Possible update info

[Roady]

Hello all, We are thinking of updating to a Grand Cherokee and just looking for opinions. Good/bad, whatever. Want the diesel only but curious 5 or 8 speed, which is better and why. According to the spec sheets both get same power/ fuel figures. Also Quadra lift or springs, it's gonna get lifted and bar work all round. Mostly for towing, touring pulling the camper but of course still for as much serious 4wd it will be capable of.
Looking at around 2012/2014 models, price etc.

Thanks in advance for any help with our future new car.

[Silvarbullit]

Originally Posted by Roady

Hello all, We are thinking of updating to a Grand Cherokee and just looking for opinions. Good/bad, whatever. Want the diesel only but curious 5 or 8 speed, which is better and why. According to the spec sheets both get same power/ fuel figures. Also Quadra lift or springs, it's gonna get lifted and bar work all round. Mostly for towing, touring pulling the camper but of course still for as much serious 4wd it will be capable of.

Looking at around 2012/2014 models, price etc.



Thanks in advance for any help with our future new car.

If your budget covers it - get from 2014 onwards which will have the 8 speed which will have better fuel economy and smoother shifts. The build quality/reliability is apparently better from late 2013 onwards.

If you want to lift it, don’t bother with a Quadralift car as they can’t be lifted properly without having to rip all the QL gear out which will likely leave you with permanent errors and warnings on the EVIC. You can get an inch or two of lift on demand in a QL car by pumping up to Off-road 1 or 2 however and QL will also lower the car slightly at highway speed for better handling and ride. Overland spec will have QL as standard, Limiteds might have it (check for the up/down buttons on drivers side of select-trac dial), rare option on 4x4 Laredo’s.

I have a 2014 Limited (petrol) with QL but don’t tow with it - great car.


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[GCDingo]

If you are serious about offroad, I personally wouldn't go the QL. It is a trade off. The ELSD and quadratrac may be great but the ride at any lift is crap in my opinion. Offroad 1 is ok but still has the top out clunk on decent ruts and offroad 2 is horrible from a ride point of view being so stiff, feels unstable until you get used to it and the top out knocking is horrible. Ignore all that and it performs well but I do wonder if just going a steel spring lifted car would handle much better. Think there must be a locker option out there now if need be?

Towing I can't say as have never done it with my QL but having the auto level shocks on non QL cars may ride pretty good?

[Trissaayne]

Originally Posted by GCDingo

If you are serious about offroad, I personally wouldn't go the QL. It is a trade off. The ELSD and quadratrac may be great but the ride at any lift is crap in my opinion. Offroad 1 is ok but still has the top out clunk on decent ruts and offroad 2 is horrible from a ride point of view being so stiff, feels unstable until you get used to it and the top out knocking is horrible. Ignore all that and it performs well but I do wonder if just going a steel spring lifted car would handle much better. Think there must be a locker option out there now if need be?

Towing I can't say as have never done it with my QL but having the auto level shocks on non QL cars may ride pretty good?

I dont think there is a locker out there yet? Best locker option might be a second hand ELSD diff and wired to a switch?

[drover]

Well I've just bought a 2015 WK2 Laredo, diesel, not my first Grand and this one will replace my Colorado and be towing, my research directed me to a 2015, 3lt diesel and I wanted the lowest mileage I could get for my limited $$$$.

Luckily I managed to find a vehicle with 40,000km on the clock, tow bar, bull bar and steps, no brake controller as it had never towed, magic stuff, as I know the tranny hasn't been miss handled, it was the managers car so was looked after.... I like to service the auto around the 40K mark but my research has shown the 8 speed to be an exceedingly expensive box to service even as DiY... buying a filter kit from the US is $200......

Go for the lowest Km you can find, a stock standard, low kms and little or no towing is what you want, less chance of abuse.....

[SouthernComfort]

I agree with trying to find a car that hasn't towed and isn't full of add-on mods for off-roading. Then all the usual stuff - low km's, documented service history etc. Having said that, low km's in a diesel isn't necessarily a good thing if all it's mainly been used for is shopping and school runs. These engines respond better to long runs, hot. So any info on previous use would be good to know.

I know many will naturally advocate the 8sp, but don't discount the 5sp if you find a vehicle that has all the 'right' credentials. They are a pretty bullet proof tranny of Mercedes origin. I tow a full size 'van with mine very happily, performs well and is economical. The early 8sp's also had some issues with the quirky shifter. As for build quality, I've never found a single aspect of my early 2013 that's inferior to later models, and I've pored over many of them. Also, from 2014 one or two features were deleted that were previously standard equipment, presumably to save cost.

If I were looking to buy used again I'd do exactly the same as I did before - go for a pristine original example with all the right credentials, with build year and tranny type being very secondary. And make sure all the recalls have been done. Just my view.

[bjm]

Bought my 2010 WH 5 speed at around 50000 ks.Owner said had towed around 10000ks with a moderate size van.Flew down to Melbourne drove it ,all ok paid him ,then asked him what van he had.Went around the back here was a block of flats on a jumbo jets landing gear.Took a punt now 156000ks later has been really reliable ,touch wood!!