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TJinWV

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
Well, after 5 months and almost 9000 miles of ownership, we'll be trading in our Patriot either tomorrow or Friday on an '08 Escape. When we got the Patriot, we also considered the Liberty and Escape (we were trading in an '02 Escape that had served us wonderfully), and determined the Patriot would be the best purchase, due to a lower upfront price combined with better gas mileage. We would save approximately $6000 over the three year term of the loan (thanks to 0% APR combined with the gas savings) versus a similarly equipped Escape or Liberty at the going rates at the time.

We just didn't put nearly enough weight on performance when comparing the vehicles. The Patriot's low output 4 cylinder, combined with a hard to control CVT, left us revving around 6000 RPM to get up to speed on our West Virginia up-hill interstate onramp. Not exactly fuel-efficient, and probably not good for the engine long-term, either. A five-minute test drive in the Escape had us shaking our heads asking WTF were we thinking? :icon_rolleyes: Honestly, though, the engine output is the only downside we've found in the Patriot - unfortunately for us, it's a huge negative.

Thanks to all for the information you guys have been able to provide. This site has been invaluable over the past 6 or 8 months, from determining what options to order, to installing the RRO lift, to modding the 12V power outlet to be always hot.

Jeep on... :smiley_thumbs_up:
-TJinWV
 
Discussion starter · #6 ·
mchiao said:
Have you tried using the Autostick? It gives u a control like traditional automatic.
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Yep, but even with the autostick, it revs up to 5000+ RPMs to get any speed built up before shifting.

Scottkmlps said:
Trading in a Patriot for a Ford? Really, a Ford?
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Over 150,000 relatively trouble-free miles in the '02 Escape. Can't say that for my Wrangler.

JoeBecker said:
Are you prepared for the major $$$ hit you are about to take?
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Yep. In fact, we're getting a little bit back out of the Patriot. :)
 
#7 ·
TJinWV said:
Yep. In fact, we're getting a little bit back out of the Patriot. :)
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You're one of the lucky ones then.

So I take it that you are in one of the more mountainous areas of WV.
I can understand the frustration.
My parents live down south of Bloomington IN, their exit off the divided highway is quite steep (about as mountainous as you get in Indiana). It definitely is a chore for the Patriot to get up to 65, but I have never seen over 3500 RPM. This little 4-cylinder (the "big" 2.4) will do it, you just can't expect it to do a big hill from 0-65 very quickly.
Once it is up to speed is it still revving that high?
 
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Discussion starter · #8 ·
JoeBecker said:
You're one of the lucky ones then.

So I take it that you are in one of the more mountainous areas of WV.
I can understand the frustration.
My parents live down south of Bloomington IN, their exit off the divided highway is quite steep (about as mountainous as you get in Indiana). It definitely is a chore for the Patriot to get up to 65, but I have never seen over 3500 RPM. This little 4-cylinder (the "big" 2.4) will do it, you just can't expect it to do a big hill from 0-65 very quickly.
Once it is up to speed is it still revving that high?
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Fairmont's probably middle of the road as far as WV hills go. The south and east (coal mine territory) is more mountainous, and west is relatively flat. So it's not necessarily steep, but there is just very little flat at all - you're either coasting downhill or revving uphill. When I'm running at speed, it revs about where I'd expect - around 2200 or so. But 3500 RPM on my northbound onramp would have me going about 60 at the top of the hill, 3/4ths of a mile after I get on the interstate. That's not an option, as those coal and logging trucks can be coming side by side - our exit is in a valley, so they usually have picked up a good bit of speed coming downhill to make the next climb. So it's just as much a safety (and courtesy) issue as it is an issue of "I want to go fast quickly."
 
#9 · (Edited)
Sounds like they should have made the on-ramp lane go all the way over the hill. Most interstates have the slow traffic lane on steep/long climbs. The divided highway I described has that lane (because the ramp is at the bottom of the hill).

At least it is not that the Patriot is flawed, it is just that your particular condition requires more power than most.

Most of the interstate on-ramps I have to "climb" here in the flats of Central Indiana are just to get from street to overpass level which is not a problem for the Patriot.
 
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#11 ·
Are you sure there isn't a problem with your patriot? I have no problems going up steep hills. I have the cvt and driving up the mountains the rpm's went no higher than like 2500 and I was not using the auto stick either. My patriot goes up steep hills just as good as the V8 Dodge dakota that I had. I looked at the escape and didn't like it.
Good luck
 
Discussion starter · #12 ·
Jim Evans said:
Does the Escape offer low range 4WD?

Regards, Jim
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No.

metalhead said:
Are you sure there isn't a problem with your patriot? I have no problems going up steep hills. I have the cvt and driving up the mountains the rpm's went no higher than like 2500 and I was not using the auto stick either. My patriot goes up steep hills just as good as the V8 Dodge dakota that I had. I looked at the escape and didn't like it.
Good luck
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I'm not trying to call you a liar, but I've never had a vehicle that didn't have to downshift and rev up to 3500+ RPM to get up some of the hills around here, including my 6 liter 2500HD.
 
#15 ·
My fiance has a 2001 escape. I actually like it, but it eats front ball joints yearly. Not too mention i get almost 10 more mpg's in my pat than she gets with that v6.

The upside is that the escape i a blast in the snow. It does dounuts like a champ. :smiley_thumbs_up:

I hear the new ones do a little better on gas. Good luck with it. :smiley_thumbs_up:
 
#16 ·
I'm just curious: If you need this kind or performance (and for very good reasons such as safety and courtesy to the truckers), why not test drive the Patriot on such on-ramps and highways before buying? I did my fair share of test driving, and found no problem with getting the Patriot up to speed quickly on on-ramps. Hope you get the performance you need with the next vehicle.
 
#17 ·
OK, the difference here maybe that I have the 5 speed and the only time I have any real trouble with the mountains here in Eastern Kentucky is when i am fully loaded with passengers and groceries, and then it is just an extra downshift to 3rd instead of just to 4th when passing or just a little extra of the go pedal to get her going. I do think the Patriot is underpowered, but it seems at least as quick as my 97 Crown Vic 4.6 I had (again, this probably has quite a bit to do with being a 5 speed compared to a CVT). and my last vehicle was a modified Grand Prix GTP that would cover the 1/4 mile in the high 13s. So, basically, i am a little kaded haha.
 
#18 ·
found this post on Jeepforums...
I drive over 100 miles daily to work over some really hilly terrain... I live in western VA and work in southern WV, if that gives you any ideas... The speed limit is mostly 60 and 65 the entire way, but drops to 40 and 45 going through a couple of towns. If I stay at the speed limit the whole way and let it coast downhill I can manage to drag 30 mpg out of it at times, no cruise control. I was tickled pink...

I love this Jeep... I've put 15K on my baby since I got it in October. My mom liked mine so much she got one herself 2 weeks later! I tell everyone who asks how awesome this car really is! My best friend has a '00 Grand CHerokee and wanted to trade hers in on a Patriot too


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