Time for family car..?

[OregonDucks]

Currently my wife has a little sedan car and I have my beloved Truck that is an extended cab, but the backseat is very small and not great for children....

I currently have a 2001 Tacoma 4X4 and might have to let it go thing has been with me forever and never had any problems with it, but the major problem now is that we can't get the carseat in the back.

So I have an opportunity to inherit a 97 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited edition from my wifes Grandfather...It's in dang good shape and has about 90k less miles than my truck. And obviously the cargo space is bigger and it can easily fit a carseat and still provide extra room.

I am torn on whether to make this move or not. Does anyone here have a Jeep Grand Cherokee or ever had one? Good cars or not? Reading reviews it sounds like most people like em.

 

[Red_Alert]

I've got an 09 Dodge Ram 1500 Quad Cab and there's plenty of room back there for my 2 kids 8/9. We went to Mt Rushmore on vacation last summer w/ no problems regarding space.

Even going back a few years when they were using car seats there wasn't a problem.

I figure in a few years I might need to step up to a Crew Cab, but no need atm.

 

[OregonDucks]

I think the newer trucks have more room with their extended cabs.

 

[Red_Alert]

There is a difference between "Extended", "Quad", and "Crew" cabs.

"Extended" is generally a two door with extra room behind the seat, or it has little doors that only open when you have the front door open. There is just a small bench back there with no independent window control. I agree those are limited in space for the "back seat".

A "Quad" has 4 independent doors and windows and more space. I've taken 4 adults in it on 7 hour drive fishing trips without issue.

A "Crew" has the 4 independent doors and windows, yet has the room of an SUV (Expedition/Suburban) in the backseat. Think of it as being a truck for a work crew of 4-5 adults.

There really isn't much difference between the Quad and Crew cabs but there is some.

 

[dp_broncos]

I've always wanted a Grand Cherokee.

I ended up getting a '99 Durango that seats 7. I needed something for the winter time since the Mustang is a sled in the snow.

I have two friends with Jeeps, they both love em.

 

[Red_Alert]

I have a buddy with a Durango and we've taken 5 on fishing trips without problem.

My Quad cab has about the same amount of room back there..

 

[OregonDucks]

Yeah i currently have extended. love the truck, but not practical with a family.

 

[bamabear82]

 

[Red_Alert]

Yeah i currently have extended. love the truck, but not practical with a family.

Extended cabs are really only good for storage of tools, groceries, etc... They'll work for passengers on short trips where comfort can be sacrificed for a short jaunt, but not for extended road trips.

I would move up to a Quad Cab if you really want to stay in a pickup. The way I judge things, this Quad Cab should suffice until the peeps are at least teenagers.
Difference in price between a Quad and Crew cab is about $5k on a new vehicle. Probably a couple grand on used.

 

[OregonDucks]

Yeah the issue is finance.....We get basically get the jeep for a very low cost while I don't think we could afford a quad cab by just trading or selling my current truck.

 

[Camfantasy]

A blue Prius would fit you perfectly.

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[IPostedWhat]

 

[JuiceTheGator]

We love our MKT. 27mpg, big, luxurious...it's perfect:

 

[Ballboy534]

I had a '93 Grand Cherokee for eight years before getting my 4runner; thing was a beast and great for cargo and carrying people. I had the inline six instead of the V8 and averaged around 20 MPG. I think the V8's get somewhere between 16-18 though. Have to watch out for the transmission though, they're notoriously fragile.

 

[OregonDucks]

Took it for a drive yesterday. Drives very well. She is going to take it into a mechanic to get it all fixed up for any repairs needed. It's in decent condition, no serious issues. The only problem with it currently is for some reason the defroster fan will turn on and run even when the car is OFF and it drains the battery. So she is going to get that fixed..it's odd.

But it drives well and definitely has plenty of space, also the body of Cherokee's are pretty cool looking.

My only concern with it is going to be the gas. I have a feeling this thing just sucks up gas like none other. My truck isn't that bad with gas, I can sometimes get 24 mpg Highway and about 18 around town. Sounds like the Cherokee from most places i've read is 14 town and 18 highway.

 

[757Hokie83]

Currently my wife has a little sedan car and I have my beloved Truck that is an extended cab, but the backseat is very small and not great for children....

I currently have a 2001 Tacoma 4X4 and might have to let it go thing has been with me forever and never had any problems with it, but the major problem now is that we can't get the carseat in the back.

So I have an opportunity to inherit a 97 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited edition from my wifes Grandfather...It's in dang good shape and has about 90k less miles than my truck. And obviously the cargo space is bigger and it can easily fit a carseat and still provide extra room.

I am torn on whether to make this move or not. Does anyone here have a Jeep Grand Cherokee or ever had one? Good cars or not? Reading reviews it sounds like most people like em.

i know how you feel. i was torn about letting go of my Tacoma, mine was a 98, i drove it from 2000-2012, i think i spent a total of about $500 on repairs to it in those 12 years

if you can swing it, why not get a family car and hang on to your truck?

 

[OregonDucks]

i know how you feel. i was torn about letting go of my Tacoma, mine was a 98, i drove it from 2000-2012, i think i spent a total of about $500 on repairs to it in those 12 years

if you can swing it, why not get a family car and hang on to your truck?

Won't work...How I wish I could hold onto it and get the family car, but in order to afford the family car I gotta let go of the truck. Really sucks, I now understand those commercials when the guy is in tears of giving up his beloved sports car in order to buy that "mini van" for his family. Although this isn't a mini van thank God.

But we will see, she took it into mechanic today and we will see what she overall asks for it. If she asks too much, or if there ends up being a lot of problems with the Jeep through the mechanic I might be able to hold onto the Truck a bit longer.

Been through A LOT with this thing

 

[CarlWinslow]

cts-v wagon

 

[JuiceTheGator]

The woman wants something higher when the MKT lease is up in May. I wish Land Rovers weren't such a terrible financial decision. The LR4 is really perfect for the wifey and kiddies...but such a waste of $ because of the huge depreciation. Guess I could get her a used one.
Or maybe:

 

[JuiceTheGator]

Family car: Bentley to show SUV concept unaltered in Beijing