Gday...

I am certainly aware of the 'reputation' of the Jeep marque and of the countless tales of owners and their angst and that article certainly brings it all back home - although some of the 'examples' quoted are now a bit 'aged'.

However, I travel full-time and meet many, many people driving probably every marque on the market.

Boys being boys we always sidle up and ask "So how's she going?" 

I have yet to meet a Jeep owner, of any model, that has anything but praise for their choice. They have had a reliable run, great economy, great comfort, tows with little fuss, no whinge about customer service ... although some have whinged about the price of spares, even though they know they could get them cheaper if they ordered them online from US of A rather then from the dealer.

Praps they are just hiding and don't want to admit they bought poorly but surely not all of them.

That said, I also see quite a lot of Jeep variants towing vans of all sizes - not seen one stopped on the side of the road, or stranded in a camp/van park waiting parts etc.

However, I have seen, and talked to, owners of other brands/models sitting and waiting.

Jest sayin' 

cheers - John

-- Edited by rockylizard on Saturday 8th of December 2018 01:47:41 PM

Izabarack wrote:

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rockylizard wrote:

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I have yet to meet a Jeep owner, of any model, that has anything but praise for their choice.

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 Hardly likely anyone is going to lose face by admitting a poor choice in a face to face interaction.    I wonder how many repeat Jeep owners there are.    The stats and lists put out by motoring magazines are a more reliable source of reputation.   I see that one particular Land Rover model is only one in front on the unreliability lists.

Iza

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Gday...

Interestingly, I have met the owners of some very well known and respected 4x4s that are a bit disappointed in its ability to cope with their large van ... usually suspension problems.

I agree embarrassment would/could be why a driver is not admitting their choice of vehicle has not lived up to either their, or the dealer/manufacturer's expectation.

I have found the most interesting discussion is when I usually ask, "So, what did ya have before thissun?" and listen to the stories of disappointment then - and it sure ain't all "OH, I had Jeep and etc etc etc"

I again stress though, I am fully aware of the anecdotal reports by Jeep owners which are hard to ignore.

cheers - John

Its interesting when reading these lists, its often just the brand and not a specific model. I am sure Jeep do make some models that are very reliable, just as Landrover does. Also one has to determine what unreliability means. Total break down and car in limp mode or call the flat bed, or just that a tail light glob blows? Each can be deemed unreliable ( and a blown light glob could mean an unroadworthy car), but its hardly going to stop the car getting from A to B. Also as a car get more costly, often people still do not accept things can happen due to the complexity of design and the features on the car. Comparing reliabiilty of a base model car with a top of the range model where perhaps the lights that turn as the car turns to see around corners or th HUD fails to work is often not a fair comparison, and can easily distort a reliability number. Also some brands get a reputation from past problems and then its hard to shake off the bad vibs. eg Landrover when owned by the Brits, then by Ford and BMW. Since taken over by the Indians the brand improved, but now since the advent of brit engineering in brand new models (ie D5) things have slipped again. Luckily I own what has been determined as the most reliable LR built (a D4) Lies , dammed lies and statistics!!!

-- Edited by HandyWalter on Saturday 8th of December 2018 03:19:38 PM

Now it's time for an actual Jeep owner to chime in!

Where do people get this stuff from? Land Rover and Jeep are popular brands for good reason, yet the urban myths still abound around both brands. Two of the three best cars I've ever owned have been LR Disco (several years ago) and my present Jeep GC.

Believe it or not, in the main Jeep owners are a happy bunch! BTW, it's pretty condescending to suggest we all put on a brave face to hide the disappointment we're apparently supposed to be feeling...

The facts:
Parts are expensive, but the initial vehicle purchase price is very competitive, a lot less than say a Toyota or LR equivalent. Many Jeep owners are clued up enough to source parts quickly (one prominent independent Mopar supplier will have parts delivered express door to door from the U.S in 7-10 days). There are also a number of local suppliers who import parts in bulk and deliver in 24 hrs within Aus. Many folks also use independent Jeep specialists for servicing (as I do) at a fraction of dealer service costs.

So what's the Achilles heel with Jeep? Fiat Chrysler Automobiles!! FCA just aren't organised outside the U.S. The local dealer network is limp and expensive, and since they don't stock many parts in Aus they will only source direct from Mopar in the U.S which takes so long it's a joke.

If you ever drive a Jeep you will quickly understand why owners love 'em.

My Grand Cherokee diesel spits all over the hopeless Ford Territory I had previously, it ranked as one of the worst and most unreliable cars I've had the misfortune to own.
That may not apply to all Territories of course, but I'd never want to get in one again.

Anyhow, don't believe all you read. Most anecdotal commentary comes from those who have never lived with one, or barely (if ever) been in one and that includes motoring journo's.

Real owners are worth listening to (so long as they aren't lying of course )

-- Edited by SouthernComfort on Saturday 8th of December 2018 06:18:29 PM

Hi, We are also very happy jeep owners, We are now on our 5th jeep back to back, never been left stranded anywhere, We have just purchased our new Wrangler JKU, traded our Grand Cherokee overland.. All our jeeps have served us well and still see our older jeeps running around as friends usually purchase them off us privately.

Yes FCA is the issue with the jeep branding.

We have towed 3.5 tonne with the GC without any issues Have just travelled 5000km in the past 2 weeks in the Wrangler.. Don't even look under the bonnet, We have such complete confidence in the vehicles.

Just so you can understand, I have owned Toyotas most models, Nissans(patrols), Landrover disco, Daihatsu, Suzuki, and various other vehicles... I have used these both for business(tour operations) and privately.. ALL have issues but NONE have the history/roots or comradery of the jeep and its community..

The jeep is the father of all these vehicles (LR excepted), Jeep is also the most versatile, hardtop, softop, no top whatever. who else can still offer this, Jeep is legendary and will remain so. Those that put them down have never really experienced the real jeep or jeeping.

BTW, just start a post of broken down vehicles and let everyone post the make when they spot one.... Jeep will be low on the list... Toyota and Nissan will be way up there. and that is realistic.


VERY happy and PROUD to own a JEEP OlllllllO

A social media troll, by definition, is someone who creates conflict on sites like Twitter, Facebook and Reddit by posting messages that are particularly controversial or inflammatory with the sole intent of provoking an emotional (read: angry) response from other users.

The only 2 reasons I can see for posting this topic was to either get an angry response from satisfied Jeep owners or to give the usual Jeep critics some ammunition to justify their bias. I love the scientific survey that was done on the number of Jeeps in WA obviously these results prove that Jeeps are rubbish and no one is buying them - try coming over to this side of the continent and do another survey you may actually be surprised.

My suggestion to those who have issues with the Jeep brand is simple - don't buy one. The reason that their sales are down is probably because of the constant misinformed rubbish that is spread around on public forums like this (usually by non Jeep owners)  Personally I couldn't really give a rats about how many people buy Jeeps so saying that I'm happy with my GC is in no way an attempt to influence anyone else into buying one nor as suggested earlier a way of justifying my own decision..

Cheers

BB

 

Wheres theres smoke there is fire.

My current Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk must be my 7th. Touch wood I've never had any major problems so far except with one where the battery kept going flat. After numerous testing by a young lady at one of the popular "parts" store who insisted there was nothing wrong with battery and car for that matter, I called RAC in desperation. They were home within the hour and pronounced the battery faulty. New battery and no further problems.

I fish a lot driving mainly on some very boggy beaches and belong to a group of about 20 blokes. Mine was the only Jeep but after a few years and seeing the performance of my Jeep there are now 4 of us in the "club" with Jeeps. They are all very happy with their car.

 

 

Great on fuel too Tony unless you're going up and down sand dunes . Fished Wedge twice in the last month and with tyres at 15 PSI never used low range, diff locks or SSC, just kept the function in Auto.

 

 

I love the looks of the jeep. I know first hand of owners of jeeps that love them.

Would I buy one? NO WAY.

Way too many stories of dud cars and dealers and FCA doing sweet FA about fixing them.

Even the story comments above people not happy about dealers fixing stuff.

Why would you even think about it.

Even The American won't touch them. Listen to scottys channel on you tube of people writing to him about Chrysler/jeep cars..

Would you want to break down in the bush in a Landcruiser or a jeep?

each to their own, it's your money..

Mixo

All I know is any tom dick and harry can fix an old landcruiser..

Not too sure that will be the same with your jeep.

You need to get to a dealer in the first place, good luck getting to one in the middle of no where.

Perception is everything and if your brand is perceived as rubbish no matter how hard your try it will take year and years to get your good name back.

From what I am seeing the public(sales figure are getting worse every year) are running the other way fast.

Now with the aussie car industry dead I think people are not going to put up with crappy dealers and car companies.

Jeep is not the only one out there...look at holden....

mixo

Only today talking to the fellow that purchased my business when I retired and he has just won a tender to provide services in the APY Lands over the next few years.
Part of the tender requirements was that he was to use late model Toyotas during his work there as they stock Toyota parts and the local mechanics are basically trained on Toyota vehicles.
This applies to many other remote areas as well as most construction and mining companies.
I was in Groote Eylandt years ago and the ONLY vehicles ther were Toyotas.

Dont often see a Jeep or a Landrover when on work sites in remote areas maybe because of the reliability and or parts supply problem.

Just sayin

I think you hit a nerve mixo.....

Cheers

Friends had a Cherokee with the petrol engine. They had to replace the water pump on a service (cost $500). The car was thirsty so they bought a Grand Cherokee & haven't been happier.
He used to work for Qld Transport & is a stickler for his weights (carries a spreadsheet & weighs everything), rules & regulations.

Firstly it is a 5 seater & the rear seats of other wagons normally have to be removed "to carry what all we normally carry" - so to him that is a no-no.
Secondly it tows his 21' van with no effort & good fuel use.

Mind you he doesn't know what the 4WD selector does (I wonder if the front diff will rust out due to lack of use) & his wife did tell me they took it on a good gravel road (300m long) to get into a park!!

To me the "flight centre" is too difficult to decipher, the wheels do not have enough clearance between the tyres & mudguards (I wonder what they'd be like on wet black soil). I wouldn't swap our Nissan for a Jeep, mind you there are quite a few other cars I'd steer clear of too.

Just as a bit of a "dig" - I was told the towing loop on the back of my wagon was "to tow Toyotas". Well I haven't had to do that yet but last Saturday morning we had to pull a Rodeo ute out backwards on a very narrow track (after we did a 30 point turn to turn around). We were doing a national bird survey so this held us up a bit.

If anyone comes by a broken down car with battery troubles & the driver is a miner, keep going! This bloke claimed he replaced the alternator the day before - pity he didn't check his batteries. His start battery had 5.5v in it, the aux battery was a bit better - 11v. The terminals were held together with rusty bolts & washers!! He was going fishing in a local creek.

Interesting that the Op who started this topic hasn't bothered to contribute anything more to the discussion - that meet the definition of a Troll or not ? As I suggested earlier for those non Jeep owners who don't like the brand it's a pretty easy choice for you - don't buy one .  All I ask is that you give those of us who are happy with our Jeeps a break from all the ill informed rhetoric that you continually come out with it really has become boring.

Funny that a manufacturer that can't sell their vehicles only announced this week that it is going to invest a billion $ building a new plant in the US in order to produce Grand Cherokees while GM at the same time announced that it intended to close down a number of their plants across the US and Canada due to rising costs and a fall off in sales. Maybe Fiat Chrysler didn't do their market research well enough before making that decision probably should have spent more time on sites like Utube, Twitter, Facebook etc. I mean who in their right mind would have gone ahead with this dumb project if they had watched Scotty's channel on Utube .

BB