Jeep Grand Cherokee

[Soozeeg]

Hi everyone, advice please!

Anybody on here tow with a Jeep Grand Cherokee? We've been to look at one today and were very impressed. However, I've had a look at some reviews (by car mags) and they didn't seem to be overly impressed, citing body roll, not taking corners very well, rough on-road ride (for older models in particular, 2006 onward models seem to fare a bit better).

I'd rather hear the opinions of people who actually own and tow with one, than a magazine reporter who only had the car for a couple of hours, though (and certainly didn't tow with it!).

Incidentally, we have a big t/a weighing around 1740 kg.

I await the comments, thanks in advance.

 

[CRUSADER2801]

We have a 56 plate Grand 3.0 CRD Limited and tow a van with an MTPLM of 1900kg - great car to live with solo and towing. We average around 24/25mpg solo and 20-22mpg towing.

Had this car for just over 2 years and the only problem has been the failure of the alternator. Thankfully this was after we arrived on site and the warranty includes 3 years roadside assistance where many others only provide a year. Warranty Company were great, collected the car the day we arrived and provided a courtesy car first thing the next morning. Returning the Jeep fixed and cleaned a few days later.

On the down side I wish they had used better quality plastics or less of it in the interior. However we have had no problems with fit or finish. Higher spec models soften the interior and is the reason we traded up to the Limited from a 3.0 CRD. Also find the combined SatNav and CD Multi-play a pain. Great for CD's but the SatNav is fiddly and I use our TomTom instead. Space in the back and storage is not as good as you would expect in a car this size and who ever has the middle seat in the rear on long journeys will find it very firm!

Would not buy new as depreciation is eye watering. Have also noticed that a lot of Jeep dealers seem to be closing or dropping Jeep from joint Mercedes/Jeep franchises - so would check availability for future servicing etc. The dealer we bought ours from has dropped Jeep and when in Yorkshire we discovered that dealers in Pickering, Scarborough and York had closed leaving the nearest alternatives in Hull or Bedale around 50 - 60 miles away.

We are currently swaying whether to change at 3 years old or to keep it until after the winter. Would definitely have another and only considering alternatives due to closure of the dealership we bought from.

 

[Soozeeg]

Thanks very much for that, I'm glad to hear you like it and that it tows well.

 

[Heethers]

Soozeeg have you considered the shogun some great deals about on 07 plates, very little mileage and with 11 month warranties left, we bought one in July SWB 3.2DD Auto Equipe,

 

[Soozeeg]

Thanks for that Nigel. We have had 2 Shoguns in the past, SWB followed by a LWB - the SWB one we had didn't like towing at all! (to be fair, it was quite old). We did look at a couple of Shogun Sport Warriors at the weekend, very impressive looking on the outside but I wasn't too keen on the inside and didn't find the seat very comfortable at all.

We've towed with a variety of 4x4s since we've been caravanning, the best of which for towing (in OH's opinion as he is the driver!) were an Isuzu Trooper (although it did struggle a little bit uphill) and our current Range Rover, which we can't fault at all on towing. The Rangy, however, is now getting past its best.......we'd be more than happy to have a new one, if only we could win the lottery!

The Jeep we saw at the weekend absolutely blew us away. I've since read a load of reviews by owners of them on the WhatCar website - almost all of them were favourable, it seems the owners love them to bits.

But thanks for taking the time to make your suggestions. )

 

[DJP]

Hi Soozeeg,

We have a 55 plate Grand 3.0 CRD limited and can't fault it. It has plenty of go! You won't be disappointed with the ride and comfort either, it just glides along. It is a very heavy beast, but stabliity is excellent.I get around 20mpg when towing, which was comparable to my previous sorento (auto) but the jeep has heeps more power, handy when tugging a heavy van. I do rate it highly. Like any modern used vehicle, I would suggest a decent warranty as repair costs could be horrendous as many major components are Mecerdes sourced.

DJP

 

[Soozeeg]

The more we read about them, the more we want one! It's looking like it will be the Grand Cherokee 3.0 CRD Limited that we'll go for, haven't read a bad word about it yet.

Thanks for the tip about the warranty, DJP, we'll remember that.

 

[jmg12]

I wouldnt say the grand is a bad car its just not as up to date or as sharp as an x5 or range rover. my advise is look at the vw toureg or volvo xc90 both better than the jeep

 

[Soozeeg]

Hi caravanner, thanks for your input.

We'd dearly love another Range Rover, unfortunately we can't afford another one that's significantly newer than our present one. Whilst the X5 is a lovely looking car, we've heard they're too lightweight to adequately cope with a big twin axle van (we know someone who's got one). We can't run to a VW Toureg as we're not in the market for a brand new or very nearly new car, and we simply don't like the Volvo much. But thanks anyway.

 

[Jonathan_374467537]

Just one brief observation: DJP said get a DECENT warranty and I think that's critical. Some people selling add on warranties for any vehicle are a bunch of spivs...`We'll strip that failed gearbox down, but if the mechanic decides it's wear and tear then you'll have to pay.' It's a jungle out there!

 

[stu658]

hi, i like yourself have a large heavy twin axle van 1900kg laden and therefore need a large car to tow it with. I have been a Land Rover man for years and years, but a couple of years ago i fancied a change, like you a looked at a jeep, and was blown away by it, great value for money and loaded with toys, a Grand Cherokee Orvis so top spec. It was sadly the worst car i have ever owned in my life!! it always needed something doing to it which was always expensive and only the dealers can get parts usually and it couldn't in my opinion tow the van safely either, too light. I kept it for 18 months and couldn't afford it any more so had to virtually give it away due to the poor residuals. I went back to good old tried and tested Land Rover, whos spares are plentiful and cheap and easy to look after yourself. Sorry to be so negative, but just my experience.

 

[Soozeeg]

Hi Stuart, thanks for presenting the other side of the coin. I guess all makes of car have the odd wrong'un in amongst them. We've had 2 Range Rovers, the first often had things wrong with it, our present one has been fine......it's just getting a bit past it now and it's time for a change before the expensive stuff starts, lol.

Most of the reader/owner reviews of Cherokees that I've read on WhatCar website (and there are a lot) are favourable, however - owners generally speaking seem to love them.

 

[jmg12]

what about the kia sorento. Its a brill towcar looks great. Is well priced and at the moment there are some great deals going on top end models which have leather heated seats, sat nav big alloys, auto folding mirrors etc. You could also get a much newer one than the other cars you were looking at meaning you get a big warranty something worth considering I would say

 

[DarrylFlynn]

Hi,

at the beginning of this year, i bought a very late 2006 3.0 CRD Grand Cherokee OVERLAND which has all the toys as standard.

The biggest attraction for me was the " eye watering depreciation" which has already been mentioned.

This was a

 

[Soozeeg]

Sounds like you got a bargain, Darryl.

Thanks guys for all the help and info. We've more or less decided it will definitely be a Grand Cherokee, have looked at a couple, and are starting to look seriously now. We're not rushing into anything, we don't change cars on a whim but keep them for several years, so we've (hopefully!) got to get the right one. We'll hold out until we see what we think is the right one, and will make sure we get a decent warranty with it.

Thanks again.

 

[Martin24]

Sounds like you got a bargain, Darryl.

Thanks guys for all the help and info. We've more or less decided it will definitely be a Grand Cherokee, have looked at a couple, and are starting to look seriously now. We're not rushing into anything, we don't change cars on a whim but keep them for several years, so we've (hopefully!) got to get the right one. We'll hold out until we see what we think is the right one, and will make sure we get a decent warranty with it.

Thanks again.

try and stay pre April 2006 then you will only be paying

 

[Del_374232870]

have a 2005 Grand Cherokee 3.0V6 CRD . It was one of the 1st ones and has been a solid reliable vehicle.Initialy had a few problems with parts, but this was at the very beggining and being a new model invairably meant if there was a problem the part was replaced and returned to Jeep for investigation. this included a problem with the Turbo (which I was unaware of) but the dealer noticed it and the Turbo was changed. The Turbo could have been fixed but Jeep wanted to investigate further, the result was a modification undertaken to other Grand Cherokees at Servicing.

the interior could do with less plastic but I can live with that. What you are getting is one of the finest diesel engines (the merc) which is coupled to the best auto box this makes for effortless driving and towing. Set the cruise control at 60mph with the van on the back and it will hold that regardless of gradients , and when decending hills will drop down the box to slow you .

I did look at the Sorrento prior to getting the Grand Cherokee, lovely car for the money but cant compare the 2 on performance, a straight 4 cylinder diesel in the sorrento against the V6 of the Grand Cherokee , no contest.

 

[Nige1]

What did you buy?

Recently been to South of France with my 4.7 V8 (LPG Converted) 03 Grand Jeep Cherokee and Avondale Argente 650/6.

Car tows superb,very comfortable,when not towing like most American cars are designed for straight line comfort not corners.

Great value for a cheap towcar ,on LPG does 13 MPG(towing and round town) at 51 p litre !!!