For about a year, I have been trying to get rid of my 2001 Daewoo Nubira without being turned over and beaten with a hose. Then a couple months ago, I was able to get rid of it. Now, I've had "two" dream cars my entire life: Bimmer and Jeep. So I decided to go get myself a Jeep Wrangler, a car I've always wanted.

First came the test drive. I went and test drove a Wrangler and took it down the highway. Those crosswinds didn't make me too happy. I loved it, but having to drive the highway every day, this wasn't going to work. The salesman told me to check out a Liberty. I had despised -- yes, despised -- the Liberty for replacing the Cherokee. My parents had three different Jeep Cherokee's and I loved all three. So when it was replaced, I kinda held a grudge. But I kept an open mind. I test drove it and loved it. It was high quality material (a huge step up from the Daewoo interior) and looked great.

So I bought one. 2005 Liberty Sport, V6 4x4. Without saying anything else, I can tell you this is a vehicle I will never get rid of. One day it'll be "my ol' Jeep." :)

Exterior:

The exterior -- changed for 2005 -- is beautiful. The front, as you can see, takes on the look of a Wrangler mixed with a Grand Cherokee. Just one of the many different pieces of "middle ground" the Liberty provides. The hood is nicely done with grooves and the whole vehicle has that "curvey" feel to it. Even if you don't like the spare tire look on the back, it doesn't distract you when you're driving. Personally, I find it to be a nice look. The doors are tight. No swinging, etc. The tubing under the doors is a nice feature. It gives the Liberty and even more distinct look and also works out for shorter people getting in.

If you have the means, get the tinted window package. Not only does it look nice, it also makes a huge difference (as I have already experienced) with the interior temp. The front still gets hot obviously, but it's much easier to cool down in hot weather.

Interior:

The interior on the Liberty is sharp. The design is very circular. The gauges are easy to read during the day and night. With alot of cars, there is a "blur" effect because of either sunlight or the backlight at night, but not of that here. The stereo controls are easy to reach. With the premium audio group (which nets you steering wheel audio controls), it doesn't take any work at all (or even thought). The air controls are a little tough to reach. I'm 6'0" with long arms and I have to bend down to reach them. It's not a killer though. The middle cubby hole holds CD's, which is a very nice feature as it elimnates the music mess most of us have in our cars. Carpet and seats are very good quality, no complaints here. The glove compartment is pretty small, so try and keep your papers in a nifty little package.

There's a large area in the back to put your stuff. Tie-downs and grocery bag holders and neat little additions. Of course, the seats fold down for added storage. Just be careful how you place your heavy items. :)

Ride:

Now let's get to the nitty gritty of why we all buy Jeeps: the ride.

The on-road driving is excellent for a Jeep. Going back to my days in a Cherokee, a comparison can't be made. The Liberty drives down the interstate at 75 SMOOTH. That's one thing you'll be surprised with if you test drive it. At higher speeds, it's extremely smooth. The cruise control is straight-forward and a nice thing to have when driving on the interstate. Driving around town, it's easy to maneuver and rides great. It brakes very well, as good as any vehicle I've driven.

Now the 4x4 stuff.

I have yet take it off-off road for two reasons: 1.) It's new :) and 2.) Climbing rocks + stock tires = no-no. But from the safe off-roading I have done, I've been very pleased. I have yet to bottom out on anything. I've crossed a few streams, but nothing that would shock you for a Jeep. Just be sure not to take turns too fast or make any sudden movements in it. Like any SUV, they are more likely to turn over than a car.

The 4HI and 4LO are easy to shift in and out of. If you've never used a Jeep 4x4 before, it will take a few tries to get it down good. Also, there's a Neutral selection if you want to haul it behind an RV, truck, etc.

The gas mileage sucks right now because it's not broken in yet. Once I've driven it a while, it should get about 17-18 in town. Keep that in mind when buying a Jeep -- gas isn't getting cheaper.

It is suppose to tow up to 5000 lbs. and I believe it. Get the towing package if you can (just don't put the hitch on or people will make you haaauuuulll), it'll come into use one day.

Overall, this is an excellent vehicle. The warranty that comes with it is definitely a plus to an already great deal. One thing I've noticed with Jeep dealers from my experience and experience of friends and family is that they are the best dealers around. After you buy a Jeep, you become a member of the (now not so small) Jeep Owners. We got a magazine and everything. :)

I'd recommend this vehicle to anyone looking into an SUV. It's great for individuals like myself, large families, or just a small one. It appeals to all ages and truly keeps the heritage of Jeep.

July 29, 2005 Update:

Well, I've got more to report on the Liberty! These past few months, I've dove head first into the Liberty world. It's vast and there's many useful and cool things that anyone can do to their Liberty.

Lifts:

Currently, there are a couple common suspension lifts available for the Liberty. Let's go over them by type.

Full Suspension Lift

These lifts replace your basic suspension components. Front and rear coil springs, rear shocks, and front struts. This is usually the most reliable and useful kit for off-roading. Also, it can "plush" the ride quality of the Liberty, making for a softer ride on and off road.

Here are the most widely used full suspension kits:

Rusty's Coil Spring Lift
http://rustysoffroad.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=rustys&Product_Code=KJSS&Category_Code=sus_kj_kit

This is a very, very reliable kit and quite a bang for the buck.

Frankenlift
http://www.boulderbars.com

Made by All-J products, this is the best all-around lift available for the Liberty. It is composed of various parts from various sources and was created with much input from the guys out in LOST KJ West (We'll get into LOST later).

BDS Suspension System
http://www.bds-suspension.com/suspensionsystems_11jeep.html

Although not used as much as the previous two, this lift has had fairly good reviews. This lift varies a little. Rather than having new front struts, it includes strut extensions.

Spacer Lift Kits

These kits are comprised of "pucks." As their name shows, they are spacers. They are placed above or below the coil springs, creating more height at a cheaper price, but with less flex when off-road, as instead of having completely new, longer springs, the springs are "stacked" higher.

Here are some common spacer lifts:

Rocky Road Combo Kit
http://www.rocky-road.com/kjsus.html

A great, reliable kit, it offers about 2" of lift. While this kit provides more lift for an 02-02 Jeep Liberty, also known as a "pre-lowered" Liberty (Jeep lowered the Liberty starting in 2003), it is a great kit for the casual off-roader and a great starter kit.

Rocky Road Over The Top Lift
http://www.rocky-road.com/kjsus.html

This kit is about 50/50 as far as problems go. Some people have major problems with it, others don't. When it all adds up, it is worth the extra hundred dollars to go with Rusty's full suspension lift.

Rusty's Spacer Lift
http://rustysoffroad.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=rustys&Product_Code=LBB-1&Category_Code=sus_kj_kit

Basically the same kit as RRO's Over The Top kit, just a bit cheaper in the price.

Daystar 2.5" Lift
http://www.boulderbars.com/kjproducts.htm

This is a widely used kit and is known to be pretty reliable. There are two variations of this kit. The more "advanced" kit includes front upper strut plates, sway bar bushings, bump stops, and shock boots. At about fifty dollars more, it's a wise choice to go with the mentioned kit.

Those are the lifts. Once you get your Liberty (model name: KJ. It's good to remember that.), there are many toys you can add to it. If you are looking to take your KJ off-road, a lift is a good idea.

Armor:

If your KJ is going to be on the trails, it's necessary to have armor. Skid plates will protect the belly of your Liberty from rocks and debris that you may encounter. If you have the Skid Plate Package on your KJ, that's great, but don't expect them to last the life of your Liberty. The Mopar skid plates are a good, cheap option. If you bend one, take it out and straighten it. Mopar also makes rock rails (steel bars that go along the rocker panel on each side of your Liberty). If you do any off-roading, it won't be long before your Mopar rock rails look like a funny looking C.

So, if you're looking for armor, look no further than All-J Products at www.boulderbars.com. They offer great skid plates for your KJ, as well as the loved Boulder Bars. Costing just a little more than Mopar rock rails, these Boulder Bars from All-J have been used and abused by many KJ owners and have withstood all kinds of torture.

Armor is an important part of off-roading. With the right armor, the Liberty can be grocery-getter by weekday, rockbanger by weekend.

Get "LOST":

The final part of my update will be about L.O.S.T., short for "Liberty Owners Special Team." This is THE club for Liberty owners. LOST has helped companies create great equipment for the KJ and helped out hundreds of KJ owners, like myself, to experience what the Liberty can do. LOST's old website, located at www.kjjeep.com, contains alot of information that is still useful, but LOST recently moved to their new website, www.lostkjs.com, which has a great forum to learn from and interact with many experienced KJ owners. Even if you're just a casual off-roader (or never off-road), stop by LOST and learn a little about your brand new vehicle.

Well, that's all for my update. I've had my '05 Sport for four months now and no problems to report. It's been a great vehicle and I highly recommend it to anyone looking.
Amount Paid (US$): 22500
Condition: New
Model Year: 2005
Model and Options: Sport, 3.7L V6 Automatic