Patriot - The Gateway Jeep?

GymCareNZ · Sep 6, 2011

First off, I have to say I love my Patriot. It's the first Jeep I have owned, and after planning to buy my mates 2000 model Grand Cherokee and hating the way it drove, I took the plunge and bought a new Patriot.
Now, with 40,000Km on the clock, the jeep "bug" thing has bitten and I have bought myself an old XJ Cherokee Ltd with the plan to do some "proper" offroading.
The Patriot is great, don't get me wrong, but deep down I know it has its limitations. I have the Stu's coils and some Yokie AT/s tires and tow hooks and all that - but I do get quite fed up with the "big guys" and their lifted Toyota's and Nissan's looking down their noses at the baby Jeep.
Planning a decent lift, some rock crawler type steel work and some decent mud tires - all the things that are not available for my Pat!

As I bought it:

This is how I want it to look:

jepstr67 · Sep 6, 2011

Yes.
As you discovered there is only so much you can do to a Jeep with independent wheel suspension.

A serious JEEP needs to have long stroke, low end torque and straight axles.

Enjoy the XJ.

Like you said, the Patriot is a great vehicle if you use it for what it is designed for. Excellent fuel economy, cargo capacity, and light off road or snow capability.

dixiedawg · Sep 6, 2011

I've been thinking of doing the same thing you did. If I had more trails around here, like the guys in Colorado, I would do it. I love that look, and seems the best for off-roading to me. And there are a ton of after market parts for those too. And I see a lot of them around for sale. Find a nice one that needs suspension work, or has bad fenders or something, and get a good deal. You'll be replacing those parts anyway.

XPADREX · Sep 8, 2011

Even though we've owned Jeeps in the past, our Patriot has been a gateway to my buying the JK.

For me, it was frankly a sense of value- look at what Jeep is actually offering for the buck. Fact is, they're quietly sneaking in some cool stuff while peole focus on the hype.

Cool Cherokee, BTW- even though we have the PAtriot and I just bought the Wrangler, I keep eyeing this red Cherokee I pass on the way to work.
I think my kid needs a car, or something.

LOL

GymCareNZ · Sep 8, 2011

Maybe its a Jeep thing? It just seems as though you can't have too many!
I can't think of a Jeep model that I would'nt like to own, thats why I'm always surprised at the way other Jeep owners look down on the Patriot, maybe if they drove one, they would be surprised just how good they are.
Sure they won't do extreme stuff and crawl rocks etc, but they are an awesome allround everyday vehicle.
My boys could'nt wait to go for a ride in the old Cherokee - they just love cruisin in the Jeep!

jepstr67 · Sep 8, 2011

GymCareNZ said:
Maybe its a Jeep thing? It just seems as though you can't have too many!
I can't think of a Jeep model that I would'nt like to own, thats why I'm always surprised at the way other Jeep owners look down on the Patriot, maybe if they drove one, they would be surprised just how good they are.
Sure they won't do extreme stuff and crawl rocks etc, but they are an awesome allround everyday vehicle.
My boys could'nt wait to go for a ride in the old Cherokee - they just love cruisin in the Jeep!

1960 Willys Utility Wagon
1967 Jeepster (My favorite)
1982 Cherokee Laredo
1982 J-10
1983 CJ8 Scrambler
2006 Commander
2008 Patriot

No, you can't have too many.

dixiedawg · Sep 8, 2011

If I could have one for just a weekend toy, I'd get an older Cherokee sport probably, and set it up for just off road. It's just not in the budget though. I'm lucky I can still afford gas for the vehicles I have.

Orion6 · Sep 8, 2011

After I pay of my Patriot I will be getting a Wrangler again. I miss mine from years ago.

This time I'll go all out though, hardtop and heated seats.

Futura · Sep 9, 2011

I love my Patriot and Im sure my next rig will be a Jeep also.

Hitman Hugh · Sep 9, 2011

I'm going to trade in my 98' XJ to get either a 2011 or 2012 Patriot FDII, but in the future I would love to get an XJ again to make a real toy. It's kind of funny I just got my girlfriend/future wife and 09 Caliber R/T and her and my daughter love it!

kb1gig · Sep 10, 2011

I had an '88 Wrangler soft-top, back in '88... lol!

When it came time to get a new vehicle, I new it was going to be a Jeep, just which one?

It came down to the mileage. I wanted a "Jeep-looking" Jeep, but I do a lot of commuting during the week and then weekend fun. Considering that 99% of the time it's going to be on main roads, the Pat fits my needs perfectly.

Got it on 4/18 and my speedometer is at 9998. I will hit 10K today.

I've got camping gear loaded in the back, bike rack on and ready to go... And I'm still loving it like the first day I got it. PERFECT!

Wooo hoooo!

epper:

So, I guess this wasn't gateway for me. It's just the right Jeep at the right time for me.

XPADREX · Sep 10, 2011

I had a Grand Wagoneer. 11 mpg, and pukes oil into the air breather.

Window regulator on the rear window rusted out...

..but you know what? I friggin' love the way that thing looked. People might not like the wody look, but the whole think was like 1950s luxotank.

I like the Nukizer's use of that nose.

Patriot - The Gateway Jeep?

GymCareNZ

jepstr67

dixiedawg

XPADREX

GymCareNZ

jepstr67

dixiedawg

Orion6

Futura

Hitman Hugh

kb1gig

XPADREX

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