Poll-Would you have bought a Lib. if no CRD was Avail.

bugnout · **Posted:** Thu Apr 03, 2008 9:16 pm

I was looking for a diesel pickup, kind-of overkill for what I really needed. Heard the CRD was coming out, test drove it and fell in love.

My first 4x4 and my first diesel, but almost ended up with a Dodge 2500 and much bigger debt.

clackclack · **Posted:** Thu Apr 03, 2008 10:01 pm

this is my 3rd jeep... CJ7, TJ, and now a KJ CRD. I wish the KJ had a SFA and a manual tranny. With that in mind the KJ will get traded for a Diesel Wrangler in a few years if DC is producing them.

My other car is a newer model pkg 2 manual Jetta TDI that gets 45mpg in town. And I have no plans to trade the Jetta, it has surpassed all expectations. When I bought the KJ I looked at the CDI but it was too much like the TDI only with more pretense and less mpg; and the new V6 had me thinking $$$ when the warranty ends. Also considered waiting for the 2009 Honda Fit... probably the best option for those who are looking to prove big isn't necessarily better.

Pablo · **Joined:** Thu Feb 02, 2006 10:06 pm **Posts:** 1201

I would not have bought the KJ sans the CRD. Now that I have, I have more respect for the KJ-- but I still doubt that I will ever buy a gasser KJ/KK.

The only thing that will tempt me out of the KJ is a JK CRD.

alclubb · **Posted:** Thu Apr 03, 2008 10:13 pm

I only bought the Liberty because of the better fuel mileage on the diesel. I wanted a small SUV and the Liberty CRD was the only thing out there that was the right size with the good mileage.

dieselenthusiast · **Posted:** Thu Apr 03, 2008 10:33 pm

We bought the 05 CRD because I love diesels and we love Jeeps, unfortunately the CRD was in the shop all the time and we grew very impatient and traded her off. We loved the Liberty so much that we decided to trade for a gasser. Also, LOST was a great group of guys and girls, so it caused me to stick around. I do not regret having a gasser KJ, it’s lots of fun, has plenty of power, very trail worthy, and very reliable. I would like to buy another Liberty CRD if I don't see anything in the diesel market for the next year or so. I might be interested in the Mopar diesel engine swap kit when I learn more about it. Maybe a Grand Cherokee CRD? I am planning to make biodiesel in the future, so I will probably stick with diesel vehicles from here on out. The KJ will probably be my last gasser.

Reflex · **Joined:** Mon Jan 29, 2007 8:48 pm **Posts:** 567

Sam - Ahhh, the CDI is a lot cheaper than I remember. Guess that kinda kills the price difference then, although due to my spartan approach I'd still save the ten grand(and a lot more down the line since Mercedes aren't cheap to maintain).

Sir Sam · **Posted:** Fri Apr 04, 2008 1:27 am

Reflex wrote:

Sam - Ahhh, the CDI is a lot cheaper than I remember. Guess that kinda kills the price difference then, although due to my spartan approach I'd still save the ten grand(and a lot more down the line since Mercedes aren't cheap to maintain).

I would too, plus used ones are dropping fast in price.

dieselenthusiast · **Posted:** Fri Apr 04, 2008 1:59 am

Sir Sam wrote:

Reflex wrote:

Sam - Ahhh, the CDI is a lot cheaper than I remember. Guess that kinda kills the price difference then, although due to my spartan approach I'd still save the ten grand(and a lot more down the line since Mercedes aren't cheap to maintain).

I would too, plus used ones are dropping fast in price.

Yes they are :shock:

It's amazing to watch the price drop so quickly.

chrispitude · **Posted:** Fri Apr 04, 2008 10:29 am

We drove the 3.7L and were not impressed. Punchy off the line, then dead after that. That engine always felt like it was working too hard up hills and passing on the highway. I had read about the CRD online and we sought one out to test drive. It drove great, felt effortless, and we bought one. Our three requirements were snow ability, towing, and great fuel economy. The CRD has delivered very well on two out of the three.

As for the ownership experience, that's a story for a different thread.

- Chris

danoid · **Posted:** Fri Apr 04, 2008 1:22 pm

I had a 2002 KJ. It got 15 mpg. Since I had previously had a Cummins pickup that got 18 mpg I was not happy.

honey_don't · **Posted:** Fri Apr 04, 2008 7:53 pm

chrispitude wrote:

We drove the 3.7L and were not impressed. Punchy off the line, then dead after that. That engine always felt like it was working too hard up hills and passing on the highway.

I had those for rentals a couple times before we bought the CRD and agree with your assessment. The experiences did get it in my mind that the Liberty handles well for it's class and would be good with a diesel. I just turned in a Compass which was less than impressive, seems to have a torque-remover feature under many operating conditions, but does have a unique interior.
If ya'll want Jeeps from Hertz, just specify Sirius radio in your profile. I get them >50% of the time and also have mid-size car specified. The give me Commanders too.

litton · **Posted:** Sat Apr 05, 2008 11:51 am

Great response to the poll. In fact.....if I do the math correctly the responses equal almost 0.1% of all the CRD's sold.

I have long forgotten my statistics but 0.1% is not an insignicant sample size. I took the libery (pun intended) to send a link to Chrysler along with a few comments regarding the markieting of small diesels.

jame · **Posted:** Sun Apr 06, 2008 1:02 am

I needed a machine that:

1. Would get at least 20 MPG

2. Would tow 5000#

3. Had 4x4 abilities

4. Would be easily manuverable in an urban setting.

Nothing else met my criteria. As a matter of fact, I DISLIKE Mopar products, so this was a hard sell. I'm used to working with diesel on the farm, so I was warm to that side of the issue.

BTW, I love my CRD, but I still dislike Mopar products. If it weren't for the little 4 banger oil burner, mine would have been long gone.

mrkake · **Posted:** Sun Apr 06, 2008 4:07 am

I came at it from a different angle. I haul my tools to the restaurants about once a month. About once a week I need to take 6 or 8 cases of something from one location to the other. I needed an SUV or small pickup but didn't like the gas mileage so I was looking at hybrids (Ford Escape, Toyota Highlander and Lexus 400h). I wasn't at all impressed when I drove the Ford, the Toyota was too much like a minivan and the Lexus was too expensive. Back to the drawing board. When I was looking around at different auto webites, I ran across a CRD. I was totally hooked on the idea becuase of the biodiesel angle and the relatively decent mileage that it got. I have always loved Jeeps and have always wanted one, but it was just never practical. Then it took me several months to find one that I would be happy with. I finally found one on the oither side of the state. I flew up ready to buy if I liked it. I seriously drove it for about 5 miles and knew it was for me. It's been at least 25 years since I have had a car that I enjoyed as much as this one.

Scott Langohr · **Posted:** Sun Apr 06, 2008 12:30 pm

I seriously drove it for about 5 miles and knew it was for me. It's been at least 25 years since I have had a car that I enjoyed as much as this one

Amen Brother!

DZL_LOU · **Posted:** Sun Apr 06, 2008 3:52 pm

Sir Sam wrote:

DZL_LOU wrote:

Nope.
I was looking for a Diesel, and was in the market for a used Mercedes 320D, 300D or 190D.

I was driving a Chevy K1500 and liked the 4WD so Jeep won.

If I had to do it now, the new Mercedes CDI would win over the GC CRD

Here is a hypothetical question for you, but what if the WK cost 20k less than the MB?

Just like the rest of us, I had my share of issues with the KJ CRD and had to retro-fit customizations for poor design.
The WK CRD from my Daimler Chrysler sources also had issues directly from the factory.
Though I have met many wise and trusted people on this board to help me along the way with the KJ CRD, I just don't want to go through that again with a new vehicle.
I'd still pay a premium for the MB CDI, if I did not have to have the hassle of a WK CRD.
Just my opinion, as twisted as it may be.

bhysjulien · **Posted:** Sun Apr 06, 2008 5:39 pm

I would have kept the 02 Liberty I traded in on the CRD. I love Jeeps but hate how Chrysler cuts corners to save $$$. I want to buy a DIESEL, Wrangler Unlimited 4 door but I have to wonder what corners Chrysler will cut when the build it.

tulsa · **Posted:** Mon Apr 07, 2008 8:03 am

No, hell no. That said the Liberty has really grown on me.

SBosco · **Posted:** Tue Apr 08, 2008 10:48 am

I wasn't even looking at an SUV!!! My girlfriend dragged me into the Jeep exhibit at the Jacob Javitz center during the 2006 auto show in NYC. I saw that they made a diesel version, and immediately became interested when I saw that it made 300 ft/lbs of torque, and got 27mpg. We then waited on the looooong-ass line (45 minutes) to go for a ride in a jeep over the "off-road course". When I came to the front of the line I was told that I was supposed to ride in the next available jeep, which was a wrangler. I told the attendants that I didn't care and would not ride in the wrangler because I was only interested in the liberty. It worked because I skipped the wrangler and rode in the next liberty (3.7 V6). I asked the driver what he knew about the diesel model and if he had driven it; he had nothing but good things to say. During the ride on the course I was impressed with the liberty's capabilities; I never realized that libertys were so capable. I then priced out the model I wanted and starting making phone calls to find it.

~Steve

dieseldoesit · **Posted:** Tue Apr 08, 2008 2:46 pm

jame wrote:

I needed a machine that:

1. Would get at least 20 MPG

2. Would tow 5000#

3. Had 4x4 abilities

4. Would be easily manuverable in an urban setting.

Nothing else met my criteria. As a matter of fact, I DISLIKE Mopar products, so this was a hard sell. I'm used to working with diesel on the farm, so I was warm to that side of the issue.

BTW, I love my CRD, but I still dislike Mopar products. If it weren't for the little 4 banger oil burner, mine would have been long gone.

my feelings exactly! Couldn't of said it better.

Poll-Would you have bought a Lib. if no CRD was Avail.

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