<p>Title pretty well says it all…</p>
<p>Anybody have any experience with the Jeep Patriot? I’m looking at a 2009 model. I currently drive a 1998 S10 and am looking at my first vehicle…</p>
<p>Good, bad thoughts?</p>
<p>My parents had one for a while and I drove it a few times. I found the engine noisy and I didn’t like the CVT transmission. It tends to hold the engine at a constant speed while the vehicle catches up to it. It was economical and it rode well. Drive it and see what you think. Consumer Reorts says they have been pretty reliable.</p>
<p>I have no experience with the 2009 Patriot, but…I had a 2008 Grand Cherokee and loved everything about it except that the electrical system kept failing! “They” say is was the year that Jeep began having financial trouble and there was a lot of issues with the 2008 models. I would by a Jeep again, just not a 2008. </p>
<p>What made me concerned about the used car market was that i had a Car Fax run on my Jeep before we sold it and there was zero references to the multiple times I was in for problems - though they noted every regular service visit.</p>
<p>As I’ve said before, the enthusiasts on the Toyota off-road forums joke that Jeep is an acronym for “just empty every pocket”, referring to maintenance costs. </p>
<p>YMMV. I have a young friend with a 2001 cherokee sport who asked me about some symptoms his ride has…a little googling suggests that he probably has a blown head gasket or cracked block.</p>
<p>I think Jeeps look really cool. But I hate going back to the dealer. </p>
<p>Kajon: Very interesting data point.</p>
<p>Toyota and “off-road” is an oxymoron. Jeeps go places where Toyotas can’t even try. And Toyota’s quality has dropped past few years. Jeep’s is way up. And they have the sales increase to prove it. </p>
<p>Know what the Toyota FJ is? “Fake Jeep”.</p>
<p>We have 4 Jeeps. All are Grand Cherokees. 2002 is driven by DS2, no issues, but the car has less than 20,000 miles. The2007 and 2008 are driven by employees. One has had some issues, one is okay.The 2004 was exiled to our vacation home because it has 4 wheel drive. So help me one day I will put a bullet between its headlights to put us both out of our misery. That car has had issues large and small before and since the warranty expired. One reason we haven’t replaced it is because DH wants another Jeep (thinks the problem with this one is a fluke!) and I raise hell everytime he brings it up. The 4 wheel lo on the Jeep does seem to be the only thing that will get us out of our steep, narrow, winding driveway when it is frozen.
We haven’t had one issue with our 2009 Toyota.
Back on topic… our babysitter got a Jeep Patriot for HS grauation in 2007, she’s still proudly driving it!</p>
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<p>Struck an nerve, I guess.</p>
<p>I’ll put the land cruisers and fJs up against anything jeep has for off-road. And you won’t have to fix it every week. </p>
<p>I hear this stuff about improving quality for domestic brands all the time. I wish it were true. I’d like to buy american if I didn’t have to pay twice for it.</p>
<p>I have a 2001 Jeep Cherokee Sport with 180K miles. Oh, how I love that car. With regular (and honestly minimal) maintenance, the only problem I’ve had is with the AC going out. Oh, how I wish they still made this car. I don’t know how it compares to the Patriot, but when this girl dies, I’m going to look for another Jeep for my DD to drive.</p>
<p>" I’ll put the land cruisers and fJs up against anything jeep has for off-road. And you won’t have to fix it every week. "</p>
<p>Going to have to strongly agree with this statement
JEEP = Just empty every pocket</p>
<p>You couldn’t pay me to own one
Every jeep owner I know loves them, except the fact that they constantly need repairs</p>
<p>S has a 2007. He has had it for a year with no issues. It had low miles when purchased. Decent gas mileage, not the most quiet car, but that’s sort of a Jeep thing! The Patroit was a good compromise between a car and an SUV. 4 wheel drive made us happy too. And the price was decent.</p>
<p>We’ve had three Jeeps … a wrangler and two Grand Cherokees. All have been solid, reliable transportation. The Wrangler was great, just not the best vehicle for winters in upstate New York. We still have the newer Grand Cherokee – son has it at school. We’re happy, would buy another.</p>
<p>I like the look of Jeeps (especially the wranglers), and don’t want to discourage anyone from making his own best choice. I’d get myself a wrangler if I weren’t so averse to “problems”. I’ve had my share in the past from GM products, and have sworn off lifetime from those. Chrysers are too similar, as far as I’m concerned. </p>
<p>A little research on Patriots shows that roof leaks into the interior seem to be a not-rare problem (if there is a sunroof). There are also a couple of youtube videos on Patriot issues by frustrated owners. YMMV. THere are one or two from new Patriots that show the CVT transmission going a bit bonkers. Not sure what to make of that.</p>
<p>Good luck with your choice.</p>
<p>[I think the biggest revelation in this thread is that Carfax may be whitewashed regarding problems that the car has had. It wouldn’t surprise me.]</p>
<p>Dadx, do research on the “virtues” of IFS when off-roading. Toyotas use IFS, the Wrangler does not. The Land Cruiser is a $60,000 vehicle and is in a different class than the FJ or other Toyotas. </p>
<p>Also, look at the quality ratings the last 5 years for both brands. There is a clear trend. The data speaks for itself.</p>
<p>We have a jeep Liberty, which seems quite similar.
[2009</a> Jeep Patriot](<a href=“http://www.edmunds.com/jeep/patriot/2009/?sub=suv&ps=used]2009”>http://www.edmunds.com/jeep/patriot/2009/?sub=suv&ps=used)
We got a good deal on it, it was 3 months old & had been leased.</p>
<p>How much are you looking to spend OP? </p>
<p>( I am personally always frustrated on CC car threads when posters make recommendations that are clearly out of the OP’s price range - of course there are better car choices if your $$ is not limited, but if it is, then it is helpful to know that and to only make recommendations based on that limit!!!)</p>
<p>I will also mention that I reside in “Jeep Country” - where they are made. Have no connection to the Jeep plant or anyone who works there. But will say that I have increasingly noticed the number of Patriots on the road here (and Jeep Compasses as well). I think both are better MPG and less $$$ than their sibling the Jeep Liberty.</p>
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<p>That’s what I found as well. Fortunately the specific one I am looking at does not have a sunroof. </p>
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<p>I’d like to stay around $10-12k; probably topping out at $15k. I know that makes it difficult to find a quality SUV for that, but I’ve found a couple I’m interested in.</p>
<p>Two Jeep Patriots and a Ford Escape. I’ve never owned or regularly driven either brand. We have long purchased GM products from a specific dealer in town. One Jeep is from that dealer and is low miles. </p>
<p>I went and test-drove the Patriot yesterday. I liked it, but it wasn’t a vehicle that I could not do without. The 2009 models that I have found locally do not have cruise control on them. I may buy one anyway, but that is a negative thing for me…</p>
<p>I’ve had two Cherokees and someday I would get another one.</p>
<p>I had a Wrangler for 14 years and cried when I sold it. We replaced it with a Liberty and have had that for 10 years and it still runs great. Our next car will probably also be a Jeep.</p>
<p>We have a 2008 patriot and it has served it’s purpose. We got a no frills vehicle believe me but it runs and gets good gas mileage. No power windows or locks because the idiot sales rep could not find one for us and we needed the vehicle soon. It is our second vehicle and we bought new with cash so we wanted something cheap. We had to buy a car without notice because our other vehicle died prematurely. I call it the wash and wear vehicle. My kids can get in it with sticky hands and wet bathing suits and mom doesn’t care.</p>
<p>I just wanted to follow up for you all. I ended up not going with a Jeep and instead have purchased a 2002 Chevy Silverado 1500 4x4. Yeah, it’s not the vehicle I had in mind when I started this thread but I bought it from a family friend and got a great deal on it. And the mechanics I have taken it to recently were amazed at what the engine compartment looked like.</p>