAV package only. We saw many similar ones with the panoramic sunroof (worthless 2K), 20's (make it ride bad and adds 50 bucks a tire), Limited (adds a few nice things) that on average added 4-5K to the sticker. I wanted one of the Off Road Packages, but couldn't find one within a days drive. I picked it up at the end of the 12 clearances for 7K off sticker. My only other NEW choices that could tow what I need and were in the same type was a Toyota Sequoia that stickered for 55K when similarly equipped (and the Toyota Dealer pretty much laughed at me at the notion that they would need to negotiate).

I would recommend my HEMI GC to anyone. It gets 10 MPG in town, 17-18 @ 82 MPH on the I-state, but we don't baby it.
 
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Where's the picture of this GC Hemi?

I think it is pretty cool that Jeep is the first to offer a diesel in a "family" type (i.e. smaller than full-size truck chassis) 4x4 in the USA. I hope it goes "mainstream" throughout the auto industry.
 
Hemi gc

I was pretty sure I had a pic of it towing the Scram last weekend, but apparently I forgot. Still need a bigger "drop" ball mount, the downside to perfectly level suspension, is that I need a 6 in. drop ball to level the trailer.

I need to get a pic of it in the wild (but it hasn't been yet)!

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MarknessMonster said:
Where's the picture of this GC Hemi?

I think it is pretty cool that Jeep is the first to offer a diesel in a "family" type (i.e. smaller than full-size truck chassis) 4x4 in the USA. I hope it goes "mainstream" throughout the auto industry.
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Yeah, that is a good-looking body style on your GC. So, those Jeeps cost about as much as a 1-ton crew-cab diesel pickup truck...$55Kish, before negotiations?
 
tower210 said:
This one stickered @ $41K. So much less that a 1 ton anything
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Yeah, these new big trucks are getting pretty spendy with all the creature-comfort packages. I can't believe the toyota you mentioned is priced the same as the big trucks, and people actually buy them.

That seems like a good price you got at $7K off sticker for that GC....nice rig.
 
Tower210,

How'd the GC do towing the Scrambler? And did you have it on a trailer or flat tow? Just curious as I am in the market for a new vehicle that I "may" want to use to tow the Scrambler and trailer on occasion but don't necessarily want a full-size pickup.

Thanks.
 
It does great. I've had it cruising at 70-75 with no problems (but I usually keep it to 65-70). I have an 18 ft, 7000 lb trailer with tandem axels, brakes on both axels. Trailer weighs about 1,400 lbs empty. My scram weighs 3550 with me in it.

I have only towed it once (not really wheelin season (ORV park) yet.
 
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tower210 said:
It does great. I've had it cruising at 70-75 with no problems (but I usually keep it to 65-70). I have an 18 ft, 7000 lb trailer with tandem axels, brakes on both axels. Trailer weighs about 1,400 lbs empty. My scram weighs 3550 with me in it.

I have only towed it once (not really wheelin season (ORV park) yet.
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Good info. I am in the market for a daily driver that I will also tow with once in a blue moon(ie: the National Scramble and military moves). I like the Tacoma's because I am not really into the Full Size trucks. It has a towing capacity of 6500. My Scrambler is very similiar to yours so it should weigh the same but the only trailer I have access to is a U-haul weighing in a 2200#'s(5700 total w/Jeep). I think it will do the job, I am just concerned about the hydraulic surge brakes and would prefer a trailer with electric brakes. Looks like I might need to invest into a good trailer further down the road.

Thanks for the info.
 
towing.

I did the U-haul thing for last years scramble, it was ok (behind the GC's predecessor), it came with webbed straps that were made to wrap the tires, but they were too short even for 32s. I had some heavy duty ratchet straps, so I adapted and made it work. In retrospect I found out that my local trailer supply shop (sells trailers & all parts) actually rents the trailers they sell, but with electric brakes (just like the trailer you would buy) - and actually about 20% less than the U-haul; so you might do some calling around and see what your choices are.

One other nice thing about the GC is that it has the brake controller with sway control built into the ECM integrated with the factory stability control.

kk

53D Scrambler said:
Good info. I am in the market for a daily driver that I will also tow with once in a blue moon(ie: the National Scramble and military moves). I like the Tacoma's because I am not really into the Full Size trucks. It has a towing capacity of 6500. My Scrambler is very similiar to yours so it should weigh the same but the only trailer I have access to is a U-haul weighing in a 2200#'s(5700 total w/Jeep). I think it will do the job, I am just concerned about the hydraulic surge brakes and would prefer a trailer with electric brakes. Looks like I might need to invest into a good trailer further down the road.

Thanks for the info.
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tower210 said:
I did the U-haul thing for last years scramble, it was ok (behind the GC's predecessor), it came with webbed straps that were made to wrap the tires, but they were too short even for 32s. I had some heavy duty ratchet straps, so I adapted and made it work. In retrospect I found out that my local trailer supply shop (sells trailers & all parts) actually rents the trailers they sell, but with electric brakes (just like the trailer you would buy) - and actually about 20% less than the U-haul; so you might do some calling around and see what your choices are.

One other nice thing about the GC is that it has the brake controller with sway control built into the ECM integrated with the factory stability control.

kk
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Wow...that's good advice on the trailer rental. I didn't even think to check out a trailer retailer to rent their trailers. The Trucks I am looking at are alread pre-wired for the brake controler so I would just need to buy a unit....not as convenient as your GC though. Appreciate the help.
 
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I wasn't going to say it, but I can't hold back. That Ranger looks like the bastard offspring of a Nissan Sentra and Chevy Avalanche :eek:

Respect the details, but holy mother is it fugly.
 
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