I have been lurking on this site for several months here and there.

I currently have a 1994 GMC Jimmy thats on its last legs and a 98 Corvette.

I am in the Chicago area, and a winter car is a must as a Corvette is not for snow. I also like to travel and do road trips to such places as Colorado. I took my Jimmy out there in 2001 and it was a blast off roading with it. But now its getting too old to drive cross country.

I have been waiting for someone to make a 4x4 SUV that gets good MPG as almost everything out there gets around 15 or 16 (including my Jimmy). Then along came the Patriot. This was exactly what I have been waiting for. A real 4x4 that gets over 20mpg city, imagine that!

Now that it appears that the Patriot is the perfect companion vehicle to my Corvette, I have some concerns and things to think about.

1. As a rule, I dont like to buy the 1st year of any vehicle. I like for them to get the bugs out.

2. The CVT is a new technology. How long has it been in the Dodge Caliber? Also FDII is brand new. I have some concerns about the long term reliability of such a new technology.

3. I have about 15k cash and have also been looking at buying a 3 year old Liberty and using that for a few years and then get a Patriot after its been out for a few years.

4. You have to buy the Limited to get a sunroof???? That totally sucks.

So right now I am torn between a new Patriot and car payments and potential new car bugs vs buying a 3 year old Liberty outright with cash and waiting a few years.

So thats where I am at.

Many in the auto industry will say that defects occuring in first year cars have all but been eliminated. So much money goes into development that Manufacturers cannot afford to release a problematic first year model.

As far as buying a Liberty, you will probably be able to get a pretty good deal on a used one since the 2008 is a redesigned. Towards the end of the year, you might be able to even get a 2007 for less than a patriot depending on dealer stock.

Welcome aboard.

to answer your questions:
1. I've had good results and bad results from first year cars. If you've been lurking you have a good idea of the Patriot so far. Mine was delivered with zero defects.

2. CVTs have been around in one form or another for 35 years now. Nissan is using it on the Maxima. I would check on a Dodge Caliber forum to see how they are doing. It's a popular rental and I wouldn't be surprised to see some hitting 50000 miles now.

3. Depends what the purpose of the vehicle is regardless of age. I like the Libby but not the mileage.

4. Don't remember if it was not available on the Sport. My Limited came with a sunroof but that was a nice to have. Now that I have it will tell you it was done right.

A Trail-Rated '07 Liberty won't get substantially better fuel mileage than the Jimmy, though, and it's market value is likely to fall sharply when the '08 is released, leaving you in a hole if you decide to get rid if it.

The horror of major design flaws in new car models is basically a thing of the past, although manufacturers do change details (like inside door handles) in response to first-year customer feedback. The mechanical stuff seldom changes substantially.

You can enjoy the Patriot, then have a sunroof installed later as a birthday present for yourself!

There are millions of CVT2 transmissions on the road, mostly in Dodges, Jeeps, Nissans and Mistubishis. If it was problematic, we would have heard about it by now.... Remember when Mopar introduced "Ultradrive" in 1988? It became common knowledge that the thing was seriously flawed 6 months later. American consumers are now so sophisticated and demanding that badly-performing products are immediately identified and shunned.

That's why the North American market continuously shuns cars built by Italian, French and English automakers - we won't put up with the unreliability and operating anomalies that European buyers have embraced for 10 decades. Think back to how basically BAD the Renault-based AMC cars were in the early '80s. Europe LOVED them and America wouldn't take them for free...

As far as buying a Liberty, you will probably be able to get a pretty good deal on a used one since the 2008 is a redesigned. Towards the end of the year, you might be able to even get a 2007 for less than a patriot depending on dealer stock.

When did they say the 2008 was going to be available? You are right, if I can wait it out, I can probably get a very good deal on a used Liberty. Hmmmm

3. Depends what the purpose of the vehicle is regardless of age. I like the Libby but not the mileage.


It would be my primary vehicle during winter (Nov - April) and then would be used for camping and road trips.

A Trail-Rated '07 Liberty won't get substantially better fuel mileage than the Jimmy, though, and it's market value is likely to fall sharply when the '08 is released, leaving you in a hole if you decide to get rid if it.


Why do you think Ive had the Jimmy for so long? Nothing comparable gets any better mileage until the Patriot came along. :)

It would be my primary vehicle during winter (Nov - April) and then would be used for camping and road trips.

Then you will be running up serious mileage. The Pat gets 10mpg better in non-FDII trim. If you are towing, however, the Libby will do better. Patriot gives a car ride. Liberty is rougher.

When did they say the 2008 was going to be available? You are right, if I can wait it out, I can probably get a very good deal on a used Liberty. Hmmmm

I've heard late 3rd quarter 2007.

I've heard late 3rd quarter 2007.

So they should be shipping in quantity about April 08:icon_rolleyes:

yeah and BTW you can get a sunroof without going limited...on the patriot sport e-package it is an option I believe

If you are really serious about a used Liberty, there are still brand new 2006s around, with serious cash on the hood, and offering 0% for 72 months! Keep your $15K, and invest it somewhere to earn yourself some money! Use their money at 0%.

Go to drivechicago.com or even Jeep.com and search inventory. Right now, DuPage Jeep has seven 2006 Libertys. A Renegade/6 speed, sticker $26,600, available for $18,800. And with the 0%! Brand new w/warranty, 0%, 1/3 off sticker = hard to beat. Except the much poorer gas mileage than the Patriot. Oh, and the rougher ride.

Hey LSK...sounds like you and I were in the exact same boat. I was looking at Liberty's too for a while. I'd say drive them both and see what you like. Personally the smooth ride was a nice change compared to the harshly stiff ones I'm used to.

Hey LSK...sounds like you and I were in the exact same boat. I was looking at Liberty's too for a while. I'd say drive them both and see what you like. Personally the smooth ride was a nice change compared to the harshly stiff ones I'm used to.

What made you go with a Patriot? What kinda deal did you get? Where did you buy it?

I went with the Patriot over the Liberty for 3 reasons...It gets better mileage, I liked the ride better, and it looks way better in my opinion. I got it from Crystal Lake Chrysler Jeep and paid a little over 20 for the FDII with a few options. They had a few more FDII's there too...if you go, talk to Brad and tell him Brian that bought the black one sent you.

Well, I almost bought a used Liberty today, but they would not come to the price I wanted and I also think the Liberty sits too high. My dad is urging me to buy new, so Im leaning towards a Patriot now.

I just wish the sport offered a sunroof. I have some days off next week so I may hit Schaumburg Jeep then. Crystal Lake is a little too far for me.

When I was on my test drive I was told that there was a couple who had just bought a Sport last week and that they were bringing it back to CLCJ to have a sunroof put in.