Test drove a SRT-8 Cherokee...

[Poopie D]

Test drove a brand new 07 SRT-8 cherokee today...I thought it would be a little more practical than my V for my kids. Here are my thoughts:

Very dissapointed! I expected so much more from this vehicle. The fit and finish was horrible with no real special accents that you would expect from a specialty vehicle. In a nutshell, my likes and dislikes:

Disliked:

- Cheap feeling plastic EVREYWHERE! You guys complain about our interior! Cheap feeling steering wheel, shifter, e brake and plastic door handles. Even the seat inserts felt cheap. Piller handles had poor fitting screw covers that came off while I drove.

- No special interior special touches like srt-8 door sills or badging

- Rough ride

- Top heavy, mushy handling was not even close to my V with fg2

- Auto trans did not really make for any fun...power was there but did not give the same rush as my V.

- $4000 Gas Guzzler tax (new to Canada this year!)

Liked:

- Exterior looks/styling

- Supportive seats

- Bluetooth, Back up camera, rear DVD and overall electronic options

All in all, I left the dealership very happy with my V and enjoyed the 40 minute drive home! I understand that they are very different vehicles but I still expected more than what I saw. If you had to get a SUV, it may be an OK choice but to replace the V, z06 or any other performance car would be a no go imho!

P.S. They only offered me $23,000 for my 05 with 24,000 miles on it against a price of $62,000 (cdn, tax incl) for the Cherokee!

[VCAT]

Originally Posted by Poopie D

P.S. They only offered me $23,000 for my 05 with 24,000 miles on it against a price of $62,000 (cdn, tax incl) for the Cherokee!

That would have been about the time I said HA nice try.

[caddycruiser]

Yeah, they're actually quite good vehicles, but you hit the nail on the head with one thing...the interior quality, and even looks, as with so many current Chrysler products, is AWFUL.

If they improved just one thing, it should be to revise the interior look and then completely re-build it out of solid, quality (some padded, some firm, nice textures and trim, etc.) materials throughout. Enough of the hard as rocks generic tupperware stuff that fits together poorly and usually makes more noise than anything else.

Otherwise, really a ran of the SRT-8...they're just cool, if honestly, a bit more than most people want to pony up for.

[ryneV]

Why would you be comparing the V to an SRT8 SUV? Did you really think it would handle better and accelarate better? Well, I know one thing, it will holeshot a V from light to light.

[Blackout]

Originally Posted by ryneV

Why would you be comparing the V to an SRT8 SUV? Did you really think it would handle better and accelarate better? Well, I know one thing, it will holeshot a V from light to light.

Not only that but they would give a CTS-V a run for it's money stock for stock

[ryneV]

Originally Posted by Blackout

Not only that but they would give a CTS-V a run for it's money stock for stock

Let's look at the price....... How does GM come up with a sticker for the V at over 50k from a regular CTS?? Old LS6 & LS2 engines, old T56, crap rear, bigger rims and brakes..... and they charge how much for all that??

I'm not defending Mopar, but you should be comparing a SRT Charger or 300 to the V. If you do, the V loses on price vs. performance alone.

[Silver Dollar]

Originally Posted by ryneV

...I'm not defending Mopar, but you should be comparing a SRT Charger or 300 to the V. .....

I did.

That's why I'm driving a CTS-V.

Nuff said.

Lock the thread.

[JimmyH]

that thing is rated 12/15 mpg! I thought the V was bad at 15/23...

it might be fast, but its still an SUV. SRT=Silly Racing Truck.

[Sandy]

Ya but, when it snows outside a good 7 inches and the plows did a lousey job, the SRT-8 G.C. is gonna get where ya wanna go, alot better & safer than the CTS-V. (Depends where ya live, though. and How badly you MUST be at work.)

[JimmyH]

not on the tires it comes with, F1 supercar I think? same as the V.

[Destroyer]

Originally Posted by Sandy

Ya but, when it snows outside a good 7 inches and the plows did a lousey job, the SRT-8 G.C. is gonna get where ya wanna go, alot better & safer than the CTS-V.

So would an old 4WD Blazer. Whats your point?.

[CVP33]

Originally Posted by Destroyer

So would an old 4WD Blazer. Whats your point?.

I believe that the point was that a blazer can't do 0-60 in 4.5 seconds, 12.9 second quarter mile runs and a top speed of 155mph. The Jeep SRT8 is an all weather performer with sports car performance. I believe that would be the point. A true SPORT Utility Vehicle vs. a Utility Vehicle.

[JimmyH]

Originally Posted by CVP33

I believe that the point was that a blazer can't do 0-60 in 4.5 seconds, 12.9 second quarter mile runs and a top speed of 155mph. The Jeep SRT8 is an all weather performer with sports car performance. I believe that would be the point. A true SPORT Utility Vehicle vs. a Utility Vehicle.

yeah, but will the Jeep's suspension hold? I broke one (at the subframe) without breaking a sweat.

Good to see ya C! Glad to see Urb hasn't driven you completely away haha

[Blackout]

Originally Posted by ryneV

Let's look at the price....... How does GM come up with a sticker for the V at over 50k from a regular CTS?? Old LS6 & LS2 engines, old T56, crap rear, bigger rims and brakes..... and they charge how much for all that??

I'm not really following you on this. If anything it sounds like your putting down the CTS-V because it's using old stuff instead of all new stuff. But at the same time I'm not comparing the two to each other I'm just saying that in a drag race it would be neck and neck between the two

[Blackout]

Originally Posted by jimmyhauser

yeah, but will the Jeep's suspension hold? I broke one (at the subframe) without breaking a sweat.

lol......I think the SRT-8's suspension is just a tiny bit better then then stock GC's suspension. Kinda like how the CTS-V's is just a tiny bit better then a stock CTS. But if you meant for off roading then you bought the wrong SUV for that then. I think the CTS-V and the SRT-8 might be at a stailmate when it comes to their off roading capabilities