Pathfinder vs. Grand Cherokee

[Pancho Villa]

Does anyone drive the 2005 versions of either of these two cars? I am in the process of buying a new one and am having trouble deciding which one to get. The prices are fairly similar and I think the Pathfinder is a bit bigger and has the third row seat...which is good since I have two kids.

I'm just looking to see if anyone has thoughts on either...thanks in advance.

 

[cbs]

I'm not sure how old your kids are, but the third row seat would seal the deal for me. I've got an SUV that doesn't have the third row and I can't tell you how many times it would have come in handy to haul the kids' friends, cousins, etc around.

 

[happy fun ball]

I think I would get the pathfinder were I in your position (or I would go over the top with the silver cayanne), but the real reason for this post is to applaud you for resisting either the mini van or the suburban. Well done.

 

[washparkhorn]

4 Runner (or Sequoia, if you really need and will use a 3rd row). The 4 Runner has a 3rd row.

 

[Mizzou415]

My friends who have had Grand Cherokees have all found them to be a huge pain in the *** due to poor reliability. I haven't known anyone who bought one of the last few years so perhaps they're better now.

 

[wolfman]

I have an older Pathfinder and it is still going strong with 150K miles on it. I have had few problems with it other than standard maintence. I plan to drive it a couple of more years. I have heard about historical problems with the Cherokees, I dont know if the new models are any better or worse.

 

[wherzwaldo]

Another Pathfinder owner here with 150k. Pretty happy with my 97. I think the 2005s are ugly though.

 

[The Brown Hornet]

In reply to:

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[Orangeblood]

Katy and I bought a '96 Grand Cherokee Laredo and had no problems with it whatsoever until it was totalled in the 2001 flood. Then we bought a 2001 GC Laredo and it's never needed anything but regular maintenance.

We rented a 2004 (or 5) GC last football season at an away game. Hated what they did to the inside of the vehicle.

 

[Pancho Villa]

Thanks for all of the replies. I leased a '99 GC back in the day and hated to give it up (balloon pmt. wasn't worth it). I never really had any problems with it, but then again, I had it only 3 yrs. A girl I work with has a '99 and can share similar stories with the rest of you. Maybe '99 was just a bad year?

I think I am leaning more toward the Pathfinder...the third seat is nice and its a tad bit bigger than the GC.

 

[Remove Rowdy]

You will want to go with the Pathfinder. I have a 98 and looked at getting a 2005 this year. While I was in the dealership I started to think back that this thing had 150K on it and it has not given me one problem. The only thing I do is standard maintenance and I haven't even changed the lights out yet. Why would I want to get a new car when I haven't even tried to kill my current Pathfinder? And I am sure the 2005 Pathfinder will be even more reliable. Although the 2005 GC may not be like the previous models, the track record is not trustworthy.