Good-Bye Jeep Liberty! WELCOME BACK JEEP CHEROKEE!

shadoquad

The FJ I drove was an automatic.

red6spd

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.

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2010 Base+Sport 6spd: Stillen G3, FI Non-Resonated CBE, FI Non-Resonated Test Pipes, UpRev Tuned, Custom 24R Oil Cooler, JDM Rear Fog-OEM Harness.
???Whp ???WTQ (Will find out come spring time)

Red__Zed

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

Red__Zed

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.

Tazicon

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.

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Porsche, it's a 2 syllable word

red6spd

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.

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2010 Base+Sport 6spd: Stillen G3, FI Non-Resonated CBE, FI Non-Resonated Test Pipes, UpRev Tuned, Custom 24R Oil Cooler, JDM Rear Fog-OEM Harness.
???Whp ???WTQ (Will find out come spring time)

Red__Zed

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.

UNKNOWN_370

It depends where you are in Long Island. As far as paving, they are better kept than NYC to a point. BUT with snow. Some areas, they get buried in with tardy and slow help in the residential areas. It just depends where you stay.

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Favorite Quote.
"I'm not gonna kill you... I'm just gonna Bash Your Face In" Jack Nicholson-"The Shining". 1980

Red__Zed

It's all relative. Compared to rural areas, there's very little accumulation anywhere in the NYC/LI areas.

UNKNOWN_370

Save for when we get hit with Blizzards.

__________________
Favorite Quote.
"I'm not gonna kill you... I'm just gonna Bash Your Face In" Jack Nicholson-"The Shining". 1980

UNKNOWN_370

I'm confused...

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

__________________
Favorite Quote.
"I'm not gonna kill you... I'm just gonna Bash Your Face In" Jack Nicholson-"The Shining". 1980

gsxr750

Its not really a true off road vehicle, your still better off with a CJ style jeep or a short wheel base SUV or pickup for off road use.

The new cross over style 4x4's are very limited in their off road abilities, their basically limited to lightly snowed covered or mildly muddy seasonal roads.

Red__Zed

Has 4l and good approach angles. It should be perfectly capable, but then again most vehicles are far more capable than most people realize. I can take a jeep liberty on most trails without much issue (though the front and rear bumpers might develop some character.

Folks get caught up in equipment when the key is really driving style. If the center diff locks and you can get into 4l, it's amazing what you can accomplish.

This car certainly isn't a wrangler, but it's capable of handling far more than snow and mud.

gsxr750

Where do you put the winch and I'd hate to see what one would look like after trying to keep up with some real off road vehicles, and I mean real off roadiing rocks, mud, fallen trees.

Not the occasional trek down a seasonal road or some western gravel road.

For real off roading you need a high ground clearance, good undercarriage protection, and a winch on the front and rear of the vehicle.

That's why a lot of ppl have given up on off road 4x4's and went to a good ATV, as it makes more sense and you use the truck or suv as a hauler and base camp.

Red__Zed

Ground clearance isn't bad, and there's very little undercarriage protection on any factory offroad vehicles. There's also nowhere to mount a winch on a new Wrangler. Anything you buy new requires significant aftermarket attention before taking on a real trail. It appears they are stamping it with the trail-rated badge, which does mean they traipsed the Rubicon trail in factory garb...which does say something.

My point isn't that it's super capable, but not far off from most factory vehicles. I'd not purchase one, but I there's no trail I'd take a new Wrangler one that I'd hesitate to forge with the new Cherokee (at least based on the currently available information)

I am curious why you believe you need two winches, though. That's new to me.


ATVs are fun offroad, but the capability is totally different. There's not enough wheelbase to make it through something like Moab, and they're not much of a challenge on many other trails.