Bonneville America Forums Forums Off Topic Discussion Forums Lounge Dont know how to feel about it...

Last weekend Karen had a whim to go look at a car and for as much as I hate the dealer experience I went along. Little did I know that this was some sort of fateful experience beginning to unfold. She was as surprised as I was that I was willing to go look at this car. The typical thing happens... we don't have that but we have this and I happen to have the keys so lets got for a drive. *sigh*
We get back and look around some more and I spot this nice looking SUV. Well... if were easting his time and we've been up front about it and he still wants to entertain us then WTH... I ask for the keys and we go for a ride. Nice but way out of the budget in my head and I don't really want a payment again anyway. I mean heck, I just paid of my SUV back in 05 and I only had 329k miles on it.
There was no love for Karens car and we head out. Sunday Karen finds her car at another dealer in the same family of dealers, calls the salesman and we agree to do a two car deal based on the car she found and this SUV I saw/drove. I guess... why not.
Monday comes, we head down and a couple hours later no deal on Karens car. He set the paperwork aside and says lets work on the Jeep. I stop him and say this was a two car deal and you cant make hers happen so lets no bother. A handshake and we walk.
No big deal for us but it was the 30th and he was still four cars short of his quota. I told Karen well get a call tomorrow and if we don't who cares.
Tuesday I get a call in the am (I think Karen instigated with her "Thank You" email though). I return the call and follow up with an email outlining the price I want to pay, down payment, expected trade value, expected interest rate and monthly payment assuming interest and credit all align. He calls me back and asks for some wiggle room so I give him a bit but hold my ground... "A penny over or under does not qualify. I need to be in a certain price range based on my criteria so lets cut the BS, not waste time. You need to make quota, I don't NEED the SUV but Im willing to entertain an offer. This will be a one offer, one counter offer, yes/no thing as I don't want to waste your or my time". Silence for a few seconds and then "OK, Ill call you back".
A few hours later I get the call. "We can do it".... CRAP!

So last night I parted ways with my Monty (Mitsubishi Montero Sport) after 12 years, 329,162 miles and what I figured out last night... @18,227 gallons of fuel, 109 oil changes, four sets of tires, three timing belt changes, one alternator (Im still surprised about that) and normal wear and tear for a vehicle with that kind of mileage.
Im actually sad about trading it in. It was the one car I always wanted and I bought it new. I got raped on that deal but I don't think anyone ever expected that kind of mileage.

What I got in return for my Monty and another five years of payments is a slightly uses 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland. Can we say LOADED? Holly crap. It has seat coolers and heaters, it raises and lowers based on speed and terrain settings, its so much stuff going on I actually need to read the freaking manual. I think Im going to be ok here but I still really hope the Monty finds a good home and owner that will at least change the oil every 3k like I have been doing.

My mom just got one too, looks like might even be the same color. She loves it so far. She bought hers because some clown broadsided her and she rolled her last Jeep 3 times. The officer told her driving the Jeep she was in saved her life, strong construction. Hope you love yours as much as she does hers.

Z I am jeep guy I have owned 7 jeeps all older 1 let me down but I saw it coming before I bought it. (long story) He11 I even have a jeep tattoo. The new grands seem to be great SUV's. Good luck I sent you a link thing on facebook check them out. Jeep isnt just a brand its a way of life. I am looking at getting a liberty in the next few years. If you got questions you can usaly find what you need at jeepforum.com sometimes posts get lost in the masses there are a lot of people that use that forum.

Its newer than a 78. I wouldn't have it. My recent experience with my wifes ford ex-con has put me off any thing that I cant see the ground by opening the hood, while still having all its bit intacked.

Someone else bought a jeep!

Seriously congrats to the both of you, I think, as I don't know how to feel about it either .

For what it's worth Z, I think these newest Grand Cherokees are about the best lookin' SUVs out there today. And not only that, but it looks as if the one you just bought is also my favorite color...Gunmetal Grey, which I think "classes up" ANY vehicle.

And so, you'll not read anything negative from me here, Bro!

(...here's to the thought that your Jeep performs for you over the years as well as it looks)

I like my Grand Cherokee except I can't haul enough with it. (I need a 1 ton truck) I just had to do the water pump on my V8 Jeep and it was a task. Had to take half the truck apart to get to it. All in all though it has been trouble free for something with 173,000 miles on it and still running like new.

very nice Z, only reason i don't drive one like that is the gas they use! My murano used to use up 90 bucks a week and i don't go anywhere!

Monty surely was a heck of a car! Outstanding! I'm not actually a Jeep fan, although I loved my CJ7 for just plain fun. Around here, I haven't heard much good about the newer Jeeps. Lousy milage and always something minor going wrong. Still, I hope you enjoy your new car.

I know how you feel about the Montero. I bought my Isuzu Trooper RS in 1989 with 3 miles on it and gave it to our son 16 years later with 328K on it. After he passed away, I paid $500 to have it brought home. I'm still driving it.

Good luck with the new Jeep and I hope it becomes "family" too.

Congratulations on the new G. Cherokee! I've had 2 and loved them both. These new ones were designed by Mercedes when they had part ownership of Chrysler. It should be a good one. You never did tell us what kind of car your wife got in this 2 car deal.

Karen got nothing. They couldn't make her deal happen but they did meet my demands/criteria so I couldn't pass it up.

GCs had some bad press over the years and its one reason I never went to Jeep before now. In the last couple years the GCs have done very very well.

This ones got a 3.6L V6 so its as good as any other midsize SUV (except the hybrid Highlander) on mileage (right now Im averaging 20mpg) and believe it or not when I open the hood since it is a V6 I can see the ground

Dwight... yes, its gunmetal gray and I agree... a dang nice color on any car and should be better than black like the Montero.

I tried out the seat coolers today... hehe... AWESOME!

I know theres no forum out there quite like BA.com but Ill check out the suggestions. The Montero forum I was on for years has been neglected lately and looks like it may just expire soon. Too bad, great info over there but unfortunately some HUGE egos. I think since 2000 I have less than a hundred posts there.

After some more time behind the wheel today Im getting used to it. I heard a speaker crackle so the audio upgrades may be coming sooner than expected.

I have a 96 with the 5.2 (318) V8 and get about 16mpg my moms 2012 has the Hemi V8 in it, don't know what she gets yet. I do know in the 96 model year there was only 1mpg difference between the 6 and the 8 but that was a heavy straight 6.

I'll tell you how to feel about it, luv you some Jeep and enjoy your new wheels.

Speaking of Jeeps, anyone know anything soild about the Gladiator. I've heard production and avaiable by end of this year, but........

I think they are behind schedule with the Gladiator. It was scrapped in 2006 then revived when the Fiat became partners with Chrysler and the 4 dr Renegade became popular. It was already supposed to be in production by now.

http://ruggedridgeoffroad.com/blog/jeep-gladiator-4-door-pickup-truck-coming-in-2013

Pal if they make new jeeps like they did my TJ you'll be tickled.