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hecya

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I have now 2 weeks with a Patriot 09 Limited 4x2 and my overall impression is quite positive. The handling, mileage and driving are excellent. So much in fact that makes those little details more annoying:

- the interior lights at the middle and the rear can not be switched on manually and individually. You must turn them on all of them by the control at the steering wheel. This is really a problem when driving at night and one of the children wants to look for something in the rear. With all the interior lights on, the rear view mirror is almost useless.

- it would be nice to have a small compartment to store coins at the front.

- there is no electrical outlet that can be used from the second row of seats. You must connect to the outlet in the front an run the cables all across the car.

- there is no electrical outlet at the cargo area.

- the cup holders for the second row shouldn`t be fixed, allowing for it to be stored when not in use. As it is now it ends up being stepped over continuously getting damaged and making the second row in the middle a bit uncomfortable due to the lack of space for feet.

These observations are not very difficult to implement and they should come standard because none of them are specially original.
 
I second your comments about the interior lights. For the lights in between the front and back rows, it would be nice to have a switch or a button to turn them on independent of the front (above rearview mirror) lights. For the front lights, I would like to have a little ridge that comes down from the front lights to prevent the light from hitting the driver in the eyes. I'm 6'1", so I sit relatively high and the light is very bright to my eyes.
 
Hecya, give your kid a flash light. It isn't hard to add more 12v outlets anywhere on the console, just splice them in. Yes I agree with most of your observations.

I would like the washer fluid to hold one gallon instead of slightly less than one gallon as it is now.
I would **** the sun visors to be made of vinyl that is easily cleaned.
The rear seat should not have head rests that block the view out the rear window.
I added a 12v outlet up in the cubby hole under the radio and one in the shelf in front of the passenger seat. They should come standard in those locations as well.
The rear cargo deck should come with a prop. It is made so one can be used on the right side, but none is included.
The rear window should open without the gate.
Roof cross bars should be easily removable.
Shelf in front ot he passenger seat should have a cover/door.
Area above the central air vents should be a storage compartment.
Factory mud flaps should not have a huge cup at the bottom.
Factory "slush" mats shoud be called rubber floor mats as they do not help to contain any slush, melted snow or mud.
Computer should be easily programmable to any tire size so speedometer is correct.
 
Oh....and the body flares for the wheels should be rubber/plastic attatched to the fender, not part of the metal fender.
 
Interesting lists above:

I agree with:

Some type of rubber or plastic molding around the fender flare. Definately!!
That the slush mats should be called rubber mats. Yep!!
EVIC programmable to tire size, don't think this would be that hard to do and wouldn't add too much cost I wouldn't think. Okay by me.
Washer Fluid Bin on every car should be able to take the full bottle. That is just common sense.

I don't agree with:

Removing the head restraints from the back seat.
Also don't need a door on the open cubby that kind of defeats the purpose of the open cubby.
Alot of folks have mentioned the glass opening on the back hatch. I'm on the fence on this one, just one more thing to rattle and one more way someone can try and get in the Jeep, but it would be convenient.

Easy fixes. Get the map lights if you need extra light, it isn't like the pat is so huge that you need so much extra light. More outlets, just buy the plug in thing that turns your cigarette lighter into two cigarette lighters. Simple and cheap. I would think that three outlets (2 cigs, 1 two prong) would be enough for any car. Mud flaps, personally see no need for them on the pat. To each there own on that one.

My suggestions:

Bigger fuel tank if possible.
Center arm rest should lock (don't know if that was fixed in the 09 or not)
Power door lock switch should also be on the passenger side. Really only one power door lock switch? Everyone knows the front passenger seat is the person in charge of getting the kids out of the back seat.

Darker roof liner. What were they thinking with such a light liner in a Jeep.
Make that rear seat cup holder push in an pull out of the console when not in use. Like the cup holder when the kids need it, hate it when they don't.
 
Hecya, give your kid a flash light. It isn't hard to add more 12v outlets anywhere on the console, just splice them in. Yes I agree with most of your observations.

I would like the washer fluid to hold one gallon instead of slightly less than one gallon as it is now.
I would **** the sun visors to be made of vinyl that is easily cleaned.
The rear seat should not have head rests that block the view out the rear window.
I added a 12v outlet up in the cubby hole under the radio and one in the shelf in front of the passenger seat. They should come standard in those locations as well.
The rear cargo deck should come with a prop. It is made so one can be used on the right side, but none is included.
The rear window should open without the gate.
Roof cross bars should be easily removable.
Shelf in front ot he passenger seat should have a cover/door.
Area above the central air vents should be a storage compartment.
Factory mud flaps should not have a huge cup at the bottom.
Factory "slush" mats shoud be called rubber floor mats as they do not help to contain any slush, melted snow or mud.
Computer should be easily programmable to any tire size so speedometer is correct.
What the heck is up with that less than one gallon reservoir? I'm carrying around an almost empty gallon and a new full one all the time!!!
 
Interesting lists above:

Darker roof liner. What were they thinking with such a light liner in a Jeep.
Make that rear seat cup holder push in an pull out of the console when not in use. Like the cup holder when the kids need it, hate it when they don't.
I just noticed this too the other day. I was loading some broken down cardboard boxes into the back, with the seats down, and one happened to scrape the top liner. Left a huge dark dirty spot! Thankfully, it brushed off easily, but gave me a heart attack!
 
Only a few things of note from me, all of which I believe have been mentioned already:

-Extra power outlets (the 12v kind are OK) in the center console, and in the rear cargo area
- Larger fuel tank - 15g or 17g would have been great
- Head rests that adjust in angle as well as height
- Better location of the cup holders in front (I think this was fixed for '09)

Overall though, not much to complain about.
 
Make that rear seat cup holder push in an pull out of the console when not in use. Like the cup holder when the kids need it, hate it when they don't.

I like that idea Upkev. My oldest son is always sitting in the middle with his feet on the cup-holders. They get filthy very easily.

Maybe I can just figure out how to teach a teenager to clean the bottom of his shoes? That may be easier :D
 
Working as an outside sales rep. in a major US city I'm in and out of my jeep all day running from one location to the next. Loading and unloading products. So my needs are a little different. This being my fifth Jeep, I chose the Patriot for the MPG. And I love it.
But.....in a perfect world...... this would be my list.

Removable rear head rest.
The rear window should open without the gate.
Roof cross bars should be standard equipment.
Cargo area retractable cover and tray should be available as an OEM accessory.
Cargo area tray that also covers the back seats when the seats are in the down position.
Auto "up" electric windows.
Cover for the cubby hole. I would like to have the option of open or closed. Don't want someone to break my window because they see my GPS or a pair of sunglasses in the cubby hole while I'm in 7-11 or calling on an account.
Better location for drink holders.
Easier access to the console compartment.
Darker color sun visors and head liner.
Lifetime warranty would include free gas!
 
To those who want removable rear head rest.
Maybe you get a chance to get rear seats from an (europe) export model because they came with removeable rear head rests. My Pat has 3 of them and all are removeable.
 
Most of the things that bothered me in my 08 have been changed on my 11. The cupholders have been moved forward some so you don't have to slide the armrest back to use the second one. This did cause the loss of the above mentioned change cubby. They also got rid of that useless ipod holder and replaced it with a usable storage compartment. The 11 now has the grab handles for all four doirs, whereas my 08 had exactly zero of them. The biggest things I miss though are the cubby hole under the stereo where I used to keep my ipod, and the fact that the passenger dash cubby is much more shallow now. Now my ipod winds up getting stuck alongside the ebrake which makes it harder to control while driving.
 
Most of the things that bothered me in my 08 have been changed on my 11. The cupholders have been moved forward some so you don't have to slide the armrest back to use the second one. This did cause the loss of the above mentioned change cubby. They also got rid of that useless ipod holder and replaced it with a usable storage compartment. The 11 now has the grab handles for all four doirs, whereas my 08 had exactly zero of them. The biggest things I miss though are the cubby hole under the stereo where I used to keep my ipod, and the fact that the passenger dash cubby is much more shallow now. Now my ipod winds up getting stuck alongside the ebrake which makes it harder to control while driving.
Velcro would be a life saver! Someone on here has pictures of their iPod Velcro job, looks pretty sharp if you find a good place for it!
 
I never used mine mostly due to having the 5spd. With that thing sticking out of the armrest its near impossible to smoothly shift gears. Also, I have the ipod touch which barely fit in the holder and was hard to use while it was in there. I made a little rubber mat to fit the cubby under the radio that kept it from sliding around. I could use the controls without even looking at it. I do like the new storage space the put in the armrest though.
 
-Darker headliner
-More comfortable headreasts for front seats.... I mean really they are digustingly uncomfortable :doh:
-Separate light switch for the dome light
-Factory option front brush/grill guard
 
I wish the sun visors would extend a little further. Sunshine on my left side can still find its way into my eyes -- maybe 2" more would fix it.
 
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