Do you regret your FDII?

WV_Patriot · May 9, 2011

13 mpg in the FDII, what are you doing to get that? Sitting in the drive way with the gas pedal to the floor...? :BLAM: In the winter I was getting 21 mpg average and I was goofing off in the snow. That is with the oversized tires; still installed. I am now up to 24-26 mpg. By the way, highways are 70 mph in WV. Now, it is not as fuel efficient as the FDI, but it is better than all other off-road vehicles. Bought new in May 09 and now has just a hair under 38k on her.

Terasec · May 9, 2011

MrMischief said:
The FDII gets 13 mpg? That's a big statement. Can you back it up with facts?

I get aboiut 20 mpg on my fdII,
I have had fill ups where I got 15-16 mps even with conservative driving,
So someone getting 13 mpg is not so far fetched,
I am sure if I drove the pat like I drove other cars in the past, I can easily get low teens mpg.

Sandstone · May 10, 2011

TJ99er said:
Be careful doing that, I cant see it being good for the drivetrain...

Okay, so I guess off-roading is completely out of the question.

Seriously tho, I'm not trying to bicker with you, but I don't think it hurts all that much. I see it as about the same as using the autostick to drop down, but I only have one position instead of however many that thing has. The computer is pretty much in control of the show, and don't think it will allow me enough leeway to cause much damage.

Sandstone · May 10, 2011

WV_Patriot, how's the noise on those geolanders? Any improvement?

WV_Patriot · May 10, 2011

Sandstone said:
WV_Patriot, how's the noise on those geolanders? Any improvement?

Is a lot better. Don't have to have the radio all the way up anymore. Just about any tires is better that the SRAs.

Sandstone · May 10, 2011

WV_Patriot said:
Is a lot better. Don't have to have the radio all the way up anymore. Just about any tires is better that the SRAs.

And I'm guessing that the traction performance is better as well?

I'd been seriously considering getting another set of rims for a set of more "Cityfied" tires for higher MPG, but maybe all I need is to replace the SRA's with the Geolanders.

AntDragon · May 10, 2011

FDI CVT or 5-speed, MrMischief?

Terasec said:
I get aboiut 20 mpg on my fdII,
I have had fill ups where I got 15-16 mps even with conservative driving,
So someone getting 13 mpg is not so far fetched,
I am sure if I drove the pat like I drove other cars in the past, I can easily get low teens mpg.

Okay everyone knows there's hardly any fuel economy difference between the FD1 CVT 4x4 and FDII 4x4, right? Maybe 2MPG (Jeep.com does not list Trail-Rated FDII MPG oddly and we know all MPG numbers advertised by all makes are inflated at least a little ;-P) It's the manual that get's the savings, the autostcik-not so much...

With an FDII, in 1-5MPH bumper to bumper snowstormed crushed traffic in northern Virginia, with the extra 80lbs from RRO SuperSLiders and another 60 pounds or so of unspring wieght from larger wheels and larger tires, I saw fuel ecenomy go no lower than 14.6 MPG during a long 6-hour 34-mile trip home (no typo, Thirty-Four miles= Six hours in 2in/hour wet snowfall). That was 4MPG less than what I normally observe on divded highways where we go from 0-45 constantly...what on earth are some of you people doing?! I even observed a 15.8 MPG low while offroading in PA mountains in 22F weather at high altitude. Shot back up to 22 MPG on the way home averagin 65 MPH.

I have NO regret having an FDII, only that my parents forced me to learn how to drive in their automatic van instead of their manual (it was only a '98 Neon). But if you don't intende to take it on rough trails, and don't need skids (which you coudl add if you really wanted to), and don't need the little boost in clearance, and can do without two hooks (or pay all your savings in mods to adapt towhooks) save a grand or two with an FD1.

TJ99er · May 10, 2011

Sandstone said:
Okay, so I guess off-roading is completely out of the question.

Seriously tho, I'm not trying to bicker with you, but I don't think it hurts all that much. I see it as about the same as using the autostick to drop down, but I only have one position instead of however many that thing has. The computer is pretty much in control of the show, and don't think it will allow me enough leeway to cause much damage.

Most 4x4 systems your not spos to shift into while going over a specific speed, and others you arent spos to shift into 4Lo if your even moving.

I'm not saying your car cant do it, I'm just saying it may not be good for it. I can shift my wrangler into 4hi whenever i want, its physically possible, but its not good for it unless its under specific speed, and in right conditions.

Tony1911 · May 10, 2011

TJ, you do realize that the Patriot is not your traditional four-wheel drive vehicle with a separate transfer case, right? You can't think of it in those terms, either. All the "low range" does (in addition to software tricks like running the engine at higher RPM) is enable one to use the entire range of the transmission, instead of limiting the low end - an automated "granny gear", if you will, but one that doesn't limit the transmission to only the low end.

Over at JeepForum.com (Jeep Patriot Q&A thread), a Jeep representative even stated outright that you can use the L setting any time you want to. The computer will not allow you to harm the transmission.

jlobaugh said:
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.

Now that's funny. I've yet to take my F-150 off-road (it lacks gear and needs some repairs that effect every day use first

) but I've used the low range in that more than once in the five months I've owned it.

Going uphill on a narrow, unplowed street with cars parked on it, that low range came in mighty handy in keeping my speed down so in case the truck starts to slip sideways it doesn't crash into anyone's car.

TJ99er · May 10, 2011

Tony1911 said:
TJ, you do realize that the Patriot is not your traditional four-wheel drive vehicle with a separate transfer case, right? You can't think of it in those terms, either. All the "low range" does (in addition to software tricks like running the engine at higher RPM) is enable one to use the entire range of the transmission, instead of limiting the low end - an automated "granny gear", if you will, but one that doesn't limit the transmission to only the low end.

Over at JeepForum.com (Jeep Patriot Q&A thread), a Jeep representative even stated outright that you can use the L setting any time you want to. The computer will not allow you to harm the transmission.

I understand the patriot doesnt have the traditional transfer case... I just wanted to state they he should look into it, because it didnt sound right. If someone from jeep said it was ok, then I guess that works.

MrMischief · May 10, 2011

TJ99er said:
Most 4x4 systems your not spos to shift into while going over a specific speed, and others you arent spos to shift into 4Lo if your even moving.

I'm not saying your car cant do it, I'm just saying it may not be good for it. I can shift my wrangler into 4hi whenever i want, its physically possible, but its not good for it unless its under specific speed, and in right conditions.

The Wrangler is a unique vehicle compared to pretty much any other vehicle on the road because you are actually in control of it. If you pull it into 4x4 you are actually putting the gears together and there is nothing to second guess your decision. A vehicle like the Patriot if you ask it for the low gear (or even 4x4) the computer gets to decide for you if it can do it. Then, if it does choose to grant your request, it's constantly rethinking that decision many times per second. ("okay you can have 4x4. should you still be in 4x4? yes. should you still be in 4x4? yes. should you still be in 4x4? we're in a tight turn, no. turn off 4x4.") This is why you don't get drivetrain binding in a Patriot. Not what I want for my primary off road vehicle. It is a great system on the road and helps Jeep avoid a lot of warranty claims for people make dumb choices like engaging 4x4 in the rain.

TJ99er · May 10, 2011

I get what your saying... all my familys 4x4 vehicles have always been a manual shift with a transfer case... Be it our Rangers or the Jeeps.

WV_Patriot · May 10, 2011

Sandstone said:
And I'm guessing that the traction performance is better as well?

I'd been seriously considering getting another set of rims for a set of more "Cityfied" tires for higher MPG, but maybe all I need is to replace the SRA's with the Geolanders.

If you want cityfied tires I would not go with the tires I have, or at else the size I have. Your mpg will be better with a smaller size. And yes traction is better.

dixiedawg · May 11, 2011

All my previous 4x4's had transfer cases with low range etc. All nice, but I think the Patriot is a better on-road vehicle. Even though most 4x4's don't need you to lock in the hubs anymore, so a bit easier than the old days, you still have to worry about being in 4x4 on dry pavement. Whereas the Patriot with FWD and AWD when not locked into 4x4, does really well on the roads in winter. I've been through a couple winters with mine, and nothing compares to how well it handles snowy roads in winter, no worries, just drive it and let it do it's thing. I've only locked in 4x4 once on the roads.

Off road, on snow and ice it does really well too, and I use 4 chains on it a lot off road. The only drawback I've found is the clearance, and getting high-centered on the snow. Other than that, it's never let me down.

joco · May 11, 2011

i baught the off road edition..and wish i would have NOT.

but i baught this cause it had the tranny coiler..cause i have a trailer on the back....aprox 60 time a year...so the tranny coiler is a nice thing to have..

joco

Do you regret your FDII?

WV_Patriot

Terasec

Sandstone

Sandstone

WV_Patriot

Sandstone

AntDragon

TJ99er

Tony1911

TJ99er

MrMischief

TJ99er

WV_Patriot

dixiedawg

joco

Top Contributors this Month

Recommended Communities