Thoughts on the Cherokee?

[RDawson]

No I don't mean our Native American brethren. The boss has decided there needs to be a new Jeep Cherokee under the tree this year. She claims to have been a good girl this year (yeah right). She did however support me in deciding to buy an RSV to keep the MK II company. On the flip side this is what she did to the last SUV I bought. I've never owned a Jeep and would welcome opinions from those who have. I'm looking at the 2018 Cherokee Latitude. I've test driven a couple and they seem ok. The dealer includes a lifetime power train warranty, not bad for a $20k range new SUV.

[Yammer Dan]

Daughter has one she loves. A little too rich for my blood. But a real nice vehicle so far. I almost bought a Patriot a few weeks ago. They had a loaded 2017 leftover for around 17,000 and I took a night to think it over. Gone when I went back the next morning!! Made me mad so I'll just do the 2nd 100,000 on the G6 then think about trading.

[MikeWa]

Cherokees have come a long way. Nice cars, very comfortable.

 

Mike

[Yammer Dan]

2nd thought. I drove these for the Sate 8, 12 and sometimes 16 hr days around and around Max security Prison. Praying for somebody to try the fence. But very comfy on these long days. With some of the young not so smart Officers ripping them around they held up very well.

[BIG TOM]

We own two jeeps , a compass and a liberty...My daughter and daughter in law both own jeeps along with my son.....None of us have had any problems with them..We love ours..I will buy another. Mine has 77,000 miles on it. It is a 2012.

[CaseyJ955]

A Cherokee is fairly decent offroad for a roadgoing SUV. Unless your doing a bunch of offroad stuff do yourself a huge favor and try out a Pilot or Highlander. You can get a whole lot of trouble free miles out of either and the fit/finish will make hard to go back to Jeep. Jeep has upped their game but in the crowd of available options they dont exactly shine. If you want sweet comfort and swift performance the Audi Q7 is one sweetheart to drive. MB G wagon is spendy but hard to beat offroad, also can get the awesome Benz/AMG V8 with some very serious torque and HP. You pay more for German stuff, and cost of ownership is higher, but dayum some of them are sooooo sweet to drive. If I were going to drop $20k right now with reliability, function, longevity and fit/finish as priority a 2-3 year old Pilot EXLNAV would bey first choice. Jeep is okay but a $20k+ investment deserves examining some of the excellent alternatives from Japan and Germany.

 

Whatever you choose make sure you throw some pics up! Whats cooler than a new car (other than a mew bike). Glad nobody was hurt in the collision.

 

I forgot to add that we bought a new Jeep Compass in 09, it was a base model. She had it in her head that she had to have a Jeep and she wouldnt listen to reason until it was to late. That same year I bought a new GTI DSG Autobahn and we fought over that but it was MINE only. She went to VW and drove the Tiguan and tried to trade in her two week old Jeep on one and the numbers wouldn't work for her. The Jeep had se niggling issues, the CVT was an absolute abortion to drive, the 4cyl base engine was course and sluggish, road noise and super ****ty interior quality stood out along with substandard exterior fit/finish. Handling was vague at best. The door reveals were as variable and gaping as an early Hyundai. It was quite underwhelming but it was a base model. I know Cherokees are more upscale but see if you can get her tto drive some other things. Put them through their paces and the best vehicle will become obvious in short order. She traded it off after a year and got a Mitsubishi, also underwhelming but a step up from the Compass.

Edited December 2, 2017 by CaseyJ955

[RDawson]

Thanks for the thoughts. The lifetime warranty is a big factor. We went back to the dr Thursday, he says the bones will heal without surgery. The factory incentives change after Monday, I'm trying to decide whether to go Monday or wait for the new ones to be announced. Price could go up, down, or stay. I have to fly out to pick it up, dealers here can't touch that price.

[CaseyJ955]

Thanks for the thoughts. The lifetime warranty is a big factor. We went back to the dr Thursday, he says the bones will heal without surgery. The factory incentives change after Monday, I'm trying to decide whether to go Monday or wait for the new ones to be announced. Price could go up, down, or stay. I have to fly out to pick it up, dealers here can't touch that price.

 

American vehicles, most notably GM, quite often run incentives and hefty rebates. This is much less true on Honda/Acura/Toyota/Lexus but you get that back with excellent resale value compared to Jeep and the big three. If you can wait Im pretty sure tbere will be some holiday blowouts for Jeep, especially as the next model year nears. You can probably get one for a song/dance then. Another thought is to get your best quote from an out of state dealer printed out and walk into your local dealer and say "if you can match this quote you will make a sale today, if not Im on a bus tomorrow morning to go buy this one.". They dont want to loose sales like that. I worked for Honda before and when folks came in threatening to go to Sioux Falls those prices were matched. If you present that in a take-it or leave-it format my guess is they will take it. Patience will probably save you some $$$ here as holiday sales are usually pretty compelling. Good luck!

[RDawson]

American vehicles, most notably GM, quite often run incentives and hefty rebates. This is much less true on Honda/Acura/Toyota/Lexus but you get that back with excellent resale value compared to Jeep and the big three. If you can wait Im pretty sure tbere will be some holiday blowouts for Jeep, especially as the next model year nears. You can probably get one for a song/dance then. Another thought is to get your best quote from an out of state dealer printed out and walk into your local dealer and say "if you can match this quote you will make a sale today, if not Im on a bus tomorrow morning to go buy this one.". They dont want to loose sales like that. I worked for Honda before and when folks came in threatening to go to Sioux Falls those prices were matched. If you present that in a take-it or leave-it format my guess is they will take it. Patience will probably save you some $$$ here as holiday sales are usually pretty compelling. Good luck!

 

Tried that with both local dealers, one got online, looked at it and told me I better jump on it because he couldn't sell it that cheap without the warranty. The other one who I have bought from in the past didn't even call me back after looking into it. I'm flying out Sunday to be there Monday morning early, gonna try to straddle the fence on incentives until we know which are better to write the check. I really think the December rebates will jump for Christmas.

[CaseyJ955]

Tried that with both local dealers, one got online, looked at it and told me I better jump on it because he couldn't sell it that cheap without the warranty. The other one who I have bought from in the past didn't even call me back after looking into it. I'm flying out Sunday to be there Monday morning early, gonna try to straddle the fence on incentives until we know which are better to write the check. I really think the December rebates will jump for Christmas.

.

 

Its a little surprising that one didnt even call back. Oh well, what better way to christen a new car than a road trip! I picked up a used A4 a couple months and my choice was settle for an automatic or go to CO and grab one with a proper gearbox. Im never afraid to travel to get what I want or to save some $$. It sounds like your savings will be nice if the locals wouldnt even touch it.

[djh3]

That particular model shares the Dart (now discontinued I think) Check out reviews on consumer reports and edmunds if you can. Dont know much about those Jeeps. The Cherokee that shares the Durango platform are pretty solid.

[CaseyJ955]

That particular model shares the Dart (now discontinued I think) Check out reviews on consumer reports and edmunds if you can. Dont know much about those Jeeps. The Cherokee that shares the Durango platform are pretty solid.

The Grand Cherokee and Cherokee are completely different vehicles, the later being smaller and much less impressive. The Grand Cherokee has come a long ways in the last couple iterations. It looks like they start out around 30k and go way up from there. I dont see much bad press on it like previous generations. https://cars.usnews.com/cars-trucks/rankings/midsize-suvs Just some interesting press. CR is great but I cant reach it on my phone. I trust CR more than any other auto reviewers, excellent source of info, wish I could open it. Its worth paying for before a major purchase IMHO. Edited December 4, 2017 by CaseyJ955

[Guest]

Have a 2010 Grand Cherokee that I bought used in 2012.......great for me for hunting. You gotta know the things are a bit thirsty but then you don't buy pone of these and expect 30mpg.

[skydoc_17]

I used one of the Cherokee's that was a rental unit for a company training trip back in June of this year. 2017 with 30K on the clock. Driving from Pa. to NY, highway, the auto trans dropped 4th gear at 70+mph and the rear wheels came off the ground! While in third, trying to "limp" to the next exit, it dropped third, and almost threw me in a ditch!! I drove the last three miles on the shoulder, at 26 mph in second gear. Called Enterprise Rental, they sent out a 2017 Nissan Rogue, which was twice the SUV the Jeep was and I continued to NY, and drove back and forth to class for the week, and back to Pa. without an issue. The Rogue got twice the gas mileage the Jeep did. Just sayin'.

Earl

[RDawson]

I flew out to Idaho and brought it back. 1863 miles, mountains with black ice and blowing snow, very cold temps. After a 500 mile easy break in I drove it like I treat my trucks. 80-90 mph through the mountains, a little slower on the ice of course. I pulled in my driveway 30 hours after I left Boise. 28.6 mpg for the trip. It was much more comfortable than the equinox ever was. Time will tell on quality but the auto 4x4 worked flawlessly on the ice with speeds from 45-65. I give it my vote for now, I think we will enjoy it. Power was good both in the mountains and in the big cities.

[RDawson]

In theme with another thread it has an 8 inch touch screen that operates the heat and air, stereo,cell phones, streams music, a built in wifi hotspot that I won't activate, and a ton of other features. I'm not a fan of these distractions but it seems the way everything is going.

[CaseyJ955]

In theme with another thread it has an 8 inch touch screen that operates the heat and air, stereo,cell phones, streams music, a built in wifi hotspot that I won't activate, and a ton of other features. I'm not a fan of these distractions but it seems the way everything is going.

 

Thats a good looking vehicle, liking the blue. A good excuse for a road trip! If you activate the touchscreen the Aswang will be able to triangulate your location. I made that last part up. Probably.

 

Serously, glad its a good fit and a comfortable ride, also thats darn impressive MPG, and now you get that savory new car smell for xmas too. Tis the season for AWD/4WD. Congrats and enjoy

[BigLenny]

A Cherokee is fairly decent offroad for a roadgoing SUV. Unless your doing a bunch of offroad stuff do yourself a huge favor and try out a Pilot or Highlander. You can get a whole lot of trouble free miles out of either and the fit/finish will make hard to go back to Jeep. Jeep has upped their game but in the crowd of available options they dont exactly shine. If you want sweet comfort and swift performance the Audi Q7 is one sweetheart to drive. MB G wagon is spendy but hard to beat offroad, also can get the awesome Benz/AMG V8 with some very serious torque and HP. You pay more for German stuff, and cost of ownership is higher, but dayum some of them are sooooo sweet to drive. If I were going to drop $20k right now with reliability, function, longevity and fit/finish as priority a 2-3 year old Pilot EXLNAV would bey first choice. Jeep is okay but a $20k+ investment deserves examining some of the excellent alternatives from Japan and Germany.

 

Whatever you choose make sure you throw some pics up! Whats cooler than a new car (other than a mew bike). Glad nobody was hurt in the collision.

 

I forgot to add that we bought a new Jeep Compass in 09, it was a base model. She had it in her head that she had to have a Jeep and she wouldnt listen to reason until it was to late. That same year I bought a new GTI DSG Autobahn and we fought over that but it was MINE only. She went to VW and drove the Tiguan and tried to trade in her two week old Jeep on one and the numbers wouldn't work for her. The Jeep had se niggling issues, the CVT was an absolute abortion to drive, the 4cyl base engine was course and sluggish, road noise and super ****ty interior quality stood out along with substandard exterior fit/finish. Handling was vague at best. The door reveals were as variable and gaping as an early Hyundai. It was quite underwhelming but it was a base model. I know Cherokees are more upscale but see if you can get her tto drive some other things. Put them through their paces and the best vehicle will become obvious in short order. She traded it off after a year and got a Mitsubishi, also underwhelming but a step up from the Compass.

 

I completely agree with the above advice.

 

I'll put it this way: Jeep is the Harley Davidson of the automotive world. They traditionally have not been very good quality, but they have a crazy cult following that swears by them, and wouldn't drive anything else. Their quality has gotten better the past few years since Fiat bought them, but they still aren't on par quality wise with other brands such as Honda, Toyota, Mazda (yes, I said that), Nissan, Subaru, VW, and even GMC or Chevy. They are decent rigs, and the Grand Cherokee is finished out nicely, but, just a quick glance at Consumer Reports can tell you a story what models are of the highest quality ranking, and which ones aren't. Even Hyundai, and Kia SUV's are getting higher quality rankings than Jeep.

 

Having said that; if you are really turned on by a Jeep, then go get you one. You'll probably love it. Pretty much all manufacturers are making good quality vehicles nowadays; way better quality than when we were all young. But their are some brands, ie: the ones I mentioned, that are head and shoulders better than "good". And, some of those brands I mentioned (Toyota, Honda, Subaru), hold their value like crazy if you buy them new.

[BigLenny]

Oh....Wait.....While I was typing my above thread, I didn't notice you had posted that you went ahead and bought it. LOL!

 

Nice looking rig! I hope it does well for you.

 

And, as far as all that stuff I said in my previous post.......yeah, don't pay any attention to it. LOL!!!!!

 

Congrats!

[BigLenny]

RDawson,

 

If you wouldn't have mentioned price in your first post, I wouldn't feel comfortable asking you this. Sure don't want to come across as rude and nosey. But, I'm curious; what price range can that vehicle be bought in? You don't hafta give specifics of your deal, but I was just wondering what that vehicle lists for, and what can it be bought for. Also, what equipment for that price? Leather? GPS? AWD? Dual air? Engine size? etc.

 

Thanks so much,

 

Big Lenny

[RDawson]

RDawson,

 

If you wouldn't have mentioned price in your first post, I wouldn't feel comfortable asking you this. Sure don't want to come across as rude and nosey. But, I'm curious; what price range can that vehicle be bought in? You don't hafta give specifics of your deal, but I was just wondering what that vehicle lists for, and what can it be bought for. Also, what equipment for that price? Leather? GPS? AWD? Dual air? Engine size? etc.

 

Thanks so much,

 

Big Lenny

 

I don't mind at all. 4wd 4cylinder, upgraded touch screen, power seat, one touch entry and ignition. Leather/cloth seats. Back up camera, Bluetooth. Aluminum wheels. MSRP $28,900. Drove away for $20,500 with lifetime power train warranty. I know Jeep isn't top of the line but luckily right now we were in a place we could buy in this price range with cash. The no payments and lifetime warranty were a big factor in our decision. It beats the Equinox hands down for comfort. I am very happy with the power range and mpg. Keep in mind I got it for family transportation, it will never go off roading or be treated like most people think of Jeeps. I had to go to Idaho to get that price. I won't name the dealer on here and look like I'm advertising for them. They are a no haggle dealer, prices are posted online as take it or leave it. They beat our locals by over $3000. I'll be glad to name them if someone pms me asking. So far I have no complaints and the wife loves it.

[CaseyJ955]

I don't mind at all. 4wd 4cylinder, upgraded touch screen, power seat, one touch entry and ignition. Leather/cloth seats. Back up camera, Bluetooth. Aluminum wheels. MSRP $28,900. Drove away for $20,500 with lifetime power train warranty. I know Jeep isn't top of the line but luckily right now we were in a place we could buy in this price range with cash. The no payments and lifetime warranty were a big factor in our decision. It beats the Equinox hands down for comfort. I am very happy with the power range and mpg. Keep in mind I got it for family transportation, it will never go off roading or be treated like most people think of Jeeps. I had to go to Idaho to get that price. I won't name the dealer on here and look like I'm advertising for them. They are a no haggle dealer, prices are posted online as take it or leave it. They beat our locals by over $3000. I'll be glad to name them if someone pms me asking. So far I have no complaints and the wife loves it.

 

Although we dont share exact taste in vehicles, I have to say that I have some healthy respect for the contents of this post. Buying for cash with no payments and saving buttloads in financing charges and interest, and hassle. All this and you got a vehicle you both love. If you can drop $21k in cash you sure could have put that down on a more expensive vehicle, but instead went this way, and searched out the best price. I have in the last few years started listening to a mentor and radically changed my attitudes about managing money and living beneath my means. I know a whole lot of folks upside down in their vehicles that should have taken this to heart. This is a good example for guys like me who sometimes loose our good sense when it comes to vehicles. Hats off to you, Just sayin'.

[RDawson]

Although we dont share exact taste in vehicles, I have to say that I have some healthy respect for the contents of this post. Buying for cash with no payments and saving buttloads in financing charges and interest, and hassle. All this and you got a vehicle you both love. If you can drop $21k in cash you sure could have put that down on a more expensive vehicle, but instead went this way, and searched out the best price. I have in the last few years started listening to a mentor and radically changed my attitudes about managing money and living beneath my means. I know a whole lot of folks upside down in their vehicles that should have taken this to heart. This is a good example for guys like me who sometimes loose our good sense when it comes to vehicles. Hats off to you, Just sayin'.

 

I wish I could say I've always had this way of thinking. If I did I could've bought a nicer car now. We are reaching a point close to retirement and are thinking more of that. Though we'll both have pensions they won't be great ones. We want to enter retirement flush with the world and no debts. We've worked hard to pay off the house early, finished that this year. The youngest child will be 20 when I get to retire from the fire service. I own a small business that should finance some travel on the RSV through the years. That's why the lifetime warranty meant so much to us. Time will tell if I made a good choice. 🤞🤞🤞. We'll get to retire in our early 50s, plans made in our 20s. I wish I could say the pensions would be enough but reality is I'll have to run the business part time for years to come. We just planned to have a few good years of retirement before it all ends. The best laid plans right?

[BigLenny]

Casey,

 

I whole heartedly concur with you!

 

RDawson,

 

Well done! That's a good lookin vehicle with a sizable amount of content you paid considering the dollar amount. $8400.00 off of a vehicle that lists in the $20's is very substantial. It apears you put some serious thought and research into it before you pulled the trigger.

 

Congrats again!

[BigLenny]

RDawson, What I'm about to write below does not pertain to you. It appears you did a good job of researching, and got a good deal. I'm just gonna make an observation from an old car guy.

 

Something that happened right as I was getting into the car business in 1987, completely changed my thought process of how I should go about buying vehicles. I read an article about car dealer advertising tactics, and how and why they work. This article referred to a big study that one of the universities (maybe it was Harvard) had done on this same subject of car dealer marketing and advertising. It addressed questions like: Why all the big hype on commercials? Why sometimes funny characters? Why bait and switch ads? Why big shiny this, and big shiny that? Why the dramatic voices in the ads? Why give away a TV, or shotgun, or trip or whatever? etc. etc. etc.

The finding of the study was that automobiles have become an impulse buy. I remember the article stating that research proved that the average car buyer uses the exact same part of their brain to buy a car, that they do to buy a coke and a bag of chips when they go into a convenience store. The exact area of their brain that is emotional and impulse related. This benefits the dealership because it allows them to control you and structure deals the way they need to best effect their profits. They do all they can to keep the process emotional and impulsive so as to soften the reality in your brain that you are making a $20K, $30K, $40K and up decision on a product that is going to absolutely depreciate your investment. If told you I had this really good investment opportunity that I want you to let me invest your money in, and I said something like, "Hey, give me your $20K, and in 3 years it will only be worth $14K, and 5 years it'll be worth $10K, and in 7 years it'll be worth $6K", you would look at me like I'm crazy, and would probably think about calling a scam hotline to report me. But, in a very real way, that is what car dealers are selling, but in the package of a shiny automobile. Your money, from the time you drive off the lot starts depreciating, and fast! Sure, you get to drive a car around in your investment, but make no bones about it, your money is crashing like crazy.

 

After I read that article, I was amazed time and time again over the next 9 years as I watched most buyers come in running strictly on emotion, just wanting a shiny new vehicle that would fit their budget in some way. the vast majority having done no research on what their trade-in is worth, what the dealer cost of the vehicle they want to buy, what the insurance rates will be on that vehicle, what their own credit report says, and how that relates into just how good of an interest rate they are qualified for , or not. What the actual CR quality ranking is on the vehicle they're looking at? What the future value of that will hold? etc. Most customers allow it to stay emotional.

 

After I read that article, and as I started realizing the truth of it unfolding in front of my eyes day in and day out, it became very clear in my mind that whenever I buy a car, it is most certainly and unquestionably an extremely important and large investment for me and my family, and it is not to be done with any kind of emotion, other than the emotion it takes to look at and realize, through multiple test drives of several competing models, which particular car I would like best. Buying an automobile correctly takes a lot of research and time. But, the automotive industry has highjacked the average buyers minds, and convinced them that it is perfectly normal to run to a dealership, make a $30K decision in an hour or so, and come back home with a new car. We don't do that in any other area of our lives except for impulse small purchases like a coke and a bag of chips, or some other small insignificant item. I have seen people agonize for weeks over whether they should spend $1000.00 on a flat screen TV, but then run to dealership and contract to $30-$40K on a car in an hour.

 

Here are some things you should know, and are not optional if you're going to work a proper deal on an automobile:

1. If financing, what is your credit rating? This is critical that you know this, and what kind of interest rate your rating will qualify for. Unacceptable to go to a dealer with out this knowledge.

2. What is the value of your trade-in? This can be found at sites like KBB, and others. You never wait to get to the dealership to let them tell you what they think your trade is worth. Know what your trade in is worth, and hit them at least $2K higher than that amount for what you will take for it.

3. It is not a trade in!!! You are not trading them a car for a car. You are buying their car, and they are buying yours. Treat the transaction like that. Your "trade in" should be clean and as spotless as it can get, or you are leaving money on the table. They are buying your car. Make sure it is clean marketable.

4. Know what the cost is for the new car you are buying. There are plenty of sites online where you can find that information.

5. Work numbers in small increments! This means when you are offering $25,000.00, and the dealer says they will $27,500.00, don't move in large increments. Tell them you'll do $25,250.00 and work very small. Most people allow the dealership to let them move in $500.00 or even $1000.00 chunks. Everytime you open your mouth, it costs you money, so how much are your words worth?

6. Do research of all the competing vehicles on the segment you're looking at, and take a whole day, and go test drive every single one of them, and make notes. NO NUMBERS ARE TO BE WORKED ON THIS TEST DRIVE DAY. This is just a fact finding, test driving day to compare, and narrow down to the final one.

7. ALWAYS WORK DEALS THE LAST WEEK OF THE MONTH, PREFERABLY THE LAST DAY! All salesman and sales managers, as well as the dealer owners have monthly unit bonuses that have to be met, and as the month gets closer to end, gross profit is not nearly as important as the unit bonus that will be made on that vehicle.

8. Extended warranties, if you choose to get one, are always price negotiable. Do not ever fail to offer half of what they price the warranty, and work up from there.

9. Interest rates are negotiable!!!!!!!!!! The dealer is always holding back a point or more to make profit. Tell them what interest rate you will take, by knowing what your credit rating is, and what you qualify for.

10. If you can't come to an agreed upon price, or if you can't decide if you like the vehicle, the it is NOT WISE to let them talk you into piggy backing the vehicle overnight. This means letting you take the vehicle home for a day to think about it. This is done not because they are trying to be friendly, and helping you make the right decision, NO, this is a time held tactic of car dealers to increase the percentage of closing the deal. Research shows that a piggy backed customer has a 90% chance of closing when they come back to the dealership with the vehicle. This is because most people have taken it home and grown attached to it, and their neighbors or friends have seen it, and the chance of turning it back in is slim. So, Don't do that. Keep you head clear.

11. Know the 5 main areas dealers make money off of your deal, and negotiate every one of these areas:

A. They make gross profit on the selling you the new vehicle.

B. They make money by offering you less on your trade than it's worth, (This is called dinking) then selling for a large profit.

C. They make profit on the add ons to the vehicle, like locking lugnuts, undercoating, tinted windows, etc. (This will usually be on and addendum sticker beside the main window sticker).

D. They make profit on the extended warranty they sell you in the finance office.

E. They make profit on the interest rate of the loan. The bank sells them the loan at rate, then the dealer adds a point or two and passes that on to you. Don't let that happen.

 

I could on and on, but I'm tired. LOL.

 

Thanks for letting me babble.

 

Big Lenny