Quote:
Originally Posted by Prime Time
Jeeps are trash, I'll take the under.
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Hey, hey, hey! Take that back
Grab some fried chicken and enjoy this read ....
http://mindovermotor.com/2013/03/28/...herokee-srt-8/
If the handling was a pleasant surprise, strong performance from the engine was expected to be a strength. The 6.4L Hemi does a damn good job of propelling this big SUV at quite a rapid rate. I remember when the first Jeep SRT-8 came out, back in ’06, I couldn’t bring myself to believe such a huge car would do 0-60 in 5 seconds. The performance claims for the 2014 Jeep SRT are 0-60 in around 4.6 sec, the 1/4 Mile in around 13.6 sec, and a top speed around 165mph…. not bad for a big car with a large face.
Numbers only tell part of the story, though. The real strength of the Jeep is how the engine feels from the driver seat. It has the pulling power that people love from American V8s, and that makes its speed come easy, a little too easy for the law in most places. It throws you back in your seat with vigor, as soon as you get on the gas, and it doesn’t let off. The big V8 roars as it approaches redline, then you pull the right paddle and the savagery continues. The power feels immense, especially on normal roads.
Many people may say they think this Jeep is underpowered because “the Bimmer has 552hp”. Functionally, they couldn’t be more wrong. This Jeep is properly fast. After testing the Brembo brakes with a nice hard stop (they are fantastic by the way), I mashed the gas, and the Jeep just shot forward with a staggering level of acceleration. I didn’t bother with the launch control, so it could have been even faster, but the way this thing gets out of the hole is damn impressive. If 470hp isn’t enough for you, then just throw a supercharger or turbo kit on there, and you will blow the doors off of those Germans no problem.
I’d be lying if I said the Hemi Engine wasn’t the centerpiece of the GC SRT, but it is the way that the rest of its performance package supports the engine that really blows me away. The rest of the SRT lineup is made up of rear wheel drive cars that wind up spinning their tires with all this power. The Jeep, on the other hand, has all wheel drive, so it is able to turn all of its power into speed. The result is some very respectable and surprising performance. This thing will take corners pretty damn fast, and is able to use all of its power to slingshot itself out with a great amount of speed. While some of the other SRT models have been a little more about show than go, this Jeep uses every ounce of performance its 6.4L Hemi has to offer… in more than just a straight line too.
In the market
While $65k seems like a lot to spend on a Jeep, you have to keep in mind how much its competitors cost. The fact is, with its performance being so well rounded, the Jeep SRT will give the X5M, ML63, and Porsche Cayenne Turbo a serious run for their money. The thing is, though, the X5M costs $89k, the ML63 costs $96k, and the Porsche will set you back an astounding $110k, and those are all base prices without any options. So, the Jeep is very much the bargain of the bunch. In fact, it costs around the same amount of money as the standard V8 equipped Germany models (X5 xDrive50i, ML550, and Cayenne S), albeit without the hugely expensive options that pile up on top of the price.
The Jeep SRT offers a very solid value for your money, and the same basic package as any of the high performance German SUVs. If you are really concerned about being a little down on horsepower, aftermarket modifications can make things right for well within the $25k+ you’ll be saving over the Bimmer, and others. Also, many kits can get you over 600hp for under $10k, with the right size blower equipped of course. The Hemi is a solid motor to begin with, so it should be able to handle that sort of power without issues. So if you plan to spend around $75k, you will be able to show up all of those pretentious European models.
Sum Up
This Grand Cherokee SRT is a fantastic product from Chrysler. If you are a muscle car loving American, then you should be able to see that your tax dollars have been well spent. If you are more in the tree hugger, “baby on board” camp, then you will probably be furious because this Jeep mocks everything you stand for. It also happens to get pretty awful fuel economy, with an EPA 13 city/ 19 highway mpg, and it will surly dip well into the single digits if driven hard. Interestingly enough, even with these low mpg numbers the Jeep still manages to be more fuel efficient than both the BMW and Mercedes. That said, buyers of something like this do not have MPG on the brain. They intend to break laws and emissions regulations in the name of horsepower, and they don’t care what anyone thinks. The Jeep embodies that sort of outlaw attitude.
I just love cars like this, whose very existence is a huge middle finger in the face of the tight-wads in our society. This “Super Jeep” exudes badassary in a traditionally American sort of way, but now backs up its image with solid, all-round, performance. The Europeans can’t really thumb their noses at this one, because like the Corvette and the Viper, the Jeep SRT-8 is entirely competent in its segment. It is surely a solid purchase for anyone looking in the super SUV realm. Who would’ve thought a Jeep could be this good? If I wasn’t a believer before, I sure am now.
