<p>S’14 keeps asking if we can get a Jeep. I think he’s enamored of the male quality of these type of vehicles. We are overdue for a new car. The one it’s replacing is having more and more expensive repairs, and it’s as old as S’14 with plenty of miles.</p>
<p>Anyone own or lease the Patriot? According to the Jeep website, it’s the best priced SUV. We have owned a SUV once (Audi Q5). While I prefer the handling of a sedan, I really like the extra headroom (especially for S’s friends who are all 6’+). Plus if S goes to school within driving distance (which looks likely) I’d be glad to have the extra space to haul all his stuff.</p>
<p>Our family owned a Jeep way back in the '80s. It had a plow attached to the front (I kid you not). I remember the concern back then was the high center of gravity/roll over risk, but maybe I just took the corners too fast.</p>
<p>Appreciate any ideas and suggestions. I’m not wedded to this brand (but S is).</p>
<p>My S who will be a senior in college in the fall drives a Patriot. He likes it - it’s not full on truck, but kinda drives like a truck. Gas mileage not bad. His is a 2007 or 08 - we bought it with 15,000 miles on it. No major problems. </p>
<p>Lots of people drive Jeeps here - but we live in a Jeep factory town. :)</p>
<p>We know a number of people who have had a variety of Jeep models. They get terrible mileage…really low. Many have traded them for cars with better gas economy.</p>
<p>I don’t believe the patriot is susceptible to the roll-over problems of the old wranglers, but a jeep (wrangler) is not made for speed. It is truly built for all of those male experiences of mud bogging, rock climbing, sand duning, etc. The patriot will get much better gas mileage than the wrangler, but you might check the headroom and legroom.</p>
<p>The Patriot is not a Jeep. A Jeep is a Wrangler or even a Grand Cherokee. The Patriot is a Jeep in name only. </p>
<p>If you want a small unibody SUV there are many better choices such as the CRV and Tucson. </p>
<p>If what you want is a Wrangler then understand it is a specialty vehicle made for off-road. They are great, no NOT tip over, and are very rugged. We had three feet of snow in one storm last winter and I just drove out if my unplowed driveway and out my unplowed road with no issue. But they do not drive like a car and are not built for gas mileage. They are a specialty vehicle.</p>
<p>We have a Patriot Jeep(2008) and it has held up well. My dh is 6’2" and he is the main driver. We bought it because we had a SUV die unexpectly. We wanted to pay cash and this fit the bill. We call it the pool car because it can handle all those wet bathing suits and towels. I think it has more cargo room than a CRV myself. Atleast more than my sister’s CRV. Beside the Patriot is a lot cheaper than most other SUVs and I am sure you don’t want to spend a ton of money on a car your kid is going to be driving. That was another reason we wanted a cheaper 2nd car. Our oldest dd was starting to learn to drive and we didn’t want to take a chance and have her learn on a more expensive car. </p>
<p>I do agree with others, if he wants a Jeep, he may want a Wrangler and only a Wrangler will do. Patriot is no Wrangler but it does get much better gas mileage.</p>
<p>My xterra has a roll over warning on it for sharp turns at high speeds, I think most suv’s do. Wranglers are still worse than average, but you have to be driving pretty recklessly to tip them. Wrangler’s are so uncomfortable, they really shine in the nastiest of weather or driving through the mountains and seeing how many places you can’t go. Other than that, a subaru or most other suv’s will go 99% of the places a wrangler will.
For my next car I’m in between a wrangler and a subaru, probably leaning towards subaru especially since the new forester now gets over 30mpg. </p>
<p>edit: I forget you need headroom, the subaru might not fit the bill there. Xterra’s have headroom, but the gas mileage is right around what a wrangler is.</p>
<p>The Patriot is more of an on-road SUV, although it can be optioned for some off-road capability (not as good as something more off-road dedicated like a Wrangler). However, SUVs with better off-road capability tend to be more compromised on-road (in ride, handling, and fuel consumption).</p>
<p>We had a Jeep Grand Cherokee 5.7 Hemi and loved it. I felt safe, felt the kids were safe, fit into parking spaces, great cargo area, hauled the jet skis and the price is good. Gas mileage was about 15.</p>
<p>Ive driven a 2002 Liberty sport for 11 years, normally I would never buy a brand new model, but I got a *very *good deal at a credit union event.
When you really are not invested in the car, salesmen will embarrass themselves to make a sale. I didn’t let H go with me, and they sold the color I wanted ( blue), he followed me back to my car to convince me to take the red one. He also knocked it down to $14,500. :D</p>
<p>I would have preferred a Subaru, but after driving a mini van for 12 years, I don’t think I could drive something that didn’t feel somewhat like a truck. [For this I can get used to it](<a href=“Tesla Model S Coupe Concept Looks Ready To Roll”>A $1.6 Million Win In America's Second Offshore Wind Lease Auction)
H wanted the Jeep-( he prefers as much made in USA as possible) even though the Liberty is a little ridiculous because a manual is special order? and it doesnt even have anti-lock brakes! For a 2002! Its a Jeep for goodness sake- I learned how to drive on a stick even though they aren’t that practical in Seattle, a Jeep should be manual.</p>
<p>It looks like the Patriot is an economy version of the Liberty?
It does have good leg room in back and in front. We are not tall, but D and many of their friends are. It doesn’t have the electric adjustable seat that even went up and down like my mini van ( or a moon roof/compass/ thermometer) - but considering I am short upper body- visibility is pretty good, with few blind spots.
What ever you get, sit in all the seats to check comfort & vision.
Reliabilty wise, its been good, weve just had to do the brakes & tires & changed the radiator & battery, but nothing unusual.
It does have a short wheel base,so while U turns are is good, on the freeway it can pull into ruts and it can feel tippy when banking.</p>
<p>It has 4 wheel drive/ all wheel drive, which we have used in the snow - havent towed anything, but after seeing the cutest teardrop trailer being towed by a Mercedes coupe last weekend, I think it is time to use more of the Libertys features;). ( It has been replaced by the Cherokee) Gas milage is decent, but not thrilling-but at least I can put regular in it unlike my Hs " supercoupe" which has to have premium. :rolleyes:
A couple friends have Libertys which are diesel or biofuel.</p>
<p>Good advice – thanks everyone. I think the one S likes most is the Grand Cherokee. One of his friends drives one. And something about it suggests ruggedness and male adventure. If I could get that look draped over the engine of a 911 and the price point of a Subaru, I’d be at the dealer right now. Sigh.</p>
<p>I think a test drive is in order. Good points made about what they’re designed for. The only off road experience here is if he drifts into a neighbor’s flowerbed.</p>
<p>We have a 2002 Liberty that we are planning to sell at end of the summer if your son is interested and can hold out that long. It has been YD’s car, but she is leaving for college 5 hrs away and we are thinking we can happily be down one car for awhile until she is able to have a car at school. If interested, PM me. (BTW, Classof2015: the housing issue we talked about on a different thread just got resolved and we are thrilled!)</p>
<p>How much do you want to spend! A Cherokee can cost near $30,000. Personally I would want to know why my kid needed a car that had the options a Cherokee has. does he NEED four wheel drive? Does he NEED a car that gets less than 20 miles per gallon for gas mileage? Does he need that room for some reason?</p>
<p>If the answers are yes to all of the above, I would be looking at the Mazda CX5 which gets over 30 MPG. Or a used Subaru forester. Or used Honda CRV, or Toyota Rav all are better rated reliability wise than the Jeeps.</p>
<p>If NOT…I would look at something much more economical in terms of cost AND gas costs.</p>
<p>A Grand Cherokee is quite a bit of off road in a vehicle. Last time I was in one, it was an eighteen year old girl driving her parents brand new 2001. She was not familiar with driving off road and was crawling up the side of a good sized mountain with ease. They’re one of the more luxurious off road vehicles I’ve been in.</p>
( or a moon roof/compass/ thermometer) - but considering I am short upper body- visibility is pretty good, with few blind spots.