New Jeep Owner! Help me try to enjoy my purchase!

[mazterofpupetz]

So I just signed for a 2005 Jeep Liberty 4-cylinder 6 Speed 4x4. Barely 75,000 miles, one owner, and one year powertrain. Scooped it up for 7000 USD.

I think I got a deal, but don't really know for sure as there are not many comparable models to choose from.

The Jeep seemed pretty solid when I inspected it, but before I finalize everything, are there any suggestions of what I should look at under the hood/undercarriage? Are there any notorious issues with my model?

I looked and researched for hours but could not find any reason NOT to buy the Jeep.

But I am freaking MENTAL and can't feel good about such a large purchase. Probably not for years.

Anyone with some experience with the '05 Liberty 4-cylinder care to chime in and help me relax?

 

[hsb]

See if the dealership will allow you to take it to your personal garage. We did that when we bought my wife's 05 last year. Think it was about $100 to have the once over, they found a couple things that the dealership didnt find and they had to fix.

That is a heck of a price on that vehicle. Think my wife's had 55k w a 6 cyl and we paid in the 12-13k range.

Good luck with the purchase.

 

[tommudd]

Hate to say it but hardly anyone at all wants a 4 cylinder , I would rethink it unless its already a done deal

 

[Ry' N Jen]

Four cylinder KJ for $7000?
What a waste of money.
You will get better fuel economy out of a 3.7 ltr V6.
Not to mention you can get a V6 for the same price.

Oh well

 

[mazterofpupetz]

Four cylinder KJ for $7000?
What a waste of money.
You will get better fuel economy out of a 3.7 ltr V6.
Not to mention you can get a V6 for the same price.

Oh well

No other jeeps were for sale that had the 6-speed manual transmission. Plus, according to estimates, I would save close to 1000 USD every year on fuel with the 4-cylinder. Every four cylinder i've owned has always had better than estimated highway mpg too. What do I need the extra 2 cylinders for?

Care to explain how it would be a waste of money?

 

[mazterofpupetz]

Hate to say it but hardly anyone at all wants a 4 cylinder , I would rethink it unless its already a done deal

Any thoughts to why? Plenty of power on the highway and I don't tow anything. Why should I opt for the 6 cylinders if I'm not going to need 6 cylinders?

 

[mazterofpupetz]

See if the dealership will allow you to take it to your personal garage. We did that when we bought my wife's 05 last year. Think it was about $100 to have the once over, they found a couple things that the dealership didnt find and they had to fix.

That is a heck of a price on that vehicle. Think my wife's had 55k w a 6 cyl and we paid in the 12-13k range.

Good luck with the purchase.

You still have yours? How is it treating you? Happy with your purchase?

 

[Luke]

the extra cylinders are to help you lug that 4000 lb brick around town

 

[mazterofpupetz]

the extra cylinders are to help you lug that 4000 lb brick around town

Haha. So I drove it twice and really didn't feel a lack of power shifting through the gears. I drive my cars so conservatively too that going for the v6 did not seem like the right choice. Plus, 6-speed! 6! It was fun to drive I thought and lugged my 4k lbs around pretty good I thought!

 

[Dave]

Haha. So I drove it twice and really didn't feel a lack of power shifting through the gears. I drive my cars so conservatively too that going for the v6 did not seem like the right choice. Plus, 6-speed! 6! It was fun to drive I thought and lugged my 4k lbs around pretty good I thought!

Welcome to the forum and enjoy your new Jeep.

Dave

 

[tjkj2002]

No other jeeps were for sale that had the 6-speed manual transmission. Plus, according to estimates, I would save close to 1000 USD every year on fuel with the 4-cylinder. Every four cylinder i've owned has always had better than estimated highway mpg too. What do I need the extra 2 cylinders for?

Care to explain how it would be a waste of money?

On average,mostly depending on terrian,the 2.4 gas KJ get's a lousy 1-2mpg's better then the 3.7 V6,at see level and flat, or far worse then what a 3.7 KJ get's,hilly or mountain area.

Don't forget the 100k timing belt change,that's about $1000 down the drain if you do it right and get new tensioner,idlers,and water pump.

 

[mazterofpupetz]

On average,mostly depending on terrian,the 2.4 gas KJ get's a lousy 1-2mpg's better then the 3.7 V6,at see level and flat, or far worse then what a 3.7 KJ get's,hilly or mountain area.

Don't forget the 100k timing belt change,that's about $1000 down the drain if you do it right and get new tensioner,idlers,and water pump.

Thanks for the reminder! I shouldn't have to do that for 3 years though. I'll have to report back on the mileage I get with the 4 cylinder.

Other than the hate for the 4 cylinder, it seems like there isn't much to worry about with the 2005 Liberty.

 

[tjkj2002]

Other than the hate for the 4 cylinder, .

Guess your now a member of the "low output Jeep club".

 

[first&lastKJ]

It might be a four ****** but it's still a Jeep.

 

[HoosierJeeper]

I think the tensioner should be done now, regardless of miles.

Other than that, the 4 cyl is ok if you're cool with the power. KJ's are great!

 

[tjkj2002]

I think the tensioner should be done now, regardless of miles.

Other than that, the 4 cyl is ok if you're cool with the power. KJ's are great!

Lucky the 2.4 is not a interferance engine,though if the belt breaks/falls off at high rpm the valves can touch each other but that is pretty rare as you'd have to be above 5000rpm's+.

 

[mazterofpupetz]

Guess your now a member of the "low output Jeep club".

Thanks! And I'm sorry to hear about your penis dude... :icon_biggrin:

 

[Luke]

It was fun to drive I thought and lugged my 4k lbs around pretty good I thought!

Well .. that's all you need then really ...

Personally though, I could not even imagine having less horsepower in my KJ

 

[tjkj2002]

Thanks! And I'm sorry to hear about your penis dude... :icon_biggrin:

Well that part is more then fine.

I was actually reffering to a name club started on another forum.

Low Output 4 Cylinder Jeep Club - JeepForum.com


Very firm believer of the old saying "there's no replacement for displacement" and after I recover my V8 swap funds(family medical emergancy) something in the 390+ cubic inch range will be under the hood of my KJ.Hey gotta overcome the 6000lbs weight,she's fat.

 

[rebelchick]

Hi!!! I just closed on my 2005 V6 4x4 KJ today! I absolutely love it! Been wanting one for 5 years and finally traded my 2004 Mustang and 1997 Explorer towards it <3 Came with the fog light bar on top (kinda sealed the deal for me). So excited to be a part of the Jeep World!!!!!!!!!