liberty newbie question

x550x · **Joined:** Thu Nov 17, 2005 4:05 pm **Posts:** 4

Hey all. I am considering the Libby as my next vehicle.

My question to all of you is should I consider the 4-cylinder 5-speed? My last truck was this same configuration so I know it would be a smooth transition. I live in Indiana (no hills or mountains at all) and I don't off road at all.

I want the 4x4 for winter because my drive to work involves roads that don't get plowed well. Does the 4x4 work well with the four banger? Is it to underpowered? I don't tow or haul lots of stuff or people.

I realize the 3.7 would be better but I don't know if it is worth the extra money and fuel cost.

Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

Guyute1210 · **Posted:** Thu Nov 17, 2005 4:28 pm

I personally dont have the 4-banger (never even crossed my mind to look at one), but anyone on here that i have seen talk about it say's the 4 is way to under powered. I'm not even sure you can get the 4x4 with the 4 banger (unless it's the CRD).

QuietOutdoorsman · **Posted:** Thu Nov 17, 2005 4:32 pm

Just checking Jeep.com and the 2.4L I-4 isn't on there anymore for the 2006's. hmmm......???

Anyway....if you're buying a new 2005 or used, the 2.4L is definitely worth looking at for the kind of driving you're talking about. It's not going to satisfy any cravings for big, brawny, mud-slinging power (not like the V6 does either), but it does have some pep and will get better mileage than the V6. It's geared differently with 4.10 (4.11 ?) gears in the differentials instead of the 3.73 gears you get with the V6, and that helps.

If you have the money and feel you might end up expanding your driving habits you might want to look at the 2.8L CRD (common rail diesel). It's currently only available on a 5-spd automatic, but it offers similar gas mileage to the gas I-4 and the torque of a V8 (295 ft-lb) at low RPM levels.

x550x · **Joined:** Thu Nov 17, 2005 4:05 pm **Posts:** 4

Guyute1210 wrote:

I personally dont have the 4-banger (never even crossed my mind to look at one), but anyone on here that i have seen talk about it say's the 4 is way to under powered. I'm not even sure you can get the 4x4 with the 4 banger (unless it's the CRD).

Yeah, you can get it with 4x4. I am sure it is underpowered compared to the 3.7 but it is within the same power and torque specs as some of the competition. I am sure it would be comparable to the TJ with the 4-cylinder. Some think its fine, most don't. They keep making them so they must be good enough to sell.

Does anyone on the board have a 4-cylinder? (if you're not to embarassed to admit it) Maybe someone has driven one and can offer something.

x550x · **Joined:** Thu Nov 17, 2005 4:05 pm **Posts:** 4

QuietOutdoorsman wrote:

Just checking Jeep.com and the 2.4L I-4 isn't on there anymore for the 2006's. hmmm......???

Anyway....if you're buying a new 2005 or used, the 2.4L is definitely worth looking at for the kind of driving you're talking about. It's not going to satisfy any cravings for big, brawny, mud-slinging power (not like the V6 does either), but it does have some pep and will get better mileage than the V6. It's geared differently with 4.10 (4.11 ?) gears in the differentials instead of the 3.73 gears you get with the V6, and that helps.

If you have the money and feel you might end up expanding your driving habits you might want to look at the 2.8L CRD (common rail diesel). It's currently only available on a 5-spd automatic, but it offers similar gas mileage to the gas I-4 and the torque of a V8 (295 ft-lb) at low RPM levels.

I am looking for a used one. I figure the 4-cylinder equipped models will be less likely off-roaded by the likes of you guys :twisted:

I would love to get the CRD but the finances aren't quite there

Se7enLC · **Posted:** Thu Nov 17, 2005 4:44 pm

I'm not sure that the fuel efficiency is all that much better on the 4cyl vs 6cyl. It's such a heavy vehicle, you'd have to tach out all the time just to get around. While it seems like it would make sense to compare it to a wrangler 4cyl, figure that a liberty weighs a lot more, even with the smaller engine.

Jeepjeepster · **Posted:** Thu Nov 17, 2005 5:13 pm

well, he said theres no hills, and hes not going to tow anything. So i think the I4 would do him just fine. I dont know how much better the mileage is on I4, ive heard some people say it doesnt get much better than the v6, but it does get better. I wish they put the 4.7 in them, that would be great!! What i usually tell people is if they are worried about gas, dont get a libby. And the stock tires suck, if ur going to drive in snow alot, put it in the budget to get new tires!!

Tokyojoe · **Posted:** Thu Nov 17, 2005 9:04 pm

Don't limit your thoughts to just what you might do right now. Think ahead. Also, go wheeling with some KJ owners (V6 and I4 owners if possible and make a decision yourself. Test drive both engines and make sure you get on some off-roads while testing.

crash87 · **Posted:** Fri Nov 18, 2005 12:18 am

Come on, Live a little
Craig

wolf4wd · **Posted:** Thu Nov 24, 2005 11:23 pm

For what it is worth, about a year ago I leased a 2005 Libby 4x4 with the 2.4L 4cyl and 6 speed manual. About a month ago I traded that for a purchase contract on a 2005 V6 Libby Sport w/Auto.

The 4cyl had the stock Wrangler ST's. I took it out a few times, looking for fun places, but found it under powered, especially when having to back to turn around, etc, even if in 4x4 low range. That was disappointing as I had a 4cyl Wrangler a few years back, a 1995 model I believe, and it seemed much stronger with better low-end torque etc.

Now, as I said I have a 3.7L Sport with the auto and have had it out a couple of times. The auto has issues too, but I feel more confident in it over the 4cyl. My "new" libby now has better tires; LT235-70/16 Les Schwab Wild Country XTX's, skid plates, tow hooks and CB. So it is heaver than the 4cyl was and I am definitely seeing lower mileage. But when in town I tend to drive with the "overdrive" locked out. Maybe that is a bad thing to do; I haven't been able to decide.

But as someone noted the 2.4L 4cyl has been eliminated from the Liberty line for 2006. You could probably get a decent deal on a used 4cyl, but if you have any off-road plans at all you may be very quickly disappointed.

darrel

Guest · **Posted:** Fri Nov 25, 2005 2:06 am

just fyi, the CRD will get FAR better mileage than the 2.4L. FAR FAR FAR better..

possibly, better to the point to offset the higher payments.

ManicMechanicJoe · **Posted:** Fri Nov 25, 2005 5:03 am

A friend of my mom's has an '03 4 cylinder sport with 4x4. My '02 V6 actually gets better fuel economy. Keep in mind that my mom's friend drives like a grandma and I am an 18 year old kid (it you think your teenage kids drive for fuel economy you are DEAD WRONG). I also bought mine used and likewise have a low payment. The 4 cylinders don't seem to hold their resale value as well as the V6. The more power an engine has, the less it has to work to keep the vehicle cruising. The less it works, the lower the RPM's, the lower the RPM's, the longer it will last. The higher gearing of the V6 helps keep rev's down. Just a thought.

Tokyojoe · **Posted:** Fri Nov 25, 2005 12:11 pm

The Libby is a heavy beast. Go from there.

sleeve84028 · **Posted:** Fri Nov 25, 2005 11:35 pm

Tokyojoe wrote:

The Libby is a heavy beast. Go from there.

No JOKE! It weighs more than the old Grand did.

DCX discontinued the gas 4 cylinder due to lack of sales. It's underpowered, won't give any better MPG and can't tow very much. You should do yourself the favor and get the V-6 with the auto. You will be so much happier.

libby · **Posted:** Mon Nov 28, 2005 11:39 am

I considered the manual simply because I previously had a manual civic but the manual Libertys are hard to come by. Besides that I fell in love with the 04 Rocky Mt Edition w/ v6 auto and had to have it. We've been camping twice and off road once but we'll be back soon. Now that I own a 6 I wouldn't consider a 4 or manual.

CarNutCertifies · **Posted:** Mon Nov 28, 2005 12:05 pm

i've got a 6 with a manual and i love it. Do yourself the favor get the 6 from what everyone on here is saying the 4 cyl just doesnt have the power the libby really needs. I drive over 500 mi a week to and from work and i absoultly hated driving my wifes underpowered car. It didnt have the power to merge into traffic properly, on two lane roads when i needed to pass someone the power just wasnt there and i always go stuck behind them until they got to where they were going. When i got my libby it has all the power i need to do just want i want to do with it. And i get pretty good gas miliage.

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