What would have happened if the Cherokee was replaced with..

DarbyWalters · **Posted:** Mon Aug 18, 2008 9:28 am

the 2008 version of the Liberty instead of the 2002 version of the Liberty?

When the 2002 Liberty was unveiled, the Jeep world was turned on thier ear for quite a while. IFS was a major part of that but the "cutesy look" of the 2002 Liberty with rounded body panels caused quite a stir. The new 2002 KJ Libertys were a big departure from the old "boxy" XJ Cherokees. The 3.7L V6 engine change was also a departure from the "tried and true" 4.0 I6.

Even tho the 2002-2007 Liberty ended up being one of the biggest sellers in Jeep History...I wonder if the newer "boxier" 2008 Liberty would have had a better reception, especially from the Jeep world.

JL Rockies · **Posted:** Mon Aug 18, 2008 9:54 am

Since the Cherokee crowd already had their ire up over the Liberty; I'm not sure it would make a difference. They hated that the KJ had a Jeep grill, they hated that it had round headlights and the IFS was sticky to be sure. The KK might have been looked upon as a mutation more than a new entry to the line up (love it or hate it) and that might have offended the purist even more.

tommudd · **Posted:** Mon Aug 18, 2008 10:00 am

trying to be all fair and honest here if both models would of been available at the same time, same price, same everything but the looks, I would of still chosen the earlier model instead of the later ones. I just don't like the looks at all, never will and will never buy one, will change brands before I have to!

sleeve84028 · **Posted:** Mon Aug 18, 2008 10:22 am

The shape of the KJ was what cause the most stir.. I think the KK shape would have been much more popular with the tried and true Jeep crowd.

This was my first Jeep so I really didn't give a rats @$*

jeepkj02 · **Posted:** Mon Aug 18, 2008 10:39 am

The only thing I hate about the newer Liberty's are the headlights. They are just ugly. Does anyone have pics of a blackout headlights on a KK. Don't like the door handles either.

JJsTJ · **Posted:** Mon Aug 18, 2008 11:13 am

The shape would have been One less thing for the XJ fans (and some other Jeepers) to witch about so I think it might have been an easier to digest change.

I love square, boxy vehicles so I dig it and probably would have gotten it if everything else was the same at the time. The biggest thing that steered me to the KJ anyway was the connection to LOST (Thanks Clint!

)......heck, maybe LOST wouldn't have existed if the KJ looked like the KK....naw....the JU idiots would have still torn it up and flamed away regardless of the shape of it!

Sir Sam · **Posted:** Mon Aug 18, 2008 11:15 am

I think the KK would have been better received by the Jeep world in 2002 than the KJ was in 2002. the bug eyed rounded look is such a drastic departure from the XJ that there would have been more continuity between models if the KK had been out in 02.

tommudd · **Posted:** Mon Aug 18, 2008 11:53 am

I agree with the fact that the NEW Liberty is square and boxy but thats the end of it in comparing it and the Cherokee, the new Liberty is down right ugly, it is boxy but not in a good way. The Cherokee is/was boxy but like a fashion model has some good lines, the NEW Liberty is like an aging fashion model who has put on weight, her eyes are ugly from too many parties and her butt is too darn big! :shock:

DarbyWalters · **Posted:** Mon Aug 18, 2008 11:58 am

I was hoping that the Dakar prototype was going to take the place of the Jeep Cherokee...but alas no. The 2002 Liberty met my needs and wants at the time...and now the 2006 CRD does the same. I guess you could say that the new JK 4dr Hartop is as close to a Dakar as we might ever get.

If they ever came out with the Dakar CRD or Gladiator Truck CRD...I might consider a change...otherwise, I still love my Liberty in its original form.

JL Rockies · **Posted:** Mon Aug 18, 2008 12:00 pm

Wow. Don't hold anything back now Tommud, let us know how you really feel!

sleeve84028 · **Posted:** Mon Aug 18, 2008 12:30 pm

The KK is a nice vehilce. I see them on the roads all the time now...

Sir Sam · **Posted:** Mon Aug 18, 2008 12:41 pm

sleeve84028 wrote:

The KK is a nice vehilce. I see them on the roads all the time now...

yup, all over the place here in CO

jeepmedic46 · **Posted:** Mon Aug 18, 2008 1:23 pm

The kk probably would have been more accepted then the kj, but I like the kj much better.

Black_Dog · **Posted:** Mon Aug 18, 2008 1:59 pm

One of the things I liked about the KJ is that it was so distinctive looking with the throwback round headlights and grille. I thought the old XJs were clean and nice looking but after 16 years of boxiness, the KJ was a breath of fresh air. Many believed that the KJ was too cute looking but I appreciated the stylistic nod to the WWII vintage Jeeps. It’s an historic touchstone that few brands have and I hate to see Jeep move away from it (or cheapen it with lesser vehicles such as the Compass).

I don’t dislike the looks of the KK but they have far less character. I really don’t see many on the road here in North Texas. I don’t think the KK will ever be as successful as the KJ, fuel crisis not withstanding.

tommudd · **Posted:** Mon Aug 18, 2008 2:08 pm

JL Rockies wrote:

Wow. Don't hold anything back now Tommud, let us know how you really feel!

Oh I didn't know this was one of those forums where you have to tipetoe around, :lol:

JL Rockies · **Posted:** Mon Aug 18, 2008 2:42 pm

Black_Dog wrote:

One of the things I liked about the KJ is that it was so distinctive looking with the throwback round headlights and grille. I thought the old XJs were clean and nice looking but after 16 years of boxiness, the KJ was a breath of fresh air. Many believed that the KJ was too cute looking but I appreciated the stylistic nod to the WWII vintage Jeeps. It’s an historic touchstone that few brands have and I hate to see Jeep move away from it (or cheapen it with lesser vehicles such as the Compass).

I don’t dislike the looks of the KK but they have far less character. I really don’t see many on the road here in North Texas. I don’t think the KK will ever be as successful as the KJ, fuel crisis not withstanding.

They might have been cute when we first drove them off the lot, but we've done plenty to ugly them up a lot over the years :wink:

jeepmedic46 · **Posted:** Mon Aug 18, 2008 4:45 pm

Look more cute

CrossBones · **Posted:** Mon Aug 18, 2008 5:12 pm

I would have to agree that the KJ still looks better than a KK. Don't get me wrong, I have nothing against the KK. But what I really think is that Jeep should have modified the Cherokee body style a bit and left the mechanic's side if the vehicle alone. That was one hell of a Jeep, and never understood why they dropped it altogether?

COKJ06 · **Posted:** Mon Aug 18, 2008 5:12 pm

It’s funny how perceptions change. When the KJ first came out I couldn’t stand it. It just didn’t seem ‘jeep’ enough to me. I figured it was a ‘wrangler’ for the ladies who wanted cute and fun but not to be taken off road. But NEVER for me.

But then they had to go and put the diesel engine in it and pump up the mileage and torque. And with the tall rear opening it was just too functional to pass up. So regrettably I bought one. I put my lift on at just 700 miles and got some tires for it, and it started LOOKING like a jeep. I put on some aggressive tires, cut the bumper up, put on skids and took it off road and it FELT like a jeep. What a surprise, it’s a jeep after all!

Just the other day I found my self standing in the garage, looking at my KJ and thinking it looks pretty darn good. I get compliments on it all the time, so others must think so too.

To get back to the thread, I personally would have liked the KK better then the KJ if it were released first. But not anymore. The only issue I have with the KK is I can’t tell if it’s a KK or a Commander or a Nitro. But I can tell a KJ from about 5 miles away, and I think that’s pretty cool.

David Jr · **Posted:** Mon Aug 18, 2008 7:02 pm

If the KK had come first, i would have gotten the Wrangler. I like the KJ's looks much better.

What would have happened if the Cherokee was replaced with..

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