The new Caradimas truck

[John]

You have read about it (one of the reasons I haven't been around as much as I normally do, the other being the Easter vacations for the kids), but haven't seen it yet.

Well, here it is:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v323/sv1cec/Grand%20Cherokee/Dsc_1488.jpg

It is a 2002 Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland. With a 4.7 lt High Output engine and enough electronics gizmos to make you crazy. For the first time in my life I had to read the Owner's Manual to operate some of its functions.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v323/sv1cec/Grand%20Cherokee/Dsc_1490.jpg

I love its luxury interior, its ride (the smoothest of any car I've ever had), its power (gosh, it feels good to floor the right pedal and feel the 265 bhp push you back in your seat) and torque (most of the time the V8 doesn't need to be revved above 2000 RPMs). Oh yes, I also love the auto gearbox, my bad left knee certainly loves the .... laziness.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v323/sv1cec/Grand%20Cherokee/Dsc_1489.jpg

I hate the 17" rims (those darn 17" tires are bloody expensive, and you don't get too many choices), and I miss the height of my aging Cherokee. You can see how tall the old truck was, at the left in the picture above.

Oh, yes, the owner forced me to mention that this is NOT my truck, that's Lena's truck, even though she doesn't drive it (scared of the auto gearbox and the power). She prefers her underpowered Ssang Yong (ex-Daewoo) Musso,

http://www.m1911.org/images/Musso/penteli02/MussoFlexing.jpg

which by the way is 2" longer than the Grand Cherokee. Suits me fine, I would say.

[elijdub]

Very nice John!!!!!!! Congrats on "your" new truck :).

Will you swap out the rims? My Tundra's tires are incredibly expensive :scared:.

[d90king]

Nice truck congrats, wow a 4x4 and green grass what's next....... ;)

[rnjj1219]

John.....I mean Lena, that's a great looking truck!:)

[jeff1124]

Congrats Lena, And you too, John, looks like a great vehicle! :D

[Ric4509]

Hi John - Congrats! Nice truck and nice interior too. I also like Lena's truck. I haven't seen a Daewoo like that here in the US. 4.7 liter, wow!! Lots of power.

[DVMCLD]

Nice looking buggy. I know what you mean about the 17" wheels. My wifes vehicle has them too and they are expensive. Thet quoted me $240 per tire when they need replacement. Hopefully that won't be for a year or 2. (she drives less than 5K per year)

[garrettwc]

Nice new staff car El Commandante. That 4.7L is the heat ain't it. That's the basis for the 'Hemi' powered Dodge cars and trucks here in the US. A few years ago I worked for the local Dodge dealer and he had a 4.7L Jeep with some aftermarket goodies and 3" exhaust tubes on it. He had gotten the horsepower up over 300. :eek:

Riding with him was....interesting. :p

[John]

Thanks to all for the compliments. On an ... individual basis:

Will you swap out the rims? My Tundra's tires are incredibly expensive

No Eli, not this time. I had new tires on it (and managed to chop one of them less than a week after I installed them, LoRL) so I think I'll keep them, at least until the next tire change. You'll get an incoming PM soon, on another issue.

John.....I mean Lena, that's a great looking truck!


Turn the knife in the wound???!! :p


Thet quoted me $240 per tire when they need replacement.

Tell me about it. 825 Euros for four, or 1320 US$ !!!!!

That's the basis for the 'Hemi' powered Dodge cars and trucks here in the US.

I know, the Hemi is the only good thing about the newer Grand Cherokee, but the independent front suspension made me avoid them. And they are still very expensive here.

A few years ago I worked for the local Dodge dealer and he had a 4.7L Jeep with some aftermarket goodies and 3" exhaust tubes on it. He had gotten the horsepower up over 300.

Stop giving me ideas, now that I got the horsepower bug again (I used to have it in my twenties), I do not need much to start changing parts in search for the last pony. :p Lena will kill me if I dare touch her truck with anything she doesn't approve. And for her, the engine is already more powerful than she likes. What does she know!!!

[Frank]

John, congratulations on being allowed to drive Lena's new ride (since it's hers, I trust that she's assuming fully responsibility for the maintenance, washing, taxes, insurance, etc.).

The interior looks very sharp. I love the wood touches and the color of the upholstery and the full set of gauges. As we get older (although you're still young) we do appreciate a little more luxury. And an automatic tranny can be very nice. I switched a couple of years ago (35+ years of pressing a clutch was enough).

And ain't horsepower nice. There's nothing like pressing down on the loud peddle and feeling that push in your back. Power is good (except for all those too many idiots on the road who should be made to drive peddle cars -- or banned from the road entirely).

But don't complain to me about how expensive the tires are. I just had to replace a tire on my M-B (Perelli P-Zero, 255/35ZR-19). That's an expensive tire.

Well done, drive safe and don't bend Lena's car.

DVC

[Tom]

John, did you buy the new Jeep in Greece or did you have to import it from the U.S.?

I remember back in '92 with my Mustang. It came with Z-rated 225/55R16 tires which were $150 or so a shot then. My jaw dropped! :scared:

What's really funny is that back in '92, that sized tires was almost exclusive domain of sports and high performance cars. But eight years later, my '00 Mercury Sable came with the SAME SIZE TIRES! Standard! Okay, they're not Z-rated but the dimensions of the tire are the same.

[A.B.]

...an automatic tranny can be very nice. I switched a couple of years ago (35+ years of pressing a clutch was enough)Amen!

Tires have become really good, and extraordinarily expensive--since we dropped our jaws at $150 performance tires. Something is wrong with that equation, somehow. :(

Congrats, John!! That's a great engine (and package)!

[John]

Oh Frank, how I feel your pain. 19"ers huh! They had cost you a fortune I am sure, and Pirelli P-Zero isn't the cheapest tire around. I still remember the amazing difference some P-7s made to an old Fiat I had, as if it was a different car.

And no, Lena paid for the truck, but I pay all the rest. Tires, navigator, maintenance, washing, gas, you name it. I would be happy if she would take over the gas bill, man that V8 is sucking gas at huge rates!! It's the first time I have a car, that I drive from here to down town Athens and I can ... see the change in the fuel gauge. Those ponnies are sure thirsty.

[MacEntyre]

John, couldn't you find a Jeep Commander? :D

[John]

Mac, you mean the current Commander? Neah, I would never get one of those new Jeeps with the independent front suspension. The WJ is the only Jeep both me liked (each one for different reasons, LoRL). If I were to get one of these new SUVs, then the BMW X3 would be the car I would select, but these are still too new, and hence expensive. Of course, I wouldn't mind a Wrangler Rubicon, but we are getting old, those toys are better left to younger people.

[OD*]

Congratulations El Commandante!
That's a beauty.

[Hunter]

Great looking Jeep John, I understand those are nice vehicles.

[cliff731]

Congrats on the new "family" wheels, John!!! http://forum.m1911.org/images/icons/icon14.gif

Jeeps are iconic in my book... don't own one, but my middle son has a previous generation Wrangler... nice ride too.

Speaking of watching the gas gauge move... and very expensive replacement tires... my youngest son recently bought a new Mustang GT Bullitt. It can move the needle from F to E at a very rapid pace when all excited... and I do imagine those tires it wears will make a huge dent in a guy's wallet!!! :p

My eldest son owns a Ford Super Duty motivated by a Power Stroke diesel. I cannot repeat here what he says about the recent pricing for a gallon of diesel fuel... which his truck requires in enormous quantities!!! :nono:

Me... I'm leaning towards one of these for my next transportation purchase... ought to be very good on gas... and I'll save lots of money on replacement tires!!! :D

http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w266/pentaxuser01/Folder%201/Uni-cycle.jpg

[elijdub]

That might be just the answer Cliff ;).

[John]

With the current gas prices, I wonder how clever a purchase we made!

I heard that the oil went up to 122$ yesterday. That's insane. I ain't going to say something that springs into my mind, because Hawkmoon will warn me for talking political.

Thanks for the nice words gentlemen, the Grand is such a pleasure to drive, that I find myself jumping at the minor hint, if I have to use it. "John, we are out of juice for the kids". My usual response would be "OK, I'll get some next time I go to the Super Market". Now? It is "OK honey, I am going get them some!". LoRL

[cliff731]

That might be just the answer Cliff ;).

Thanks, Eli... but to be honest... I wouldn't go near that thing!!! :p

I'm not a "bike" guy (yet!)... aspiring to own a Harley-Davidson though. As a good friend and veteran motorcycle rider told me regarding that one wheeled wonder... "I figure that panic stops should be pretty darn exciting and may be worth the purchase piece alone"... that, Eli, got my attention!!! :D

[cliff731]

With the current gas prices, I wonder how clever a purchase we made!

Gee... John, don't second guess too much. We are at least fortunate to have some wonderful selection for transportation choices. Alas, my car, a 4000 lb plus sedan... Mercury Grand Marquis with 4.6 liter V8 will cruise the interstate highway at 70 mph and deliver an honest 28 mpg doing that. I don't know what the number translates to for liters per kilometer... I'll check next time on the road. The info is available on my car... switch to "metric display" and I can see it. I refuse to drive a ultra compact mini-car... I do not consider such a choice as safe... even if it delivers 60 mpg! In one of those, you are "eye level" with the front bumper on most American SUV's... yikes!!! :eek:

I heard that the oil went up to 122$ yesterday. That's insane. I ain't going to say something that springs into my mind, because Hawkmoon will warn me for talking political.

Yes... Hawkmoon is watching!!! ;) Gas prices are predicted to rise further... and thus create more havoc and worry. Until 2006, I was working in the oil & gas exploration business... and I always benefited directly from any increase in the price of a barrel of oil... more work and more dollars!!! :appld: I'm not so certain anymore. :(

Thanks for the nice words gentlemen, the Grand is such a pleasure to drive, that I find myself jumping at the minor hint, if I have to use it. "John, we are out of juice for the kids". My usual response would be "OK, I'll get some next time I go to the Super Market". Now? It is "OK honey, I am going get them some!". LoRL

That's what I'm talkin' about... there's your best justification for buying that superb Jeep!!! :D

[MacEntyre]

I just put my 1973 BMW R75/5 back on the road after storing it for 10 years. It gets great gas mileage. Went to the store yesterday evening to fill a backpack with groceries.

Of course, my wife, daughter and son all wanted to go for a ride, so there went the gas mileage!

[John]

:lm:

[Ping Ping]

Oh, very posh, John. Certainly the country gentleman's wagon.

I'm working up a build sheet for you as we speak.

Cold air intake, three inch exhaust, air lockers, 35" Mickey Thompson Mudders, 5" lift, brush guard, Gerry Can carrier on the rear, roof mounted Piaa's; four front aimed, two rear aimed, titanium roll cage, five point harnesses...

I'm pricing up a mini-gun turret.

BTW, how many cup holders in there?;)

[A.B.]

...roof mounted Piaa's...I'm pricing up a mini-gun turret...

http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t316/gordonsorensen/GreekLeopard.jpg

The Hellenic Army has Leopards, Ping, your specs might need a little beefing up! ;) :p :D

[Tom]

Alas, my car, a 4000 lb plus sedan... Mercury Grand Marquis with 4.6 liter V8 will cruise the interstate highway at 70 mph and deliver an honest 28 mpg doing that.
Gotta love those Panther cars. I've got a '96 Crown Vic, and at mostly 80 MPH I'm getting 21-22 MPG, which I cannot complain about.

Oh, and covert MPG to KPL, just use this formula:

1 mile per gallon = 0.425143707 kilometers per liter

So my 22 MPG land yacht get about 9.3 KPL.

[John]

We normally use lts/100 km here in the old continent. Your 22 MPG would be.... mumble mumble mumble ..... that's about 11 lt/100 km, if I am not too drunk. I haven't seen the Grand go below 17 lt/100 km!!!!

[clughog]

John, I bought my 2002 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited six years ago in April, and have over 109,000 miles on it now. It's been really reliable,and I've loved every minute of owning it. I have the Goodyear Eagle LS P235/65R17 tires on it and got 39,330 miles on the first set, 46,200 on the second set, and I'm still working on the third. Of course, that's all highway miles--no true off road stuff (so far). Like yours, it has the 4.7L H.O. engine and full-time four wheel drive.

http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f290/clughog/02-15-2006054115PM.jpg

[Tom]

... if I am not too drunk.
Are you saying your math IMPROVES with alcohol?

[John]

Are you saying your math IMPROVES with alcohol?
Huh??? I sincerely do not think so, but you never know!!! I can't do the verification when I am drunk, LORL :D :) :p

[MacEntyre]

It's "a priori!"

[cliff731]

Gotta love those Panther cars. I've got a '96 Crown Vic...

You betcha, Tom!!! Thanks for that one too!!! 22 mpg at 80 mph in a 4000+ lb. V8 sedan is doggone good!

I like my Panther so much that I'm looking forward to the next one... only thing is I'm a long way off... these cars just keep on runnin' and runnin'!!! If the Energizer Bunny was a car, he would be a Panther!!!

That very fact has been a source of frustration to my youngest son... driving a '99 Panther car. He has been wanting to buy a new set of wheels for over a year and his current Panther with 270K+ miles just keeps on going. He can't wear it out!

Note- his frustration became unbearable about a week ago and he caved in and brought a new Mustang GT home. It's under the carport... he's still driving the Panther for his daily commute!



We normally use lts/100 km here in the old continent...

John,

That was my "bad"... I did re-check that dash display... and when it's set to "metric" that is exactly what it says... LTR/100km !!!

The currently shown 25.8 MPG from a city/highway mix converted to 9.1 LTR/100km.

[Tom]

I like my Panther so much that I'm looking forward to the next one...
Well, you know that Ford is planning to stop production of the Crown Vic/Grand Marquis. The only new Crown Vics will be sold exclusively as fleet vehicles, and then only to 2010 or 2011 (though the Mercury version will still be commercially available). After that, the fate of the Panther platform is in doubt. Ford is focusing (pun intended) on the new Taurus line and it's fellow D3 stablemates.

[Hawkmoon]

Are you saying your math IMPROVES with alcohol?
Doesn't everyone's?

[John]

:lm:

I love you brother!

[jeff1124]

actually my alcohol improves with math, you know, 1 drink plus 1 drink plus 1 drink = a bunch o' alcohol!:)

[Joni Lynn]

Nice new ride John!!!

[Ping Ping]

:lm:

I love you brother!That cinches it! Not only do his math skills improve, but he is moved by the impulse of fraternal affection.

Alchohol = the wonder drug... drink, drunk... :D

The only reason I don't drink and drive is for fear of spotting the leather on the BB TR.

As an aside, anyone know if Ferarri and Colt's are related. I find it curious that one has a "Rampant Pony" and the other, a "Prancing Horse." They actually look frighteningly similar... :confused:

[Auto Mag]

Ping, now you are going to make me walk out to the garage and look at the emblem on my Ferrari 599 GTB!!!! :D

[OD*]

Would an F430, do? :p

http://a332.g.akamai.net/f/332/936/12h/www.edmunds.com//pictures/VEHICLE/2005/Ferrari/100394620/2005.ferrari.f430.32908-E.jpg

[Frank]

The perfect car to go with your Les Baer, OD*.

DVC

[Tom]

Doesn't everyone's?
I don't know about my math, but my bowling scores certainly improved.

And Cliff, I'm sorry if my post burst your Panther-loving bubble. :(

[OD*]

The perfect car to go with your Les Baer, OD*.

DVC
I would be happy Frank, if I could just afford that cars bonnet. ;)

[Tom]

Going "Brit" on us, OD*? Bonnet? What's next, the "boot" and "windscreens"? LOL

[OD*]

I had a MGB and a MG Midget, once upon time, owners manual confused the heck out of me for awhile. :D

[A.B.]

I had a MGB and a MG Midget, once upon time, owners manual confused the heck out of me for awhile. :D :lh: The bits about the tandem six-volt batteries were really odd, to me. Which earth? Anyone need a sulfuric hydrometer?

[OD*]

I didn't run into that, thankfully. The Midget was a '75 and the B a '77.

[A.B.]

I didn't run into that, thankfully. The Midget was a '75 and the B a '77.Fancy-schmancy MGs, with radios!! (I installed one on an MGC, you have to change the "earth" to do so. :p ) I had an almost-Ferrari-red '68 Midget--but no Colt badge...and I put a super-modern 12-volt battery in her.

Mainly, I think of Lucas :p , when I think of British cars...

[OD*]

Mainly, I think of Lucas :p , when I think of British cars...
I think of Mr. Lucas every time our power goes out. ;)
He's the reason the Brits drink lukewarm beer. :p

[cliff731]

....Cliff, I'm sorry if my post burst your Panther-loving bubble. :(

That's okay, Tom... not to worry. I suspect the supply of available Panthers ain't gonna dry up anytime soon... :)

Besides, you might be doing me a favor... I drove my son's new Mustang the other night... ;)

I'm startin' to think that I'm way overdue for a car like that one!!! It's never too late to have a "mid-life crisis"!!! :D