Just can't get a good basic truck, like the old days!

[jyoutz]

I think we have said nearly the same thing!


I've ridden in a buddy's 2022'ish Rubicon 392 470 hp Wrangler, which was just rediculous, but all those that I owned and drove were older. My siblings and I have owned one with the 4.0L 6-cylinder (1994'ish) one Buick V6 conversion (my CJ-3A), and one I4 (1996'ish). All of ours were plenty peppy off the line and around town, but were downright terrifying at my normal PA Turnpike speeds.

But it's following Wranglers on the road every day that caused me to form this opinion, much more than any I've personally driven. So as stated, maybe its the drivers more than the vehicle. All I know is that I will just about kill us all, to ensure I never end up behind one. For nearly every time I come up behind someone driving below the speed limit in one of those canvas boxes on wheels, I regret it.

I would imagine the flapping soft tops incentivize the drivers to avoid higher speeds. My hardtop is quiet at 80+ mph. I have driven some of those older models and they definitely don’t have as good of road manners as the current JLU models.

 

[WinterDeere]

I would imagine the flapping soft tops incentivize the drivers to avoid higher speeds. My hardtop is quiet at 80+ mph. I have driven some of those older models and they definitely don’t have as good of road manners as the current JLU models.

Oh, yeah. I'd definitely agree with that. I remember having to drive my brother's 2dr 1996 ragtop home from his wedding on the PA turnpike, where I'd normally be doing 85+ in any other vehicle. I couldn't stand to have the thing much above 65 mph though, because it felt like the roof was going to tear completely off anywhere above that.

Also, with the possible exception of the Sahara (can't remember), all of ours were 2-doors. Very short and hyper-reactive steering at highway speeds, which when combined with their high center of mass, just made them dangerous at highway speeds.

 

[jyoutz]

Oh, yeah. I'd definitely agree with that. I remember having to drive my brother's 2dr 1996 ragtop home from his wedding on the PA turnpike, where I'd normally be doing 85+ in any other vehicle. I couldn't stand to have the thing much above 65 mph though, because it felt like the roof was going to tear completely off anywhere above that.

Also, with the possible exception of the Sahara (can't remember), all of ours were 2-doors. Very short and hyper-reactive steering at highway speeds, which when combined with their high center of mass, just made them dangerous at highway speeds.

Yeah, I don’t think the 2 door short wheel base models would be that great for interstate highway driving.

 

[RB5]

We rented a 2003 Grand Cherokee for a vacation one time. I liked it off road. The ride was great on our long rough gravel driveway and across out property, but on the freeway it seemed a little unstable at 70MPH. I think that was also before Daimler got involved into making the Grand Cherokee more into a luxury vehicle. I drove one a few years later, and it was a completely different ride.

 

[Oaktree]

We rented a 2003 Grand Cherokee for a vacation one time. I liked it off road. The ride was great on our long rough gravel driveway and across out property, but on the freeway it seemed a little unstable at 70MPH. I think that was also before Daimler got involved into making the Grand Cherokee more into a luxury vehicle. I drove one a few years later, and it was a completely different ride.

I've had 2 GC's over the years, a '98 and an '06, both were decent vehicles. No handling issues. The '06 was Daimler, the '98 wasn't. While both were good at the type of off-roading I do (mostly accessing communication towers on mountain tops), I doubt they'd hold a candle to the Wrangler, etc. (can't keep up with the names on what I call "mailman Jeeps").
Was parked next to a fairly late model one a couple weeks ago...that thing was huge.

 

[WinterDeere]

I've had 2 GC's over the years, a '98 and an '06, both were decent vehicles. No handling issues.

I suspect it depends on the trim level. I drove a Cherokee Sport variant, and it was quite stable. But my wife had a ca.2000 Grand Cherokee Laredo that was without any doubt, the most unstable vehicle I have ever driven. I remember swerving to miss a deer once, just a very minor change in direction at 45 - 50 mph that should have been no challenge, and almost losing the thing due to the too-soft suspension and extreme body roll that thing exhibited.

My wife ended up barrel-rolling that GC on the PA turnpike while doing about 70 mph. I was glad she was okay, and just as glad that vehicle was totaled. I don't think I've ever hated driving any car as much as that one.

 

[Jstpssng]

^^^^^^

Is that what they refer to as "Jeep wobble?"

 

[RB5]

I suspect it depends on the trim level. I drove a Cherokee Sport variant, and it was quite stable. But my wife had a ca.2000 Grand Cherokee Laredo that was without any doubt, the most unstable vehicle I have ever driven. I remember swerving to miss a deer once, just a very minor change in direction at 45 - 50 mph that should have been no challenge, and almost losing the thing due to the too-soft suspension and extreme body roll that thing exhibited.

My wife ended up barrel-rolling that GC on the PA turnpike while doing about 70 mph. I was glad she was okay, and just as glad that vehicle was totaled. I don't think I've ever hated driving any car as much as that one.

The rental was a Laredo.

 

[jyoutz]

The rental was a Laredo.

A lot has changed in 25 years.

 

[Hay Dude]

I suspect it depends on the trim level. I drove a Cherokee Sport variant, and it was quite stable. But my wife had a ca.2000 Grand Cherokee Laredo that was without any doubt, the most unstable vehicle I have ever driven. I remember swerving to miss a deer once, just a very minor change in direction at 45 - 50 mph that should have been no challenge, and almost losing the thing due to the too-soft suspension and extreme body roll that thing exhibited.

My wife ended up barrel-rolling that GC on the PA turnpike while doing about 70 mph. I was glad she was okay, and just as glad that vehicle was totaled. I don't think I've ever hated driving any car as much as that one.

Any vehicle that barrel rolls at 70 MPH should be lauded as being a VERY protective vehicle.
I could not imagine surviving a 70MPH barrel roll.