96 XJ Sport

Anyone have a Commander? How do you like/dislike? Do they have any major flaws? V6 or V8 better (dumb question, I know)? My wife really likes the look of the Commander and wants to replace her minivan with it, but we have 3 kids age 6 and under.

I know Stryker out there has one...what do you think?

96 XJ Sport

Oops! Thanks mods for moving to Other Vehicles. Wasn't thinking there for a minute.

XJ Stryker

I like them

This is mine

XJ Stryker

I didnt see that last part before I posted oops.

I love the commander. The v-6 from what i heard is not nearly enough power for it.

I got the 4.7 plenty of power. If gas stay under 3 bucks a gallon I say go for it. Other wise I would just wait till they make a good Hybrid Commander.

I get 14mpg with D/D and that is babying the gas pedal. I get on it but rarely lol.

96 XJ Sport

Very nice! I like those wheels best...the chrome ones are too flashy for me. 14 mpg OUCH! We do a lot of cruising at 60mph+ so maybe could do better, I don't know.

Do they all come with the third seat and do you use yours? It would have to be functional for us and also leave some reasonable storage space behind it.

OverlandZJ

I had been considering a Commander for the wife as i cant see myself buying any other newer model. The MPG you stated has me rethinking this... i thought they would be better.

nick_n_ii

I like them but I want to find one at auction cheep and strip it down and rebuild it as a explorer type rig. You know Atlas T-case, Dana 60's and 38's .. That kinda build..

jones92jeep

14mpg i think ill put the mony in the old xj it still pulls 16mpg with my foot in it

BlueXJ

If I were buying a new Jeep with a family in mind I would consider the JK 4 door version. I know it can easily handle 2 kids, but am not sure about 3.

nick_n_ii

The 4 door JK seats 5 adults easly.... But after watching a stock one wheel, I'd only own one on 38's or bigger..

BlueXJ

I was more refering not to seating capacity (knew it would hold 5 ppl) but more concerned with space to carry everything involved with multiple kids of various ages and their associated gear. As far as wheelin' it I would tend to think in terms of 35s at a minimum.

XJ Stryker

Its get about 19hwy so when i am cruising it is fine just around town SUCKS.

We use the third row seat alot but if it is not need I reccomend folding it down due to limited rear view mirror visibility. Family loves it too. No storage if third row is up though. I bought a basket thingy for my hitch for road trips like 50 bucks works great.

Yeah MPG sucks around town but hwy is ok and the truck is a beast pulling. I hauled my old Escort from Wa to Ky going 85 through the rockies and didn't lose a drop of tranny fluid and it still smells clean. It is a beast for hauling and I don't even have the Hemi.

BlueXJ

Stryker do they make a roof rack for it because those hitch baskets make it a pain to get in through the hatch.

XJ Stryker

Not really a pain. The glass opens unlike the XJ lol. And if you have all the seats up you can't really fit anything bigger than a purse or computer bag of something behind the seat anyway. So access the rear is not really needed. Yes they make a roof rack for it (Yakima and Thule I believe) when i priced it would have been about 400 bucks and that was too much. I will be loading it up around Thanksgiving for a trip to Louisiana I will take a pic for all of those who want it.

96 XJ Sport

I'd love a pic when you get it loaded down for the trip. I'm afraid that the Commander will have to be off our list for a couple of years though until we get out of the stroller and playpen phase of life. Those things take up residence in the back of our van Thanks for your descriptions!