Jeep Renegade advice
Discussion
Morning all,
The girlfriend has her heart set on a lightly used Jeep Renegade as her next car. A petrol, because she only does short journeys to work, and a 1.4 because it has some power but isn't as expensive to insure as the 1.6.
We're going to look at a nice Limited spec one tomorrow at a car supermarket in Yorkshire - she'll be looking at the finance agreement (which is black magic AFAIC) and I'll be inspecting the oily bits and service history etc.
Whilst I know a bit about Jeeps, I know little about the Renegade other than its based on a Corsa platform and the 1.4 is Fiat's multi air engine. I gather they have an OK reputation reliability wise.
So, are there any potential pitfalls or trouble spots I need to look out for/ check service history for please?
Any advice gratefully received!
The girlfriend has her heart set on a lightly used Jeep Renegade as her next car. A petrol, because she only does short journeys to work, and a 1.4 because it has some power but isn't as expensive to insure as the 1.6.
We're going to look at a nice Limited spec one tomorrow at a car supermarket in Yorkshire - she'll be looking at the finance agreement (which is black magic AFAIC) and I'll be inspecting the oily bits and service history etc.
Whilst I know a bit about Jeeps, I know little about the Renegade other than its based on a Corsa platform and the 1.4 is Fiat's multi air engine. I gather they have an OK reputation reliability wise.
So, are there any potential pitfalls or trouble spots I need to look out for/ check service history for please?
Any advice gratefully received!
ChemicalChaos said:
Morning all,
at a car supermarket in Yorkshire
I hope it's not the "infamous" car supermarket in Yorkshire - please Google the name of the place you are planning to go to beforehand, and depending on the result, look elsewhere. I don't think I can name the place due to PH rules but it's been discussed extensively on here, recently in fact.at a car supermarket in Yorkshire
I had a 2.0 diesel TrailHawk version last year.
Overall I liked it - quite a funky, versatile thing and just that little bit different. I bought one after having been really impressed with the off-road capabilities when I did an off-road course using it a couple of years ago.
It's well-built and has enough 'surprise and delight' features to keep you entertained. Mine had all the toys. It's basically a Fiat 500X underneath, but Fiat have certainly upped their game in recent years.
The ride was a little unsettled and stiff and there isn't much steering feel, so not a driver's car by any means. It was reasonably refined on motorway journeys, despite the bluff profile. I suspect the petrol variants are nicer still, as are the 2WD versions. Mine was an auto and I found it a little lazy and confused when selecting gears, being reluctant to get into a higher gear. The lazy auto box and bouncy suspension were the biggest negatives.
Infotainment wasn't too bad, with good phone/bluetooth audio integration and a few 'apps' that relieved the boredom from time to time - Reuters news, FaceBook, Twitter and text message integration.
A flat battery caused me to use the included Fiat breakdown assistance and they were great - it always amused me getting charming followup calls from Italy, asking if I was happy with everything.
In summary, it was a good car, but not that good a car, if that makes sense?
Overall I liked it - quite a funky, versatile thing and just that little bit different. I bought one after having been really impressed with the off-road capabilities when I did an off-road course using it a couple of years ago.
It's well-built and has enough 'surprise and delight' features to keep you entertained. Mine had all the toys. It's basically a Fiat 500X underneath, but Fiat have certainly upped their game in recent years.
The ride was a little unsettled and stiff and there isn't much steering feel, so not a driver's car by any means. It was reasonably refined on motorway journeys, despite the bluff profile. I suspect the petrol variants are nicer still, as are the 2WD versions. Mine was an auto and I found it a little lazy and confused when selecting gears, being reluctant to get into a higher gear. The lazy auto box and bouncy suspension were the biggest negatives.
Infotainment wasn't too bad, with good phone/bluetooth audio integration and a few 'apps' that relieved the boredom from time to time - Reuters news, FaceBook, Twitter and text message integration.
A flat battery caused me to use the included Fiat breakdown assistance and they were great - it always amused me getting charming followup calls from Italy, asking if I was happy with everything.
In summary, it was a good car, but not that good a car, if that makes sense?
Cheers all for the responses!
She's not a PH driver interested in the minutiae of on the limit cornering ability, and currently has a basic Fiat 500 - so I'm sure that as long as it doesn't have any truly nasty ride/handling traits this will be a step up that she'll love.
It's a manual that she's going for so the auto's lazy response wont be an issue either
kiethton said:
Not sure but aren't they still on 9k mile service intervals/6 year cambelts? - could get ££££ depending on how many miles you do
She lives 10 mins from work and occasionally goes back home to South Wales from Cheshire, so hopefully it won't be an issue. Thanks for the heads up though as I'll make sure to check the intervals have been followed so far! CAPP0 said:
I hope it's not the "infamous" car supermarket in Yorkshire - please Google the name of the place you are planning to go to beforehand, and depending on the result, look elsewhere. I don't think I can name the place due to PH rules but it's been discussed extensively on here, recently in fact.
Not sure - this is, lets say, an AutomobileStore in Wakefield. They seems to have very good Google reviews.LuS1fer and mellowman said:
Good reviews
Many thanks chaps. She primarily likes it for its looks and image - she's likes Jeeps in general and loved the V8 Commander I had when we started dating but it was way too big and old (and spendy to run) for her to consider.She's not a PH driver interested in the minutiae of on the limit cornering ability, and currently has a basic Fiat 500 - so I'm sure that as long as it doesn't have any truly nasty ride/handling traits this will be a step up that she'll love.
It's a manual that she's going for so the auto's lazy response wont be an issue either
ChemicalChaos said:
CAPP0 said:
I hope it's not the "infamous" car supermarket in Yorkshire - please Google the name of the place you are planning to go to beforehand, and depending on the result, look elsewhere. I don't think I can name the place due to PH rules but it's been discussed extensively on here, recently in fact.
Not sure - this is, lets say, an AutomobileStore in Wakefield. They seems to have very good Google reviews.My brother had a 2.0 diesel TrailHawk model in a fetching shade of orange from new. 2 issues with it in the year or so he had it. First was before it was even delivered to him, EPS failed and the dealer had to replace it before delivery. Second was the well reported issue with the aerial\GPS antenna which was fixed quickly under warranty.
Other than those 2 issues it was fine, it was used pretty hard and was used off road a bit etc with no issues. Drove ok for a CUV with some off road capability, well equipped, looked great in Trailhawk trim in orange etc. He only got rid of it as wasn't really big enough for their main family car with 2 kids, large dog etc
Other than those 2 issues it was fine, it was used pretty hard and was used off road a bit etc with no issues. Drove ok for a CUV with some off road capability, well equipped, looked great in Trailhawk trim in orange etc. He only got rid of it as wasn't really big enough for their main family car with 2 kids, large dog etc
I had the 1.6d on a 66 plate brand new, was fine but very very dull and the depreciation was epic. If you buy a few years old I guess it's less of a concern.
I had a courtesy car with the 1.4t engine in it, it didn't suit the car to me. Also that car with 6k had a failed headunit / touch screen.
Less practical than I expected, the boot was quite small and tall rather than deep
I had a courtesy car with the 1.4t engine in it, it didn't suit the car to me. Also that car with 6k had a failed headunit / touch screen.
Less practical than I expected, the boot was quite small and tall rather than deep
CAPP0 said:
ChemicalChaos said:
CAPP0 said:
I hope it's not the "infamous" car supermarket in Yorkshire - please Google the name of the place you are planning to go to beforehand, and depending on the result, look elsewhere. I don't think I can name the place due to PH rules but it's been discussed extensively on here, recently in fact.
Not sure - this is, lets say, an AutomobileStore in Wakefield. They seems to have very good Google reviews.CAPP0 said:
I hope it's not the "infamous" car supermarket in Yorkshire - please Google the name of the place you are planning to go to beforehand, and depending on the result, look elsewhere. I don't think I can name the place due to PH rules but it's been discussed extensively on here, recently in fact.
Why not put just the location then people can't find who you are on about with some Google workI had a rental one a few years ago, really loved it. It was the 1.6 diesel so any comments on the engine wouldn’t read across to you but I remember finding it comfy enough, heated seats and wheel were amazing, really nice place to sit. I also loved that it wasn’t just another drab SUV and actually had a bit of character, as far as a modern car can. I liked it so much I even snapped a pic:
Well, thanks for the advice everyone!
Last weekend we made the trip over the M62 in biblical rain to TheCarShop in Wakefield. I'd never been to a car supermarket before but this was a truly enormous place with a huge hub building full of sales, finance, handover and trade-in desks.
We walked in at 9.30 with the keys to a Fiat 500 still on its own finance, and walked out at 1pm with the keys to the Renegade. As a total virgin to the world of trade ins and car finance (I've always bought cars outright, and only sold half the cars I've owned - and those were private) I was amazed how slick the process was a d how helpful all the staff were.
I know not how "good" the deal was in terms of value - it's not my money, not my car, and as long as she was happy to pay it I don't want to get involved.
Anyway, the Jeep. It really does have all the bells and whistles inside - both of us were impressed. Full peeled cow, heated seats, heated steering wheel even! It is really noticeably wide though compared to most hatchbacks, I guess that's a function of the vertical sides rather than tapering.
After a quick local tourist stop off (see below) I ended up driving it back (over the woodhead pass!) as she didn't want to drive an unfamiliar, much larger, car for 2 hours in such intimidatingly apalling weather.
It's quite strange in a way - in the lower gears it really does shift well, but in the higher gears it seems to bog down quite easily and has to be downchanged and revved out to get up gradients. I guess at the end of the day, the 1.4 is still a small engine in a heavy and blunt car. Luckily the gearbox was a joy to use in terms of tightness and throw, and the engine liked to be revved (says the man used to driving a 3.2 Ranger with a plodding engine and horribly agricultural clutch/box).
I can certainly see the points made about the slightly stiff/bouncy ride - I definitely noticed it driving back. However, I don't think it'll be a deal breaker, especially as this one still has sensible sized wheels with decent profile tyres.
At the end of the day, my girlfriend loves it so far so here's to the next few years of ownership!
Last weekend we made the trip over the M62 in biblical rain to TheCarShop in Wakefield. I'd never been to a car supermarket before but this was a truly enormous place with a huge hub building full of sales, finance, handover and trade-in desks.
We walked in at 9.30 with the keys to a Fiat 500 still on its own finance, and walked out at 1pm with the keys to the Renegade. As a total virgin to the world of trade ins and car finance (I've always bought cars outright, and only sold half the cars I've owned - and those were private) I was amazed how slick the process was a d how helpful all the staff were.
I know not how "good" the deal was in terms of value - it's not my money, not my car, and as long as she was happy to pay it I don't want to get involved.
Anyway, the Jeep. It really does have all the bells and whistles inside - both of us were impressed. Full peeled cow, heated seats, heated steering wheel even! It is really noticeably wide though compared to most hatchbacks, I guess that's a function of the vertical sides rather than tapering.
After a quick local tourist stop off (see below) I ended up driving it back (over the woodhead pass!) as she didn't want to drive an unfamiliar, much larger, car for 2 hours in such intimidatingly apalling weather.
It's quite strange in a way - in the lower gears it really does shift well, but in the higher gears it seems to bog down quite easily and has to be downchanged and revved out to get up gradients. I guess at the end of the day, the 1.4 is still a small engine in a heavy and blunt car. Luckily the gearbox was a joy to use in terms of tightness and throw, and the engine liked to be revved (says the man used to driving a 3.2 Ranger with a plodding engine and horribly agricultural clutch/box).
I can certainly see the points made about the slightly stiff/bouncy ride - I definitely noticed it driving back. However, I don't think it'll be a deal breaker, especially as this one still has sensible sized wheels with decent profile tyres.
At the end of the day, my girlfriend loves it so far so here's to the next few years of ownership!
Edited by ChemicalChaos on Saturday 10th October 19:35
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