I also bought the liberty for the CRD. I was considering a Duramax Silverado but the Liberty was a better fit for the family. If I had to make the decision again I would still buy the liberty.

DCX did experiment with us to determine demand, I think that it was a good experiment, and I applaud them for doing it. If people wonder why there is so much emphasis put on hybrids when their economy is questionable at best it is because you can sell them in California and other CARB states, bottom line there are a lot of consumers in those states. I think that DCX needed to determine the demand for the vehicle without those states in play. I hope that we have shown enough demand to encourage them to further develope diesels to meet 2007 EPA, not because I am concerned about the CRD I already own, but because I would like another one, only with 3 rows of seats, say like the commander.

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Gasoline is for washing parts - Alcohol is for drinking - Nitromethane is for racing - Diesel is for hauling.

2005 CRD Limited 4x4 - Deep Beryl Green - Selec-Trac
Trac-Lok - Skid Plates - BFG Radial Long Trail TA's- Rotella T 5W40 Synthetic.

2007 GC CRD Limited. Silver.

The Comander or Durango would be huge sellers with MB V6 and a 27 to 30 mpg highway rating over the current 19 highway (V6) that you would only get doing 55mph with a tail wind down hill.

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91 MB 300D 2.5L Turbo. Her's

05 MB E320 CDI. Mine

Just for clarification-The diesel was the reason I bought the Jeep. I had an "00 EXTERA which I liked and had no problems over 70k miles. However, I NEVER got better than 17.5mpg and often got less than 15. So, when I took a job that required a 100 mi round trip commute, plus driving to various sites around New England I realized that the Nissan would not do. I would have considered a jetta/passat tdi, but I need "real" 4wd and a truck like a 250, or big dodge was just way too huge. So, I took a chance on the Jeep. I had a '78 Rabbit Diesel which I drove till it could not pass inspection due to body rust, so diesels were not foreign to me.

In fact, the Jeep is the first "American" car I have owned since my first car which was a used '64 Pontiac Lemans (which was stolen, but that is another story).

In any event, no diesel means no Jeep for me. I have no "regrets" about the CRD purchase but started this thread because I am curious as to what others think about the loss of the CRD as it applies to their own Jeep's value and longevity via service and driving experience.

No regrets here as well. My only worry if CRD Liberty production ends after only 2 model years will be on the service side of things.

There needs to be WAY more of these on the road so the service departments can become educated on how to repair them. Otherwise, we will always be fighting with the dealers to get correct repairs made under, or out of, warranty. Right now there might be 15,000 in the entire U.S. including the '06s sitting on the lots.

I thought I had found a good service dept when they did my TSBs. I referred my friend there with his '06CRD and they insisted the oil change interval was 3,000 miles max. WTF?

Now I'm looking, still, for a dealership I can trust for warranty work. I have already called over 20 in Indiana so far and quizzed them - all failed on basic knowledge of the CRD.

Also: What if someone wrecks into my CRD, or I wreck it. I want another new one. What then?

I also would not have considered a Liberty if it didn't have the diesel option.

Discussions about not offering a diesel for 2007 is not unique to DCX; there's talk about not offering VW TDI's in 2007 for the very same reasons. DCX appears to be the only vehicle manufacturer right now that is openly touting diesel's as "part of the solution". If DCX doesn't offer a diesel Liberty for 2007, it won't be because of poor sales or poor reliability; it will be because they don't have the technology in place yet to meet the 2007 emission requirements. If no diesel is offered in '07 one will come around in '08 or '09.

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2006 Liberty Limited CRD Bright Silver Metallic (NOW SOLD)
All Recalls Performed
100k extended warranty
Fumoto Oil Drain Valves (Oil Pan & Transfer Case)
V6 Airbox Mod
New Driveshaft, New EGR
2003 Wrangler Sport 4.0L, Bright Blue
2007 Wrangler Sahara Unlimited 4 Door, Red Rock Crystal Pearl WOW!!!

Another possible reason they MIGHT not offer an '07 CRD would be lowball competition against a MB V6 Grand Cherokee. Now that they know there's quite a few people out there they can hook on the diesel option alone, why not hook them on the higher priced vehicle?

Liberty is already one of the best selling vehicles in it's class, even with subtracting CRD sales. Move the diesel option over to the Grand Cherokee, and you'll have two high sales vehicles.

In the end, they're going to go with what will make them the most money and sales, and a 50 state legal diesel Grand Cherokee will be higher priced and have a bigger market.

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Mitchell Oates
'87 MB 300D Diamond Blue Metallic
'87 MB 300D - R.I.P. 12/08
'05 Sport CRD Stone White
Provent CCV Filter/AT2525 Muffler
Stanadyne 30 u/Cat 2 u Fuel Filters
Fumoto Drain/Fleetguard LF3487 Oil filter
V6 Airbox/Amsoil EAA Air Filter
Suncoast TC/Shift Kit/Aux Cooler
Kennedy Lift Pump/Return Fuel Cooler

That is why I say you will first see the MB Bluetec, outside of the Sprinter, in Jeep line in the high end Durango and possibly the Commander where the big proffit margins are for D/C first. I do believe the Cherokee will get a diesel, but not sure when or if the MB unit would be used instead of a VM V6. The only problem with what you would put a VM engine into would weight, the adding of eurea cataylist and particulate traps would be no big deal as the engine has all the other technology currently and is way ahead of the Cummins. I suspect the VM V6 will show in the 1/2 ton Ram PU if the weight is not a problem for the chassis (It weights in at 700lbs which is probably close to V8) and the MB V6 will be used in the LX series (Magnum, Charger & 300C) cars along with the high end SUV's like Durango and or Commander. The 2.8L 4 we have in Liberty will be excellent choice for the Dakota and is suppose to be in the plans for early '07 delivery, if they can get engines. The 2.8L may be a hard to get and a high demand item in Liberty & Dakota due to engine shortages, lets hope not though guys.

The big difference, and a very important difference it is, in the VM & MB V6 diesel is 200 lbs. The MB weights in at about 516 lbs and the VM is about 700 lbs. The 2.8L 4 cyl we have is 550 lbs. The reason for the weight difference for the VM engines is they use cast iron blocks currently. Wonder what it would take to switch over to the MB technology of aluminum blocks? I guess if the Cherokee can take the weight of a 6.1L V8 engine, it should be ok with a VM V6 diesel.

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91 MB 300D 2.5L Turbo. Her's

05 MB E320 CDI. Mine

The VM Motori /DDC V6 is available in both cast iron and aluminum blocks. The aluminum block saves about 50 lbs - not worth it imo. VM/DDC builds heavy duty engines. They claim that their automotive and marine engines are built on the same line and have about 70% commonality in blocks, crankshafts, pistons and other internal parts. A tunnel crank and wet sleeves isn't usually found on automotive engines - this engine could be rebuilt forever as long as the block remains intact.

From their website specs, the 2.8 weights 220Kg/485lbs, the cast iron block V6 weighs 240kg/529lbs. That's probably without alternater, starter, aux heater, turbo and other stuff which could easily add 200 lbs of weight.

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2005 LTD CRD RB1 NAV/Htd Leather seats/Amsoil EA filters
SunCoast Mega Trans & Billet TC/PML pan/Aux cooler
Fuel cooler/Lift Pump/10um Pri/Racor R490 2um Sec Fuel Filters
IronMan Lift/Shocks/Provent/Moog ball joints/ V6 Airbox/Fan/Hayden
Cobalt Boost/EGT/Oil/Trans/Volt gauges/Aeroturbine 2525
Yeti Hot Tune/Odessey 65/Samco's/Michelin Defenders

Yes that why I think you would not see any V6 VM in anything but the Ram 1/2 ton PU, the 2.8L however is a great engine for Dakota.

I have driven a V6 commander and was impressed with how quite and smooth it rode for an SUV designed like a brick, however the 19 mpg highway was in my opinion wishful thinking. The Commander would be an excellent platform for a MB V6 diesel, should be a hot seller. I would not mind having one if it got 30 mpg highway.

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91 MB 300D 2.5L Turbo. Her's

05 MB E320 CDI. Mine