Hey all.
So it has been 2 months since I picked up my standard Commander CRD and I have now put over 3,000kms on it. I thought it would be a good time to review my ownership experience to date and seek some feedback from other owners on here regarding a few issues.
Pros:
- Fantastic engine that makes incredibly smooth power, effortless torque, provides great highway economy (between 9.5-11.5L/100 @110km/hr depending on the wind direction) and sounds pretty good too. Overtaking at highway speeds is awesome where it really comes into its own. This comes in handy here, where overtaking 53m road trains is almost a daily occurrence.
- Very comfortable on long trips with plenty of leg and head room for someone at my height (6 foot). It makes my WJ and my wife's KJ feel cramped in comparison. The seats are not as soft and comfortable as the WJ, however the better seating position makes it a winner on long trips.
- Lots of space inside which makes it easy when carrying loads. The cabin is really quiet on the road and there is very little in the way of clunks or rattles that can be heard. A very refined feeling car.
- Feels very stable and sturdy on the road. It really feels like it would take something quite large to knock you off course...Doesn't have too much body roll around corners (the stock shocks were replaced recently) and the steering is precise and sharp for a big vehicle.
- Limited features are great! I have never had a car with parking sensors before and these are worth their weight in gold. Also love the climate control and A/C in the back for the dog, heated seats, the trip computer is handy, although no instant L/100 sucks.
Cons:
- Whilst the engine is great once the revs pick up, the turbo lag on takeoff is pretty average. In general it is fine, but there has been a couple of times that I have almost been caught out trying to sneak through a gap at an intersection only for it to bog down in the middle of the oncoming lane. Will probably adjust my driving style to suit over time as I get used to it.
- Fuel economy is pretty average around town (15-16L/100) unless I drive it like a grandma. If you drive it with some pep that would easily reach 18-19L/100. This may be the area where the planned GDE tune will be most noticeable - by closing the EGR valve at part throttle when it is normally being opened.
- I find the auto trans to be a little "clunky" at times and it also seems to hold gears longer than necessary when at cruising speeds. Are there any trans shift kits available for these or a tuning program to change the shift points? I find the 5 speed 545FRE autos in my WJ and KJ to be superior in almost every way, except for no tiptronic function. But even that is a little token on these as the gear changes are not instant.
- Whilst the interior is great for size and comfort, the centre rear headrest is a design disaster as you can't see anything out the back window at all. I have read somewhere that the headrest is actually removable if you pull the back of the seat off and I will have to look into it ASAP. Whilst there are a lot of little storage spaces in the cabin, most are pretty useless and the door pockets don't hold anything decent.
- The standard ride height is ridiculously low! Never has a car needed a lift kit more than the Commander. Easily fixed I suppose, but annoying all the same.
- I didn't realise that the Limited model didn't come with the under body protection plates like the standard Commander does, so now I'll have to try to source some at a reasonable cost or have some fabricated.
Overall:
I'm loving the car and I'm glad I got it. I just need to start adding my planned mods and it will all start coming together the way that I want. In some ways it's fun having a blank canvas, the hardest part is convincing the Minister for War & Finance of the merits of each of the said mods.
Planned Short Term Mods:
- Fit the 245/75 R17 Goodyear Wrangler Silent Armor tyres that I picked up on the weekend.
- Modify the front of the tow bar so that I can fit said tyre into the spare wheel well. It needs about 15-20mm cut off the back of the square hitch tube in order to allow it to fit without deflating.
- Fit the new Rhino Rack crossbars and mounting kit that I ordered today. Try to find a suitable full-size alloy roof rack to go with them. I like the Rhino Rack Pioneer trays, but it's a lot of dosh to dish out for a piece of alloy. Maybe I'll find one second hand?
- Fit my Provent oil separator - need to look into this as I have no idea where to fit it.
- Install and Anderson plug and cabling for camper trailer charging.
- Install a cargo barrier.
- Buy and install a minimum 2" lift kit. I would ultimately love to go the full 4" Superlift kit, but this won't be happening for at least a couple of years. I have been considering just going with a 2" budget spacer lift for now as my standard shocks are new. What are people's thoughts on the Terra Flex "Over the top" of the strut style spacer lifts? I would imagine I may probably need longer rear shocks if I'm going to offroad it as they could top out, however the front should be right as it is not modified.
- Purchase a GDE tune.
- Remove the 3rd row seats and install a storage box in their place with an integrated fridge slide.
Any input from other Commander owners on the issues I've raised above would be greatly appreciated.
Looking forward to many more good times ahead in the big black beast!
Commander 2 Month Ownership Review
