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My Patriot-1 year Later

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Rictus58

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
It's been just about 1 year since I took delivery of my Jeep Patriot.
Back then, I didn't have all the data available to me like I do now.
There were just a handful of posters on this site. My how it's grown.
I decided to order a Patriot to replace my wifes aging '94 BMW 325i with 250k miles on it.
It was a leap of faith of sorts. When I ordered it, they didn't have one to test drive. The salesman knew NOTHING about the patriot. They didn't have any brochures to look at. Hell, back then the Patriot came Standard with Heated Mirrors. :p
I waited the longest three weeks of my life for delivery.
So, 1 year and 15k miles later, I couldn't be happier with it. I see a lot of complaint on this site about this problem and that problem. I honestly haven't had any problems with mine. No leaking. No hood flapping. No strange sounds coming from the molded plastic. The only thing the Patriot has been back to the dealership for was an Oil Change.
I've had a child throw up in the back:doh: and it cleaned up fairly easily. NO lingering stains or odor. It's drives well in the sleet/ice/snow/rain mix we get here in Maryland. it gets roughly 24mpg in mostly city driving. I've gotten as much as 28mpg highway. The engine is powerful enough for what we need it to do. It's got enough room to suit our needs.

Thank you jeep for building a vehicle that exceeded my expectations.
 
#2 ·
Thanks for sharing, Rictus58.

I have never driven in a BMW except an X5 SUV. Other than power, I thought the BMW was no big deal so certainly not worth the bucks or local hype. There are a ton o' BMWs here in the Toronto area with the 325i as the de facto most common of the lot. Thank you for liking your Jeep Patriot. I was beginning to think I was missing out on something. I thoroughly enjoy my Patriot too.

So, after a year, and if you enjoy the Jeep more than the BMW, could you please share with me why? Is BMW a better automobile or are we just being told that and being sold that we (everyone) should want a BMW? I can certainly appreciate the higher precision. But is the benefit of the higher precision worth the initial cost and ongoing maintenance? Is the higher speed and 0-60 time worth it? I get attitude from BMW owners as they think how could anyone even consider domestic - even Japanese would be better. I may just not be built for these times. I'm an old fart.

Thoughts?
 
#3 ·
In the UK BMW used to be a sign of status, nowadays it's more of a salesman's car. It's the same with Audi and to an extent Saab. Most people here wouldn't by a Jeep, they are more likely to buy a Landrover or a Honda or even a BMW if they want an SUV.

I still don't understand why? I think we as a society are hung up by branding and status.
 
Discussion starter · #4 · (Edited)
quasimodem51 said:
Thanks for sharing, Rictus58.

I have never driven in a BMW except an X5 SUV. Other than power, I thought the BMW was no big deal so certainly not worth the bucks or local hype. There are a ton o' BMWs here in the Toronto area with the 325i as the de facto most common of the lot. Thank you for liking your Jeep Patriot. I was beginning to think I was missing out on something. I thoroughly enjoy my Patriot too.

So, after a year, and if you enjoy the Jeep more than the BMW, could you please share with me why? Is BMW a better automobile or are we just being told that and being sold that we (everyone) should want a BMW? I can certainly appreciate the higher precision. But is the benefit of the higher precision worth the initial cost and ongoing maintenance? Is the higher speed and 0-60 time worth it? I get attitude from BMW owners as they think how could anyone even consider domestic - even Japanese would be better. I may just not be built for these times. I'm an old fart.

Thoughts?
Click to expand...
I've driven both a 325i and Z3 models of the BMWs. Both are just FUN to drive. the handling and cornering is like no other vehicle i've driven. Our 325i was a quite ride. The seats were comfortable. The engine is a work of art. I know the people who are driving our old BMW now, and its still running strong at about 275k miles.
The reason why we got rid of it was mostly due to maintenance costs. Anytime something went wrong with it, we were faced with a minimum $1k bill. The interior of the vehicle (leather seats) were also nearing the end of their useful existance. It just didn't make sense for us to keep dumping $ into it. The people we sold it to, have the ability to properly maintain it without worrying as much about the money.
Toe to toe, the BMW is a better vehicle for a number of reasons. However, that comes with a price. about $15k more than what I paid for my Patriot. Is it $15k "better"? Hard to say. For my family and where we are financially, no not at all. If you have the money and it won't affect your financial status? Sure it's worth it.

Edit: Also. I'm a "Jeep Guy". I've been able to drive for 15 years. Each of those 15 years have been spent behind the wheel of a Wrangler. Jeeps are what I identify with.
I drive a Wrangler, the wife gets the Patriot. Although, The end is near for the Wrangler with a new addition to the family coming in a few months. I'm going to be dumping it and getting a Caliber. :(
 
#6 ·
Much of the BMW legacy is hype. They rust out and look ratty after a while, just like any car. But it is a performance car designed to excel at the outer edges of the laws of physics. That engineering and design comes at a price. If you drive every day on sun-dappled smooth mountain roads like in the ads, then it's perfect. But most people's situations are different. Their SUVs are an enigma to me. It's too pretty to take bouncing through fields and snow banks.

BMW is a nice car, but you better treat it nicely. Otherwise it will cost you big bucks.
 
Discussion starter · #7 ·
ray said:
Much of the BMW legacy is hype. They rust out and look ratty after a while, just like any car. But it is a performance car designed to excel at the outer edges of the laws of physics. That engineering and design comes at a price. If you drive every day on sun-dappled smooth mountain roads like in the ads, then it's perfect. But most people's situations are different. Their SUVs are an enigma to me. It's too pretty to take bouncing through fields and snow banks.

BMW is a nice car, but you better treat it nicely. Otherwise it will cost you big bucks.
Click to expand...
I wouldn't trust a BMW SUV to take me across the field at the MoCo fairgrounds let alone snow banks ;)

Sitting in Highway traffic on i-95 you don't get to experience the full fun of the BMW, but when you do, man oh man...
Just like right now, the convertible feature of my Wrangler is useless, and quite frankly annoying, but on those spring/summer days when it's 80 degrees out? It's *this* close to heaven for me.
 
#8 ·
Rictus58 said:
Without a doubt. How else can one jusify spending $15k more on a Cadillac Escalade which is just a re-branded Chevy?
Click to expand...
It's not "just" a re-branded Chevy. The engine is tuned to provide more power (and drink premium fuel at a prodigious rate), the interior is nicer, and the thing is made 500% uglier.

But yes, people are way too brand/status conscious, but then again, not everybody who goes with a luxury brand does so for the brand. My wife's TL shared quite a bit with the previous generation V6 Accord, but we went to the Acura dealer because it had a few tweaks that were unavailable on an Accord of any price. Had they been, she'd have an Accord and not an Acura.
 
#9 · (Edited)
Thanks everyone, especially Rictus58 for your thoughts and views. I can certainly understand the hype and the status symbol crap. After all I must confess I have owned two Corvettes in my life and driving those things would get a guy laid way back when [note to self - hmmm, consider another Vette {wry smile}]. Hehe, I like the salesman's car analogy. Fits well here in my city.

I fervently believe buying a higher end car if you know what you have at your driving disposal. I am sure there are many *kids* out there who have no concept of a BMW's capability. It's just a brand and status like some have said.

The Escalade, H2 and even the self parking Lexus 460 just seem to be a misplaced pseudo-pretentious display of wealth. I mean, if I had the bucks, no doubt about it, I would have an Aston-Martin. Not that that league of auto isn't a serious display of wealth. But I am quite positive, *my* Aston-Martin would not be ashamed being parked in the same garage as my Jeep Patriot.

I don't mean to offend anyone here who has or enjoys the Escalade but the Escalade in the white pearl finish with the bright wheels just screams pimp or drug dealer to me. If Starsky & Hutch were on TV today, Huggy Bear would be driving an Escalade I swear.

Ash: Hehe, I sense another Saab, er I mean sob story.

I enjoyed your views.
:)
 
#10 · (Edited)
quasimodem51 said:
Thanks everyone, especially Rictus58 for your thoughts and views. I can certainly understand the hype and the status symbol crap. After all I must confess I have owned two Corvettes in my life and driving those things would get a guy laid way back when [note to self - hmmm, consider another Vette {wry smile}].

:)
Click to expand...
So it's a Corvette I should have had. I was sure someone said Chevette. No wonder I didn't get any.

:doh::doh:
 
#11 ·
Way back when, I had a 61 Corvette, the legend is true!
 
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#15 ·
I can tell you that BMW's are wonderful cars! My very first car when i lived in germany was a 1987 M5 with a 6 speed, w/o a shifter knob. in 2002 it had 375,000km's on it and it ran like a champ. I then bought a 2002 325i, which I had until i went to Iraq the first time. Unfortunately for me, I was 19 and I was stupid and financed the car in Euros, so when the Euro went up so did my car payment in dollars. I had to get ride of it, and when i got back from Iraq I had GM build me a 2004 Pontiac Grand Prix GTP, which I loved so much. I traded that in on my Pat with 87,000 miles on it (I got it with 1.6 miles), but all of those miles were essentially driven in 1 years time! (I had the car for 3 years and 11 days, but did a 15 month tour of Iraq (#2) and a 11 month 22 day tour of Afghanistan) It was hard to see it go. I can say I do not like the PAT as much as either of the last two cars, mostly because of the quality. The leather seats in the cars were better then in the PAT (oh and my heated leather sucks in the PAT) there is too much cheap plastic on the interior. The "Premium BOSE system" with a sub in the back, is mediocre at best. But then again its a Jeep, not a BMW and I expect those issues. The PAT is practical for my needs and i am very happy with it, and what I paid for it. It cost much less than the last two cars, and has 4WD which is great as I live in Alaska! When I moved up here I had a bike rack on it, a THULE box on the roof, and 600lbs of cargo and it drove well, and had great fuel economy. I wish it had a bigger fuel cell, as I only get 260 miles on a tank, but you cant win all the time.

IN the first year and 22 days that I have had my PAT I have put 37,140 miles on it, as of 7:28 AST. I drive it to PT in the morning (I am in the Army) and then the wife uses it during the day while I drive my 2001 TJ. I have taken it across the country, it has been to:
MASS, VT, NH, RI, CT, NY, PA, OH, KY, MI, IN, IL, WI, MN, SD, WY, ID, MT, and AK
its also been to Ontario, Quebec, British Columbia, Alberta, and the Yukon.

Only major problems: The AC stopped working last summer, easy fix, the wiring harness was ran wrong and the dealership had to replace it. The 6 CD changer stopped working the second day I had the Car, defective head unit, was replaced. The 17 Inch Wrangler SR-A's sucked major ass! Other than that she is a champ... with decent fuel mileage.
 
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#16 ·
fizzly: First and foremost, my hat is off to you in absolute gratitude for your contributions and the risks you took in Iraq and Afghanistan. Thank you.

Thanks for the critique too. I do not think for a second that the BMW is not a good vehicle, and I am sure you get what you pay for. I guess I just wrestle with do you use what you have paid for and was it worth it. I am getting the vibe that no one has regretted their BMW ownership. And that's a good thing.

37,000+ miles already, yikes!!
 
#18 ·
Welcome back! I'm glad you made it back without getting hurt, and thanks to you and all the other brave people putting their lives on the line for their country.
 
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#19 ·
Rictus 58, I liked reading your messages. Thank you for posting, in this forum a year seems to be a very long time for many of the most veteran users. No doubt yours was one of the first Patriots sold. I don't think it was available in any European country a year ago.
 
#20 ·
Back to the topic that started this thread

I've had my Patriot for almost a year now. Roughly 12,000 miles put on now. Everything is taken care with the credit card and have since transferred the loan to my local bank. No problems with my Patriot except for a squeeky seat belt. Anyone else with that problem? The metal arm for the seat belt rubs on the seat and squeeks everytime I hit a bump. Wrapped some electrical tape around the arm and it stopped. Weird. Otherwise, no complaints. Considering all of the snow we have gotten here in Illinois and no four wheel drive, the Pat handles quite well. My wife bought her Caliber ( not in picture above) two months after I bought my Pat and the same story. No issues. Finally, a pair of cars with no major issues. Thank you Jeep and Dodge!
 
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