I'm surprised to see so many people are buying Liberties. I've driven both generations of them and have walked away very unimpressed both times. The new one looks better, and the sky-slider roof is cool, but it is incredibly cramped inside.
The Wrangler numbers however, make sense. A Wrangler is a great second or third vehicle, especially with the soft top in a sunny climate. There's nothing like the feeling you get from driving around with the top down and the doors off on a nice warm day.
I did not drive Liberty, but I sat in one and it wasn't cramped at all. Actually, the old one wasn't either, but the roof was low. Try Ranger to size for the true definition of cramped. See http://zaitcev.mee.nu/albuquerque_auto_show_2010
My Wrangler is accounted in the table above, I presume. It is my only car, and not "second or third".
Pete -
My first car was a Wrangler, and at that point in time, my only car. It was fun for the time, but I wouldn't want one for a daily driver now, at least not like the one I had, no A/C and almost deafening free-way noise levels. I know they come with A/C now, and that a hard top keeps the noise down, but then the hard top takes half the fun away.
The Liberty might not be bad in the passenger seats, but at least in the driver's seat I found the footwell very tight (then again, I have huge feet so this isn't the only car that I've had that problem with).
Wranglers make really great city cars too. The ability to pull in to a street spot front-end first, go up on the curb then drop the wheel in saves a lot of hassle when peole crawl up your butt when parallel parking. If in a snowy city where street plowing sucks(looking at you, Boston) they're the balls.
I'm surprised at the strength of the Explorer and even more at the Expedition. I would've thought that that monster would have collapsed in this market. Ford seems to have its act together here as well.
I'm blown away that Wranglers sell so well. I've always considered them one of the most useless things on the road. I know they are great off-road but once on the pavement they are like a fish out of water. Wonder what percentage of sales are the 4-Dr models. They seem like they would be a lot more practical.
I see Ford is still selling plenty of Exploders with the transmissions that self destruct as soon as you hook a trailer to the back of them.
Have you ever lived with one? They aren't totally useless on road, especially if you do a lot of non-highway driving. For an area like New England, they're really great. Not too expensive, durable, and they hold their resale value. Not too many cars you can buy new, roll negative equity into, drive for 12 months, and sell for what you owe.
They are short, have a tight turning radius, are easy to park and are tall with good visibility all around.
They are the perfect city vehicle and the new ones are livable on the highway.
The biggest minus is the fuel economy, which though bad isn't as bad as I have seen in other SUV's.
Fuel economy is kinda bad. Mine returns about 16 to 19 in daily driving, which about corresponds to a pretty big Ford truck (while not having a bit truck's utility); or a Ranger, because it's ancient and sucks. In theory it's even worse than what Frontier/Equator should do, although I heard their EPA numbers are optimistic (of course it's unless you tow something). Surprisingly I am beating Liberty. Chrysler really loves gasoline, it seems.
My SIL had one. So I had the chance to both ride in it and drive it numerous times. The ergos where awful. It had a ton of wind and road noise. It handled like crap, rode like crap and was a dog. The mileage was horrid considering it's size or lack of. It could only carry two people somewhat comfortably. You couldn't haul anything with it, you couldn't tow anything with it. After they got married my brother wasted no time getting rid of it.
I'll take any 90's compact Toyota 4X4 PU over a Jeep for getting around anytime. To say it's twice the truck is doing the Toy an injustice.
P.J. O'Rourke recently did a write up about Wranglers, don't recall where I saw it. He pretty much agreed with all your criticisms, but he still wanted one. I've had the chance to borrow one from a friend a few times. I wouldn't one for my only car, but for tooling around with the top off on a summer's day, it's hard to beat.
I had one. Loved it, but you're exactly correct that it's crude. It's completely impractical as a commuter car. But as a second car, there's nothing better than taking the top off, doors off, flipping the windshield down and driving it on the beach. If you need a car with the practicality and comfort of a Camry, a Wrangler isn't for you.
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I'm surprised to see so many people are buying Liberties. I've driven both generations of them and have walked away very unimpressed both times. The new one looks better, and the sky-slider roof is cool, but it is incredibly cramped inside. The Wrangler numbers however, make sense. A Wrangler is a great second or third vehicle, especially with the soft top in a sunny climate. There's nothing like the feeling you get from driving around with the top down and the doors off on a nice warm day.
I'm surprised at the strength of the Explorer and even more at the Expedition. I would've thought that that monster would have collapsed in this market. Ford seems to have its act together here as well.
I'm blown away that Wranglers sell so well. I've always considered them one of the most useless things on the road. I know they are great off-road but once on the pavement they are like a fish out of water. Wonder what percentage of sales are the 4-Dr models. They seem like they would be a lot more practical. I see Ford is still selling plenty of Exploders with the transmissions that self destruct as soon as you hook a trailer to the back of them.
My SIL had one. So I had the chance to both ride in it and drive it numerous times. The ergos where awful. It had a ton of wind and road noise. It handled like crap, rode like crap and was a dog. The mileage was horrid considering it's size or lack of. It could only carry two people somewhat comfortably. You couldn't haul anything with it, you couldn't tow anything with it. After they got married my brother wasted no time getting rid of it. I'll take any 90's compact Toyota 4X4 PU over a Jeep for getting around anytime. To say it's twice the truck is doing the Toy an injustice.