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WK2 Test Drive

9K views 61 replies 34 participants last post by  bill_de 
#1 ·
Just a little confused over the WK2. The WJ and WK were awesome Jeeps as they were utilitarian with a touch of luxury but the WK2 seems to be supposedly luxury with a very small touch of utilitarian. The WK2 also has very very very similar lines as the BMW X5 all the way around as in they definatley were looking at an X5. Members here posted of the improvement of materials vs the WK but all I noticed was the use of more soft plastic and vinyl. Thats right soft plastic!!! Here is an inside tip on auto manufacturer's interiors. As you may or may not know that padded dash has foam and skin on top of a "hard plastic" piece . So instead of grained vinyl and foam over plastic, they grained the plastic and they are done which results in less urethane used per car, lighter weight, and more durability (urethane dashes crack over time). The only reason manufacturers used padded dashes was because airbags didn't always exist. But since then the general public has always thought padded meant more quality. Truth is its a joke. Im sorry if I'm coming across as negative but I had heard so much from you guys about how much of an "improvement" the wk2 was and was so excited to trade my wk for one but was so dissappointed on this test drive with the limited wk2 and left wondering what happened to Jeep as a company. It pretends to be higher quality with soft plastics and vinyl and yet lost its utilitarian Jeep soul with no 4.7L offered and 4 wheel independent. The WK seems to be the last great Grand Cherokee built as it knew what it was and wasn't masquerading to be something it's not. It was a utilitarian truck with touches of luxury. If you want to see true high quality interior go sit in a BMW X5. Again sorry for the negativity but I just feel so betrayed by this forum and by Jeep. Peace out!!!
 
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#2 ·
Who the F*** massages their dashboard while driving. Who cares if it's soft or not, I just want a Jeep that is truly solid and rugged underneath it all not a Mercedes Benz chassis. This sucks!!! Thanks Jeep for atleast making the WK Laredo X. I'll keep that forever and find another one when it dies.
 
#3 ·
Get real dude....the wk is junk in all comparisons to the wk2. I own 3 versions....wk, wd(durango) and the wk2 srt8. I consider myself an authority. I've taken all three apart at one point or another and the wk is inferior in every way.
 
#6 ·
The WJ had a one piece dash that was soft touch. The WK's interior was actually a step backwards for Jeep, blame Daimler and Cerberus. Plus, as an X5 owner, EVERYTHING is soft touch in it, however, it definitely is not as capable off road as the Jeep. I agree WK2>WK. However, jeep still needs to get their reliability in check for me to get back into one.
 
#7 · (Edited)
Just a little confused over the WK2.
Yeah the discussion occurs for each model change. The WKs had more "luxury" and were less unitarian than the WJs. "Independent suspension, who wants that? Give us solid axles". The WJs were less unitarian than the ZJ, "coil springs whats with that? Give us the articulation and simplicity of leaf springs". Unfortunately the folks with money and actually buy these things want luxury and could give a rats behind about rock crawling.

If you really want a unitarian Jeep, you need to look at wranglers. The WK2 is built to dominate the SUV market that wants uncompromised go anywhere on road features when needed, but great highway manners when not. That is where the money is, they think. And the WK2 does that better than any Grand Cherokee model by far.

What may be missing is an in-between wrangler/Grand Cherokee model... ah the liberty. Perhaps you should be looking at that model. We have one, very unitarian and a solid rear axle. The base model interior you can just hose off to clean it :)
 
#9 ·
Ya the BMW X5 is soft touch everywhere because its REAL leather everywhere. I joined and posted now but have been here for years reading your posts which I thought people were supposed to post here with honesty as I did. If you like the WK2 that is what matters and I am happy for you and would never personalize or say stuff like that to you so please don't make comments like that about me just because I was being honest in sharing my opinion. Its hard when you grow up always admiring and loving jeep wranglers and grand cherokees anagin because the grand cherokee was utilitarian like the wrangler but had added touches of luxury which always was in my eyes the best 4x4 made. I feel so betrayed by Jeep that they sold out the Grand Cherokee and I came here to vent not to be betrayed further by your comments personalizing evrything I had to say about the WK2. Grow up !!! Thanks I will leave. And on that note the WK 4.7 Laredo X was the last real Grand Cherokee built by Jeep!.
 
#11 ·
Sounds like a disgruntled WK owner, wishing to remain in his time warp. Truth is, the 05-10 Grand Cherokee is THE worst variation of that model ever produced. Ive had every generation. The entire automotive industry/press considers the WK1 a huge steaming pile. Chrysler CEO even referred to the Commander (shared WK platform) as "unfit for human consumption" LOL. So, go back to your clunking, creaking, axle howling, tupperware cabin'd WK. :slapfight:
 
#18 ·
You feel "so betrayed by this board?" Dude, turn in your Man Card for even typing that.

As a WK2 owner and a previous X5 owner I prefer the profile and looks of the Jeep over the X5. The X5 is seriously overpriced and when you load it up on options it's just nutso crazy money. The X5 is more of a status symbol. I know...I owned one for that reason.

I'm very happy with my purchase.
 
#20 ·
Members here posted of the improvement of materials vs the WK but all I noticed was the use of more soft plastic and vinyl. Thats right soft plastic!!!
We owned a 2006 GC Overland - maybe I was just to dumb to see it - but I couldn't find any leather on the dashbord....:lol:
 
#24 ·
Too bad I couldn't have got to you before you wrote this, but You're allowed to have your opinion a lot of which I agree with. I would have showed you my experience when I agreed with someone before who didn't like the WK2. I've seen very few I like, and like you said the independent rear is a huge question mark for me. I do like the SRT, but I don't think I want to spend that on my DD. I'm hoping that the new models coming out have the kinks worked out, and look a little different.
 
#25 · (Edited)
Okay, so the WK has the most front wheel travel of any Grand Cherokee, has the best version of the 4.7 liter engine (best Jeep engine) which you can't get in the WK2, and a solid rear axle with Quadradrive 2. Oh but it has a plastic dashboard and fake aluminum trim. Okay I see Jeep's priorities now with the WK2. Yes English is my first language and the spelling/grammar on my first post was very well actually.
 
#26 ·
Okay, so the wk has the most front wheel travel of any grand cherokee, has the best version of the 4.7 liter engine (best jeep engine) which you cant get in the wk2 and a solid rear axle. Oh but it has a plastic dashboard. I see Jeep's proirities now. Yes English is my first language and the spelling/grammar on my post was very well actually.
Are you sure you don't mean very good?

Didn't you say you were leaving?

If not, how about some pictures of your ride. I'd like to see what I'm missing.
 
#29 ·
Actually the X5 comes with 4 years or 50,00miles bumper to bumper and full maintenance. Where were you on that one dipsh*t? I apologize for saying whats on most of the real Jeep Grand Cherokee owners' minds. I see this community is for the WK2 mentality. I found a new board with people who actually know what a Jeep Grand Cherokee was and should be (WK with 4.7 quadradrive 2, solid rear axle and independent front with longest wheel travel of any Grand Cherokee, oh and a rugged plastic utilitarian interior) not what they have become now. Thanks Scott (amateur) Peace out. Enjoy your WK2 wanna be X5's. Peace!!!!!
 
#31 ·
I own a 2005 Grand Cherokee Limited with a hemi. I drive my car very hard and it has 130,000 miles on it and it still running great.

I took a new wk 2 out for a test drive with a 3.6 and I was a little disappointed in its ride. it was a little pokey and it rode kind of like a Camry, not a lot of personality. the dealership had limited inventory and I didn't really get to drive the car of my choice.

on paper and with almost 300 horsepower I thought it would be a little bit more responsive. waiting for the for 14 model.

love the idea of the 8 speed and great gas mileage. Can't wait.
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