Edmunds dealer partner, Bayway Leasing, is now offering transparent lease deals via these forums. Click here to see May lease deals!
Options
Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT-8 vs Chevy TrailBlazer SS vs Porsche Cayenne Turbo
This discussion has been closed.
Comments
tidester, host
Unfortunately, by the time the commercial came out, my order was complete. That was my first time seeing a black SRT Jeep and it was slick. Very menacing look. I agree it does look tough.
Our reviewers adjust the times for altitude and humidity (or something like that).
Glad to hear you enjoyed the review otherwise. :-)
Steve, Host
Here's the pic
one dealer i went to is asking 57k for it with nothing in it but the srt package... and some dealers dont even know what it is...
(Amazingly low price, tow capacity, and great performance!)
I went to Fairbanks (Sawgrass) Jeep and they said to expect $10,000 over MSRP - even if I ordered it! I said "forget it" and walked out. Yardley-Massey Jeep put the order in for me at MSRP
I used to have a Silver 2 door Chevy Tahoe Sport with headers, exhaust, and audio, and I've missed it ever since I sold it back in 1998
- As fast as you remembered?
- How's the exhaust note sound?
- How's the Boston Acoustic sound system?
- Observed MPG? (I'm sure it's under 14 )
- Any people stoping and staring?
Isn't that kind of like asking a new born baby's partents if he (or she) will be a good Doctor?
If your cars go from 0 to60 in 4.2 sec and stop from 60 to 0 in 3.1 sec. what difference does it make??
I have very fast cars too, but my 1965 VW bug gets me to work faster.
When you go to 60 as fast as you can, and then stop as fast as you can, all that starting and stopping cuts your overall time to work, way down, and your tires will only go so many blocks like that.
I remember once, when I was way younger than I am now, I went to work like that in my 1965 289 Cobra, A real AC Cobra. I only worked 10 miles from work but I had to have two pit crews, one at the 3 mile mark and one at the 8 mile mark to get new tires and fuel to make it to work. And at that, I was always 2 hours late, due to all the stopping and starting. Long and short of it was I lost my job. But then I got the VW Bug. I got a new Job, got to work 3 hrs. ahead of all the guys in their fast cars and now own the company.
CK
PS We own the company that sells the High pref. parts and big (20" and above) to all you guys.
Now I dive a Bentley Cont. But I earned it by learning how to go slow and I got it from those who thought they were going places fast, just 1/4 at a time!
I agree with your story, altho my SRT won't be a daily driver. It's just a weekend hauler, sort of like all of my other sports cars. The only cars that I regularly drive through the week are my Commander and my Audi A8. That way I won't have to call your company to order more rims and tires every 3rd and 8th mile down the road.:P :shades:
My neighbor has a 300 SRT-8 and he told me just yesterday that his car just turned over 11,000 miles and he hasn't had a problem at all, and he uses it as a daily drive. He also told me that these motors get more flexible after about 1000 miles, because before then it's a little tight wound, like most big cube motors.
Have you lined up agaist your neighbor's SRT-8 yet?
Or have you even discussed it?
BTW - I just checked with DC, and they finally have given my order the "BX" code (Cleared for scheduling). Which probably means I'll see it mid to late Jan
But I think Florida has yet to see its first GC SRT-8 anyways. I've called around and nothing.
I recently received a video of all of the components that DC use to put inside of the 4.7L, 5.7L, and the 6.1L engines. Let me just tell you in a short way, the same engineering and precision that Mercedes use in putting it's wonderful engines goes into the Chrysler engines as well. The engines have received outstanding reviews from all sorts of publications and owners, me being one of them.
To make a long story short, Chrysler has come a long way from those durable but very thirsty 318 and 360 motors(5.2 and 5.9L) and has created some of the best engines in the industry.
Glad to hear your vehicle is one step closer to being in your possession.
Yeah, I'm still picturing your saticfaction to calm my anxiety I
Anyway, it's a crazy next week and a half, so I probably won't think too much about the GC 'till after the New Year.
I almost always got 22 mpg on the Hw at 75mph!
Now how is that for SUPER?
I know of no reason to think the 6.1 won't be anything but fantastic, except to those who like GM products. (and they like :lemon: too!
Whewwww, I'm glad that my SRT-8 is built right in the U.S.A and not with Made In China labels all over it. GM, get it together. The TB SS can't save you.
P.S.- GM, why did ya have to kill the Camaro/Firebird? Since then GM has been slipping and sliding like a Chevy TrailBlazer SS without AWD in the rain.
tidester, host
I didn't say that all of GM's motors are bad. I for one own a '06 Z06 and this thing is way before it's time in terms of engine refinement. However, GM's V6's and some of the much-hyped Vortec V8's of late besides the 3.6L and 3.8L(oldie but goodie) has seen major problems. Ford has so many problems with so many engines that I can't even began to describe them. As for DC, they need to take their fleet of V-6's out in the pasture and put them out of their mysery.
As for the HEMI just an advertising fluff, it's safe to say that you are probably the only person to say that the HEMI is all show and no go. Sorry that you've experienced problems with your previous Jeeps, however they're not all like that. I've driven Jeeps for the past 30 years and have never experienced the problems that you have.
P.S.- Do a little research on the HEMI before slamming it. Some of the most trusted publications(J.D. Powers and Ward's to name a couple) and a lot of owners find the engine peerless for seamless operation and great low-end grunt.
Steve, Host
Steve, Host
If the inside of that Tahoe didn't fall apart at so many occasions, I'd probably still have it - or at least had gotten a new one.
As for the Vortec making it 4 years and not the HEMI, the new-gen HEMI has only been around since '03, so no, it can't say the same because it's not 4 years old yet.
I wish a could say better things for most of the Vortec motors. I had a '03 GMC Yukon Denali XL with the 6.0L Vortec engine in it and it was just a plain sour :lemon:
Was in the shop for more leaks and engine accessory failures than I can count. I got rid of it after only 34,000 miles. I've got a '98 JGC 5.9 Limited with 201,000 miles on it, and other than serpentine belts and a few water pumps, batteries, alternators, and a oil pan gasket, has never ever had to have the maintenance that both of my previous GM vehicles had to endure. But this is not to say that Jeep hasn't had their share of reliability fatigue, as we all know they have.
With that said, GM still builds some great engines, I for one will always buy the new Corvettes everytime there is a remake. The Northstar and the new 4 and 6 cylinder engines are a cut above, in fact the Cobalt's engine made the list.
Maybe the '07 GMT900 SUV's and pick-ups will erase my perceptions and help GM out of their slump. Read the Chevy/GMC truck forums and you'll see that I'm not the only one to have experienced probs with the venerable Vortec.
Now back to the topic at hand, the SRT vs. SS.
I'd take the SS over the HEMI for practical reasons any day, since it successfully remains a true SUV (hauling and towing don't get sacrificed) while still gaining the ability to haul tail. Keep in mind that this is from the perspective of someone that actually has to use the vehicle for more than weekend drives- I completely understand your viewpoint too, blkhemi. If I could afford a garage full of vehicles that I could take out just for pleasure cruising, I'm sure I'd have the Jeep too. Then again, the garage would probably be a bit like Jay Leno's..
The SRT- If you want all out performance that beats just about every SUV(yes this includes Porsche and BMW) and even some hi-po sports cars and coupes but don't care about towing capacity, go with the Jeep.
The SS- If you want a great performing SUV that can also tow another SS behind it with the magnificent Corvette motor and the ability to go with a 2WD version, go with the Chevy.
I personally chose the Jeep over the Chevy because of the performance advantage. I've got a Commander and a Ram, and both are HEMI-equipped. so towing and cargo capacity issues are lost for me. With that said, the Chevy is a great SUV in that it has everyday praticallity in a $32K package. It has many virtuous advantages over the Jeep, except for couple of things: HP and the ability to out-corner a Porsche Boxster and hang with just about any sports car out there.(NO Ford GT's, Vette Z06's, tho)
But here's the one truly compelling argument for me. My TBSS was $29,203 out the door - tax, tag, title, no down payment, no trade, just Bleeding Red Tag discounts.
Now I get to relive my 1996 Impala SS, and still put the kids and dog in it.
Quite the bargain. And I understand the shortcomings - quite frankly, I'm not big on domestic cars, and my other car is still a 2005 Lexus RX330 - but for $29,203 I bought a motor with a car, so to speak, the car happens to be a TBSS.
It probably isn't the overall car that the RX330 is, or that the Acura MDX I was pining for would be, but DAMN that motor makes up for it. And it leaves me a whole bunch of cash to do other stupid things with, motor related or otherwise (like repairing my hurricane damaged porch a THIRD time in 14 months).
$29,203.
Cheers,
Bruce
The TBSS is definitely a sweet looking truck (especially in black) with plenty of room, power, performance and towing. And at $30k it is a bargain.
The GC SRT-8 has acceptable room (it IS an SUV) and towing, and it too is a bad looking truck.
But it has ULTIMATE power and performance, and that is where it is separated from the rest. At $45k out the door and its limited production #'s, it seems to be justified as a bargain just the same.
BOTH are gas guzzlers (no gas guzzler tax though - yay!) and BOTH will out perform most cars on the road.
Bottom line - BOTH are gonna turn heads (and ears )
Dislikes: (keep in mind this relative to my last 3 cars - Lexus, Toyota, Honda) fit/finish, some minor ergonomics, switch feel/quality, interior material quality, wind noise, lack of rear seat legroom and access (my RX330 is like a limo, relatively speaking), base stereo quality (even my base Honda stereo sounded better). The 20 inch wheels make it follow grooves in the road a tiny bit, but well worth the trade off to get the traction this beast needs.
I knew the shortcomings of this TBSS - a carefully optioned Honda Pilot would be more practical for me, probably more reliable, and address almost all of the dislikes I mentioned. But a Pilot (even my RX330) is a precision appliance. Little emotion or character. The TBSS (or SRT8) is a CAR with soul, something you can feel passionate about (okay, maybe I have problems).
I think both the SRT8 and TBSS are unique vehicles that are unlikely to disappoint their owners. Kudos to GM and to DC for making these.
Chris is famous for his work with GM vehicles, including the Pontiac GTO's, another LS2 application.
He believes that an honest 50 HP was left on the table, and also torque management that really leaves something to be desired. Combined with a new CAI to replace the factory CAI (yup, that's a functional CAI inlet in the grille under the headlight), it should be bolt on goodness that really wakes up the LS2.
Most believe the tranny to be good to 500 HP, and the rear end for even more (it's a 9.5 inch LSD similar to what's in the 2500 series trucks - pretty tough).
It's good to see that GM and DC is taking the step up in this growing area of the industry. It's a good thing to see them stepping up to the Brits and the Germans with their overpriced and underperforming SUV's(SAV's, I'm sorry).
Roll on DC and GM. Now if GM could just get the SS Silverado just right, it'll be just perfect.