All 2006's were limiteds.......

All 2006's were limiteds.......and just because its a limited doesn't mean it has leather, and just because its a sport doesn't mean it has cloth.

And like I said, all 2006s were limiteds, so they are basically just differently optioned.

Anyway, I have this grand vision of a utility-type vehicle that has seating for 5, is capable of towing 5k lbs, has 4wd, yet can get 25 MPG highway or better. VERY tall order, pretty unrealistic, I realize, but the Liberty CRD seems to be the most likely option to fit that bill. I've been doing LOTS of research over the last year or so, and I feel like I have a pretty good idea of what the pros/cons of the CRD, but I still might be delusional...I have this grand vision of being able to get a Liberty CRD with around 100k miles or less, do the typical standard maintenance & upgrades, get a GDE tune & a Suncoast TC, up the power into the range of ~200 HP & mid-300s TQ, and ultimately have a great vehicle to haul stuff around and tow my motorcycles & boat, all while being able to average mid-upper 20s highway MPG when commuting, AND since it's a diesel, have the vehicle last to 200k and beyond without replacing every part imaginable...how crazy am I? Hahaha.

up the power into the range of ~200 HP & mid-300s TQ, and ultimately have a great vehicle to haul stuff around and tow my motorcycles & boat, all while being able to average mid-upper 20s highway MPG when commuting, AND since it's a diesel, have the vehicle last to 200k and beyond without replacing every part imaginable.

All 2006's were limiteds.......and just because its a limited doesn't mean it has leather, and just because its a sport doesn't mean it has cloth.

My 05 sport has every option except for the EVIC and sat nav.

also the leather seats are basically cloth seats with leather, no difference, the leather seats are not even guaranteed to be heated leather either.

Neither cloth nor leather are particularly comfortable, IMO the seats kinda suck. And no, no lumbar adjustment.

Limited doesn't mean much considering that all 2006's were limiteds. In reality the only thing the limited means is a higher price tag, chrome trim, and painted body flares and bumpers. Thats the only real difference.

While you may find in general limiteds have more options, there no reason a sport won't have those same options. And like I said, all 2006s were limiteds, so they are basically just differently optioned.

You can also search craigslist nationwide for CRDs, either type "site:craigslist.org liberty CRD" or "site:craigslist.org liberty diesel" into google, or use something like crazedlist and you can search nationwide that way. Not as slick as autotrader but you will get more results from private parties.

You sound like me, I bought an 07 f150 lariet brand new it was an awesome truck but i started craving an suv or shall i say my greater swiss mountain dog "buddy" needed more room so i sold the ford did reserch and wanted CRD for the same reasons room towing and the torque of a diesel but could not find one in or around jersey so i settled on a mercedes ml500 2002. But the itch for a CRD was still there so i sold the ml500 after 7 months and bought my 2005 CRD from a guy in florida and he was nice to drive it up to VA where we me(i live in jersey) I LOVE THE LIBERTY CRD..BUY ONE. It had 96,000 miles and i paid $8000 cheap because of a scrape and dent about a foot long. Keep looking for one its a BEAST

Anyway, I have this grand vision of a utility-type vehicle
that has seating for 5 - No, I don't care how it's marketed it's really only a 4 seater
is capable of towing 5k lbs - Yes
has 4wd -Yes
can get 25 MPG highway or better - your expectations are more realistic that most potential buyers but be aware that mpg is seasonal and you will only achieve this peak for 2 or 3 months of the year. Expect to get high teens to low 20's in the winter months unless you move a lot further South.
VERY tall order, pretty unrealistic - agreed
do the typical standard maintenance & upgrades - this is not a cheap vehicle to run. With limited aftermarket support many parts are dealer only and expensive. The single source supply chain often leads to critical parts on national backorder which can keep you off the road for periods of time. It sounds like you've got this covered but make sure you have a backup plan.

About comfort, maybe considering a Grand Cherokee CRD that would fit best? I do not know how many were sold in the USA. They may have been limited to only a few years, like the Liberty, also more expensive but better equipped. GDE also has a tune for them, making these even more powerful with the V6 diesel... Again, I did not do any particular research on the history of the vehicle...

GDEs tunes even without the turbo upgrade meet those hp/torque specs see http://www.greendieselengineering.com/g ... d=perfComp

One difference to consider in your deliberation is the '05 models do not have traction control whereas the '06 models do.

Sir Sam you say ALL 2006 Libertys are Limited?

I was actually interested in the GC CRD before the Liberty, and I even test drove an 08 Overland…VERY nice vehicle, incredible interior, but I can’t stomach the sticker price on the ones I’ve found (20k+, even with 80k or more miles), and I’ve seen widespread speculation about the reliability of the OM642, especially in the GCs since the engine has very specific maintenance requirements. Oh, and the fact that DC put a poorly matched 5-speed auto behind the CRD means that it can’t do better than low-mid 20s in mileage. GREAT in concept, I’d still probably buy one if they were more reasonably priced, but seems like the implementation could’ve been better. Hopefully the rumor of a new diesel GC materializes and is offered for a bit more reasonable price. Or, another light-duty diesel SUV entirely, hahaha.

-So, you’re saying that when the weather is colder, the Liberty CRD only averages maybe 20 mpg? That’s disappointing to hear…what’s the temperature point where the mileage typically drops off? Is there logic behind this? I would’ve expected losing 1-2 MPG during the winter, similar to a gas powered vehicle, but not 5+. Is this related to diesel fuel being more viscous? I’m gonna have to research this some more.