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Who has a Grand Cherokee, and are you happy with it?

2K views 14 replies 12 participants last post by  Dr4Kids 
#1 ·
I think I will soon be replacing my beloved JKU with a GC... (it almost hurts to type these words).

I have an offer from someone to buy my carefully modded JKU. I've poured $1000's into it and have received and immense amount of satisfaction in doing the work. It feels like it's part of my identity, at least in that everyone who knows me... knows my Jeep. The Jeep has been a blast to wrench on, and has been perfect in the sense that I have not had any quality issues from day one. Owned for 3.5 years and almost 48K miles. I really have built it to be a trail beast, but I rarely have had time to exploit it on any trails beyond a two-track in Michigan.
I now have the opportunity to sell it for a fair price, and still have it be one of the least expensive vehicles (in terms of cost of ownership) that I have ever owned.

The real problem for me is replacing my JKU with something that is equally satisfactory. Unfortunately, I can't quite get real excited about the prospect of a replacement. The new Camaro's are nice. A Challenger w/ Scat Pack would be cool. Even a Corvette would be agreeable, but none of these are practical due to the fact that I don't have another vehicle to haul stuff, or pull a trailer. And I don't have garage space for an extra car.

So... that puts me back in SUV / Truck land... and after carefully considering all the options, I think the Jeep GC seems to be the best. I'm planning to get the Overland, and I think I'm going to spring for the 5.7 Hemi... because dammit, I think I just need the V8.

Sorry for the long winded post, but I guess I'm looking for some validation from you current or former Grand Cherokee owners... that there is life after owning a Wrangler.
 
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#3 ·
My wife has the hemi Overland and it is "nice". Hitting the gas is impressive.

Much more civilized than the Wrangler but still very capable.

It will depend on your needs. I would not use the GC for rock crawling, even though it probably could handle moderate trails. For carrying stuff and trailer pulling, they beat the JKU, especially with that hemi.

Is it as much "fun" to drive as a Wrangler, no, but Wranglers are unique.

Go test drive one, I don't think you'll be disappointed.
 
#4 ·
We're looking to purchase one in the near future, using our tax refund for a down payment. A friend of mine has a 2012 Overland with the 6 cylinder, first time I rode in it I fell in love. My wife drives an '04 WJ now and that will eventually be mine as we're trading in my truck for the new Grand Cherokee. I've done a crap ton of research and I haven't found a reason NOT to buy one. Great owner reviews for the most part. We're looking at a Limited or Overland just to get the good 4WD system, the Laredo's are a simple AWD setup; no low range.

Once we get it we'll be an all-Jeep family: the new Grand Cherokee, '04 WJ, and my 92 YJ. I should get some sort of discount right?
 
#5 ·
My wife picked up her Overland in August. She's had many (way to many in my opinion) SUV's and I finally talked her into getting a GC. She says that she is keeping this one for a long time. I have to agree with her, it is the best bang for the buck SUV she has owned and I love the looks of them. Ride is very nice and yet it seems very capable of light off-roading duty in style.
 
#6 ·
Well i have the "sister vehicle" a Hemi R/T Durango and you will not be unhappy with the amount of power available. Put a cold air intake on it and with the factory tuned exhaust, it sounds great too.

I will say the Diesel Grand Cherokee they had on the lot for the same price had me salivating.... :) Just needed the extra row of seats.
 
#7 ·
There are lots of Grand Cherokee owners on the other Jeep forums who mod with mild lifts, off-road tires, etc. The GC is a reasonably capable off-road machine. Not capable of handling some of the more difficult trails where higher ground clearance and good articulation is necessary, but definitely suitable for mild to moderate trails, especially with the OffRoad Adventure II package, which includes under carriage plates, etc.

I've recently been considering a GC as a one-vehicle to do-it-all, except it just doesn't have the capability of towing my 30' Airstream, so I have a Denali HD pickup for that. And use the JKURHR for a runabout and off-roader. If I had a much smaller Airstream, I could get by with having just a Grand Cherokee V8 for, towing, runabout, and mild off-roading. Not anywhere near ready to give up the 30' Airstream, though.
 
#9 ·
Just passing through... I haven't been on WF for a while.

I thought I'd update this thread. I DID purchase a '16 GC Overland with the 5.7 Hemi. Overall I'd say very satisfied with ownership so far. I had a rough spot out of the gate with a leaky transmission seal and engine oil pan seal. Both taken care of... no issues 7200 miles in 3 months. Otherwise trouble free. Drives very nice, quiet as a vault (at least compared to JKU). The v8 / 8 spd transmission is a nice combo. The transmission always puts the motor in a sweet spot. I think it sounds great - stock. I don't need a CAI, I think the induction sounds great without being intrusive.
The wife loves to ride in the GC. Very comfortable.
Avg 18+ mpg with a V8, what's not to like there?

Sometimes I miss my old JKU when I'm looking for something to tinker on. But overall, I think the GC is a great post-mid life crisis vehicle.
 
#13 ·
Just keep in mind they have one of the worst resale values. I have never owned a new one, but have had a quite few used. I pick up late 90s-2000s grands for next to nothing that need work ( tons around here) and fix n flip. They are nice, just be carefull how much you dump into it, because you will never see any of it back.
 
#14 ·
Compared to my jku....I don't expect anything to have very good resale. I put bought a brand new '13 JKU Sport, spent $15k in mods, owned for 3 yrs and 48k miles. Cost of ownership $8K. That was cheap therapy for me

For the vast majority of us... New cars are purposeful or fashionable but never considered investments
 
#15 ·
I currently have a 2014 GC Overland. That replaced my 2011 GC 70th Anniversary Edition, which replaced a 2008 GC Limited. They just keep getting better and better. No question, down the road a few years, I'll replace the Overland with another GC. I'm awaiting delivery of my first Wrangler (details below), but I wouldn't consider them a replacement for each other. The GC is my everyday commuting ride (23 miles to the office, and travels all over town from hospital to hospital for work). The JK - that can't get here soon enough - is for the fun of it.
 
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