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Do you regret your FDII?

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MrMischief

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
I'm conflicted on the FDII vs the FDI. On one hand, I'd like to maximize fuel economy and I have a Rubicon I can take if I'm going to go off road. On the other hand, I'm the ******* who'll park in odd places for fun, or try to drive through things I probably shouldn't. Which is why the Patriot is on the top of my list (I can't find a competitor with a 4x4 "lock" option). I feel the FDII will help pull me up and over or through things more easily then a FDI.

I can see some signs of regret... Well maybe regret isn't the right word... but let's face it there are some threads here about turning an FDI into an FDII. Does anyone with an FDII wish they had just bought the FDI? Maybe you would like the better fuel economy, or the cheaper payment, or the autostick feature might be more useful to you then the dumb little L that you never use anyways. Whatever it is, I want to know about it.

thanks a lot guys
 
#2 ·
I got an FD1, but only because I require a Manual. If I liked an Auto, I would have opted for the FDII.

I have a Wrangler, so the patriot doesnt have to be super offroadable. I figure if the FD1 gets stuck, and I dont have 4Lo, I can just winch it out with my Wrangler.

I will be doing things to it, like skids, and maybe a lift and tires in the future, but thats because I cannot leave my cars stock, it buggs me.

This is going to sound Bias (no offence to anyone who has it) but since I love manual, the autostick is garbage in my mind... I cant stand quasi-manual-auto trannies...
 
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#4 ·
dysmal said:
Get the FDI. The FDII consumes as much gas as your wrangler.
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The BEST I get in my Wrangler is 19mpg, and thats if im on the highway going less than 70. Combine (normal) i usually get around 17mpg... I dont have any hugh mods on mine either...

I doubt the FDII consumes as much gas as the Wrangler.
 
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#5 ·
The only reason I bought a Patriot over other small SUVs was its off road capability, so I chose an FDII. It gets better gas mileage than other off-road capable vehicles, so I guess gas mileage is all relative.
 
#6 ·
I bought the FDI because the majority of my driving is on-road and I needed the MPG. But the Winter season is pretty rough up here. I'm on the roads usually before the plows start, so having a 4 lock option is really nice. I'm adding skids and tow hooks (front and rear) for the times I will take it off-road (mostly camping). I'll pretty much have an FDII without the badge and the CVT2 transmission.
 
#7 ·
I weighed the pros and cons of the FDII vs FDI when i was shopping, but one of my requirements was a manual gearbox, so as soon as i found out that I couldn't get the FDII in a stick, it was off of the table. Besides, my old company vehicle was an '02 Liberty, I had it off road a lot and I never put it in low range once.
 
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#9 · (Edited)
If you want the best economy, get FDI all weather with tow prep. It's the closes thing you'll get to a FDII with good mileage.
I have FDII and it takes some getting used on the gas mileage coming from a Scion xB. That being said, I have no regrets getting the FDII. I get better mileage in the city than on the highway so far... because our highways are all 70+ mph. FDI CVT owners seem to average a little better overall, but several have reported there best tank around 25-27 MPG. I think I drive moderately and try to save fuel, and my best tank average was 22.

I have to stop for gas every 250 miles because of the small tank, but it doesn't feel like I am paying much more in fuel. I'm still getting 21 mpg in the city :)
 
#11 ·
13mpg from a 2.4 ???? I'd have got rid of that thing a long time ago!!

Just been out for Sunday evening drive with the Mrs ( 30 miles mixed driving). at finish of journey EVIC read 41.3mpg ( Ok so its IMP) But its a heavy 2.4 L 4 speed Auto Avenger.
 
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#13 ·
MrMischief said:
The FDII gets 13 mpg? That's a big statement. Can you back it up with facts?
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Yes, you can get 13 mpg depending on how you drive it.

However, I was able to get 21-22 mpg city with a little coasting here and there, and paying attention to RPM's, less than 2k if possible. I checked the mpg via fill up method at the same station, sometimes the same pump for about 6 fill ups. I bought a scangauge II about a week ago and it agrees fairly close. I could have shown you the receipts a couple of days ago, but I had satisfied my curiosity and so I tossed them.

As far as highway mpg, I haven't been out enough to track it. But this weekend Coloradoman and I did Hidden Valley Road and Dakan road. I live on the North side of Denver, and it took about 1/4 tank to go down and back. Bottom line, it's not a Prius, but it's not my K-10 either. Not by a long shot.

As far as the CVT2L, I like it just fine. I drove the CVT2 w/ autostick, and for me it was mostly kind of a gimmick, just something else to contend with.

I actually use Lo in town as a kickdown for merging into traffic and as a boost for taking off from a stop.

It's also nice to have when going down hills. We've logged a lot of miles up and down US 6. I see brake lights coming on in front of me constantly, but I hardly have to touch my brakes at all.

Sure I have a few things on my wishlist, but isn't that always the case?

Overall I don't regret the FD2 over the other options.

BTW, MrMischief, if you are who I think you are, perhaps I'll see you at the Wal-Mart next Saturday and you can ask me anything you want about the FD2.
 
#14 ·
mrJeepr44 said:
If you want the best economy, get FDI all weather with tow prep.
Click to expand...
Cool! :)

I drive the Patriot (FDI w/ 5M, AWG and Tow Prep) like a 500cc motorcycle. Many times I stay in 4th until I get to 65-70 before I shift to OD. I like to hear it howl.

My worst tank was 22 MPG, my best was 28 MPG, the last tank was 23.3 MPG
 
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#15 ·
MrMischief said:
I'm conflicted on the FDII vs the FDI. On one hand, I'd like to maximize fuel economy and I have a Rubicon I can take if I'm going to go off road. On the other hand, I'm the ******* who'll park in odd places for fun, or try to drive through things I probably shouldn't. Which is why the Patriot is on the top of my list (I can't find a competitor with a 4x4 "lock" option). I feel the FDII will help pull me up and over or through things more easily then a FDI.

I can see some signs of regret... Well maybe regret isn't the right word... but let's face it there are some threads here about turning an FDI into an FDII. Does anyone with an FDII wish they had just bought the FDI? Maybe you would like the better fuel economy, or the cheaper payment, or the autostick feature might be more useful to you then the dumb little L that you never use anyways. Whatever it is, I want to know about it.

thanks a lot guys
Click to expand...
No regrets at all. I have gone offroad with an FDI (both 100% stock) and the difference is noticeable. Now if you're a good drive, and you have good tires, maybe not so much difference offroad.

And on the gas, I get 21-23 around town AND on the freeway... there's not much advantage on the freeway going over 65mph. The gearing just isn't there and you still get 23mpg. But it is WAY better than a Wrangler. With the same driving habits, I was getting 15-17mpg in my Wrangler.
 
Discussion starter · #16 ·
Sandstone said:
BTW, MrMischief, if you are who I think you are, perhaps I'll see you at the Wal-Mart next Saturday and you can ask me anything you want about the FD2.
Click to expand...
Yep I hope to be there. Popped the top off yesterday in prep. Are you going to be bringing the Patriot? I really want to see where there limits are with one. youtube videos and pics just never quite show it.
 
#17 ·
MrMischief said:
Yep I hope to be there. Popped the top off yesterday in prep. Are you going to be bringing the Patriot? I really want to see where there limits are with one. youtube videos and pics just never quite show it.
Click to expand...
Yes, I'll be there with the Patriot if all goes as planned. Maybe we can talk ColoradoMan into going as well, then you'll have an FD1 5sp to compare with.

I ran the FD2 over a couple of the rock obstacles on Dakan, a small one on the first playground, and then drove up the left side of the larger obstacle at the top. I came down on the right side of this obstacle, if that makes any sense. ColoradoMan and his friend took some pics and vids.
 
#18 ·
Sandstone said:
I actually use Lo in town as a kickdown for merging into traffic and as a boost for taking off from a stop.
Click to expand...
Be careful doing that, I cant see it being good for the drivetrain...
 
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#19 ·
Good question, and I'm asking myself the same one as I prepare to trade my '08 FDII for an 11 Patriot. With gas prices much higher now than they have been for awhile, I start wondering if the FDI would be ok. Especially since the clearance is the same now, which is a big factor for me. In fact I sure would like a couple more inches of clearance, and might add STU coil lift to the '11, if it gets me those couple more inches.

Not sure I've needed the low gears off road, but down hill crawl is nice, especially on steep hills in snow and ice, but I think I could get by without that.

Also nice to have the oil cooler, and a bigger Alternator, and I have kit the skid plates several times.

I'll have to check my last couple fill ups for mileage, but there are times in the summer when I get 25-26 MPG. Sure would be nice to get 27-28, which I think is doable in the FDI's.

My gas warning light came on yesterday at around 260 miles from the last fill up.

Also, I don't think the FDII really does much of anything for trade-in value, but it's not an expensive option anyway.

I would pay at least $1K more for the vehicle if they had an option for better front end parts, and wheel bearings.
 
#20 ·
I wanted a 5 speed manual 4X4 with the best mileage, so got the FDI. In retrospect, I might have been better off with a CVT.

The only interest I have in "improving" my FDI is better tires and ground clearance for my 2008. I am switching to the Yokohama Geolander 215/70/R16 AT-S tires which are the same width and height as the Goodyears on the FDII. The tires will give me another 0.3 inch of ground clearance.

My 2008 FDI didn't have the ground clearance of the FDII's, so I plan to install the 2011 FDII front struts, rear shocks, and springs to get an inch or so of lift.

I got the Trailer Tow Prep, so have the oil cooler in addition to the full size 16 inch spare wheel and tire and the trailer wiring harness.

I believe that my gas mileage (see my sig) is usefully higher than FDII owners report. I do avoid speeds over 65. My last tank included 80% highway mileage and towing an 1,100 pound trailer for 130 miles and I got 26.96 miles per gallon. I generally don't fill up until well after 300 miles. I usually put in 10-12 gallons.
 
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