KJ or KK?

acweller · **Posted:** Sat Mar 19, 2011 2:47 pm

Hey Jeepers!!

I'm looking to become a member of the jeep community in the not to distant future.
My question is ... KJ or KK? I've found an 07 KJ w/ 40k for a steal or a 08 KK w/ 21k for 17ish.
Im a big guy 6ft and 300lbs(workin on the weight thing). I dont have kids, but I do have 2 dogs. I dont generally haul alot of stuff but on occasion I do.
So, which is right for me? I'd rather not spend alot so the KJ seems to fit that, but it feels small to me. I currently drive a Ford Focus ZX3( AND I said the kj feels small right? lol) and the jeep would be my DD so I need reliabilty in a vehicle. The KJ fits my budget better, but I can still afford the kk. I don't have any plans of major off roading or anything like that but would love to do some old fire trails and two trackin.

I also have a question reguarding the KK w/ skyslider. For those of you that have it, would you buy it again or opt for the regular sunroof? I'm looking at 2 KK's one with the skyslider and one with a sunroof.

Thanks

FDez · **Posted:** Sat Mar 19, 2011 7:45 pm

First off, welcome. The biggest deciding factor should be which one you like the look of better. I personally like the KK better but many others do not. I do have a skyslider and love it. There is a very loud wind noise with it closed at highway speeds but there is a cheap easy fix that takes care of it. If you do not care about having that big of a hole over your head on nice days then you might as well get a regular sunroof. Less to go wrong/take care of. You also won't be able to get a roof basket with the skyslider..yet.

The other thing to consider is aftermarket. If you want more choices, go with the KJ. They've been around longer and have many more aftermarket parts. The KK aftermarket is catching up but is still limited. Good luck and post some pics when you make your choise.

Dez

Sir Sam · **Posted:** Sun Mar 20, 2011 5:28 pm

Personally I think I like the KK better, but there's no CRD KK available in the US.

irollgen4s · **Posted:** Sun Mar 20, 2011 5:46 pm

prefer the KJ myself, not because i own one, just because the aftermarket on liberty's is limited already, why limit yourself even further by getting a KK? From what i've read the KK's cant get as aggressive as the KJ's either because of the wheel wells are smaller and cant be removed. plus I<3mycrdmotor

iMTB · **Joined:** Mon Jan 24, 2011 4:27 pm **Posts:** 273

I just was in the market for a new small SUV. I test drove and researched everything from the new 2011 Compass to the Suzuki SX4. I really love the look of the KK and the skyslider is awesome, but the seats feel awful and made my back ache after a 15 minute test drive. Plus the interior was not my style. I really wanted a diesel kj but in the end I picked a gas kj because I loved the one I bought. The kj and the kk are totally different to drive. Coming from a Mustang GT I much preferred the kj because it feel wayyyy sportier.

mapco · **Joined:** Tue Jan 09, 2007 4:27 am **Posts:** 250

iMTB wrote:

I just was in the market for a new small SUV. I test drove and researched everything from the new 2011 Compass to the Suzuki SX4.

The Compass is not an SUV. It's a crossover based on the Dodge Caliber and Mitsubishi Lancer.

SweepnChoke · **Posted:** Wed Mar 23, 2011 11:34 am

mapco wrote:

iMTB wrote:

I just was in the market for a new small SUV. I test drove and researched everything from the new 2011 Compass to the Suzuki SX4.

The Compass is not an SUV. It's a crossover based on the Dodge Caliber and Mitsubishi Lancer.

I agree, but in that case I would also not call the KK a Jeep since it is really just the Dodge Nitro rebadged.

My wife and I both drive 2002 KJ's, and really had no opinion about the KK until a few weeks ago. My wife was hit broadside by a person that ran a stop sign. While the KJ was in having the repairs our insurance company gave us a 2011 KK, so my wife drove it for a little over 2 weeks, while I only drove it a few times just to test it out.

At first I was concerned that she was going to like it and want one (new vehicle not feasable at the moment with baby #2 on the way), fortunately the exact opposite happened. The short of it is that both my wife and I hated it. The only thing my wife prefered on the KK over the KJ were the driver/passenger seats. We both disliked the tailgate instead of the swing gate (in fact if the KJ had a tailgate I would have never bought it). We didn't like the belt line of the vehicle being higher, while the roof stayed the same height as it reduces the height of side windows making it harder to look out at the ground close to the vehicle. We didn't like the push button instead of the lever for changing from 2 wheel to 4. We like some of the interior, but felt it looked even cheaper than the KJ. And neither of us liked the new boxy body lines as compared to the rounded out look of the KJ.

iMTB · **Joined:** Mon Jan 24, 2011 4:27 pm **Posts:** 273

I also like the TJ better than the JK, and the Mustang died to me in 2005. Alot of new cars just don't do it for me.

Cherrie 274 · **Posted:** Wed Mar 23, 2011 1:57 pm

I too had a tuff time deciding which one. I wanted a Nitro untill I found out it only had a single speed transfer case. I liked both the KA KK and the KJ. I had loaners for some time and I went with the KK. Because of the lift gate, fold flat front seat(allows me to haul a 9'6"kayak in side). Hidden spare tire. But I would have liked any/all of them.I had a dealer that wouldn't deal.Broke my piece of crap mini van,called a different dealer and had my KK delivered to me unseen. Now after almost 2years is it the perfect vehicle No but its got me to work in all are major snow stroms this year including today's. So I'm

with my KK.

mapco · **Joined:** Tue Jan 09, 2007 4:27 am **Posts:** 250

SweepnChoke wrote:

mapco wrote:

iMTB wrote:

I just was in the market for a new small SUV. I test drove and researched everything from the new 2011 Compass to the Suzuki SX4.

The Compass is not an SUV. It's a crossover based on the Dodge Caliber and Mitsubishi Lancer.

I agree, but in that case I would also not call the KK a Jeep since it is really just the Dodge Nitro rebadged.

My wife and I both drive 2002 KJ's, and really had no opinion about the KK until a few weeks ago. My wife was hit broadside by a person that ran a stop sign. While the KJ was in having the repairs our insurance company gave us a 2011 KK, so my wife drove it for a little over 2 weeks, while I only drove it a few times just to test it out.

At first I was concerned that she was going to like it and want one (new vehicle not feasable at the moment with baby #2 on the way), fortunately the exact opposite happened. The short of it is that both my wife and I hated it. The only thing my wife prefered on the KK over the KJ were the driver/passenger seats. We both disliked the tailgate instead of the swing gate (in fact if the KJ had a tailgate I would have never bought it). We didn't like the belt line of the vehicle being higher, while the roof stayed the same height as it reduces the height of side windows making it harder to look out at the ground close to the vehicle. We didn't like the push button instead of the lever for changing from 2 wheel to 4. We like some of the interior, but felt it looked even cheaper than the KJ. And neither of us liked the new boxy body lines as compared to the rounded out look of the KJ.

The Nitro came out before the KK. The Nitro uses the same platform as the KJ, making the Nitro basically a rebadged Liberty. Thus - the KJ, KK, and Nitro are all traditional truck based SUVs.

Sir Sam · **Posted:** Fri Mar 25, 2011 1:12 pm

SweepnChoke wrote:

We both disliked the tailgate instead of the swing gate (in fact if the KJ had a tailgate I would have never bought it). And neither of us liked the new boxy body lines as compared to the rounded out look of the KJ.

I think those are the two main things about the KK that I like over the KJ. After having XJs for so long I find the tailgate to be much more useful than the swing away BS.

acweller · **Posted:** Tue Apr 12, 2011 8:59 pm

ALRIGHT!
It seems as though I'm finally joining the JEEP family. I'm picking up an 06 Liberty Limited w/ 3.7 gasser.
Question on a few things though. The esp off button when playing with it, I didnt see anything that let me know the esp was off. Can someone tell me how to defeat the esp or how the button works. I also noticed only half of the low gas light was on(??), is that something I need to worry about or is it like any other car just a film with a bulb behind it? I looked at it for a few minutes and was a little stumped as to why only part of it was lit up, can someone clue me in. I'm gonna go test drive it again tomorrow night and check all the lights and stuff to see if theres a problem.

Thanks
Aaron!

P.S. :BANANA:

I got a jeep finally lol

MP Jeeper · **Posted:** Fri Apr 15, 2011 12:56 pm

Welcome acweller! Hope to see ya' out in your KJ. :wink:

Xodius · **Posted:** Fri Apr 15, 2011 4:01 pm

acweller wrote:

ALRIGHT!

I got a jeep finally lol

CONGRATS!!! Welcome to the world of Jeeping and fixing...well...modifying and then fixing, lol.
Next is a lift :ROTFL:

Then new shoes and then new arms and then new bumpers and then... :CAMPING:

liquidxit2 · **Posted:** Sat Apr 16, 2011 11:22 am

I prefer the kj.

But honestly you'll need to go by looks and how the interior feels and works. Both will drive about the same just with a different interior feel. Basically go sit in them and then you'll have the whole picture.

acweller · **Posted:** Sat Apr 16, 2011 1:44 pm

liquidxit2 wrote:

I prefer the kj.

But honestly you'll need to go by looks and how the interior feels and works. Both will drive about the same just with a different interior feel. Basically go sit in them and then you'll have the whole picture.

Yeah, um...I picked up an 06 KJ Limited as posted above. I much prefer the KJ over the KK.
The KJ had a "sportier" feel to it and I prefer it's size as I was use to a Ford Focus.
I do have a few questions for those who can anser them. How in the world do I rid myself of the DTRL? Also, what does the ESP OFF button do? I've played with it several times and never noticed any lamps or display lights say that it was off. Can some one explain that for me?

Thanks!
Aaron

jaarr76 · **Joined:** Mon Oct 18, 2010 4:16 pm **Posts:** 37

ELECTRONIC STABILITY PROGRAM. A LIGHT SHOULD COME ON IN THE DASH WHEN PRESSED TO INDICATE IT IS OFF. SOMETHING IS NOT LINED UP IN THERE RIGHT IF YOU CAN ONLY SEE HALF OF THE OTHER LIGHT YOU REFERED TO OR THE BULBS BLOWN.THAT WOULD BE MY GUESS. ANY WAY, ESP PREVENTS YOU FROM SKIDDING AND SPINNING THE TIRES IT KIND OF SUCKS IMO AND WHEN YOU HAVE IT TURNED OFF I DON'T THINK IT'S ENTIRELY OFF. MY :2cents:

Sir Sam · **Posted:** Sun Apr 17, 2011 10:45 pm

jaarr76 wrote:

ELECTRONIC STABILITY PROGRAM. A LIGHT SHOULD COME ON IN THE DASH WHEN PRESSED TO INDICATE IT IS OFF. SOMETHING IS NOT LINED UP IN THERE RIGHT IF YOU CAN ONLY SEE HALF OF THE OTHER LIGHT YOU REFERED TO OR THE BULBS BLOWN.THAT WOULD BE MY GUESS. ANY WAY, ESP PREVENTS YOU FROM SKIDDING AND SPINNING THE TIRES IT KIND OF SUCKS IMO AND WHEN YOU HAVE IT TURNED OFF I DON'T THINK IT'S ENTIRELY OFF. MY :2cents:

WHY ARE YOU YELLING?!@!#!@#!!!!!!!

liquidxit2 · **Posted:** Mon Apr 18, 2011 12:24 pm

acweller wrote:

liquidxit2 wrote:

I prefer the kj.

But honestly you'll need to go by looks and how the interior feels and works. Both will drive about the same just with a different interior feel. Basically go sit in them and then you'll have the whole picture.

Yeah, um...I picked up an 06 KJ Limited as posted above. I much prefer the KJ over the KK.
The KJ had a "sportier" feel to it and I prefer it's size as I was use to a Ford Focus.
I do have a few questions for those who can anser them. How in the world do I rid myself of the DTRL? Also, what does the ESP OFF button do? I've played with it several times and never noticed any lamps or display lights say that it was off. Can some one explain that for me?

Thanks!
Aaron

The esp is stability/traction system they put in 2006 KJs to replace the trash loc err I mean track lock rear end. Honestly I keep it on out of laziness, but when it snows or I go off road I turn it off.

jaarr76 · **Joined:** Mon Oct 18, 2010 4:16 pm **Posts:** 37

Sir Sam wrote:

jaarr76 wrote:

ELECTRONIC STABILITY PROGRAM. A LIGHT SHOULD COME ON IN THE DASH WHEN PRESSED TO INDICATE IT IS OFF. SOMETHING IS NOT LINED UP IN THERE RIGHT IF YOU CAN ONLY SEE HALF OF THE OTHER LIGHT YOU REFERED TO OR THE BULBS BLOWN.THAT WOULD BE MY GUESS. ANY WAY, ESP PREVENTS YOU FROM SKIDDING AND SPINNING THE TIRES IT KIND OF SUCKS IMO AND WHEN YOU HAVE IT TURNED OFF I DON'T THINK IT'S ENTIRELY OFF. MY :2cents:

WHY ARE YOU YELLING?!@!#!@#!!!!!!!

WHY NOT NO ONE CAN HERE ME? :lol:

KJ or KK?

Who is online