Jeep Cherokee 2.8

[Janeyedge]

We are going to have a test drive in a Jeep Cherokee this weekend then we plan to buy our first caravan. Can anyone tell us what they think about the Jeep Cherokee as a tow car?

 

[Val & Frank]

Hello Jane

Currently we are looking at the Jeep, Merc ML. VW Tourage and the much maligned Disco. We decided on these as Tow vehicles, because of the weight of the caravan we wanted to buy, a (Bessacarr Cameo ). It has always seemed like a chicken and egg situation to us, as we need a big tow car to tow a big heavy van, or should we buy a smaller van and hence a smaller car. I am sure you will have been through all this. If you look on the www.whatcar.co.uk site you can view the tests of most cars, but at the end of the day it's only someones personal opinion on what they like in a vehicle. The only thing I can say about the information is you can see the service costs and fuel mpg and then make a comparision. Best of luck, Oh and beat the dealer down.

Val & Frank

 

[cooky1]

Another good site to look at to get general info. on cars is www.honestjohn.co.uk. He writes articles in the Telegraph. If you go to the section called 'car by car breakdown' there are some interesting details about most cars.

I think the 2.7 diesel only came out in 2001.

 

[Vicky_5078445]

Hi Jane,

We tow our Compass Liberte with Jeep Grand Cherokee 2.7(I think) auto diesel and before that we have a Range Rover 2.5TD.

Now this is only my hubbies opinion (no WW-III please) but he thinks it's a much better towing vehicle and says you hardly notice the 'van on the back.

I'm not into cars myself, but I think it's a much nicer and less rocky drive than the Range Rover.

But as so often stated on this site, it's personal choice 'Horse for Courses'!

Good Luck,

Vicky

 

[354]

We towed with a 2.2DTI Frontera which was our best ever tow car. When it came time to replace it we looked at all 4x4's on the market including the discovery, Sorento, Jeep GC, and Shogun. eventualy after many months and endless test drives there was only 2 candidates the New Discovery and the Jeep Grand Cherokee. Eventualy we decided on the 3.0 CRD Grand Cherokee (although it was very close with the disco) and have to say we have not been disapointed. As an added bonus the after care by Jeep has been excellent, This is our 1st Jeep but based on the vehicle and after sales it looks like being one of many. Give the Jeep a test drive yoy wont be disapointed.

 

[sparkes]

Jane

Very nice car and very capable. Tell the dealer you want All Terrain tyres on it (I am sure this is a free option) as these will last longer and give more grip in slippery fields.

As for its towing capability, I used one in the states and its as good as anyone in the UK will need!

 

[Val & Frank]

Hi Again Jane

Well did you try and buy or did you leg it out of the showroom ??.

I looked at a GC today and the only fault I could see was the handbrake on the wrong side of the gearstick. Still with an auto box that should not make to much of a difference.

ps for an Overland demo with 1000 miles on the clock they are asking

 

[354]

Dont be put of by the position of the handbrake, it was the one thing we were concerned about, but when we got the car we didnt even notice it. The price you quote seems reasonable for an overland model as they have all the extras. Towing with the GC is a dream, got to keep checking that the van is there , you dont even notice it although with 510kn of torque it doesnt lack power and accelerating when towing takes no effort. setting the cruise control to 55mph we got 23mpg with the van on the back. Solo I usualy get around 28mpg .

Best car we have ever had. cant wait to get of to cornwall with the van later this month and the Highlands in August as towing is a dream.

Insurance was a surprise for us less than

 

[354]

Did you buy or not ?

 

[Val & Frank]

Hello Del Boy,

We are going for a test drive this weekend in a GC Overland CRD 3.0lt V6.

We have the car for 2 Days and we are allowed 175 miles per day. It will cost us the Fuel +

 

[354]

Try a slight detour at Aviemore and take the road up to the Cairngorm Mountain railway, that is quite steep and will give you a chance to realy feel the power.

 

[Val & Frank]

Hi Del we will let you know how we go on

Val & Frank

 

[Val & Frank]

Hi Del Boy

We took the Jeep out for the weekend it's a really nice motor stacks of power. The model we had was the 3.0 V6 CRD Overland. If I was to nit pick I would say the headroom with the sunroof is not that great, and also it took awhile to become accustomed to having no place for my left foot. The load space is good and the sat nav is relatively easy to work. We went up to Aviemore via Keith and Aberlour it was a good run over different roads.

So now it's decsion time I have checked on the internet and I can find the Jeep for

 

[354]

Didnt think that you would be disapointed, Its the 3.0V6 CRD Diesel we have and yes the power even with the van on the back is awesome. Read on independant site even towing a 1400kg van it will do 0 - 50 in around 12 seconds, which is fast. The headroom is the one thing we noticed, but after 2 months we dont even notice it (no sun roof in ours ) Sat nav is pretty easy to use as is the 6 disc changer. I would have prefered a bit more room for my left foot but it doesnt bother me that much.

The dual climate control is great as currently it is 90 degrees down here but lovely and cool in the car, plus the wife can set her tempreture seperatly.

Fuel consumption is around 27 solo and 23 towing. We opted for a Brink detachable tow bar which we had fitted by an independent fitter, Price sounds reasonable although I would shop around , we managed to save over

 

[Pelyma1]

It is interesting to see your views on the Jeep. I didn't like the drive on the old one as it was very wallowy. The mpg is similar to my Disco 3 which I get 28mpg from solo and 21mpg towing, not too bad for a car that is best part of 3 ton. Servicing seems high though, mine is

 

[Val & Frank]

Hello Paul.

The GC we had out was the Overland model which comes with full leather etc. The Cherokee impressed with it's kerb weight 2310kg against the Toyota Land Cruiser which only weighs in at 1980kg. The dealer has now come up with an offer on the GC Limited

 

[354]

Sounds a fantastic price, but chrome is normally standard on the GC limited, it is the GC which normally doesnt have the chrome, so I am confused. Does it have the Leather interior and dual climate control (standard in the limited).

As we do not intend to change the vehicle for at least 5 years the depreciation doesnt bother us.

Del

 

[Val & Frank]

Hi Del Boy

The model range is Predator then Limited and then Overland. it is the Overland and Hemi that have the chrome roof rails and mirrors etc?

regards

frank

 

[354]

The range has changed then since we got ours. Then you had the Grand Cherokee and the Limited.

Sounds like a very good deal that you are being offered. We didnt go for the sun roof as the climate control is excellent. If you surf ebay there are quite often chrome grills and kits on offer. I am sure you wont be disapointed. The other thing we have found is that the after sales service from the dealer is excellent.

Try visiting Jeeps unlimited, it is mainly a US site but has members worldwide and is great for assistance, interestingly the US market isnt getting the 3.0CRD until 2007 and the Jeep owners are desperate for the launch to get their hands on them, so for once we in the UK have something they havent got yet in the US.

http://www.jeepsunlimited.com/forums/