any FORMER Wrangler drivers here???

CaveDweller · **Joined:** Fri Jul 20, 2007 7:03 pm **Posts:** 3

i'm thinking about selling my 4-cylinder Wrangler and getting a Liberty Sport. i respect the Wrangler for what it is but as a daily driver it is slowly (but surely) beginning to wear me out. the gas mileage is horrible, the ride is noisy and interstate trips are usually pretty frightening. i'm considering a Liberty Sport 4x4 with manual transmission. it seems like a nice compromise of what's GOOD about my Wrangler (durability and off road ability) with the added bonus of more passenger/cargo room and much improved road manners. maybe i'd even get a little better gas mileage. anyone here make the switch? do you have any regrets in doing so? thanks in advance. this is a very nice site, by-the-way. cheers.

GregB · **Posted:** Mon Jul 23, 2007 8:48 am

I had a 4cyl '92. That thing was fun, like driving a giant ATV :wink:

I got decent mpg with the YJ. Always around 19-20mpg highway and that's also what we get with the KJ. I sold it about a year before getting the KJ. I chose a KJ over a wrangler for some of the reasons you mention (cargo room, towing, 4-doors, etc). You can now get all that except the towing with the Wrangler Unlimited.

I guess the question to ask yourself is if you think you might be towing more that 3500 lbs in the next couple of years. The answer for me was yes, I've got a 4000 lb Hi-Lo camper. Keep in mind that an auto KJ is rated to tow more than a manual.

The only 2 things I missed about owning a wrangler were of course the removable top/doors, and the manual trans the YJ had.

sleeve84028 · **Posted:** Mon Jul 23, 2007 9:09 am

I am only a first time Jeep owner (with the KJ) so I can't comment on the Wrangler but what I can say is that the Liberty will be a smart choice if you are looking for a vehicle that is better on road and still capable off road. Most of us here will encourage you to get the Liberty because this is a Liberty forum after all but here are a couple things you should know:

1) The 3.7L engine likes to drink gas. Expect around 230miles per tank if you live in a stop -n- go city
2) The ball joints were a problem up until a recall corrected the issue.
3) The 2008 Liberty is coming to market soon so now is the best time to purchase remaing 2007 inventory

Now a couple of positives:

1) Most people DD their Liberties
2) The Liberty is 5 star rated in side crash impacts and it holds up really well in the front / rear collisions as well [read: very safe for family]
3) The liberty is semi nimble on the roads yet it feels like you are riding in a nice smooth tank
4) Long trips in the leather seats are very nice (heated seats in the winter are a must with leather)
5) Will be more quiet compared to your Wrangler

Welcome to the site and ask any questions you can think up... We are all here to help.

CaveDweller · **Joined:** Fri Jul 20, 2007 7:03 pm **Posts:** 3

thanks for the replies, gang. my Wrangler is averaging 16 mpg now (for a 4-cylinder!), so ANY improvement there would be a plus. the KJ really looks like it might fill the bill for me. i'd considered other vehicles (Rav4, CRV, etc) but i'd just hate to give up practically ALL ability to drive off-road safely. improving the daily driving will be a much needed relief. cheers.

Gris · **Posted:** Mon Jul 23, 2007 9:30 am

I never had one, but my wife went from a dieing '94 wrangler to an '06 Liberty and loves it. Sometimes she misses the top off aspect.

JJsTJ · **Posted:** Mon Jul 23, 2007 10:48 am

Gris wrote:

I never had one, but my wife went from a dieing '94 wrangler to an '06 Liberty and loves it. Sometimes she misses the top off aspect.

......oh......top off the Jeep...... :twisted:

frankblack · **Joined:** Tue Jul 03, 2007 11:11 am **Posts:** 16

had a 97 wrangler which was turning into a $$ pit...sold it and kept my liberty which I had before the wrangler...miss the wrangler with the doors and top off in the summer but do not miss the expense! the liberty is a 60-mile dd...getting 23 mpg's

CaKJFreedom · **Posted:** Mon Jul 23, 2007 12:02 pm

Generally the more you add to make it better off road, the more you kiss your mileage goodbye. I wish I got 16mpg.

LiLredLibby · **Posted:** Mon Jul 23, 2007 12:24 pm

CaKJFreedom wrote:

Generally the more you add to make it better off road, the more you kiss your mileage goodbye. I wish I got 16mpg.

I'm with you,with a 3" lift and 265's i'm lucky to get 15mpg.

Oh and JJ.........your taking that all wrong.......I think he meant his wife had an oil leak issue and had to top off the oil between changes. :lol:

Ron

chefdab · **Posted:** Mon Jul 23, 2007 4:01 pm

Well I got the Wrangler after I had the Liberty(totalled in an accident), and I can tell you I really miss the cushy ride of the KJ. I have an Unlimited though so my cargo space and base towing capacity are pretty much even. But the daily commute to work definitely wakes me up in the morning now. Gas mileage is only a little worse in the LJ, but I had a 2.5" lift and MT/Rs on the Libby. But you just can't beat driving topless and doorless.

dieselenthusiast · **Posted:** Tue Jul 24, 2007 12:24 am

We had a 04 Wrangler Unlimited and traded it for a 2005 CRD. Then traded the CRD Liberty for a 2007 gasser Liberty. The Wrangler was awesome. Excellent for off-road, good mileage, good low end torque, and fun to drive. I traded for the Diesel factor…………………….but the CRD was in the SHOP all the time for miscellaneous problems, mainly due to emissions and recalls. BUT………………we liked the Liberty enough to buy the gasser version. We wanted a JEEP and wanted an off-road vehicle. We decided to be a little different and go for the KJ. The KJ offers more luxury and has excellent highway manners as well as excellent OFF ROAD potential. I’ll never sell the KJ……………………..It’s ours for as long as we live on.

hooperswish · **Posted:** Tue Jul 24, 2007 3:03 pm

Lithia jeep here in Denver is advertising brand new '07 manual sports for 17,999 including cruise and tinted windows.
I love mine, but of course it would be nice if the top came down. The '08 liberty's can be had with a sliding material sunroof that looks cool (if it doesn't leak...).
Good luck

KJ4ME · **Posted:** Tue Jul 24, 2007 3:34 pm

wow, we tried and tried to locate a 2007 manual liberty for me, we thought there were no more in colorado. lithia must have done a good job of keeping these under the radar

DarbyWalters · **Posted:** Tue Jul 24, 2007 5:09 pm

Why are you not looking at a new Wrangler 4 door? I would think that would be an option also. You might also want to look for a used 2005-2006 Liberty CRD for the mileage and torque. Good Luck!

jason thompson · **Posted:** Tue Jul 24, 2007 6:08 pm

First what year wrangler,TJ or YJ?
I have both a TJ and KJ
The KJ is 100% better on the highway hands down but the flip side is that in STOCK to STOCK form a wrangler is 100% better off road so it is give and take
the thing you need to ask your self is what you want more of I can tell you first hand that when we go out to a trail in the KJ that I would normaly run in the TJ I get almost agrivated with the KJ and the fact that you need to be very carful about picking lines and that kind of stuff
but I would rather drive the KJ for a 4 hour trip then drive the TJ
The TJ has a hard top and full doors with AC and cruise and I still prefer the KJ for a long trip
but out on the trail give me my TJ
I guess thats why I drove the TJ over 600 miles one way to telico and who knows how many miles to gilmer and hot springs and ?????
but the only trails that the KJ has seen have been here at home
yet the KJ is an '03 and the TJ an '02 with less miles than the KJ

just my .02 worth

priell3 · **Posted:** Tue Jul 24, 2007 6:09 pm

Have you considered a Patriot in the Trail Rated version? Room, comfort, some decent off-road ability, and good MPG.

I have a 2007 Wrangler Unlimited, auto trans, 4.10 gears, 32" tires. On my recent vacation I was averaging 20.5 MPG!
Comfortable and plenty of cargo space.

renegadekj · **Posted:** Tue Jul 24, 2007 8:08 pm

Go for the four door JK.... you get more room, excellent offroad performance and probably the same milage as the KJ! I Still like the kj but if the JK was out at the time when i was buying thats what i would have gone with hands down! My 2 cents

rspears · **Posted:** Tue Jul 24, 2007 8:10 pm

priell3 wrote:

Have you considered a Patriot in the Trail Rated version? Room, comfort, some decent off-road ability, and good MPG.

We have an '00 ZJ, '03 KJ, and '05 TJ all DD's (daughter, wife & me). We recently looked at the Compass considering replacing the KJ, and were amazed to hear the dealer say that he Compass and Patriot are identical vehicles other than sheet metal. If you sit in them they are identical, other than rear side windows driven by the body shape. The dealer's story is that the Compass is for ladies, and the Patriot for men. No thanks, I'll stick with the Liberty, GC and Wranglers until they wimp them out in the future. IMO, the Patriot and Compass are not viable trail vehicles.

USAFCOP · **Posted:** Wed Jul 25, 2007 12:05 am

Yep, had one...Too small for family, thus the next step for the kj... :twisted:

KJUberalles · **Posted:** Wed Jul 25, 2007 2:59 am

i actually just made this switch myself.

I drove an 02 Wrangler with a lift and new tires. Had a soft top as well. I know exactly what you're talking about when you say that the wrangler takes it out of you on long trips.

I just purchased a used 03 freedom edition and am absolutly in love with it. I get better gas mileage, it's a much smoother ride, and all around its just a much more comfortable truck to drive. So far I haven't found any drawbacks to making the switch. Let us know what you decide

any FORMER Wrangler drivers here???

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