My next vehicle - can't decide

[Kent Pribbernow]

In about 12 months or more I plan to upgrade to a new truck or SUV. My current vehicle is a 1997 Ford Ranger which I purchased brand spanking new that year (my very first "new" car). But it's a regular cab model with zero internal cargo or passenger space. Needless to say I have outgrown it. The problem is, I can't quite decide on what vehicle should replace my aging stead. I am torn between a traditional mid-size pickup with a full-sized cab or a compact SUV. In particular, I am leaning toward either a Chevy Colorado or a Jeep Liberty. The Liberty is especially appealing to me, so I would like to hear from any of you Liberty owners out there. What have your experiences been like with this SUV. How is its overall reliability?

Any comments are most welcome.

[Crocuta]

I own a 2003 Jeep Liberty Limited and have to say that I couldn't be happier with it. It rides and handles beautifully on-road, is comfortable and has a well-appointed interior. As well, it is fully capable in stock form of handling casual off-road driving. I've been amazed at some of the places it's taken me in the nearby national forests and I've pulled through ice and snow that had plenty of others sitting in ditches. I think Jeep has come up with a perfect balance in the Liberty between on- and off-road ability for people who would spend most of their time on regular roads and only want to head off-road on weekends for camping and such. Perhaps most important to me, the Liberty just feels like a well-built, solid vehicle. The only negative thing I can say is that the gas milage could be better. From a consumer standpoint, the Liberty has been rated above average by CU in almost all categories including reliability and resale value. It has also done well in many independent reviews.

See for example,
http://motortrend.com/roadtests/suv/112_0404_suvs/index.html
http://www.4wheeloffroad.com/roadtests/16086/

Or for a short Quicktime video,
http://www.autoweb.com/content/Research/reviews/index.cfm/action/DisplayPro/aid/139180/Make_vch/Jeep/Model_vch/Liberty/Year_si/2004

If you have any particular questions, feel free to email me. If you decide to look at the Liberty seriously, I have some very specific recommendations of features that I would beh appy to share.

[Gary Sheynkman]

In about 12 months or more I plan to upgrade to a new truck or SUV. My current vehicle is a 1997 Ford Ranger which I purchased brand spanking new that year (my very first "new" car). But it's a regular cab model with zero internal cargo or passenger space. Needless to say I have outgrown it. The problem is, I can't quite decide on what vehicle should replace my aging stead. I am torn between a traditional mid-size pickup with a full-sized cab or a compact SUV. In particular, I am leaning toward either a Chevy Colorado or a Jeep Liberty. The Liberty is especially appealing to me, so I would like to hear from any of you Liberty owners out there. What have your experiences been like with this SUV. How is its overall reliability?

Any comments are most welcome.

why SUVs???

get a wagon!

Subaru Legacy GT
Volvo V70R
Jag X-type Estate
Audi A4 Avant

The have plenty of room and go like stink...I reccomend the Subaru because it is under 30 grand and is an awesome car. 2nd would be the volvo.... :wink:

[Kent Pribbernow]

Wagons? Yuck! They remind me of a hearse.

[Gary Sheynkman]

Wagons? Yuck! They remind me of a hearse.

I beg to differ

http://www.engine-power.com/img/specs/subaru_legacy_gt_wagon_01.jpg



http://www.arabam.com/fuar/2003/detroit/audi_s4_avant_xx.jpg

http://www.roadfly.org/magazine/galleries/la_auto_show_2004/photos/photos-12-2003/Volvo-V70R-EVOLVE-pic-31-229392.JPG


http://www.automag.be/IMG/jpg/Jaguar_X-Type_Estate_10-2003-19.jpg

not to mention some american muscle


http://www.autointell.net/nao_companies/daimlerchrysler/dodge/dodge-magnum-con-03/dodge-magnum-FrontView-640.jpg


wagons rule man

[Gary Sheynkman]

plus....SUVs eat more gas....they are ugly (IMHO).....they are awful to drive on the road (high center of gravity+corners= :( )

oh well...to each his own mate

[Gary Sheynkman]

plus wagons can be done up REAL well (better than sedans) if you are into that....not spinners and that bling bling garbage...but some nice looking mods


8) 8) 8) 8) 8) 8) 8) 8) 8) 8) 8) 8) 8)

http://www.legacysti.com/files/hippo_sleek.jpg

http://img64.photobucket.com/albums/v196/ttoeller/5-28-04/5_28_04_3.jpg


see my point!

[Crocuta]

Well, I guess there are truck people and there are car people, and beauty really is in the eye of the beholder. I wouldn't give a second look to anything in the previous photos, except that the next to the last one is pretty sharp. (Doesn't look like a wagon to me, though.) All those wagons? Yuck. You want beautiful? Here's beautiful!

http://www.digitalmediathoughts.com/media/users/348/jeeplight.jpg

http://www.digitalmediathoughts.com/media/users/348/fd95f6e9.jpg

[Gary Sheynkman]

that is only considered "beauty" if Kent actually goes offroading in it

[Kent Pribbernow]

Thanks for you input, Gary, but I prefer trucks. By the way, the Dodge Magnum is actually more of a crossover vehicle than a wagon. But that's for another discussion. :wink:

[Crocuta]

that is only considered "beauty" if Kent actually goes offroading in it

Ah, but that's the real beauty of the Liberty. It's a great street ride, comfortable, quiet, smooth, handles well... But when you want to get out there with it, it's ready to go. Granted the second pic is of a Liberty that's been lifted for crawling over those rocks, but both photos are 'real' in the sense that they're not from advertisments or anything. They're photos submitted by their owners on a Jeep Liberty forum. I've never been in a spot like in the second photo, but I regularly explore trails in our nearby national forests that you couldn't go without 4WD and that take you to some really spectacular places. Sometimes, we'll be driving down the Blue Ridge Parkway and my wife or I will spot an open gate to an old Jeep track or fire road and say "I wonder where that goes." We've had some great adventures finding out. I wouldn't trade that for all the bling in the world. http://www.digitalmediathoughts.com/media/users/348/driving.gif

[Gary Sheynkman]

that is only considered "beauty" if Kent actually goes offroading in it

Ah, but that's the real beauty of the Liberty. It's a great street ride, comfortable, quiet, smooth, handles well... But when you want to get out there with it, it's ready to go. Granted the second pick is of a Liberty that's been lifted for crawling over those rocks, but both photos are 'real' in the sense that they're not from advertisments or anything. They're photos submitted by their owners on a Jeep Liberty forum. I've never been in a spot like in the second photo, but I regularly explore trails in our nearby national forests that you couldn't go without 4WD and that take you to some really spectacular places. Sometimes, we'll be driving down the Blue Ridge Parkway and my wife or I will spot an open gate to an old Jeep track or fire road and say "I wonder where that goes." We've had some great adventures finding out. I wouldn't trade that for all the bling in the world. http://www.digitalmediathoughts.com/media/users/348/driving.gif

to each his own i guess...i prefer low seating and no body roll... i have no need to go off road so w/e

thats so great about being a car nut...there are just so many different niches....some people like off roading...others like straight line blasts...other prefer light/nible cars (dream car: elise)

[js415]

I have both ends of all the spectrums. 2001 Dodge Ram...It flat goes and goes, will pull anything you hook to it, and has power to spare. It is a quad cab, so plenty of room. DO NOT buy it if you are worried about gas mileage!!

Wife has a Chev. Suburban. Lots of room with power to spare.

Just bought my daughter a Toyota RAV 4. Nice little car, lots of room, great mileage. NO POWER AT ALL!!!!!!

I guess it really depends what you want and how you are going to drive it.

I prefer " The bigger, The better theory"

If your gonna be in it everyday, make sure you get what you "want", not what you "need".

Jerry