OK, Grand Cherokees suck! Honda Pilot maybe?

[GilpinGuy]

(Kind of a rant but I'd like opinions of the Honda Pilot as well)

I posted a few times over the last few months about how harsh folks were on Grand Cherokees and I didn't get it. I mean, I had two Cherokee Sports and they were kick ass. Then I got an '05 Grand (ZJ) and ran it until 398K miles with very few problems. And I wheeled the hell out of that thing. I must have got lucky.

When my wife needed a new (to us) SUV I suggested a Grand and we got her an '04 (WJ). I'm a Wrangler (TJ) guy myself and had excellent experience with the old ZJ, so why not get a WJ and keep it in the family right? Wrong.

Before July of this year all I had to do was put in a new radiator, at about 100K miles. I was aware of shitty rads in Jeeps, so no surprise there. Then we had some other cooling problems which I learned weren't unusual, but fixable. All vehicles have their problems, so no big deal.

Granted, the WJ has 195K miles now, but here's what has happened since mid-July:


New tires (OK, just a normal maintenance thing).
Water Pump blows up without warning, luckily only a few miles from home.
Battery dies, bought a new one.
Front Brakes go to shit. Pads and rotors. This thing needs new brakes about every 7-8 months. Yeah, we're in the mountains but still...
Something is loose in the rear drivers side door that squeaks non-stop. Drives me freaking nuts.
Pistons that hold up the hood go bad, (probably cause I had to get in there so much lately) so I held it up with my head until I cut a 2X2 to fit to hold it up.
Sensor in the Tranny goes bad, so we had to rev to 4000 RPMs to get it to move at all. Have to buy the entire "module" instead of just the bad sensor, so bend over. $700 installed at a local shop (not the dealership). I don't mess with transmissions, especially automatics.
Rear Brakes go to shit. Pads only, luckily. Resurface rotors for cheap.
Headlight goes out.
Taillight goes out the next day (seriously?).
Radio fries and is stuck on one station - of course the new teeny bopper shit the 15 year girl old listens to.
Fuel Tank Vent gets plugged, so I could only pump about a gallon at a time before the pump would click off. Only a genius would put the vent right behind the rear wheel where mud and dust gets tossed every second the vehicle is moving. [Bang] Took me 4 hours today to figure that shit out.

All of this from about the middle of July until today. 12 things go bad (11 if you don't count tires) in 9 weeks. I'M DONE and I admit that you "F-The Grand" guys were right! Never again.



My new baby girl is coming out in 5 weeks. So psyched. We need a reliable SUV with 3 row seating. Thinking about a Honda Pilot. Anyone have an opinion on those?

[Goodburbon]

What?

The only problem I see attributable to the wj is the Transmission. The rest of that stuff is just normal. Jeeps with solid axles wear through front pads every 20-35k, it's a given.

The rest of it is just you bitching about standard manintenance to an 8 year old 200k mile vehicle. I'm not a huge WJ fan but seriously...

[GilpinGuy]

Yes, I know some of this can be attributed to normal wear and tear. But the electronic stuff is a known problem for Grands. I've been doing a lot of reading lately about them (not by choice) and they have a bad rep for electronic problems (like the $700 tranny one).

Maybe you're right. Just pissed and frustrated it all happened all at once with kid 5 weeks away. Like I don't have enough shit to do right now? Still need a reliable vehicle and this isn't one any more (at less than 200K).

[Goodburbon]

As far as the Pilot goes, I'm sure it's great. It's a Honda. Just don't expect to be able to run cottonwood pass without ripping the underside out of it.

I was in XJs until the second kid came along. Not 100% reliable, but stout, I could fix any of it and the common issues were known so a small pack of spares was easy to carry. I decided to get the wife "reliable" transportation when I started traveling a lot for work.

[whiskeyjack]

Sorry to hear bout the bad luck bro. See you tomorrow.

[Dr_Fwd]

Pilots are good, 4runners are better.

[Clint45]

The Jeep Grand Cherokee is one of the most unreliable POS SUVs out there. Everyone I've ever known who has had one has had major problems with theirs.

I second the advice to get a Toyota 4-Runner.

[GilpinGuy]

I second the advice to get a Toyota 4-Runner.

Do 4-Runners have 3rd row seats? Sorry haven't looked at them yet...

Gonna have 3 kids soon. I'm freaking nuts, but happy!.[ROFL2]

[GilpinGuy]

Sorry to hear bout the bad luck bro. See you tomorrow.

Baaaah, just cars. Frustrating and a giant time sink is all. Oh yeah a money pit too. How's the new rig working out for ya?

Wanna trade a Grand for that Ford? [ROFL3]

Wings and PBR (for me at least) tomorrow. Oh yeah.

[GilpinGuy]

As far as the Pilot goes, I'm sure it's great. It's a Honda. Just don't expect to be able to run cottonwood pass without ripping the underside out of it.

The TJ is what those trips are for. This will be for the wife mainly. Work, school, mall, repeat. But we're up here at 9,000 feet so a 4WD SUV is the only way to go.

[Zombie Steve]

Just
Empty
Every
Pocket

[Great-Kazoo]

4 runner, or tacoma 4 door still small yet roomy.

[clublights]

WJ'S SUCKED....

ZJ's, or the newer WK's


I've got a 96 ZJ with 215K that is a work horse... I ABUSE this jeep ( towing way over cap... ) and she just keep ticking.. a couple small issues ( replaced the alt.. and the power steering is weak ... needs anew rad... seriously Jeep plastic side tanks? but seeing as the stock lasted 214K..I guess i cant bitch too much..)

the WJ's seem to have more issues then you can shake a stick at .mostly electronic.. when daimler came in they fixed alot of those and you got the WK....


Besides if you ask me ... the WJ series were UGLY..

REAL JEEPS HAVE FLAT SIDES!!!!!!

[2XS]

My in-laws own a newer pilot that I have spent plenty of time driving and riding in and it is nice car. If I had the money I would buy one it handles well lots of room comfortable and good on fuel also it gets up and goes pretty well too.

[jmg8550]

Ford Expedition. I have one with 235,000 and it is still going strong. Very little problems. And yes, it has a 3rd row seat.

[ruthabagah]

I have had Jeeps since 1989, and aside from the original Cherokee they are POS and money pit in the long run.

4runner, are in my book, the most reliable toyota out there. Buy a gen 4 (2003 to 2009) and it'll run forever. If you have money to spare, get a 2010/11: roomier, 3rd row seat, and better road manner.

[TheThinkTank]

The Pilot is a great car. Only problem is that it's basically a minivan without sliding doors. My wife just got rid of hers and it was really a great car. Definitely would get another one.

[dwalker460]

I will buck the trend and say Cayenne. We picked up our 06 Cayenne S for $25K two years ago when the boy was born and so far we have done front brakes, a few oil changes, and a set of tires. The brakes we new going in, but they lasted year anyway.
No, its not third row, but it holds 4 adults and the boy comfortably, even on a longish trip- we once drove out to Vegas with me, the wife, her parents, and the boy in his baby seat. No problems and room for all we needed.
The S is the 4.5 litre V8 and ours is loaded with the air suspension, locking front, center, and rear diffs, and all the other BS like heated seats yada yada. The coolest thing is the traction control- it is virtually impossible to get this thing to misbehave in bad weather without being monumentally stupid. The first winter i drove it I TRIED to make it slide and it just wont. The computers figure out what your doing wrong, slap your wrist, and straighten out the car. It gets 18mpg in town/combines driving and have seen 20mpg on the highway.
I would suggest the 06 and up S, the base cars come with the V6 and its not awesome. Avoid the Turbo, you can get great deals on them but they are maintenance hogs, and nothing is cheap. The S with the Tiptronic is an awesome car and ours has been stone reliable.
A (maybe) less expensive solution is the VW Toureg, and they also have a V8. Avoid the early automatics, the transmissions are potential problems. If you can find the V10 diesel, at a good price, dont buy it, just call me and tell me where it is so I can warn others.

[cofi]

go toyota

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xnWKz7Cthkk

[Holger Danske]

Just
Empty
Every
Pocket

I lived this for years. Had two 2 TJs and and XJ. Reliability was mediocre at best. Finally sold my XJ at 194k to guy that wanted to make a rock rig. It just wasnt reliable for a daily driver. I grew up with Jeeps and my dad was a mechanic for the local Jeep dealer. Im done with them and have moved on.

[Delfuego]

Buy a gen 4 (2003 to 2009)Don't get the 4th gen, they have less clearance than the 3rd & 5th. I have a 98 and it's great. Make sure you get it with electronic differential locker.

That being said my other car is a Honda, love those Honda's...

[rpm]

My wife has a Pilot that she loves. It is a nice car but I don't find it all that comfortable to drive - I'm certainly not huge at 6' 215 lbs, but I imagine I'm larger than the average Japanese dude or lady. Don't expect outstanding gas mileage with these either, my '05 Dodge RAM 5.7 Hemi does better (okay, very slight advantage but better nonetheless).

[wadero]

ZJ's are great, all American tough as nails. The WJ is a half Chinese half American Mut. I have owned both at the same time, and even though the ZJ was much more beaten and rusty the WJ had to go. Got replaced with an Acura and never looked back.

[tmleadr03]

There is a nice looking expedition for sale in the vehicle forum. Third row seats that actually fold flat when you need them to.

[tmleadr03]

I will buck the trend and say Cayenne. We picked up our 06 Cayenne S for $25K two years ago when the boy was born and so far we have done front brakes, a few oil changes, and a set of tires. The brakes we new going in, but they lasted year anyway.
No, its not third row, but it holds 4 adults and the boy comfortably, even on a longish trip- we once drove out to Vegas with me, the wife, her parents, and the boy in his baby seat. No problems and room for all we needed.
The S is the 4.5 litre V8 and ours is loaded with the air suspension, locking front, center, and rear diffs, and all the other BS like heated seats yada yada. The coolest thing is the traction control- it is virtually impossible to get this thing to misbehave in bad weather without being monumentally stupid. The first winter i drove it I TRIED to make it slide and it just wont. The computers figure out what your doing wrong, slap your wrist, and straighten out the car. It gets 18mpg in town/combines driving and have seen 20mpg on the highway.
I would suggest the 06 and up S, the base cars come with the V6 and its not awesome. Avoid the Turbo, you can get great deals on them but they are maintenance hogs, and nothing is cheap. The S with the Tiptronic is an awesome car and ours has been stone reliable.
A (maybe) less expensive solution is the VW Toureg, and they also have a V8. Avoid the early automatics, the transmissions are potential problems. If you can find the V10 diesel, at a good price, dont buy it, just call me and tell me where it is so I can warn others.

The only issue with Toureg is no one new how to work on them. I would say there are maybe three - five techs in the US who could properly maintain them. That said, now that they have been abused for so long I would say with confidence that you would have to put some serious cash into them to get them to where they should be.

[claimbuster]

On our second Grand Cherokee. The latest is a 2007 with a hemi. Fantastic SUV. Even pull a 27' trailer with it with no problems.