Trailhawk Test Drive
01-18-2014, 10:31 PM
#46
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Year: 1990
Model: Cherokee (XJ)
Engine: 4.0
01-20-2014, 04:59 PM
#47
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Year: 1996
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I agree!
I think we XJ owners are a bit stuck in the 80's sometimes. Other than the music, that might not be all bad.
But lets give this KL a break until someone reports from the field what it really can be.
Perhaps the XJ to KL leap is about as great as the leap from M38 or M151 (my military jeep experience) to XJ. Those bantam weight military jeeps were small and light. Could yank 'em out of a swamp or off a rock pile real easy. And then just hose 'em out at the end of the day. By comparison an XJ looks real cushy and plush, like with all the roll up glass, carpet, and lights. OMG, and a radio! And I don't mean the big box over the rear wheel with the 6 foot antenna. When the 84 XJ came out THIRTY YEARS AGO, the radio was playing DISCO music. It was by comparison a real girly car. Arrrgggghhh! What are we stuck with in these XJ's? No side mount rifle holder like on a real jeep?
Lets not be old farts too much. Have a bit of perspective. It all gets sorted out on the trail. Lets go watch!!
But lets give this KL a break until someone reports from the field what it really can be.
Perhaps the XJ to KL leap is about as great as the leap from M38 or M151 (my military jeep experience) to XJ. Those bantam weight military jeeps were small and light. Could yank 'em out of a swamp or off a rock pile real easy. And then just hose 'em out at the end of the day. By comparison an XJ looks real cushy and plush, like with all the roll up glass, carpet, and lights. OMG, and a radio! And I don't mean the big box over the rear wheel with the 6 foot antenna. When the 84 XJ came out THIRTY YEARS AGO, the radio was playing DISCO music. It was by comparison a real girly car. Arrrgggghhh! What are we stuck with in these XJ's? No side mount rifle holder like on a real jeep?
Lets not be old farts too much. Have a bit of perspective. It all gets sorted out on the trail. Lets go watch!!
01-21-2014, 02:54 PM
#48
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Year: 2001
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Engine: 4.0
I guess I need to get out more. I have never seen an engine compartment that clean. LOL, then again I have never had a brand new car... what's with the wire mesh (maybe it's just textured?) around the head and those 2 sensors? Some sort of Faraday cage? And what's your feelings on how it drove?
02-01-2014, 05:42 AM
#49
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I drove a 3.2 TH about a month ago and thought it was really nice. The one I drove was loaded and came in at a few bucks under $45K. I then drove a 3.6L Outback... which I preferred. For one, it was similarly equipped yet ten THOUSAND less. It also had paddle control of the automatic transmission which the KL did not. I also thought the conventional hydraulic steering in the Outback was much more communicative than the electrically assisted steering in the Trailhawk. Other than the price, there really wasn't a significant difference between the two, each had their advantages and disadvantages but both were, generally, great based on the short time I spent in each. I'm looking forward to reading more reviews of the KL, my mom was set on the Subi but is now considering a Trailhawk.
One (actually two) interesting thing that happened during the KL test drive... I spotted two people taking pictures of the Jeep while I was driving. One of them on the freeway, driving with his knees and either taking pictures or videoing. The other was at a stop light, a mom pushing a stroller stopped in the crosswalk, searched through the mesh bag on the back of the stroller, pulled out her phone and snapped a picture. No one took pictures of the Subi.
One (actually two) interesting thing that happened during the KL test drive... I spotted two people taking pictures of the Jeep while I was driving. One of them on the freeway, driving with his knees and either taking pictures or videoing. The other was at a stop light, a mom pushing a stroller stopped in the crosswalk, searched through the mesh bag on the back of the stroller, pulled out her phone and snapped a picture. No one took pictures of the Subi.
Last edited by F1Addict; 02-01-2014 at 06:02 AM.
02-01-2014, 06:30 AM
#50
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Just remembered one other thing regarding the Trailhawk. It was equipped with the panoramic sunroof which compromised rear seat headroom. I'm 6' 3" and even with the rear seats reclined (they do, slightly), my head was firmly planted on the roof. I sat in the back of a Limited without the panoramic roof and headroom was plentiful, no problems. I assume the Trailhawk would be the same without the fancy glass roof.
02-01-2014, 06:32 AM
#51
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$45K? The dealer must be adding some mighty fancy features or just price gouging.
I built a TH on Jeep's web site with just about every bell and whistle available and it only came to $38,900 from a base price of $29,500. If was going to get a 3.2L TH it would come in around $31,600.
I built a TH on Jeep's web site with just about every bell and whistle available and it only came to $38,900 from a base price of $29,500. If was going to get a 3.2L TH it would come in around $31,600.
02-01-2014, 06:47 AM
#52
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$45K? The dealer must be adding some mighty fancy features or just price gouging.
I built a TH on Jeep's web site with just about every bell and whistle available and it only came to $38,900 from a base price of $29,500. If was going to get a 3.2L TH it would come in around $31,600.
I built a TH on Jeep's web site with just about every bell and whistle available and it only came to $38,900 from a base price of $29,500. If was going to get a 3.2L TH it would come in around $31,600.
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