Greetings from Sunny South Florida!

Last Saturday (and after weeks of research, thanks in part to this Forum) I got my new Jeep Patriot Limited 4x4 (FDI). The Light Khaki color and Pebble Interior were the selling point. I'm surprisingly happy with the handling and interior space. Plus my kids (5 and 7) can now ride with daddy (UPGRADE from Mazda RX8). I thought I was going to miss my OLD car, but the Patriot is making the transitions a smooth one.

Thanks again for all the information posted and I’m looking forward to sharing pictures with all of the members.

Surprisingly

Welcome to the site and congratulations. It is also nice to hear that you are enjoying the new Jeep so much... I bet the gas mileage and lower insurance are a plus too.

Surprisingly happy?

Seems like the threads on here were nothing but positive in nature or do you just mean moving from a sports car to a SUV/"family" car???

Surprisingly happy?

Seems like the threads on here were nothing but positive in nature or do you just mean moving from a sports car to a SUV/"family" car???


The threads were/are extremely helpful to making the decision of what small SUV I was going to get. I'm also surprise of the performance of the Patriot and I'm really not missing the OLD car (mpg, space, etc.).

When I think back 20 years to dragging my kids around in a (new but horrible in every way) Mazda MPV, I remember how happy I was - the whole "Dad" thing, you know. If I had the opportunity to do it all aver again with a cool, reliable, powerful, comfortable and SAFE Patriot, I'd be extatic! Turn out the lights, put the Patriot's built-in flashlight under your chin, and tell your brood the horrible, terrifing, true story of the suburban kids who had to ride around in a dark green minivan! EEEEKKKKK!!! Thank God for YES Essential seats! :eek:

Dude, the MPV isn't all that bad. I drive one and it could be worse. But I only have only 1 kid so go figure what I need all that xtra space for. But i did get stuck twice in the snow last month. Sick of putting 10 bucks - 20 bucks every couple of days to shlep around town. Sure you can fit lots of kids, but do I really want to drive around lots of kids. No think I need and definetly want a Patriot, it's just right.

The 2004 MPV that is my wife's primary car has been excellent with zero defects, good handling, and excellent fit & finish.

Didn't mean to offend! Mine was a '92 or '93; somewhere around there.....
The rear-side windows didn't open, so it was a bad people hauler, and the third row seat wasn't removable, so it was a bad cargo hauler. Throw in 18 MPG and an engine that developed a LOUD lifter tap at 5000 miles that the dealer wouldn't fix, and it was a bad experience overall . (I personally know 3 people who've owned early 90's MPVs - same engine problem..)

Anyway: Here's to moving on and good times with the Patriot! :banana:

Bobbyt you didn't offend. Btw the strangest experience I had renting a car was when they gave me a Mazda MPV EXACTLY like my wife's car. It was deja vu all over again. Best experience was a Liberty Limited.

Oh you Floridians.Why is it you always say "greetings from sunny Florida".For some reason it's never "greetings from Florida leveled by a huge hurricane".
Congratulations.And yes,I love Florida,the sunny one though.

Didn't infer offence. I like my van it's the miniest van they make. No real problems ever, and drives nice and all that. When I bought it (2001) seemed like a good idea. But for quite a few months been thinking of downsizing because I have 1 child and it seems foolish to have all the room when she is old enough to sit in the front now. Been looking around for somehing just right, and good thing I waited because I really like the Patriot. Has a lot to offer at a decent price. The only thing really holding me back is lack of stock (choices) or incentives (to be expected with a new model) and the fact that there really is nothing wrong with my ride now. Like the mpv like the Pariot more.

Didn't mean to offend! Mine was a '92 or '93; somewhere around there.....
The rear-side windows didn't open, so it was a bad people hauler, and the third row seat wasn't removable, so it was a bad cargo hauler. Throw in 18 MPG and an engine that developed a LOUD lifter tap at 5000 miles that the dealer wouldn't fix, and it was a bad experience overall . (I personally know 3 people who've owned early 90's MPVs - same engine problem..)

Anyway: Here's to moving on and good times with the Patriot! :banana:

lol...both my parents and my buddy's parents had the same problem with the engine! If I remember right my mom's was a 93.

LOL, I'd trade an RX8 for a Patriot any day. My mom's 04 RX8 is sitting at the dealership with 23k on it waiting for a new engine, it has been the worst car they've ever owned. Not to mention gas mileage barely better than my old V8 Dakota.