Talk me out of it (Japanese, SUV, AWD, CRV)

[00molavi]

Need a new family car. Have been looking for a while. Have narrowed it down to three cars. A CPO Jeep Grand Cherokee, 2006 to 2008, vs a Toyota RAV4 or a Honda CRV. The car will be driven 12K+ miles per year. Since depreciation is almost negligible on the two Japanese cars, I will buy new, they will cost more upfront but with all the warranty and piece of mind. The con is that they are a bit smaller and we will use the car for a lot of hwy driving and a few road trips.

The cons on the Jeep is that the rear seats are barely the size of the other two and the gas mileage is poor, esp with the $5/gln talk. The "midlife crisis" in me wants a Jeep, wife is not helpful, just wants the car bought, tired of calling AAA.

[trlhiker]

Depreciation is never negligible but id going to be more in a Jeep than in the other 2. if you are worried about the cost of gas then get the Rav4 or the CRV. They cost about the same and both hold their value about the same. Just a matter of which one is more comfortable to you and your wife.

[DewDropInn]

I have a Rav4. It suits my purposes (I do a fare share of driving off road in some pretty out-of-the-way places.) Outside of the recall that hit Toyota I'm happy with it. (And the dealership handled that splendidly.) The carbon filter had to be replaced twice but it was covered by the warranty. I'd buy it again and I'm thankful I have it. (Compared to every Jeep I've ever been in - going back 45 years - it's a very smooth ride.)

[GTOlover]

a brand new from the dealer CR-V or RAV-4 with full factory warranty Vs. a used 2-4 year old Jeep Grand Cherokee which my be out of it's factory warranty period.

Hmmm

[dorado0359]

I'd say go with a Jeep, but instead of a Grand Cherokee, I'd go with the 4-door Jeep Wrangler. Wranglers cost less than Grand Cherokees, have better re-sale and get better gas miles than the Grand Cherokee.

I own a Grand Cherokee which I am very satisfied with performance wise; but in hindsight, I should have went with the Jeep Wrangler instead. Jeep Wrangler over CR-V or RAV-4.

[Hemlock140]

If you want a Jeep and great gas mileage have you looked at the Patriot?

Several friends of my wife have CRVs, and are very happy with them for toting the kids about. A couple of people I know with RAV4s have not been as happy with them as the CRV people but generally like them. I think they are both ugly and would never own either, personally. My wife drives a Liberty and at the time considered the Ford Escape, that was before the Patriot came out.

[GTOlover]

Originally Posted by bisjoe

If you want a Jeep and great gas mileage have you looked at the Patriot?

Several friends of my wife have CRVs, and are very happy with them for toting the kids about. A couple of people I know with RAV4s have not been as happy with them as the CRV people but generally like them. I think they are both ugly and would never own either, personally. My wife drives a Liberty and at the time considered the Ford Escape, that was before the Patriot came out.

I would stay away from son to be discontinued chrysler products that were not very strong sellers esp. ones based off the dodge caliber.
as body parts and interior bits will be hard to come by in the next few years for those models.

If they want a FWD/AWD based SUV that seats 5 a V6 ford Escape XLT or a AWD Subaru Forester is what I would recommend.

If they need better seating for 7 passengers a used 3-4 year old chevy tahoe or Honda Pilot is what I would look for.

[frankgn87]

no question. The Rav or the CRV. It will cost less over time due to staying together and using less gas.. Larger and more comfortable too. No brainer

[IDASpaceman]

None.

[Narfcake]

Originally Posted by bisjoe

If you want a Jeep and great gas mileage have you looked at the Patriot?

That's not a "Jeep". Ditto with the Compass.

I too would include the Subaru Forester in the comparison shopping.