(I already posted this in the Compass area, but since the Patriot is similar, I'm posting this question here too.) To make a long story short, if all goes well, my wife and I should be having our first child within the year. I'm planning on getting a new car in 6 months, and I'm wondering what your opinions are about a Jeep Patriot being the family car. We'll probably have it for about 6 years, and I would expect that we would have a second child in that time. Our other car is a PT Cruiser, and that would probably be replaced in about 3-4 years. (The PT would be replaced with another fuel efficient car since that is my longer commuting car.) My gut keeps telling me to get a larger car, but I keep coming back to the fact that the Patriot will have about the same great gas mileage and a larger trunk than the 2004 Chevrolet Malibu that we're going to replace. What do you think? Opinions?
Is the Jeep Patriot big enough to be the family car?
misterjensen
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(I already posted this in the Compass area, but since the Patriot is similar, I'm posting this question here too.) To make a long story short, if all goes well, my wife and I should be having our first child within the year. I'm planning on getting a new car in 6 months, and I'm wondering what your opinions are about a Jeep Patriot being the family car. We'll probably have it for about 6 years, and I would expect that we would have a second child in that time. Our other car is a PT Cruiser, and that would probably be replaced in about 3-4 years. (The PT would be replaced with another fuel efficient car since that is my longer commuting car.) My gut keeps telling me to get a larger car, but I keep coming back to the fact that the Patriot will have about the same great gas mileage and a larger trunk than the 2004 Chevrolet Malibu that we're going to replace. What do you think? Opinions?
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The patriot is great for our family-Hubby,me and 13 year old and 4 year old
A Patriot is going to be our family car once we pick it up on Saturday. It has more room than a small sedan and with the seats down, you can carry quite large or long objects which you can't do with a sedan. If you need more room for long trips, you can always mount a storage container on the roof rack. If you have more than 2 kids, you'd be better off with a van or larger SUV.
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Depends on the family, but for us its great! We downsized from an odyssey to get the patriot. Everyone told us we would love the add'l space and would need the minivan, but for us it was too much.
We have two kids in car seats. If we put them next to each other we can get a really small person in the last seat, but for short trips only. So, for three kids (unless all are past car seats) it does not work. The back middle seat isn't for adults anyway, so this doesn't bother us.
You have to pack better for trips with the kids (kids have a lot of cr@p - ie. diapers, packnplay,backpack...), but we just took ours camping for 4 days without a problem (using a roof bag). Plus, add a hitch box for more storage.
Extra seats for grandparents are nice in the minivan, always having room for each kid to take a friend, and if you like to trip with everything, bigger would be better, but then you got the added payments, insurance, worse gas mileage. JMO, sorry its so long!
We have two kids in car seats. If we put them next to each other we can get a really small person in the last seat, but for short trips only. So, for three kids (unless all are past car seats) it does not work. The back middle seat isn't for adults anyway, so this doesn't bother us.
You have to pack better for trips with the kids (kids have a lot of cr@p - ie. diapers, packnplay,backpack...), but we just took ours camping for 4 days without a problem (using a roof bag). Plus, add a hitch box for more storage.
Extra seats for grandparents are nice in the minivan, always having room for each kid to take a friend, and if you like to trip with everything, bigger would be better, but then you got the added payments, insurance, worse gas mileage. JMO, sorry its so long!
Just got back from a trip to the beach (500 miles one way) with my wife, two daughters (10 and 6) and Golden retriever. We had to spend 30 dollars or so on a soft type cargo bag for the roof, but had a VERY comfortable trip. Madison, our retriever, had the back section to herself.
It was as good a trip as we've ever had to the beach. The 25 mpg wasn't bad either. Remember that was 4 passengers, a dog, and a cargo bag on the roof
It was as good a trip as we've ever had to the beach. The 25 mpg wasn't bad either. Remember that was 4 passengers, a dog, and a cargo bag on the roof
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Lucky Dog! Did you steal my Patriot? I got the black too, hard to keep clean.Just got back from a trip to the beach (500 miles one way) with my wife, two daughters (10 and 6) and Golden retriever. We had to spend 30 dollars or so on a soft type cargo bag for the roof, but had a VERY comfortable trip. Madison, our retriever, had the back section to herself.
It was as good a trip as we've ever had to the beach. The 25 mpg wasn't bad either. Remember that was 4 passengers, a dog, and a cargo bag on the roof
Anyway, don't have any kids and don't plan to, but my girlfriend's parents were in a couple weekends ago. We spent the WHOLE day in the Patriot, up into the mountains and back. There is so much leg room in the back! If you don't plan on keeping it more than 6 years you don't have to worry about friends wanting to come along, as that usually develops a little later. A roof rack will solve your toddler-years lack of space issue. And if you're looking to see beautiful places off the beaten path, there's no better vehicle! I NEVER would have made it up Loch Lomond trial last weekend with anything lower than my Patriot, and that was an easy trail.
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2 carseats? No problem.
I have a 2 year old and a 3 year old and a minivan is over kill for me too. I don't have mine yet, but I took a lot measurements when I checked it out. The only negative I saw was that it didn't have the built in hooks for carseats. I thought they were mandatory for rear seats, but I guess not.
In my opinion, if you have two kids and you can't get it all into the Patriot, you are taking too much. The exception to that would be long travel or overnights and even then.....
I have a 2 year old and a 3 year old and a minivan is over kill for me too. I don't have mine yet, but I took a lot measurements when I checked it out. The only negative I saw was that it didn't have the built in hooks for carseats. I thought they were mandatory for rear seats, but I guess not.
In my opinion, if you have two kids and you can't get it all into the Patriot, you are taking too much. The exception to that would be long travel or overnights and even then.....
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Also keep in mind that reclining the rear seats and keeping the cargo cover installed will seriously eat up rear cargo room.
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We have the LATCH carseat hooks on our patriot (lower hooks for left and right rear seats, left, right, center hooks for top). Maybe its not on the base seats but on the YES seats? Only downside is with the solid headrests the top LATCH attachment has to wrap around the headrest instead of through. Maybe the 08 will be smarter and have see through headrests in rear for safety/visibility and ease of carseat install!
I don't have my Patriot yet however I'm sure they have the LATCH restraint system. I couldn't find it in the brochure or on the Jeep website, however it does indicate this on the attached review, which by the way has some great information on the Patriot.
http://www.allpar.com/reviews/2008/patriot.html
Drove from Ohio to Florida round trip with 2 adults and 3 kids and luggage for a cruise in the back. It was tight but no complaints from anybody. The kids had their DVDs and Ipods. If we needed more luggage space we would have had to go to the roof rack.
The patriot can accomadate a family of 4 easily. Any size bigger, then you should be looking at a Grand Cherokee or Commander. If cargo is an issue, you can also add a roof cargo box.
On another note, you may want to look at the Yes Essential Seats. They are suppose to be very durable, and will take the abuse from a toddler/small child.
On another note, you may want to look at the Yes Essential Seats. They are suppose to be very durable, and will take the abuse from a toddler/small child.
The LATCH system is required by Federal law in all passenger vehicles now (I believe that includes pickup trucks as well but don't quote me) no matter what type of seats you have. The Patriot LATCH points are partially hidden with the way they are mounted relative to the seat back but they are there. When the wife and I looked at one she didn't see them right away since the seat color was dark and the LATCH points are black. I stuck my hand down there and found them.
We are mostly interested in the space for a rear facing car seat. The Liberty with a rear facing seat is killing my wife's front passenger space. Anyone have measurements and/or pictures? When we sat in the Patriot at the dealer in OH while visiting the relatives I forgot my tape measure so I couldn't do a comparison on the spot and the dealer he has none on the lot.
We are mostly interested in the space for a rear facing car seat. The Liberty with a rear facing seat is killing my wife's front passenger space. Anyone have measurements and/or pictures? When we sat in the Patriot at the dealer in OH while visiting the relatives I forgot my tape measure so I couldn't do a comparison on the spot and the dealer he has none on the lot.
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I had 4 adults approximatley 900 lbs of humans and no issues! I had the air on and it seemed that the Patriot was asking me to give it more, so I did and no hesitation or strain. I'm not sure if it has something to do with the air being on with the combination that it's a FDII which seems to have more torque then a sport model, but we had a lovey drive to and from the State Fair. A lot of people were looking at us, however there was a Saturn Sky that I parked next to which stole the attention of gaukers.
They hooks are there. I have my son hooked in using latch. We have a 4 year old and a 1 year old in the back.
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