Anyone Interested in A Review of a Manual Renegade? AMA?

"i86hotdogs" (i86hotdogs)
08/28/2018 at 21:46 • Filed to: None

Picked up a Jeep Renegade Sport 4x4 with the 1.4 turbo-4cyl (Abarth!!) and 6-speed manual. It’s fun. Threw a couple of bolt-ons to it. Would anyone be interested in an in depth review? Anyone want any specific details on it? I daily it to work, tow my bike, and occasionally take it on trails, so one can learn about its capabilities on different settings.

DISCUSSION (47)

itschrome > i86hotdogs
08/28/2018 at 21:52

Yes please.

i86hotdogs > itschrome
08/28/2018 at 21:53

Anything in particular you want me to go into? Ill start composing things together. Should have something done by next week

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > i86hotdogs
08/28/2018 at 21:56

This sounds awesome

i86hotdogs > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
08/28/2018 at 21:57

You do dumb stuff so we don’ t have to; you’re awesome

Spanfeller is a twat > i86hotdogs
08/28/2018 at 22:00

Please, you must.

i86hotdogs > Spanfeller is a twat
08/28/2018 at 22:03

Will do. I’ll start compiling notes that I’ve put together since picking it up. Anything you wanna know specifically?

dogisbadob > i86hotdogs
08/28/2018 at 22:06

I’d love to see a review on it!

Spanfeller is a twat > i86hotdogs
08/28/2018 at 22:06

The modifications you made to it! I love the renegade, it might be my favorite jeep! Plus a manual?!? It sounds fantastic!

( Oh yes, I said it. The renegade is my favorite jeep. Sue me,oppo )

Supreme Chancellor and Glorious Leader SaveTheIntegras > i86hotdogs
08/28/2018 at 22:06

Yes pls

FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com > i86hotdogs
08/28/2018 at 22:08

Yes. I test drove the 2.4L/ auto back when they came out and it was awful but I liked the rest of the car. Never revisited it when they finally got manuals in stock though because the dealership experience was awful.

CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever > i86hotdogs
08/28/2018 at 22:08

100%!

I own dead car brands only > i86hotdogs
08/28/2018 at 22:08

Don’t even ask, just do it.

Plus a picture to tide us over please?

Milky > i86hotdogs
08/28/2018 at 22:11

Gas mileage? Exhaust no ise?

i86hotdogs > I own dead car brands only
08/28/2018 at 22:14

Kinja'd!!!

This get ya by until then?

i86hotdogs > FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com
08/28/2018 at 22:15

I also have the 200 with that powertrain. Engine itself is fine, but that 9 speed is nothing but a nightmare.

Khalbali > i86hotdogs
08/28/2018 at 22:17

Yes! I’ve wanted to do the same thing, probably only get fwd though. You even got the best color!

i86hotdogs > Khalbali
08/28/2018 at 22:19

Once I saw the color name “Anvil” I knew it was the right choice

Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever > i86hotdogs
08/28/2018 at 22:21

Yes pls.

Renegade is a car that my wife might have been interested in before kids. While there’s no way it would fit our needs and wants now (she has an ‘18 Compass ), they’re always nice to see on the road.

FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com > i86hotdogs
08/28/2018 at 22:26

Agreed on the transmission. I didn’t really like the engine. It wasn’t an issue of power but more refinement. It just felt gruff and sounded bad. It reminded me too much of ‘90’s American cars. FWIW I’ve also driven the Pentastar in several different vehicles and feel pretty much the same way about it for the most part. I didn’t mind it in the Grand Cherokee ... maybe because it’s mounted longitudinal in there and doesn’t transmit as much to the cabin.

Neil drives a beetle and a fancy beetle > i86hotdogs
08/28/2018 at 22:42

I think it’s a bit of a sleeper enthusiast buy and so would be interested generally in learning more but nothing specific.

Can it make abarth 500 noises with the right exhaust?

atfsgeoff > i86hotdogs
08/28/2018 at 22:44

Does the Renegade have enough ground clearance to shimmy yourself under the whole car, from front to back?

Wacko > i86hotdogs
08/28/2018 at 22:44

Finally, a small awd with a manual.

Does it feel under powered?

I feel that this would be a perfect replacement to my 6 speed awd sx4 (rip 2015)

Is it fun? Peppy? Does it feel small inside?

I didn't think they would of released a manual awd.

i86hotdogs > FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com
08/28/2018 at 22:46

The 200 I test drove with the Pentastar was very smooth to me. At the time, unfortunately , there was a 6-8k difference in cost between the Tigershark and Pentastar models. I went with the cheap one for good mileage. The ZF seems to take a LOOOOOOONG time to decide what gear to downshift into. Whether it’s coming out of a turn, or trying to pass on a highway, there seems to be a literal 1.5-2 second delay on the downshift. Hence why I opted for the manual on this Renegade. As long as you keep it above 2,000 RPM, the little turbo is responsive.

Wacko > i86hotdogs
08/28/2018 at 22:47

i think that was in his name before drinking antifreeze.

i86hotdogs > Neil drives a beetle and a fancy beetle
08/28/2018 at 22:49

I cover the A barth comparison in my write-up. Stay tuned!

Wacko > Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever
08/28/2018 at 22:49

The Renegade is the car I’m interested in, but I have kids.....

i86hotdogs > atfsgeoff
08/28/2018 at 22:50

Me-no, I am a little husky, but can reach under and get to jsut about anything under there.

Average human-Yes

i86hotdogs > Wacko
08/28/2018 at 22:51

I love driving it, especially after the few things I’ve added to it.

i86hotdogs > Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever
08/28/2018 at 22:53

Fun fact, Compass can be optioned with a manual! its mated to the 2.4 Tigershark though. Not the 1.4T

FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com > i86hotdogs
08/28/2018 at 23:01

It’s not just an FCA thing (they do seem to have the most issues though - didn’t they recall the Cherokee to reprogram the 9-speed shortly after it came out?) - a lot of these modern 8+ speed autos that I’ve driven seem really slow to shift. Which is weird because it seems to defeat the point of having more gears at your disposal. I guess they do it mainly for fuel economy.

Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever > i86hotdogs
08/28/2018 at 23:01

Yeah, also, the FWD doesn’t get the 9AT, but a 6AT.

Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever > Neil drives a beetle and a fancy beetle
08/28/2018 at 23:22

As long as the engine is the same one, sure. Someone has to make the exhaust, though. I’m sure your average muffler shop can bend the pipes to make it. It’s literally a straight-through from the cat to the tip.

SilentButNotReallyDeadly...killed by G/O Media > i86hotdogs
08/28/2018 at 23:32

Yes. Can a 6 foot tall adult spend any significant time sitting in the second row?

Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever > Wacko
08/28/2018 at 23:42

Have you tried piling your entire family into a Renegade? It’s not impossible, depending on your size and the ages of your kids. I know for sure that I need way more legroom than its rear seat has .

Chuckles > i86hotdogs
08/28/2018 at 23:51

I would definitely enjoy an in- depth review.

Wacko > Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever
08/29/2018 at 00:01

I have a pathfinder and we have 4 kids.

Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever > Wacko
08/29/2018 at 03:25

Yeah. No.

kgman > i86hotdogs
08/29/2018 at 04:44

Yes please, I’d like to hear more about the mods and how it does off road

The Dummy Gummy > i86hotdogs
08/29/2018 at 07:56

I don’t know why, but I love reading reviews of all cars, even if I have no interest. Fire away i86.. I’d love to read your perspective.

The Dummy Gummy > Wacko
08/29/2018 at 07:57

Wacko...I kid ha

Mav383 > Wacko
08/29/2018 at 11:09

It is peppy and roomy. Launches nicely with the awd. Weak point would be the clutch in my opinion but that's cause I try to off road it now and then.

Wacko > Mav383
08/29/2018 at 11:12

i checked autotrader for what i could find used in canada, but the price is still too high. I can get same year manual impreza for a few grand less.....

gogmorgo - rowing gears in a Grand Cherokee > Spanfeller is a twat
08/29/2018 at 12:19

I really get this.

A buddy recently said he didn’t like Jeeps because they felt like toys with not much to them. He’s a bit of a Chevy guy, kinda. Full frame at any rate. But he’s got a bit of a point. T he “Jeep” J eeps have been getting really loaded down with “comforts” that I don’t really want or appreciate, which is taking away from the simplistic rugged utilitarianism that I like in a Jeep; nothing being there that it doesn’t need to d o its task. The direct comparison here would be between my ‘93 ZJ and ‘01 Jimmy. They’re similar vehicles from a size and market segment perspective, and the two respective generations did overlap. But I don’t really see anything the Jimmy does better, except for the seats folding perfectly flat and the split tailgate, despite the Jimmy weighing easily seven hundred pounds more than the ZJ, if not more . My buddy likes the Jimmy better because it “feels more solid”. I dislike it because it feels unnecessarily fat, heavy, and unwieldy, compared to the solid-axle ZJ. The JL seems a lot better than the JK, but it’s still not a TJ.

Now the R enegade is definitely geared to be a small minivan equivalent. Most crossovers are. But a lightweight manual trans, no options model might be nice.

Spanfeller is a twat > gogmorgo - rowing gears in a Grand Cherokee
08/29/2018 at 13:04

I like it because its basic, i find the FCA quirks (like the spider saying Ciao) kind of gaudy, but I still really like it

I know its not a wrangler, but wranglers have gotten so large! So unwieldy! Small and cheerful I say!

gogmorgo - rowing gears in a Grand Cherokee > Spanfeller is a twat
08/29/2018 at 14:33

Exactly. The Renegade is shockingly close in dimension and weight to the XJ. Anything much bigger than an XJ is getting unwieldy. I actually know more than one person who replaced an XJ with a BU.

Longtime Lurker > i86hotdogs
08/29/2018 at 14:38

Yes please that's the spec I'd consider for myself. How tippy is it in hard cornering?

i86hotdogs > Longtime Lurker
08/29/2018 at 16:42

Not as tippy as one would expect