My Mom Finally Found a Car She's Interested In!

"K-Roll-PorscheTamer" (k-roll390)
03/12/2014 at 23:16 • Filed to: Cherokee

It's not the car most "car people" would seem to want, but it's what she wants...

Ever since I've learned about the plethora of recalls on my mom's '99 Ford Windstar(Nicknamed the "Super Pinto"), and my recent addictive online car shopping hobby, I've been urging her to start finding something newer(read as "better") to replace that old heap of junk that was now decorated with rust spots and holes along the passenger doors and a "check oil light" that wouldn't go away.

Finally, a couple weeks ago, she decided that she would start looking at cars when she got back from her trip to Africa this summer; but being the car guy I think I am, I started months before!

Currently, she owns a retail store that requires her to carry items and gear back and forth from time to time, so cargo was of course a huge factor in her next car; she also liked sitting high like in a mini-van and big cars; my Dad on the other hand, said she's need something smaller, so an SUV would be the best choice.

This evening, I brought up the topic of finally starting a search for a car because I'm very persistent when it comes to car-related things and if I didn't bring it up now, I would later; so I showed her the most logical and suitable options based on her needs.

The only way for her to decide on a car was by appearance first so in order to find the best car it had to look like something she'd drive. The only rule we had was from my "buy domestic" Dad that said her car had to be, well, domestic!

1. Ford Escape/Ford Edge

when I first showed her the '14 Escape, she thought it was a "fatter Focus" and preferred the previous gen to the newer; she though it was too curvy for her...

Then I showed her the Edge, it was simply too bulbous at the front...Oh well!

She also decided that she wanted to move away from Ford and try something different, which I was completely okay with!

3. Buick Encore

She really liked it, inside and out; but when I showed her the specs for cargo cap. she threw it out the window really quick!

4. Chevy Equinox

Looked too much like the Saturn Vue(I wonder why....) which meant it was ugly

5. Jeep Cherokee

When I first showed her a pic of this, she was rather impressed with it! Which would probably make any car enthusiast cringe as if someone were scratching nails to a chalkboard. But the design has kinda grown on me a bit and I'm not ashamed to say that either! She was curious as to why the grill was slanted and sharp-nosed but put that aside because of the 67 cubic feet of space it offered!

She also loves the Eco Green Metallic and I told her we'll go look at a couple once it warms up hear or when summer arrives; whichever comes first really...

Any thoughts on this? She can't be swayed to anything else either...

Question: Anyone got one of these Cherokee's? Test Drive? Engine choice? Trim Levels? Howabout that 9spd fancy automatic they got in it?

That is all for me tonight! Too make up for all that Cherokee, here's a beautiful 911!

DISCUSSION (31)

Nibby > K-Roll-PorscheTamer
03/12/2014 at 23:25

Forester. ////////bias

CRider > K-Roll-PorscheTamer
03/12/2014 at 23:29

I wonder how far offroad she goes... Actually, no I don't.

For what it's worth the Cherokee has grown on me more than I like to admit, although it looks best in Trailhawk trim by miles. Although that might be the dirt head in me that knows it's the off road one.

Kinja'd!!!

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > Nibby
03/12/2014 at 23:33

It's not Murrican, so no :(

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > CRider
03/12/2014 at 23:35

I don't think she's ever been offroad...

I think the only one she' be able to afford would be the base sport model, or whichever offers remote start cheapest; that's the primary thing she wants next to the cargo space. It's actually grown on me too, to the point where I like it more than the Escape from any of the three generations; that may be a bit too far....

Nibby > K-Roll-PorscheTamer
03/12/2014 at 23:41

wat

I find the "buy american cars only" mentality dumb, no offense.

gabdere > K-Roll-PorscheTamer
03/12/2014 at 23:44

Kinja'd!!!

I think i'm the only one that actually likes it. The rear is gorgeous! And that Anvil colour too

Doug DeMuro > K-Roll-PorscheTamer
03/12/2014 at 23:48

Ignore the car people — it's a good car. Which engine?

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > Nibby
03/12/2014 at 23:53

It's not me, it's my dad.... :(

non taken though!

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > Doug DeMuro
03/12/2014 at 23:54

Not sure yet. Might go with the tigershark for fuel economy, but she may want the Pentastar 6 because her van has a 6 cylinder... I reckon whichever is cheapest.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > K-Roll-PorscheTamer
03/12/2014 at 23:58

I think the Cherokee is awesome and different than the other boring CUVS on sale. When it first came out I despised the front end, but it's really grown on me.

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > gabdere
03/13/2014 at 00:04

I love the rear too!

Kinja'd!!!

An appropriate time to say "dat ass" I reckon...

gabdere > K-Roll-PorscheTamer
03/13/2014 at 00:08

looks so Fiat! The rear view cam integration is questionable but a nice rear nonetheless... I hope your mom's gonna get one! Damn, 9-speed tranny!

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > gabdere
03/13/2014 at 00:13

And those taillights! So fancy for Jeep! and soo much shifting. If she does like it enough to test drive one, I will definitely be posting my finds and thoughts on it back here! but it'll be a couple months before that.

HammerheadFistpunch > K-Roll-PorscheTamer
03/13/2014 at 01:36

here is a review I wrote on it a while back before they came into the market.

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I think they are great little things

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > HammerheadFistpunch
03/13/2014 at 01:52

Thanks! I'll give it a read first thing in the morning during breakfast. :)

spanfucker retire bitch > K-Roll-PorscheTamer
03/13/2014 at 08:00

Kinja'd!!!

Ahh, the Jeep Cherokee. As domestic as an Alfa Romeo!

Just don't tell your Dad.

WorldRally17 > K-Roll-PorscheTamer
03/13/2014 at 09:22

My parents are also looking at getting a new SUV and I suggested the Cherokee to them. I have read reviews in the past that said the 9 speed transmission was not very good, but I decided not to tell my parents this because I wanted them to try the vehicle on their own and decide for themselves.

I went to the Cleveland auto show with them to look at different cars and my mom was really impressed with the interior, but the exterior she just said was average. She didn't like it a lot but she could live with it.

A week later they went to drive the car (I was not with them though). I get a text message from my dad that said "who makes the transmission on this car, it's a piece of junk". Later I talked to my mom and she said it was always hunting for gears and it did not shift very smoothly, so they immediately crossed it off their list.

Personally I like the car, but I guess for a lot of people the transmission calibration may be a deal breaker....

Fuel_of_Satan > Nibby
03/13/2014 at 09:25

Coming to this result with that mentality is even more puzzling to me really.

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KurtAKX > K-Roll-PorscheTamer
03/13/2014 at 09:38

1. Ford Escape/Ford Edge

when I first showed her the '14 Escape, she thought it was a "fatter Focus" and preferred the previous gen to the newer; she though it was too curvy for her...

Haha! Had the same discussion with my wife. This was the outcome. She preferred this used 2012 with 20k over a new 2014.
It's been pretty good to live with so far, 2.5 I4, 6spd auto, AWD

Kinja'd!!!

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > WorldRally17
03/13/2014 at 09:42

I'll have to take it for a test drive myself to see it. I was worried about rough shifting and grinding gears with the DCT when I test drove a '14 Focus; it actually wasn't bad so I'll leave out judgment until a test drive.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > Nibby
03/13/2014 at 11:13

I have the same mentallity, call us what you will...

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > K-Roll-PorscheTamer
03/13/2014 at 11:13

I actually like the Cherokee, I'm scared to death of the reliability because Fiat underneath....but we'll see on that one.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > KurtAKX
03/13/2014 at 11:15

I would do the same thing in a heartbeat.

Besides the looks, they had all kinds of trouble with the new style Escape when it launched. (and this coming from a Ford guy).

That older Escape body style you have is 100% Ford Fusion with a lift kit lol.

Solid base to build from if you ask me.

KSEGGFTW > K-Roll-PorscheTamer
03/13/2014 at 13:04

Kill it with fire.

KurtAKX > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
03/13/2014 at 13:12

My wife and I are both engineers for Ford, so we were not frightened of the new Ecoboost hardware. It just came down to her personal preference on aesthetics.

She's put 10k miles on it already just since October, she seems to be satisfied.
Our road is paved because we live on a lake with a bunch of uppity rich folks, but the only road out of our neighborhood is muddy, washboard gravel that's about 1/2 mile long.

In retrospect, I think this was the correct choice for soft-roading, versus the new, Focus-based Escape.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > KurtAKX
03/13/2014 at 13:26

Oh absolutely about soft roading. This gen Escape was more than capable on dirt/gravel roads and some moderate snow. I actually like them quite a bit and I would trust them over the new one in those conditions.

I do seem to think the Escape Ecoboost troubles are behind them now, was a rough go for a little while though.

And I am part of your massive advertising network, so I've been helping sell them all along anyhow!

KurtAKX > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
03/13/2014 at 14:04

It's a perfect little package. I even borrowed it to pull out the neighbor's Caddy SRX-thingy in one of the 8" snowfalls we got.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > KurtAKX
03/13/2014 at 14:07

nice! Silly SRX, stay out of the snow!

DropTopEnvy > K-Roll-PorscheTamer
03/17/2014 at 18:27

My mom has to have remote start too - and she's on the hunt (not very diligently, but out there nonetheless). One thing my dad and I keep telling her is that you can get remote start installed on ANY car for $200 Give or take) at any stereo installation place like CarToys.. Just an fyi for you and your mom ;)

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > DropTopEnvy
03/17/2014 at 18:44

I almost forgot about that! I bet a place as small as Radio Shack or any shop could do it for a decent price.

Eric Johnson > K-Roll-PorscheTamer
03/18/2014 at 09:49

Kinja'd!!!

This face makes me imagine someone taking a huge dump.