What brought you to the KJ?

sandracer · **Posted:** Sun May 27, 2007 1:13 pm

We had recently sold our old IH Scout II and really missed having a 4x4 for exploring the desert. Our Dakota Quad Cab (4x2) was aging and we wanted better fuel mileage. We started out looking at the 4-door Unlimited but found back seat access left a lot to be desired. Front door access didn't rate much better with my wife; she's only 5 feet tall. My 73 year old mother would never have been able to get in the rig on her own. The wife saw a used Liberty on the lot and tried it on. She loved it. I saw "Trail Rated" on the badge and said, "OK, but only if we get a 4x4 model." Of course, we did a lot of research on the net and even tried on an Xterra. Jeep seemed to offer a lot more for the $$$, at least in the JK and KJ models. I still think the Grand Cherokee is way too pricey and besides, its MPG sucks.

We seriously considered the diesel but were scared off after reading a number of reviews.

After 6,000 mile we are both quite pleased with the KJ. It replaced two vehicles, gets respectable MPG (currently 18-19 City/ 21-24+ Highway), and has far better handling and maneuverability while towing the boat than the Dakota.

chadhargis · **Posted:** Sun May 27, 2007 3:17 pm

I had a Ford Explorer V8 4x4 and loved it. It was comfortable, and towed well....but....it got 14mpg.

I ended up selling it, and buying a car, which I hated. Couldn't tow my trailer with it, and it was too darn small.

I decided I wanted a diesel. Good fuel milage, great towing ability, and excellent reliability. I started searching for a diesel pickup, but they were WAY too expensive. The Liberty CRD was really the only option out there.

Too bad more manfacturers don't wise up and start selling diesels.

Donkeykong · **Posted:** Sun May 27, 2007 3:38 pm

.... the day that they unveil a diesel KJ (or any jeep) with a manual transmission is the day that I go out and buy another vehicle. Depending on what I have done to my KJ, will I decide if I keep it. Although I love it at the moment.
-Mark

struggle07 · **Posted:** Sun May 27, 2007 5:47 pm

I bought a Dodge Ram Quad cab when I got out of college. I really hated to have to give it up, but I sold it to get something with a lower payment and better mileage so the wife and I could buy a house and pay for our wedding. I bought an Audi A4. It was fun to drive, but I really missed the 4X4. So I started looking for a 4X4 after the wedding bills were paid off. I started looking at CRDs because I drive 100 miles round trip everyday to work. I test drove one, but wasn't sure if I could handle the noise for two hours a day while driving. Then I found a really good deal on 3.7 and figured that with the money I was saving on 3.7, it would take five years of driving the CRD for the fuel savings to break even. So, I bought the 3.7 and I love it so far. Then shortly after, my brother went and bought one too.

mikekj_cda · **Posted:** Sun May 27, 2007 6:00 pm

Moving up to northern Alberta...wanted something w/ a good 4wd system, that was safe, reliable, and good on gas.....well 4 out of 5 ain't bad

For awhile when the KJ first came out, I was really not a fan of the look. Over time and doing some research about them, made the most obvious choice for me and my familes' needs. Plus it's a Jeep

.

Thanks again out to this forum/members. All the inputt and info makes me love my KJ more all the time.

Joe Romas · **Posted:** Sun May 27, 2007 8:43 pm

Sir Sam wrote:

Diesel, otherwise I would still only be in cherokees currently.

Times two. I still like the cherokee's design but I'm geting twice the mileage as the grunt 4.0L

pinecone · **Posted:** Mon May 28, 2007 12:46 am

It's been a while since I posted. Sorry about that. :oops:

Anyway, here's why I bought a KJ.

We needed a replacement for the 14 year old Honda Accord with over 200K on it. Since we moved to NM, we thought a 4x4 would be a neat vehicle to have here. I wanted Wrangler at first but the more logical person (wife) wanted something that was easier for her to drive and could haul our stuff and the kids. A Wrangler would be a bit cramped. We compromised and got the Libby. We've had SUVs before (Suburban, Explorer) but they seemed too big and ate too much fuel.

I dig my KJ. It is really fun to drive in the snow and the trails. It also tows good. It has a dent or two but it still looks good.

I also like the fact that you can do mods to it and not totally destroy the character of the vehicle.

Sir Sam · **Posted:** Mon May 28, 2007 2:42 am

Joe Romas wrote:

Sir Sam wrote:

Diesel, otherwise I would still only be in cherokees currently.

Times two. I still like the cherokee's design but I'm geting twice the mileage as the grunt 4.0L

Yup, better mileage, though to get me at twice the mileage that I get in my XJ would mean the CRD would need to get 36MPG(low end) to 52mpg(high end).

I still want to find a completely destroyed CRD for a donor drivetrain for my XJ.

hooperswish · **Posted:** Mon May 28, 2007 8:57 am

I was looking at the honda element for its great functional ability. Ugly, but functional. Then I asked about 4lo. No such thing. I said "you call this a 4by?" Then the toyota fj's came out...way too expensive (minimum12k more than my kj at the time). Then we decided to check out the libertys. I always, always wanted a wrangler, but they just were not too practical for a family of 4. So we had just bought a chrysler town and country mini van that we really liked, and were able to get a great deal from the same dealer on the liberty. We needed something to replace my '87 Bronco with 225k (all with my butt in the seat) for Colorado winters and trails. The rest is history and I could not be happier....

trailpixie · **Posted:** Mon May 28, 2007 9:38 am

I frequently drive 180 miles into the mountains of West Virginia for backcountry skiing. One weekend I spun out on a snowpacked road in my XJ. It liked to lock up the rear brakes (no ABS)....this time it was almost disastrous. I managed to keep it on the road while fishtailing back and fortha and spinning 180 degrees on the road. The XJ had about 150K Miles on it, so I was nearing its end of life (although it ran like a champ).

I needed a safer snow vehicle. Wife agreed with me after the big spin.

Needed ABS and full time 4wd. Subaru Outback, Liberty, or 4Runner.

At first, I didn't like the cute little KJ. But, it could handle the forest service roads we travel to get to hiking destinations where the outback would be stuck in a ditch.

Loaded KJ was smaller, more comfy, and cheaper than base model 4Runner. Got a loaded KJ instead of low-end 4Runner.

KJ was quieter and cushier than the XJ. Only complaint is that the XJ got better fuel economy with the 4.0.

Richrail · **Posted:** Mon May 28, 2007 2:45 pm

I needed a 4X4 to get to work in the snow I live in Reno and work in Portola CA about 45 minutes away. I work for the UPRR so I am on call 24/7/365 winters can be mild like this years or burtal like 04. I drove a MBZ wagon two wheel drive ,went to work one night when I got back to the terminal a day and a half later it was buried under 3 feet of snow. The wife got tired of having to drive me to work at all hours day and night, so I got my own 4X4 (she drives F350 turbo diesel crew cab 4X4). UPRR gets employee discounts from the vendors that ship by train. I got the 05 Renegade with the empolyee discount plus 0% int. kinda of hard to beat. I wanted the CRD but the dealer wanted a $2,500.00 premium. So I went for the Reny with all the goodies for about 5K less. the wife loves it and my daughter wants it when she is ready for a car.

DarbyWalters · **Posted:** Mon May 28, 2007 3:21 pm

trailpixie wrote:

I One weekend I spun out on a snowpacked road in my XJ. It liked to lock up the rear brakes (no ABS)....this time it was almost disastrous. I managed to keep it on the road while fishtailing back and fortha and spinning 180 degrees on the road.

Only complaint is that the XJ got better fuel economy with the 4.0.

How do you calculate mpg in a spin? :wink:

itsajeepthing · **Posted:** Mon May 28, 2007 5:52 pm

Donnie wrote:

What brought you to buy the KJ?

For us it was a compromise between me wanting a truck, and she loved the look of the KJ. If left to my own I admit I probably would have gone with big ol' F250 or somethin. I'm glad that we ended up going with the Libby. Great little vehicle, tons of fun to drive.

tjkj2002 · **Posted:** Mon May 28, 2007 6:02 pm

The 2 biggest reasons I got a KJ was it still had a manual T-case shifter,and NO ABS.

paullgj · **Posted:** Mon May 28, 2007 11:00 pm

I've always driven Chevy 4wd pickups, but, after all these years, they were just too damned big. Got a stiff neck trying to back my Silverado SWB out of the parking lot. Only two SUVS fit my specifications for an off-road vehicle - Wrangler and Liberty. They have to have manual shifts, manual transfer case, no running boards, tire on the rear gate. Suprising how few new vehicles are set up for off-raod. So I just bought a Liberty Sport 6 spd for $18,000 - the Wrangler Unlimited 4 door was about $30,000.

Jeger · **Posted:** Tue May 29, 2007 8:02 am

DIESEL!

lt. drebin · **Posted:** Tue May 29, 2007 8:43 am

Wanted another Jeep, period.

IMO, the kj offered the best off-road capability for a Jeep off the line, with the exception of the Wrangler. AND, on top of that, blended some seblance of practicality. It just had the best balance. Too many off-road sacrifices were made on the Grand Cherokee for my liking. Love my KJ.

dog_party · **Posted:** Tue May 29, 2007 1:05 pm

I wasn't even shopping. I had a 2001 VW Jetta Wolfsburg and I loved it. The 1.8t motor was a HOOT to drive and the car was really well equipped. It only have 56k on the clock and it was already paid off. I was loving it. Then my brother told me that the Jeep KJ had a diesel in it.

I was on the lot the next day. They had two CRDs on the lot, a blue Sport that was stripped (except for the diesel motor), and a Dark Khaki Limited LOADED to the gills. I didn't want either because I didn't want leather interior in a Jeep and I didn't want the $32k on the sticker. I also didn't want completely stripped either because....well, I'm adicted to sunroofs.

The Dark Khaki was closer to the office, so I test drove that one and fell in love immediately. What a great motor! I talked to the guy for a while, but ended up taking his card and leaving because they didn't have exactly what I wanted. I left him my concept of the perfect Jeep and waited for a callback.

I searched online and he searched stock in the region trying to find a Jeep that fit my criteria. But it was no where to be found. I dealt with that guy for TWO MONTHS!! They never found anything for me matching my criteria, and I never found anything online. But I saw that the loaded Dark Khaki was still sitting on their lot two months after I'd test-driven it. So I dropped in on a Wednesday and talked to them about moving that thing off their lot. Finally they gave me what I wanted on my Jetta and proceeded to sell me the loaded Dark Khaki for $26,000 (stickered over $32k).

Biggest reason I got it is the diesel, but I'm happy with everything else about it too (except the fact that there's no auto-up on the power windows).

FastTRX · **Posted:** Tue May 29, 2007 2:21 pm

Needed a solid first vehicle. I had always wanted a Jeep and 4X4 was mandatory in my book. I was originally looking at regular cab Chevy pickups, but didn't want to be like everyone else. Started looking at Jeeps, wanted good cargo room and something fun to drive with a neat appearance. Read the "infamous" article in MotorTrend about the KJ VS. the FJ, H3, and Xterra. Regardless of that article, I was definitley attached to the size and ability of the little KJ. Found L.O.S.T. (THANK GOD!!!

), began reading....read about the KJs and options to look for. Began shopping....finally found the little white sport for $10,000 with 78K on it with everything I wanted (Tow package, 4WD, etc..). I immeadiately purchased and have loved every minute of driving it. Just wish I could have found a CRD for that price. It's hard being a broke high school student....

Hypurr · **Posted:** Thu May 31, 2007 1:29 pm

Replacing a 98 ZJ, still needed a 4 door for 2 kiddie seats, had to have a manual trans and real 4 wheel for work. I do a lot of mud driving and deep snow do to the job requirements. Was going to get an older xj, had one before, but got the 06 KJ with 0 interest for the loan. Couldn't beat a new car/warranty for the price.

What brought you to the KJ?

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