Anybody have one; likes/dislikes. I'm looking at one as my primary transportation. Comments please. Thanks!

 

I came VERY close to buying one a few months ago, but the Dealer's would NOT lower the price.

We ended up buying a gas version Liberty.

We're VERY happy (except the lousey MPG) with our Liberty! NO issues to date! The little truck is absolutely AMAZING in the snow!!!! If you get one stuck, I'd like to see it!!

Diesel Liberty's have some issues you NEED to know about BEFORE buying!! Bunch of EGR issues and some running issues.

I haven't keep up with the latest, but you will find all you need to know here....

http://www.lostkjs.com/forum/phpBB2/

 

I've got almost 15,000 miles on mine now and I have had ZERO problems with EGR system, tranny, etc. I've started my engine in 9 degree weather with no problem. And I've driven it in 99 degree weather with no overheating issues. It tows better than my full size Ram 1500 could ever dream of. It averages 24 mpg mixed driving in the summer, 20 on the winter blend diesel. Mechanically it's strong...has the 545RFE tranny from the Ram pickup truck line and the 8.25 rear end with 3.73 gears and NV242 t-case. It's the only light duty truck I have ever owned that will tow 4,000 lbs. uphill in 5th gear. I absolutely love this Jeep and I don't think you can go wrong with them. If you can find a 2005 model left around somewhere grab it...it has 70,000 miles of powertrain warranty. Good luck.

 

I just don't care for their looks.

 

Can't buy them here in NY unless you can find a used one with over 8,000 miles and then bring it in.





Hondo

 

I bought one for my wife and she puts 120 miles a day on it and it has been good so far. Had it about 7 months or so. Gets between 22 and 28 mpg depending on conditions. Great low end power, pulls most hills in 5th without shifting. I would not hesitate to recomend it to anyone. We did replace the EGR valve at 3k miles, it was triping the check engine light but never acted up. Did that and all is well since.

 

I sell them and have driven 2 of them for demo's sold the first with 4500 miles on it, and the second with 6500 miles on it both tripped the check engine light around 3K both got the egr replaced, must be a common problem have sold them to friends and other diesel lovers. I absolutely loved the way they drove and the mileage approx. 25mpg on 25 mile trips to work. ran 30 on one 250 mile trip. Outrageous torgue for a little rig and great driving dynamics. Only 1 complaint it was a little small in the pass. seat my son is 6'5" and 300lbs. he was wall to wall kid.

 

There are a few forums out there, seems they are having the same problems as the VW diesels. The problem is the crappy North american high sulfer fuel. It clogs the egr's and intake with soot build up. The europeans don't seem to have AS MUCH trouble with their use of low sulpher fuels. IMO, bottom line is an EGR has no business in a diesel. The high levels of soot, the recirculation of exhaust gases, the small amount of blow by which gets recirculated, and the small amount of oil in the intake system from that and the turbo.

It's a bad combination. The fixes are similiar to what they have come up with over at the tdi club. Either dumping the blow by out to the atmosphere (Like our Dodges), or installing an oil vapour trap in the closed ccv system. The traps have been reported to reduce the oil going back into the intake by some 70%.

Many feel the problem will resolve with the intro of low sulpher diesel. The soot build is not as severe with spirited driving. The term "drive it like you stole it" seems to be mentioned allot. I just make sure the car gets an Italian tune up on a reguar basis (my 2005 Passat Diesel). I did the same with my Jetta and the build up at 80,000 was minimal. Nothing that caused any concern or performance problems.

The Liberty Diesel engine itself has had good reviews. While it had it's problems when first introduced (the engine that is-it's an Italian engine) many years ago, long before the Liberty was ever even a concept. But those problems have been long worked out. It has a reliable history.

The other negative is the support at the dealers should you need to have it serviced. Not to many are experienced with this motor, but it is getting better. I think they have Diesel techs that go from dealership to dealership for service work (rovers).

Don't claim to be an expert, don't even own one, but just through curiosity, I was reading a good forum for the Liberties just the other day. Sorry, I wish I remembered the site. I just found it interesting that it is being plagued with the similiar problems as the TDI engine, and I'm starting to hear about it with the Durasmacks, as far as the Fords, well, that is an entirely different topic. The soot build up and EGR issues are the least of their worries.

 

Thank god I have a Cummins

 

My wife has one with just about 7,000 miles on it. No problems or issues. Got it at Dave Smith for about 5k off of MSRP. Ran it on regular #2 for the first 4k and then found a local station selling B-5. It likes the B-5 better.