Jeep Patriot Forums banner
Cancel
Create thread New Garage Forums

FWD vs 4WD Patriot: Your Choice.....

Jump to Latest
41 - 60 of 64 Posts
#41 · (Edited)
JeepCares said:
Col Pudgebutt-

How many times do you think you have had to use 4WD since you got the 2011 Pat to get/keep moving?
Notice I said HAD TO, not did it because you wanted to (or it was easier.).
Click to expand...
In my 2011 4WD I have HAD to use it a few times. However that was towing my boat during bad weather and also when launching/pulling it out( snow/ice and muddy boat ramps ). I have not as of yet HAD to use it on road.

Now, with that said, I am an experienced driver of many a New England winter. As a result I just automatically go to 4WD when conditions are a certain way. You learn to turn 4WD on BEFORE you need it because a lot of times it is too late for it to help if you turn it on after you are stuck.

I am sure there have been numerous times that 4WD was turned on to help me automatically and I didn't know it as others have said. IMO 4WD absolutely will make a difference in bad weather vs a regular FWD. FWD can handle a lot but there are always conditions where 4WD will do better.

Good is good but better, by definition, is better.

JMHO.
 
#46 ·
Is anyone on board with the idea that if you can find a 4wd Pat comparibly priced to a 2wd you get the 4wd. All that electro gadgetry isn't enough for me to go 2wd. In this crazy world one should be prepared. One way is to equip yourself with the most capable vehicle. I think people own guns sometimes to be prepared. Think that way when you purchase a vehicle. Especially when Chrysler gives you a great deal with the Patriot. All I'm sayin.
 
#47 ·
If you can get 4wd for the price of FWD, go for it. Have 'em throw in fog lights, cruise control and a roof rack while there at it. I never said don't get 4wd -- just don't spend the $1000 unnecessarily.
 
#48 ·
Later down the road when I'm shopping for a replacement cause I trailed my Pat a little too hard over the years (It's probably gonna happen :D) I'd look for a 5 speed 4x4 or another FDII. If I could get a 5 speeed 4x4 for the lower price of a FWD I'd probably be hard pressed not to buy it. Though I am loving my FDII :rolleyes:
 
Save
Reply Quote Like Like
#49 ·
I would have to have something at least as capable as the pat... my goal is actually to drive the pat till its paid of, make it my dd (ditch my current crapmobile) and get the next family car (a minivan most likely) and a new toy for daddy (XJ, WJ, JKU) that can be used more aggressively.
 
Discussion starter · #50 ·
Ignatz said:
If you can get 4wd for the price of FWD, go for it. Have 'em throw in fog lights, cruise control and a roof rack while there at it. I never said don't get 4wd -- just don't spend the $1000 unnecessarily.
Click to expand...
Fog Lamps, Cruise and the Roof Rack Rails are standard on the new Patriots. But if you want the Crossbars, that's an accessory.

Back to my original question, I think I'm sticking with my 2011 4x4. the only thing I don't care for about it is the Pebble Beige Interior. Its starting to show some wear and tear, dirt, etc. It requires more care than the Black interior.

So the bottom line is I'm standing "Pat" with MY Pat! :p
 
#51 ·
Ignatz said:
I, too, am a FWD fan. I've had a number of FWD vehicles in the past (Olds Cutlass Cruiser, Olds Cutlass Supreme, Buick Century, Chevy Celebrity, Saturn Ion). They were all good in the snow, but the Patriot is definitely better.

I suppose it really depends on your purpose. Unless you plan on doing real off-roading, FWD is probably enough. On the other hand, FWD is not for rock climbing, deep mud, or heavy snow. If your town doesn't bother to plow the roads, or you have a camp a dozen miles back in the woods, go w/ 4wd. If the road agent scrapes the snow off the road every few hours, and your camp is on dry ground, FWD should do ya.

Typical snow is not a problem for my FWD Patriot. I live in NH on a narrow winding road with hills and curves, and the Patriot is quite sure-footed. It handles all kinds of snow from fluffy powder to the slushy, mashed-potato stuff that comes in from the coast.

Get good tires. With the money you save not buying the 4wd option and the money you save on fuel, you can probably pay for all the tires you'll ever need. The SRAs that Ignatz came with were adequate in the snow but you can go a bit off-size and do even better (you can check other threads about brands and sizes). I use General Altimax Artics.

Off road, a FWD Patriot can handle poor dirt roads and trails, but don't take on a swamp with it. I posted a story in the 2wd forum about my adventure on several miles of icy trail in mud season. I'd followed Garmin into a real mess, but I got away with it, and that was with the original SRAs that were rather well-worn. Better tires would have done better. There are other stories besides mine in the 2wd forum; some of these guys are pretty adventursome! Frankly, I can't afford to take unnecessary risks.

I got Ignatz to get me around on snowy roads and home every night, and the little guy has never let me down. There were times when I wished I wasn't out in it, but he claws his way up those hills just fine. How often I've thought I wish I'd gotten home before the snow got so deep, and then when I get home I call myself a chicken.

For my purposes 4wd is a waste of $$. Remember, it wasn't that long ago we all drove RWDs and got around just fine. IMHO 4wd is either for those who really need it, for the faint of heart, or for those who don't know how to drive in snow -- they wind up in a ditch anyway, because 4wd isn't magic.

For the record we also own a Wrangler. It goes w/out saying but I'll say it anyway: FWD Patriot is wa-a-ay better than the Wrangler in 2wd.

I think Tyler711 above said it pretty well. If you're debating, you probably don't need 4wd.
Click to expand...
great point.

how have you gotten around with the big snow storms in new England this year ? I know there have been some 12 inch snow and more right?

I know a big one is coming soon. We have a friend that lives in Vermont.
 
Save
Reply Quote Like Like
#52 ·
Actually I've made out fine in this years snow with FWD and good tires (General Altimax Artics). Truth be known, and call me chicken if you will, but today we took Wifey's Wrangler to church. The Patriot would have done fine on the roads, but since we have a 4wd in the stable, we used it. The forecasters clearly underestimated today's snowfall: they predicted 3-6" and we got at least a foot. Ignatz has never failed to make it up the driveway, but usually I'm home before the snow depth is outrageous. He's handled 7" of this sort of mush, and more of the fluffy stuff, but 12+" of marshmallow is a lot to ask. Even the Wrangler was dragging, and the snow had already slid off the garage roof into the driveway. Now we're talking a barrier that's a couple feet high -- again the wet mushy snow, now compacted by a slide off the roof. I'll attach a photo of last week's storm so you can see what would soon fall from my garage roof. That was 20". IMHO, last week's "blizzard" was far and away easier to handle because it was that light fluffy stuff. This heavy stuff is awful.

Now back to Col Pudgebut's original question. I have a question of my own: What sort of vehicles do your neighbor's drive? If they can survive in Honda Civics, you'll blow them away with a Patriot. On the other hand if everyone is driving 4wd, maybe you need to go that route.
 

Attachments

#53 ·
Hi everyone, new member here... currently own a 2012 ford edge, and am heavily considering trading it in for a jeep patriot. My Edge has an AWD system, but would having even a FWD patriot make it better in off road/bad weather conditions by virtue of just being a Jeep? I know the FWD has a light skid plate, for example, but are there any other advantages? Thanks!
 
#54 ·
Well, the Patriot as you said is a Jeep and is therefore built to handle tougher situations than anything else in it's subcompact 4x4 class....even the 2wd version. Like Ignatz said, if all you're doing is driving on pavement and in snow, you probably only need 2wd, though realistically you don't even need a Jeep at all in that case. Me personally, if I got a Jeep, I wouldn't get it without 4WD. Doesn't even make that much sense to me that Jeep even sells 2wd models when part of being a general purpose vehicle is to go anywhere that the owner needs to go.

Offroad, my Freedom Drive 1 with the CVT handled at least 80% of obstacles that Wranglers and Cherokees were going through, with little trouble. The two main problems were power and clearance. Patriots are tuned to get 30mpg, so that little 4-banger has to go easy, which can get a Jeeper bogged down if ya don't keep up a little speed. Clearance, well, that breakover angle got me stuck a couple times, but a hitch receiver, an XJ, and a tow strap pulled me back. Just had to put the pedal down a little more. And that at stock height with Firestone Destination LE2's. Impressed more than one Wrangler/Cherokee owner that day at Jeep Creep.

For fuel economy, I took some measurements a few months ago. I get 22-23mpg average when loaded, and 27-29mpg average when empty. The whole thing was on interstate, mostly through Iowa, Illinois, etc. No cruise control, just me and the pedal. As far as the tranny, that 6-spd was only introduced because auto journalist/reviewers didn't want to learn how to drive a CVT, and gave the Patriot bad reviews for their own ignorance. My CVT has never let me down(except maybe a couple times when it could have been a little quicker, but to be fair it is an eco-Jeep, not a Corvette). It's smooth, will give just enough power to stay at decent mileage uphill, and can rev high for more fun acceleration when needed. Would not buy another Patriot without one.
 
#55 ·
Thanks for the reply, Rosso... yeah, I'll definitely go with the 4X4. I was wondering myself why Jeep would even make a 2WD; just making sure that I wasn't missing anything. I don't plan on doing a ton of off-roading, but I would love to do it occasionally. And, yeah, just knowing that I have the capability of actual 4X4 is going to be great. Glad to know that the FD1 is very capable; trail-rated FD2's seem impossible to come by in my neck of the woods.
 
#56 ·
Well, FD2 has a CVT(would recommend special-ordering a CVT on the FD1 if you can), not to mention skid plates, tow hooks, better oil cooler, possibly better seals, etc. But, even the XJ was made in 2WD from what I hear. Still makes no sense that that would happen, but not too surprising I guess, considering they've probably got city slickers coming up with all the designs anymore, lol. Still pretty reliable.
 
#57 ·
2wd are for people who need the space/comfort/reliability, but never plan to take it off road, and don't live in snow. here in AZ, most patriots are sold as a 2wd version. Cheaper than 4wd, cheaper to insure and gets better gas mileage. For most people 2wd is exactly what they need.

Me personally I would only buy a 4x4, as a FDI is a minimal MPG hit, while it has a higher purchase price, it also commands a higher resale price. (especially around these parts)
 
#58 ·
But if you don't need 4x4, why even buy a Jeep? Their very legacy sits on the 4x4 drivetrain and general-purpose, go anywhere do anything capability. And if you need a 2WD with better gas mileage, well....HHR, Equinox, Cruze, etc.
 
#60 · (Edited)
RossoRacer said:
But if you don't need 4x4, why even buy a Jeep? Their very legacy sits on the 4x4 drivetrain and general-purpose, go anywhere do anything capability. And if you need a 2WD with better gas mileage, well....HHR, Equinox, Cruze, etc.
Click to expand...
I think many people buy vehicles based on their needs rather than trying to fit a stereotype associated with certain vehicles. My previous "soccer mom" Caravans didn't emasculate me in any way. In fact, I still contend that they were the most versatile and practical vehicles I ever owned. They hauled everything from babies, building materials, livestock, and more. The Patriot cannot even compare to them regarding practical versatility.

I've lived most of my life in Michigan, some in the UP, and I have done fine never owning a 4wd. And, let's not fool ourselves. The Patriot is built on the underpinnings of a Dodge Caliper. The suspension components don't exactly scream "rugged". I believe my solid rear axled Caravans had beefier suspension parts (front and back).
 
41 - 60 of 64 Posts
About this Discussion
63 Replies
26 Participants
Last post:
Ignatz
Jeep Patriot Forums
posts
678K
members
55K
Since
2006
Join our community to discuss the Jeep Patriot & Jeep Compass. Find answers to all your Jeep Patriot technical questions.
Full Forum Listing
Explore Our Forums
Jeep Patriot General Discussion Engine and Drivetrain Newbie Check-In Suspension and Tires Electrical and Audio