Any '05 Jeep Liberty drivers/owners out there?

[FINFAN]

We have been on a used car hunt since July when DH's Pontiac Grand Prix was totalled. Thought we were going to go ahead with an '04 Acura TL but at the last minute discovered some unacceptable issues. SO, trying to find a vehicle in the laughable price range that insurance is giving us for the total that can be a family car but also sort of fun for our kids 16 and 20. We have never owned a Jeep, so any info pros cons woudl be appreciated!

Thanks!

 

[Wishing on a star]

We drove a nice black Jeep Liberty SE with sunroof, etc...
We really liked the vehicle!

This was the true, off-road, vehicle....
Before they changed to the 'crossover'.... which is an SUV vehicle which is on a regular car chassis.
I don't remember what year they changed... but if yours is the newer type, then it is different than our was.

Keep in mind though, that these are like little 'tanks'... and your gasoline costs will reflect that.

We didn't have any engine or transmission issues...
When we traded it in, it was getting up towards the 100,00. mile mark.
Gasoline was outrageous high.
And, we did have one expensive repair - a bearing in one of rear tire suspensions, which then ruined that whole part, where the tire actually turns. May have been one of those freak things.

 

[Handbag Lady]

My sister and my best friend each have one that same year.

They love them to death. They enjoy driving them, it suits my sister's family and my best friend's single life.

The really like the space in the trunk/hatch area, and that has easy access yet can't be seen by robbers (especially during the Christmas season when this happens often while one is out shopping).

The gas mileage isn't great, and repairs for both seem average to me.

 

[heatherwillmom]

I' glad to hear good things. DD wants a Jeep Liberty. She is 17. She isn't asking for a new one, but I'm looking for one that doesn't have a lot of miles on it.

 

[FINFAN]

thank you for the posts...the one we are looking at is the sport model with sunroof, but 104,000 miles which to me...well, about 30,000 too many, but DH has a reasonable commute of 12 miles RT, DS is the same to school and DD is only here Christmas break and summer. They feel a little tight, claustrophobic to me, like the windshield is too right in your face or something...can't quite put my finger on it, but for a vehicle under $7000 that we can rely on in the winter it is in the running. How about wind noise? Or when you have the back windows down but the front ones up...do you get that wobble type really loud wind sheer? then mention of trading them in at 100,000 is concernig to me as this one is over that already. I am somewhat concerned of the rollover issues, anyone feeel unstable in theirs? I really like the Jeep Patriot but not in our price range.

 

[akcire]

Hi Neighbor.

My husband has family that work in manufacturing for each of the 3 Detroit Autos. I would not purchase a Jeep with 100,000+ miles. If you do go with a Jeep the Wheaton dealership has a MUCH better repair shop than any of the others.

I looked at a brand new Jetta the other day they start at $15,000--I know it is more than you want to spend, but its brand new.

Send me a PM if you want some other ideas.

 

[FINFAN]

Hi Neighbor.

My husband has family that work in manufacturing for each of the 3 Detroit Autos. I would not purchase a Jeep with 100,000+ miles. If you do go with a Jeep the Wheaton dealership has a MUCH better repair shop than any of the others.

I looked at a brand new Jetta the other day they start at $15,000--I know it is more than you want to spend, but its brand new.

Send me a PM if you want some other ideas.

Hi thiere! How's it going? We have been having an awesome fall, huh? Thanks for the heads up on the Jeep issues....one flag for me is our neighbor who has a veritable fleet of cars, 7 in all I think....anyway, they have only gotten rid of one and it was a Grand Cherokee well under 100,000. DH may re-focus back to the standard Accord ( thats where we started, which led to the Acura..which led to many headaches) We just want our Grand Prix back but no luck locating one within 100 miles that is a comparable match to what we had. Sounds like you will enjoy your new Jetta! Yeah, we have to stay in the range 1/2 of that...were not planning on this and have a "96 Nissan van that will need replacing soon so have to stay logical in replacing DH car. One thing for sure tho...a sun roof is a MUST for him..narrows down the search immensely. I even told him to take my '07 CX-9 since I have a sunroof, only 12,000 miles, and get me the different car as I am less picky and could have settled this by now. I think since I have babied my CX-9 and do not have even the slightest ding, he is fearful if eh is the one to put the first blemish on it, lol....and his work parking lot will do it...packed like sardines in there!

 

[lacrosse_lady72]

Hi Neighbor.

My husband has family that work in manufacturing for each of the 3 Detroit Autos. I would not purchase a Jeep with 100,000+ miles. If you do go with a Jeep the Wheaton dealership has a MUCH better repair shop than any of the others.

I looked at a brand new Jetta the other day they start at $15,000--I know it is more than you want to spend, but its brand new.

Send me a PM if you want some other ideas.

This is a lot of what I'm doing. I was looking into the Jeep line, either Patriot, Liberty or Grand Cherokee, in the $15,000-$20,000 range. I LOVE SUVs! My previous vehicle was a 2002 Land Rover Discovery but I sold it because I didn't need it and it killed me in gas.

Part of my decision making must include gas mileage. To get from my house to school is about 30 miles each way through rush hour traffic, and add other stops and places I need to go, it's ends up being about 80 miles/(week)day. So while I'd love to have a Grand Cherokee or Liberty, they take too much gas. Plus, the GC usually comes with 60,000 miles+ for my price range.

The Patriot is better for gas at about 22/26 but, it's hard to find one with features I want, and are important to me such as AUX & power windows/locks. So I can either get one for dirt cheap (relatively), the one I've been looking at is 2010, used with 1,000 miles on it, for $15,998, but it's without many features. Or closer to $20,000 with around 50,000 miles, more features, and an older make.

Hm... then I look at the Jetta. Newish, 2007-2009 models, less than 30,000 miles, all the features I want and then some, and all from $12,000-$15,000! Not to mention much better gas mileage. And, I'm pretty sure it's going to last me longer .

I don't know why I felt I needed to tell you allll of that, but I think I'm in a similar predicament as you.

Another one I've been looking into is the Dodge Caliber. But while I can drive stick, I don't want to, and most of them that I can find come in manual. But they are definitely a cute car. I like to think of them as mini-SUVs.

 

[MM27]

I have a 2003 Jeep Liberty and I love it. I have about 148,000 miles on it and it's stick chuggin' along. Whenever I'm ready for a new one, I'm going to get another Liberty because it's perfect for me. I like that there's room in the back to haul my stuff, roof racks to hold my kayak and yet small enough that it doesn't take as much gas as a larger SUV.

 

[Wishing on a star]

Another one I've been looking into is the Dodge Caliber. But while I can drive stick, I don't want to, and most of them that I can find come in manual. But they are definitely a cute car. I like to think of them as mini-SUVs.

You are looking for a prev.owned vehicle?
Have you looked at new Calibers.
Seems like you should be able to find one with auto, and some of your other specs.
They should really be trying to move the 2010's right now???

We traded our Liberty in on a Caliber.
We actually got a pretty good deal on a brand new Caliber, the package with leather wrapped wheel, fog lights, and yes automatic... it is what I might call a moon-silver gray, and we had a dark tint put on the windows. It has to be the sharpest little Caliber that I've seen on the road.

Mileage is not spectacular, but really pretty good on the highway!
And, if your like me, and you just don't want to go the little econo 'Honda Fit' type route.

The Caliber is great, because it has a real mini-suv feel, with the hatchback big enough for our big Lab to hop in for a ride.

For the price range, we've been happy with it.

 

[heatherwillmom]

I have a friend whose DH has a Jeep Liberty that he loves. In fact, he's on his second one now. The gas mileage wasn't that important to him as he doesnt drive that far to work. He talked her into getting a grand Cherokee which she hated. She had a lot of problems with it & ended up trading it relatively soon after she got it. We are looking at getting DD a Liberty. She loves small SUVs. I love pretty much any SUV & have owned several. I traded my Expedition, that I loved but it had 180,000 miles on it, last year for a Mustang convertible. DD says I could use her Liberty if I need more room for anything. She can't drive mine because it's a manual, but DH's car is an automatic. I think the Liberty may be a good choice for her although we have looked at Escapes & Rav4 too