This info comes at a perfect time. We have just been given a link to a site that allows us to build and price the Patriot. After seeing how "my" model came out, I began to become curious as to whether or not it would be worth waiting for the new Liberty.

Also, I recently compared (and so can all of you at jeep.com) the prices of '06 Wranglers vs. the prices of '07 Wranglers....surprisingly, the new model is priced at less than the old.

Again, this got me thinking that possibly the cost of the Liberty may come down.

Now, this latest news article has released the price of the Dodge Nitro, which will be less than the current Liberty on all fronts. link (http://www.jalopnik.com/cars/news/less-than-liberty-dodge-nitro-priced-196115.php)

All of this leads me to believe the new Liberty could provide a better value than the soon to be released Patriot. More power, more capability, more room...lets see how much more the cost will really be. Then the question is would you rather have the best Patriot available or a middle of the road Liberty?

One of the questions, for me, obviously, will be the styling of the new generation Liberty. Will it become more agressive in its styling then the current model?

Also, what will be the Liberty's offroad capabilities. Again, I don't do serious off-roading, but I want a vehicle that can handle the tough stuff. We just had a thunderstorm blow thru our area on Wednesday night, packing 106 MPH straightline winds. Needless to say, it was nice to be able to get into work at 3AM Thursday morning in my XJ, dodging downed trees and whatever in the roadways between Wanatah, IN, located in LaPorte County and South Bend, IN, about a 45 mile drive.

I would probably take a middle of the road next gen Liberty, over a top of the line Patriot. The key word is probably. Since both we haven't seen both vehicles' performance on/off road, it is still too early to give a difinitive answer.

I agree, it has a lot to do with the appearance of the new Liberty. However, from some of the descriptions I've read and the spy shots, it looks like a lot has been changed.

Further, like you said, we don't know how either will perform. However, I think someone mentioned an "off-road" model which would have a body lift and front and rear locking diffs. If that's the case, what more is there to debate?

I guess we'll have to see.

Look's are not even third on my list... function, mpg's, price, than looks.

If it can't do what I need it to do there is no need look at it.

If it can but costs too much to drive it regularly, it's gone.

If it will do the job while sipping gas, but cost a bundle... it's out of my budget and I'm off that lot.

it it fits the first three catagories for my, than I care if it looks 1/2 way decent. After all it will spend a good portion of its life cover with mud anyways.

I agree, it has a lot to do with the appearance of the new Liberty. However, from some of the descriptions I've read and the spy shots, it looks like a lot has been changed.

Further, like you said, we don't know how either will perform. However, I think someone mentioned an "off-road" model which would have a body lift and front and rear locking diffs. If that's the case, what more is there to debate?

I guess we'll have to see.

Considering it's a unibody it can't have a body lift.

Look's are not even third on my list... function, mpg's, price, than looks.

If it can't do what I need it to do there is no need look at it.

If it can but costs too much to drive it regularly, it's gone.

If it will do the job while sipping gas, but cost a bundle... it's out of my budget and I'm off that lot.

it it fits the first three catagories for my, than I care if it looks 1/2 way decent. After all it will spend a good portion of its life cover with mud anyways.

Okay, okay...all things considered...if it looks like a girls vehicle, which i always thought the old Liberty did/does, than its useless how capable it is....my pride wouldn't let me buy it.

For example, would you rather have the Patriot or Compass with FD2? Probably the Patriot, because it fits the part....it looks like a man's SUV...thus Jeep produced it with the FD2.

Considering it's a unibody it can't have a body lift.

The last question on their survey was about a new “off road package” that included lockers in both axles, Quadra Trak transfer case, a 1” “body lift”, and 31” MTRs. Sound familiar? Their artist’s rendering said Rubicon right on the hood.


Here is the link (http://www.lostkjs.com/forum/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=10688&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0).

The last question on their survey was about a new “off road package” that included lockers in both axles, Quadra Trak transfer case, a 1” “body lift”, and 31” MTRs. Sound familiar? Their artist’s rendering said Rubicon right on the hood.


Here is the link (http://www.lostkjs.com/forum/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=10688&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0).

Likely a misprint intended to say suspension lift. Unless the new Libby will be body-on-frame construction... which I doubt considering with the exception of the Wrangler Jeep has been sticking to the unibody construction for quite some time. That's why you won't find any body lifts for Cherokees, Grand Cherokees, Comanches, Commanders or current Liberties.

Likely a misprint intended to say suspension lift. Unless the new Libby will be body-on-frame construction... which I doubt considering with the exception of the Wrangler Jeep has been sticking to the unibody construction for quite some time. That's why you won't find any body lifts for Cherokees, Grand Cherokees, Comanches, Commanders or current Liberties.

Another thing that has me interested is the mention of lockers...front and rear. I read the suspenion would be IFS and IRS....is it possible to lock independent suspension. I sent an email to one of the prominent locker companies...I think it was Easton or Detriot, and they said the old Libby had trouble with a true locker because it damaged the axle. They said they found one of their high end limited-slip differentials to be a better fit.

I asked them about a locker on the Patriot and they said they were interested but wouldn't know until they got ahold of one.

I guess I'm curious if you can put a locker on independent suspension and/if the new Liberty will be equipped to handle them.

Edit: Whoops, I just re-read the old emails...I guess I emailed both companies! Here is the info from one (the one which didn't specifically warn me not to share the info....):

"We appreciate your interest in our products.
While lockers will work with an IFS or IRS system, we have no information regarding the axles in the Patriot. Your request is the first we have received on the Patriot.
Our success with the Liberty has been minimal as the front end is notoriously weak. It is a modified Dana 30 IFS unit and can't withstand the torque of a locker. The torque is pushing the aluminum housing apart. Users have been installing our Detroit Truetrac instead of the Detroit Locker and are able to make the front end survive if they drive conservatively."

The last question on their survey was about a new “off road package” that included lockers in both axles, Quadra Trak transfer case, a 1” “body lift”, and 31” MTRs. Sound familiar? Their artist’s rendering said Rubicon right on the hood.

Yeah I know you can only have a body lift on a vehicle with a frame. Otherwise you need to use coil spacers for a unibody.

But what struck me was fitting 31" MTRs with only a 1" lift. I just put a 2" budget boost (read: coil spacers) on my 93 ZJ and 31" tires were the largest size I could fit for off-roading without fender trimming (I haven't been off-road with it yet, so we'll find out if I do need to trim it, but anyways...). I wouldn't have been able to fit the 31s without much rubbing if I only put in an 1" lift. Seeing as my ZJ is larger than the new Liberty, they are either completely bs'ing us about it being possible to fit the 31s, or they are drastically increasing the size of the wheel well.

My guess is that for all normal uses the 31's will fit. I actually had my 31's mounted on my ZJ for a week or so while I was waiting for my BB to come in. Onroad, they were of no problem. However, even after adding the 2" BB, they seemed to rub a bit during heavy flexing. So I'm willing to bet that the 31's on the new Libby are simply to make it LOOK tough.