What do you know about the Jeep Patriot?

me

[1rudeboy]

I'm thinking of buying one with the Freedom Drive II 4WD package. Seems a little underpowered, though.

But I won't be hauling, or doing any serious off-roading.

[steve86]

ALL of the interior door handles breaking off

Must be a Jeep Commander?

[Goldsborough]

The XJ Cherokee was a great Jeep. There hasn’t been a new one sold for 12 years now and you still see them in numbers every day. The Wrangler is still very capable, even with the minivan’s V6. The Grand Cherokee can be equipped to be off road capable but is too damn expensive unless you get an old one. The rest of the Jeep line up, including the Liberty, are exceptionally bad or fake Jeeps unworthy of the name.

[muir_redwoods]

I rented one once. How many rental cars do you remember? I remember it because it was a stinking piece of $h!t

[Charles Martel]

Jeep sold a Mercedes-powered diesel Liberty here in the U.S. for a few years. From what I can recall, they didn’t even advertise the option. Damiler was probably plotting its exit by then.

[Only1choice____Freedom]

This is on the rear window of my jeep.

[fivecatsandadog]

Back in ‘07 I bought a new Jeep Compass. 9,000 miles later, the crap started. Only drove it back and forth to work (highway) and to the grocery store. 65k miles and $3,000 in repairs later, I traded it for a Honda CRV.
Patriot - just got back from visiting family in California, rented a Jeep Patriot. Good enuff for getting around, but it was sluggish and had the same groaning transmission that the Compass had.
You’re better off walking.

[tanknetter]

The XJ Cherokee was a great Jeep. There hasn’t been a new one sold for 12 years now and you still see them in numbers every day.

There are four in my neighborhood. Including my 1996, which is the oldest one (all the rest are the 1997+ with the redesigned exterior and interior).

First vehicle I bought on my own (new - I specifically bought "early" in 1996 so I could have another 1984 body-type), and someone else will get it after they pry the steering wheel out of my cold, dead hands. And maybe not even then ... assuming that one of my kids doesn't show an active interest in having it, chances are I'll try to be buried in it :)

Not to say that it isn't problematic. Like most old Jeeps it leaks small quantities of just about everything. Currently having a larger-than-small, but not significant cooling system/radiator/waterpump issue. Leaks anti-freeze a bit more for my liking, but it's not my daily driver so I really only worry when it stops leaking.

[willk]

You might want to check out Consumer Reports. I think they gave the Patriot one of their lowest ratings. Unless it is all new for this model year I would steer clear.

[smoky415]

The Wrangler Sport automatic is this one.

Mercedes-Benz 5G-Tronic transmission
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
(Redirected from W5A580)
The Mercedes-Benz 5G-TRONIC (also called 722.6) is an electronically shifted 5-speed overdrive automatic transmission. It is in the process of being replaced by the Mercedes Benz 7G-Tronic Transmission which was introduced in 2003. However, all V12-powered cars such as the S600 and S65 AMG still retain the 5G-Tronic, which has a torque capacity of 796 lb-ft, as the newer 7G-Tronic is limited to 542 lb-ft, not enough to handle the torque from the V12 engine.[1] Also, while rear-wheel drive W211 E-Class cars have adapted the 7G-Tronic, those with 4MATIC retain the five-speed automatic, although the current generation W212 E-Class released for the 2010 model year has dropped the 5G-Tronic entirely, except for four-cylinder models.
In Chrysler applications this transmission is identified as the New Automatic Gearbox- Generation One, or NAG1.

[Only1choice____Freedom]

Like most old Jeeps it leaks small quantities of just about everything.

Old Jeeps do not leak - They mark their territory.

[lilypad]

I have a Patriot and I love it. It has whats called a variable valve technology engine which is a 4 cylinder but it has as much umph as my Liberty with a hefty 6. The only complaint is the small gas tank, seems like I am always putting gas in it. However it is roomy and good for running around and can carry quite a lot. Reasonably priced. So far I have no regrets. Ain’t sexy just practical.

[doorgunner69]

Thanks for the info, sounds like it should at least be reliable, one of the things that has always kept me from buying an auto. That and the performance hit.

Have to admit knowing nothing about what sort of transmission works best offroad. Bad roads are the only type of four wheeling I'd be doing, lots of lava strewn back roads, so I guess slow going is the drill. No mud or anything slippery.

[saganite]

Had one. Wasn’t impressed and traded it last year. If you want a Jeep get a Wrangler or pick up an old Cherokee for next to nothing and drive it forever. They’re built like a Jeep should be built.

[Okieshooter]

I have 45,000 miles on my 2011 Patriot, 4 wd and manual transmission. While I would probably prefer a Wrangle, it has served me pretty well, my main complaint is the lack of a crawl gear (had to find a better way out of a creek bed in Wyoming), but I am pretty sure it gets much better gas mileage ( I average 28 mpg except when towing my small camp trailer, then 17 mpg) than a Wrangle and is priced much lower .

I do use it for hunting and haul my deer and antelope on a receiver hitch mounted rack.

[pjd]

My wife and I have driven nothing but Jeeps for over twenty years. We also do a lot of off-roading and my wife has a cabin in northern Michigan she goes to frequently. I’ve had the same Wrangler for over 20 years, more than 200,000 miles on it. My wife has had two Grand Cherokees, a Cherokee, a Liberty and now has a Patriot. She loved the Cherokee, did not like the Liberty but is happy with the Patriot because it is the most like the Cherokee that Jeep offers nowadays. Of course, she would much rather have a real Cherokee, but what are you gonna do?

[SgtBob]

That’s quite a bit of a truck...I dropped a grand for the stock Bridgestone Dueler ATs mounting and balancing, 255x18s. A dually would kill a wallet...mine anyway.

Young man, next place over has a Ford F550 with a crane, welding machines mig & tig, and compresser. He started his own business. A step down from the Peterbilt rig Caterpillar let him run, but he’s a top wrench and dragging in more bucks.

If you ain’t gonna use the 3500 for work, I’d be of the mind to wave you off. You are spot on with the Wrangler.

[smoky415]

From a Jeep Forum:

Originally Posted by DropItLow
most hardcore jeep guys will get stick because it gives you precise control over gearing and clutch engagement. I say go with the stick if you’re not going to commute anywhere and do some off roading.

You must not off road a lot, because the exact opposite is actually true, the general consensus is this has been asked about 3000 times it really doesn’t matter whatever you chose, but the 5% that are hard core competitors or heavy off road enthusiasts all prefer an automatic over the stick with an automatic you have far more control when in areas like Johnson Valley and other rock crawling off road parks. For everything else if you are not one of the 5% you will probably never be in a situation to notice the draw backs of manual.

Also if this is 2012 with the penstar engine the new 5spd is a far better transmission, in design than the 42RLE that was behind the 3.8L, the 3.8L and 42RLE were originally in the dodge caravan, and to save some design work Chrysler in their infinite wisdom figured putting in a jeep would be a great way to replace the aging 4.0L, but they were sadly wrong, hence the Penstar and new 5spd was conceived. With the new JKs there is really no reason to order a manual IMO.
__________________
Max

2003 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon
4.0L, 42RLE, Dual Tops, Full Doors, JKS Front Disconnects, Cragar Soft 8 Black Wheels, 33x12.5x15 Goodyear Duratracs, .75” Front Coil Spacers, Bushwacker 6” Flat Fender Flares, Skid Row Steering Box Skid, LubeLockers, Rubicon Locker Mod, OBA, Cobra 19 Ultra III CB, 3’ Firestik, Rough Country 2.2 Steering Stabilizer, RC 1.25” BL, RC 1” MML, RC Grab Handles, Fog Lamp Bent Pin Mod, 4” Apline S Series Speakers, Kenwood Excelon 6.5” Speakers, 6.5” JL Audio 6W3V3 Subwoofer (in center console) w/MTX Thunder 202 amp, IPF H4 Headlight Housing, Sliverstar H4 bulbs.

[smoky415]

Have to admit knowing nothing about what sort of transmission works best offroad.

2 feet and 2 pedals or 2 feet and 3 pedals? Which would give you the best control off road?

[BubbaBasher]

My niece and her husband bought one. There were so many problems that the dealer could not fix that the dealer actually gave them their money back. Stay away. Go Ford.

[Snowy]

Source: Uploaded by user via Jen on Pinterest

This is "Stella" :) She a lot shinier in person. She's a '12. She has tan leather seats, and a lot of modifications both inside and out. She's mine, not my husband's. ;)