It's Official -Wife hates her new Jeep Grand Cherokee.

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macabethiel

Well-known member
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Aug 20, 2008
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4,412
Well last night it all game out in a blurt the Missus is not keen on her new motor.

She thinks its very slow - compared to the Santa Fe petrol it is but its very similar if not a tad faster than the old r3mR.
She hates the ride its so prehistoric - well the Santa Fe was very car like and quick off the mark too. The r3mR was rack & pinion the Jeep is a steering box.

The short term fix is we keep it for a few months to see if she can live with its shortcomings and if not look for something else in the spring.

I am wondering if there is any easy and not too expensive way to improve the ride such as wheels/tyres or suspension mods?
I am posting on the Jeep website but the response rate is nothing like what it is here if you have a question or problem.
 
Yeah it's all mods, need to find out exactly what she does not like, if it's speed, get some sort of tune it box.

And if ride is horrid, get some comphy seats or different springs, poss offroad ones :thumb2
 
Off road springs ?

Yeah it's all mods, need to find out exactly what she does not like, if it's speed, get some sort of tune it box.

And if ride is horrid, get some comphy seats or different springs, poss offroad ones :thumb2

I think the performance once you reach 30 mph is acceptable but its not my motor so some sort of chip upgrade is an option if I can sort the ride.

The seats are pretty comfy leather with loads of electric adjustments.
Its the ride on poor road surfaces that lets it down it just seems to be deflected by every little bump or rut. You feel its like a "weeble that wobbles but won't fall down" as it negotiates the road surfaces.

What would offroad springs do as I have never ventured into changing springs except for lowering decades ago? There is even the possibility that its got some sort of heavy duty springs on her already as the vehicle has tow bar & electrics. Springs are well rusted so not recently changed maybee there are some decent tappered replacements available I will look into this option in detail.

I am sure someone on this site has a J.G.Cherokee but it might be a later model.
 
Something not right there.
I have had 2 Grand Cherokees (both T reg) and an older Cherokee HO Ltd and they went like the proverbial off a shovel. Took almost everything at the traffic light drag racing and I didn't hang about on A and B roads. All were the 4.0 Ltr version though. They didn't like bumpy roads, but it didn't slow me down any.
The Terrano I have just bought is a dinosaur compared to them. I wouldn't dream of doing anywhere near the speeds I could drive at with the Jeeps.
I quite like the Terrano, but it's going to be a while before I can relax driving it. It's tail happy in the wet, top heavy in the corners and like a tractor everywhere else.
Just what you get used to, I suppose.
 
Might be a good idea to find a couple for sale you can both test drive to see if there's any difference. Could just be you're still used to the santa fe.
 
Try somewhere like Pedders for some aftermarket springs and shocks - if you give them a call and tell them what you're trying to do they should be able to tell what combination to go for :thumb2

Even without ARBs my ride and handling is much better now I've got aftermarket springs and shocks fitted
 
We had a Santa Fe during the Iceland trip, it was very car like, not very 4x4 if you get what I mean.

Surely there just be some comfy springs about?
 
If the wife don't like it, you'll be getting rid. Women.:nenau

I think getting rid of the wife is a bit extreme :lol not really her fault

Did she take it for a test drive before you bought it? I always insist Mrs Terrano Steve takes a test drive before we buy a car.
It gets expensive otherwise.
 
She's now experienced the comfort of a monocoque with independent suspension. My guess is that no ladder chassis rigid axled vehicle will now be as good.

You could change springs and shocks to make it more comfortable but she'd probably just hate it a bit less and still not love it.

My other half can't seem to get to like the Terrano and I think it's for much the same reasons.
 
at least she likes the colour ....... that's a big start :augie
 
Getting used to a different 4 x 4

Might be a good idea to find a couple for sale you can both test drive to see if there's any difference. Could just be you're still used to the santa fe.

I think you have nailed it in your last sentence. Maybee with time and a few decent jouneys under her belt things might change.
 
No test drive by main driver

I think getting rid of the wife is a bit extreme :lol not really her fault

Did she take it for a test drive before you bought it? I always insist Mrs Terrano Steve takes a test drive before we buy a car.
It gets expensive otherwise.

Ah now we getting close to some issues. Wife had not driven since accident - 2 weeks or so previously. She was a passenger when we road tested her and refused to drive on the basis that it was always me that drove any new motor on road test.

I should have insisted but did not want confrontation. Plus the Missus is still not well and is in a lot of abdominal pain & sciatica. She loved the look of the Jeep and the brand. I think there is still time for her to come to like it. At present am looking at some plattitudes to get through the early weeks of ownership - am hoping she will come to love it with time.

I found an interesting contact via the Jeep owners site who I know from wey back who has pointed me in the direction of a local Rural Garage who knows his Jeeps. Have been told that a set of Overland springs and shockers might help the ride as she will sit an inch or so higher. It might be a cheaper option than changing vehicles.
 
Rigid Axle a bit ?

She's now experienced the comfort of a monocoque with independent suspension. My guess is that no ladder chassis rigid axled vehicle will now be as good.

You could change springs and shocks to make it more comfortable but she'd probably just hate it a bit less and still not love it.

My other half can't seem to get to like the Terrano and I think it's for much the same reasons.

To my surprise it looks like IRS at the back with coil springs and drive shafts though it drives like a cart axle! Same at front end.

Maybe time will help - not. lol
 

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