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(yes, tongue is firmly in cheek!!!!!!!!) :shades:
No imports; darn!! There goes my Canadian modified Vette.
If anyone hears anything from any tire places, please let us know!
I'm looking for a black wheel myself, nothing too expensive/fancy, obviously with good snow traction on the tire...
I ran with a Camaro SS yesterday...saw him coming up in the rearview mirror, pulled over to the middle lane to let him get beside me, looked over, then pulled in behind him because I was coming up on a car. So, he took off, then I took off, and then pulled into the middle lane to pass him (easily)...
The real story is that there are dealers that will let you test drive them (I did), but they are going to be hard to find. However, first they really want to know who you are and if you are for real. It's ridculous to think that they would expect you to purchase a $45k vehicle without test driving it, but putting myself in their shoes, I do understand their position on this. There are a lot of clowns out there that pretend they have or are going to get a car just to impress people. Sometimes it's hard for people to tell the honest folks from the pretenders.
High-end import and exotic car dealers have this problem all of the time. I'm sure that occasionally they inadvertantly insult people that don't look like they have the money, but do. The biggest problem is that none of us are used to domestic dealers doing that. But if you think about it, how many people do you think actually drove a Z06 before they bought one?
If you are really serious about this car, my suggestion is that you call the Sales Manager and introduce yourself. Set up an appointment and take the hour drive to show him that you are for real without expecting a test drive. My experience is that if you show some commitment, then they may think that you are worth it. However, it may take you a couple of trips to convince them and if you do get a test drive it will probably be short and the salesperson will go along.
With a car this limited and in demand, they have a right to be somewhat discriminating.
HEY, it just dawned on me, I think that blkhemi that posts on this forum is somewhere in your area. Maybe he'll let you drive his SRT8!
I had no problem getting a test drive before buying mine back in early Feb when very few were available. It all depends on the individual dealer's attitude.
Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT-8: Test Drives
tidester, host
blkhemi - this was from a post I stumbled on from a while ago (post 601 it looks like)...I've been thinking about getting the bug deflector and a rear spoiler if mopar had one...since it seems that they do, do you have any pictures of that, so I can see what it looks like? Did you consider the bug deflector?
I had ordered the "dealer-installed appearance package" (which supposedly included both of these items) when I ordered mine, but it was m.i.a., and then the dealer said he couldn't get ANY information on it, and now it doesn't even appear as an option any more in "build your vehicle" online! So, I guess they quit offering it.
I also considered the dealer appearance pkg, but opted out of it since I was told one price but they wanted to charge me another. Got the spoiler from Mopar, painted, and installed it myself. I'm satified with it.
BTW: Has anyone scraped their front chins on the curb yet? It's a costly (about 300 bucks) mistake. I had to have mine repainted. Watch those curbs because the front of this thing hangs so low.
If you have on-demand Speed Channel, that's where it is otherwise you'll have to wait until it comes on regular timing.
Oh, okay...any chance you have any pictures of the rear spoiler so I can see how that turned out?
Thanks!
Ron
Just wondering if anyone has had a chance to drive the SRT8 Jeep in the snow with the 20" performance tires. Do they recommend snows? Thanks.
I will be buying a set of winter wheels and snows and may even get a set of the black glossy wheels like blkhemi says he has! I sure wish I could get him to post a photo of them as they sure sound cool.
1) While the car is idling, if you pop the hood and look at the engine, it looks like the engine shakes slightly. The engine seems to run fine. This is only when you look at the engine during idle.
2) During full throttle starts, occasionally there is a delay in shift between 2nd and 3rd gear. This has only happened to me 3 times.
3) If I start the car and either pull it out of my garage and shut it off or start the car, let it idle briefly and shut it off, there is a strange sound that is heard immediatly after the engine turns off. It's kind of like an electrical buzz that lasts for < 1 second coming from the engine area. This only happens if I start the car, don't drive it and turn it off. This never happens after driving the car.
4) By the way, I also have the exhaust rattle issues mentioned earlier in this forum.
If anyone has experienced these issues can you let me know? Other than that, the car is awesome and is a monster. It's perfect. To have a car that has room for the kids, can handle 25 bags of mulch, can be driven in the snow, can be driven by my wife and still out accelerate most cars is a beautiful thing!
It gets lots of looks but also is not noticed by many either. It's a true sleeper car. I had a husband/wife team pull up next to me at a light in a GC 5.7 and ask "what is that?" I still haven't seen another on the road yet. From the issues I read in some of the earlier postings, I feel lucky that I bought the car at a NJ dealer that had it sitting on the lot for over 1 month with no buyers and I got it for 500 under sticker.
Thanks in advance for any advice.
I've noticed the reduced traction with the high power in the rain already, especially in Michigan lefts and such. Not looking forward to snow yet!
I'm just really annoyed that I don't have lights telling me when the cruise is ENGAGED and when the auto headlights are TURNED ON, like I had in my 7 year old explorer!!!!!
I've also noticed (have I said this before? not sure) that when I have the cruise engaged at say 75, then I jump on it to pass someone (or some such action...) that if I get up high enough that the cruise actually turns OFF - not just disengages, but turns off...and I wouldn't expect EITHER to happen! I just thought this was odd...and annoying...
But, gotta love that power!
If you did, did you notice any difference in performance?
1. I haven't noticed the vibration (haven't looked). Could be that the there is vibration that you can see and not feel due to engine dampening. I have noticed a slight "rough idle" when the car is cold. Not enough to worry about, but keeping my eye on it.
2. I have noticed the occasional delay between hard acceleration 2nd and 3rd upshifts. I've also noticed that when it finally does shift it sounds like a manual. I have also noticed that when you start up under "normal" acceleration and are going 5-10 mph or so and jump on it, that the engine will stay in 2nd, bog slightly and accelerate from there rather than shift back.
While we are talking about the trans, I do want to mention that when the vehicle is cold the first upshift seems to be hard. However I have had two hard ("BANG") shifts under hard acceleration that have me slightly concerned. I'm keeping my eye on that. With all that power and torque, the trans may be the weak spot in this power combo and is one of the reasons that I got the extended warranty.
3. That electrical sound you hear is some of the components shutting down. I can't tell you what they are, but I'm 99% sure that it's normal and nothing to worry about. I've heard it too. My M5 had a similar "shutdown" electrical sound.
Sounds like you got a fair deal with your dealer. You can probably thank the oil companies for that car sitting on the dealer lot for a month. Enjoy.
I have to say that driving at 75-80 in yesterday's Noah's Ark deluge on I-94 (I'm sure you got that too) was very comfortable. I was concerned about the fat rubber hydroplaning in standing water, but it drove quite well.
Thanks for checking out the idle.
Regarding the auto headlights, the only indicator I've seen is when the headlights first turn on, the information screen under the tach says something like "auto high beams on" or "auto high beams off". But it's only displayed briefly. There is no constant indicator. I'm still trying to decide if I even like the feature.
Regarding the cruise shutting off, I haven't seen that yet but I haven't used cruise. It's been too much fun hitting the gas. But I will try it and let you know.
1. Thanks for the info on the idle issue.
2. I have also noticed when you hit the gas hard at 5-10mph that there is a slight hesitation and it stays in 2nd instead of downshifting to 1st. I actually have taken such a notice to it, that when I demo the car for someone, I make sure I punch it from 0 mph instead of waiting until 5-10 mph. There is huge acceleration difference between them. I have not witnessed the "bang" shifts you mention but will keep an eye on it.
3. Thanks for the info on the shutdown electrical sound.
The only other things I've noticed with this car in the short time I've had it is: a) tons of break dust and b) the rear jumping hard if you hit a dip or bump in the road while traveling at highway speeds. I know this is due to the live axle but one has to be careful if you are accelerating hard and changing lanes at the same time an unexpected dip happens.
I forgot to check the idle, sorry, I'll try to get to it in the next couple of days.
On the auto highbeams, I really like that feature!! It seems to work very well, even when coming up behind someone, it'll detect their taillights from a good distance away and turn down the lights quickly...and I like how they fade back up to high-beams on, too...
I'm looking for more advice. I have a chance to buy an '06 w/ 200 miles on it. I'm sure these are test drive miles and probably not easy ones. Has anyone bought a GC SRT8 with this many miles on it? Should I order one and wait months or grab this one. Thanks.
Like you said, those are probably tough miles, given that the break-in period is only 300 miles, you wouldn't have much time left to baby it. I'd insist on getting a free oil change before delivery, and a discount below sticker, at least $1000 off. They want to get rid of it before the 07's come out!
Speaking of the 07's, that's a reason to wait...they are orderable now, though not delivering until september/october, from what I understand. They do include a few nice new features, enough that I would seriously consider waiting - and then you'd have the fresh vehicle.
Like I said, tough question! I guess it comes down to the discount...
Did anyone here get a test drive by themselves before they purchased? Htron? Kec8?
200 miles wouldn't bother me any ... plus there's that whole school of thought that you shouldn't baby a new car in the first place (borrowed from a long standing motorcycle tradition). ymmv.
I do find it hard to believe with how hot the JC SRT is, that any would be sitting in dealer lots.....here in Chicago, they go FAST...
ACTIVE TURN SIGNALS (activates the signal with a tap)
21.1 GALLON FUEL TANK
MOLD-IN-COLOR CUP HOLDER
SOFT-TOUCH FINISH ON UPPER INSTRUMENT PANEL
TIP START (prevents double starts and preserves battery and ignition gear life)
Also, Remote start added to Option Group 1
for $41k, do you have option group 1? dvd? Nav? If you have all those, then I'd say go for it, not a bad price at all.
Now you've seen the list of what they added for 07, including the backup camera...but you'll pay 5k-6k more, depending on your options! (dvd and nav are 1200 more each).
How about color? Is it the color you'd want? It may come down to that! It's a tough choice.
I'm going to get a haircut and lose the dreadlocks and piercings the next time I go for a test drive. Not sure what I can do about the Nike Swoosh tattoo on my forehead though - maybe a comb over. :shades:
'06 list price on the web (and at any dealer I checked) was 39,995 + 3250 (approx, can't remember exact) for option group 1, + 1200 for nav, + 1200 for dvd...I don't remember if there were any other options, but that's over 46k right there! And, no employee discount, of course (I might have heard they're offering it on ones left on the lot now, but surely the 07's won't have employee discount - the 06's sure didn't during the year).
Did I miss something?? Maybe I misunderstood your message?
I really wouldn't worry that much about the miles as long as they were giving you a decent discount. I'm assuming that the SRT you're looking at comes with Opt 1 and Nav. That's not a bad price. I'd see if they can do better, though.
I'm with Steve. I wouldn't worry that much about a couple of hundred miles...even demo miles. People may be hard on the test drive if they're alone, but I think that 95% of them still have enough respect for a dealer's car not to intentionally trash it (okay, you caught me. Although there are jerks in the world, I still believe in the inherent good in people...and the fear that they'll get caught doing something they shouldn't). I also doubt that they let anyone take the SRT8 for a very long test drive.
If you're thinking of leasing, I'd worry about the miles even less, as you can give it back at the end if there are "issues". That's why I leased mine and purchased the extended warranty.
I got two test drives with two different dealers and they both had the salesman come along. Even the dealer that I've gotten 7 cars from in the past 9 years. When I went on my first test drive, they would only let me take it about 10 miles and I had a State cop following for most of it. On the second test drive with my usual dealer, I did not drive the vehicle any different than I would have if I was alone and I did make my salesman somewhat sorry that he came along (white knuckle and pale complexion).
Keep in mind that for now, to a Chrysler Jeep dealer, a Grand Cherokee SRT8 is probably the most "special" vehicle that they handle and they want to ensure that it's treated well. Can't blame them.
When did you order your '07? My local dealer is trying to sell me the'06 (from another dealer 150 miles away) and telling me it'll be "months" before he can get an '07. I'm very interested in exactly how long it's going to take. The local dealer says he hasn't even gotten the pricing for the '07s. Is this guy just clueless? He admits that they have only sold one so maybe he doesn't have all his facts straight. Maybe I should stop by Chicago....