Thinking about buying my 1st Jeep

[Gont]

So I was at the dealer yesterday and I test drove 2 Jeeps. First I took out a new Compass, wish I didnt, but I did. Horrible car, but rather than get into that I'll get to my question.

The guy there showed me a 2003 Liberty Rocky Mountain (Freedom in the states from what I read?). I had this all day and I really like it. But, its got 77,000km (48,000 miles) on it. It also has some paint chips on the hood and a little rust under the back passenger door. The guy told me he would get that fixed, but I dunno.


Anyhow, I also see on the dealers website now that they have a 2004 Liberty with 23,000km (14,000 miles). They say its the Rocky Mountain edition but from the picture it doesnt look like it. The 2003 has the "bolt on" fenders and the nice black wheels, etc. The 2004 doesnt. They are asking $4100 more for the 2004 aswell.

So my question is, what would you buy? $4100 worth 34,000miles less?

2003 has black fenders.

 

[desertkj]

The rust under the door and the paint condition of the first is what would make me seriously consider the second. Liberties are still very new to be getting rust already.

 

[06Liberty]

yeah, I'd get the one with the lesser amount of miles anyway...but I like the wheels on the '03 alot better.....get the '04 but see if they'll swap the wheels! that'd be cool.

 

[Gont]

Another question, is the 2004, from what you can see in that pic, the Rocky Mountain (Freedom) edition? Or is it just the sport?

I'd be at the dealer now looking at it but they are closed till Tuesday, Canada day and all.

 

[desertkj]

Another question, is the 2004, from what you can see in that pic, the Rocky Mountain (Freedom) edition? Or is it just the sport?

I'd be at the dealer now looking at it but they are closed till Tuesday, Canada day and all.

The 2004 is definitely a Freedom Edition. You can usually tell because the front and rear bumpers are plain black plastic like a sport, while the fenders are painted.

EDIT: Oh, and see if they'll give you the Aspen parked next to it for the same price.

 

[06Liberty]

but the wheels look like the limited wheels and not the rocky mountain or freedom....am I right?

 

[desertkj]

but the wheels look like the limited wheels and not the rocky mountain or freedom....am I right?

Good call on that one. Those are the optional chrome ones. If I were buying, I would consider that a bonus (unless they are 17s also).

 

[Gont]

Ah, ok. Can you tell me why the 03 has the "bolt on fenders" The dealer guy told me thats from the Rockey mountain (freedom) edition deal. Thats why I thought the 2004 wasnt...any ideas?

 

[desertkj]

Ah, ok. Can you tell me why the 03 has the "bolt on fenders" The dealer guy told me thats from the Rockey mountain (freedom) edition deal. Thats why I thought the 2004 wasnt...any ideas?

Honestly, I don't know. I thought the flares from both years would be the same. At this point, between the rust and the different flares, I think I would be asking for a Carfax report on both before I made any decisions at all.

 

[bfaas]

yeah the bolt on fenders are apart of the freedom edition "package"

 

[Gont]

Carfax.com tells me the 2004 is a Sport while it says the 2003 is the JEEP LIBERTY SPORT/FREEDOM.

Maybe I should buy one of these reports. $30 gotta be worth it.

 

[desertkj]

Carfax.com tells me the 2004 is a Sport while it says the 2003 is the JEEP LIBERTY SPORT/FREEDOM.

Maybe I should buy one of these reports. $30 gotta be worth it.

If you are completely serious in getting one, I would invest in the reports. There is a good chance I am wrong, but the difference in fenders just has me thinking collision repair. Hopefully, somebody who has more experience with the Freedom models will chime in. I've been doing Google searches of Freedom Editions, but I'm still not sure.

 

[Gont]

Just got a carfax report on both of these. The 03 tells me its had 2 recalls and I dont see anything else.

The 2004 doesnt show me anything except that it was serviced at 2500km...does show up as just a sport though but you guys say its for sure a rocky mountain/freedom.

Thanks guys. Gonna take this 04 for a ride on Tuesday mornin.

 

[desertkj]

Just got a carfax report on both of these. The 03 tells me its had 2 recalls and I dont see anything else.

The 2004 doesnt show me anything except that it was serviced at 2500km...does show up as just a sport though but you guys say its for sure a rocky mountain/freedom.

Thanks guys. Gonna take this 04 for a ride on Tuesday mornin.

Hey, thats cool. I have no idea what the heck is up with the different fenders. Hopefully it all goes well for you and you end up getting what you want.

 

[06Liberty]

Here's some pics of a rocky mountain edition...with regular fenders.
http://www.jeepkj.com/forum/showthread.php?t=32945

And here's one of a Freedom edition with the bolted fender.
http://www.jeepkj.com/forum/showthread.php?t=31871

Which leads me to believe that the '03 is the Freedom and the '04 is the Rocky Mountain....but I could be wrong, it being in Canada and all, maybe it's different for some reason?

 

[Gont]

From what I read before I thought the Rocky Mountain and Freedom were the same thing. Just different name cause I'm in Canada. Maybe the Freedom is something different. Looks that way w/ the fenders.

 

[desertkj]

So there is a difference. I never knew that. Thanks for clearing that up 06Liberty.

 

[Marlon_JB2]

Yup... our '03 Freedom Edition is the Rocky Mountain in Canada.
'04 Rocky Mountain was the same in each country... we also know the '04 Rocky Mountain as the Columbia Edition... minus the free jacket of course. Either way, they both start from the "Sport" trim level...

Stay away from Rust. Go for the '04.

 

[Gont]

Come to think of it, the 2003 I was driving yesterday, has the badge on it that says Rocky Mountain and it has the "Bolt on fenders". I wonder why the 2004 doesn't, must be another option?

 

[Marlon_JB2]

Come to think of it, the 2003 I was driving yesterday, has the badge on it that says Rocky Mountain and it has the "Bolt on fenders". I wonder why the 2004 doesn't, must be another option?

That's just the way they came. Remember, the '03 Canadian Rocky Mountain Edition is our Freedom Edition which came with the bolt on look fender flares.

The '04 Canadian Rocky Mountain Edition is the same as the US RME... which never came with those type of fender flares.