[MaroonedXJ]

Ok, I am no stranger to Diamler-Chrysler vehicles and want to keep it in the family (06 PT Cruiser, 92 Jeep Cherokee) and want a new Grand Cherokee, either an 05, 06 or 07 depending on what I can find.

My dillema comes with the Limited package only having the 4.7 and 5.7 available. I do mostly city driving, and for this the V6 would seem ideal - BUT - I want all the bells and wistles like leather, navigation, sunroof, trip computer and the chrome.

Granted, I could spend the 1-2k less and get a Laredo with the V6 and then add what I want, but why?

The wife thinks that the V8 will get much worse gas mileage, and I tend to agree. EPA estimates put the 4.7 at around what I get with my old 4.0 HO. I know the EPA is like, well take our numbers and -5 then you get the actual mileage.

What is the recommendation here? Should I go for the Laredo and upgrade My Way, or get the Limited and deal with the hit in the 'ol wallet?

Thanks!

[garsarno]

Deal with the hit. On a previous post, we had purchased a '99 loaded six cylinder Laredo, even to the point of having the grey cladding painted white to give it a pseudo Limited look. It was nice but you always notice the Limiteds on the road while you are driving the Laredo, wishing shoulda coulda woulda etc. We have a '07 Hemi Limited and the only thing I wish it had are the chrome wheels and the Overland wood sterring wheel. I can fix both if I want too. My opinion is get the Limited 4.7 or Hemi and don't look back. Compromise on something else.

[array]

imho, i would buy a hemi. i had 4,7 powertech and its a great engine, but hemi looks to be better. you ll get the same mpg, 100 hp more. now i drive crd, because of gas price. one liter costs 1,25 USD. diesel also, but that is on gas consumption why i drive diesel.
and if you want to have real gc, buy a limited. and hemi, there is "no" diference if you ll get 17 or 18 mpg. hm?

[goose1]

i have the 4.7 and i'm getting 15.4 mpg in the city. when i take it out on the highway for extended trips i'm getting somewhere in the range of 19-20 mpg. i have read here that guys with the 5.7 are getting gas mileage as good as mine if they are easy on the go pedal.
as for all of the extras: the laredo X Pkg. comes with everything you want i think except for the chrome and the Nav. i'm sure to close the deal the dealer could at least swap out the black grill and door guards for the chrome ones. then you can buy a Garmin or a TomTom.

[MaroonedXJ]

Well, thank you for the info. I will be limited somewhat because I will be buying used. I am thinking of the Laredo with a Katzkin leather interior and just getting the stock nav ($1500 oy vey) and leaving the side molding alone - or waiting for someone to make a chrome coverall for it. I actually like the body color grill. My Laredo now has all the chrome you could imagine, and it has annoyed me for a long time actually. But this will be my street vehicle, and the Cherokee my trail ride so chrome would be a good thing on this one.

[JTS97Z28]

IMO for sure get the Limited with Hemi 5.7!! I have a 5.7 05 Limited and am soo glad I did. I actually drove a new 4.7 07 Limited a couple days ago and the power difference was instantly noticeable between that 4.7 and my 5.7. Infact I was very surprised especially from low speeds. That 100HP makes a HUGE difference. The other misconception is fuel economy. The 3.7, 4.7, and 5.7 all get basically exact same fuel economy. My sister has an 05 Laredo and let me tell you, to me it feels that the thing can barely pull its own weight and gets no better fuel economy.
I hope this helps you make your decision as I have a feeling that if you get a basic Laredo you wont be happy. If you want all the good stuff then spend the extra money right off the bat and just get what you want.

[Intrepidjeep]

I agree with JT -- the difference in fuel economy won't be very great, and certainly not worth taking a hit on available power. If you really do the math using the EPA numbers and calculate the *difference* between the engines in cost per year, it's just not enough given what you'll be giving up with a lesser engine.

I imagine the cost per month difference would be $5 or $10 per month depending on your driving. Yet you'll get more smoothness and torque and horsepower with either V8 than with the V6, and it's a big difference you feel ALL the time.

I just have the 4.7L, but I can tell you that even with small to moderate pedal inputs the vehicle moves along VERY nicely compared with the V6. It's quick and agile and you can pack it with passengers and cargo and the engine hardly feels a difference. That's not true with the V6. The Hemi would have been even better, and MDS ensures you'll get about the same MPG as the smaller 4.7L.

But I got this nicely loaded GC last year with only 5K miles on it for just $19,100 -- couldn't turn it down.

[gornoman]

As a 3.7l owner I can say "shoulda got the V8". I can't believe how crummy my mileage is. Of course it still hasn't pulled the popup to Colorado yet, so I don't know how bad it's going to get. From the numbers I am seeing by forum members, a V8 is a bargain.

[SYCOHEMI]

There's really only one choice...

[Intrepidjeep]

Only problem with the Hemi is the extra cost -- I imagine our Laredo would have been at least another $2k.

[goose1]

i just saw an ad for Dodge Ram that allowed them to have a free upgrade to the HEMI. i'm sure that is something Jeep will be doing soon.

[SYCOHEMI]

Originally Posted by goose1

i just saw an ad for Dodge Ram that allowed them to have a free upgrade to the HEMI. i'm sure that is something Jeep will be doing soon.

So, soon, there REALLY won't be any reason not to get one.

[HurriJeff]

I just traded in a 98 2wd Grand Cherokee SE with the 4.0 i6.. It got about 1.5 Mpg more city and about 2.5 Mpg more Hwy. My Hemi seems awful at first glance but if you do the math you'll find there is not that much difference in Mpg. And this thing is easily 3 times more fun to drive.

My advice for Marooned is to wait as long as it takes to get a Limited with the 5.7. You'll be glad you did !