The grand cherokee are super nice rides. Jeep really stepped up their interior game and put together something nice.

Unknown, going to temporarily hijack your thread....

they honestly improved the regular Wrangler interior quite a bit as well. The leather wrapped steering wheel is a nice touch:

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e3...psab78f65e.jpg

It might not look like much compared to most cars, but it's impressive for a Jeep. Here's my 06 Wrangler by comparison:

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e3...p/IMG_4117.jpg

That said, she was a looker on the outside:

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e3...p/IMG_4101.jpg

Of course, at the end of the day, the role of a Jeep is to get dirty, and pretty interiors and scrubbed up exteriors don't help with that:

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e3...s/DSC01226.jpg
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e3...20PIcs/005.jpg
I won't even pretend these pictures suffice, but I haven't had a chance to take real ones yet.

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e3...ps1e96f220.jpg

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e3...psb943ea11.jpg



I have to say the new platform is a much better car, but a much worse Jeep. It's still more capable off road than most anything else you can purchase new, but I'd much rather wheel an X/T/LJ than a JK... and I'd much rather wheel a JK vs a JKU. However, since I spend most of my time on-road, the JKU does the job quite nicely. It's much easier to drive as speed than the squirrely TJ, and four real doors are essential on big vehicles. As a side effect, it's definitely way more metal than I want to keep track of on a tight trail. It's tough enough maneuvering into a parking spot.

The freedom tops are a nice touch. Easy way to get some sun in the cabin without having to drop the full roof. I'd definitely recommend the hardtop on a JKU, while I'd be less enthusiastic on a TJ.

I'm still not in love with the exterior looks, but it is certainly growing on me. I don't think I'll ever really be a big fan of the JK style though.

I will say that if the JK platform is the way you go, get a 2012 or newer to take advantage of the new engine, and don't go any longer than 3.73 for gearing. I would not buy as a primarily offroad vehicle, but it certainly makes a great driver that still maintains a lot of wheelin' capability.

No problem with the hijack. :tiphat: The info is valuable. I had been in jeeps back in the 80"s. When I entered the Jeep wrangler unlimited, I was impressed with the interior. Not overly gadgeted and featured to take it out on a romp. But nice enough to have passengers be pleased with the interior when going on a ride. Perfectly balanced I must say.
So basically, The jeep is very capable still, just not as capable as past body-on frames? That's good to know. Since off-roading would be a bi-annual event for me. More than that in the beginning for learning purposes. But once I know what I'm doing, 2x a year would make fun times on vacay.:tup:

I haven't messed around with one off-road much. I've heard they're surprisingly capable, but I remain cautious.

Setting aside capability, there's a simple size issue. It's much more difficult to haul something that big along a tight trail. Where a YJ might not need a spotter, a JK will. There's just too much car to keep track of from the driver's seat, IMO. For something you plan to drive to work afterwards, it is a huge detractor.

I was considering the new Wrangler as a new truck but I just cant get over spending $30K on a 4wd drive truck with a part time 4wd system. That's why the 6spd FJ Cruiser is so much more attractive to me.

My dad had an FJ a while back. They're ok. I imagine they're effective off road. I liked my brother's Xterra better than the FJ, but they're both fairly nice. I just always felt like the FJ could use another 50 hp. But everyone has their own opinions.

I won't lie, I've given wranglers a look recently. They're always going to be a cool and fun car, but I don't know if they're worth the price. Again, just opinion.

The FJ is down on power. The motor has been described as a "dinosaur" but I drove a 6spd version and it was quick for a truck. I would also like to be able to tow and the wrangler has crappy towing capacity compared to the FJ.

The FJ I drove was an automatic.

I drove both but will be getting a 6spd if I end up getting one. Me and Brandie are trying to buy one together, she needs a new car and I need a truck for my new job when it snows and stuff (I'm still keeping the Z LOL) The biggest down fall I see with the FJ is the gas mileage with the 6spd, its horrible! But I wont be using it for my commute since I still have my Versa.

They probably aren't, much like many other fun cars. You can get an F150 4x4 for less that will accomplish more, but it's not a Jeep. As long as people are willing to pay extra for that badge, Chrysler group will take their money. There's no real competition and the vehicles continue to sell, especially now that they've softened them up for public consumption.

The Wrangler is definitely down on towing capacity, but I'm not sure how much better the FJ would fare in the real world-- it is down enough on power without a 5,000 lb trailer behind it.

If towing is a consideration, either vehicle is a bad choice. While you can technically move, say, as 2500 lb s2K on a light trailer with either truck, you aren't going to be able to tow a 370Z. In the case of the FJ, it might be more because you don't want to spend forever getting up to speed rather than raw capability, but it won't make struggling up every hill any more enjoyable. If you want to tow, get a truck made for towing. F150 or F250 would be my suggestion.

What's the motivation for all-time 4WD?

I owned a GC with all-time, but every truck I've bought since is part time. Better gas mileage, and you have a no-compromise system when you need it.

That said, the torsen setup in the FJ isn't bad, and IIRC it does have a CD lock.

the manual FJs have a shorter rear gear that makes them feel a lot more responsive.

I am a Jeep freak and all those Jeeps suck. If its not a Wrangler then they should take it out of the line up. Those other "cars" are all just Dodges with JEEP write on them. If it doesn't have a SFA then it sucks, period.

I should state I have owned GC's but they were WJ's (Last of the SFA for the GC's), I did own a Liberty and its major downfall was the IFS. I lifted it and put decent tires on it which helped but still not a real Jeep.


I am down to just the JK unlimted Rubi now but I am on the prowl for my next Jeep project. Looking for an LJ.

The motivation to an AWD system for me is my current 55 mile commute to work. When it rains or lightly snows I can have the added security of the AWD system, instead of a RWD truck in the case of the wrangler unless its really snowing or I'm getting into some serious stuff. The FJ is like a Subaru but with a 2-speed transfer case to get you out of anything.

:confused: I'm confused...

I thought part Time AWD meant that you can turn the AWD on or off??

I wouldn't let that drive your purchasing decision too heavily. 4wd does very little to increase safety in light snow, and basically nothing in rain.

I actually prefer to have a rwd truck in intermittenly slippery conditions because it isolates the drive wheels from steering/braking. If you do something stupid with the throttle, you still have grip with the front tires. It might sound ridiculous, but if you wind up accelerating on a patch of ice, it's nice to still have 2 tires "gripping." Newer part time systems allow you to switch while moving which is of huge value in my mind.

At the end of the day, ability to stop and turn is a lot more limiting than ability to get moving, and all time 4wd unfortunately does absolutely nothing for those concerns. The jeep/fj are capable in inclement weather more due to weight than drive system choice. I took my tj though 36" of snow in 2wd without switching, simply because it wasnt needed.

For performance purposes, I absolutely prefer awd in inclement conditions, but it's of questionable value in something heavy that isn't being driven hard.

The fj is certainly a great choice, but unless the goal is to never think about putting the car in 4wd, I wouldn't put too much stock in all time 4wd.

The fj does sacrifice some of the extreme snow performance, but I expect in LI that's not really a concern since the roads are fairly well cared for.