First quarter of long term test results and opinions. Many of which are the same as expressed by many members here.

http://www.autoweek.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061117/FREE/61109012/1011/LongtermTests

Good find. Accurate review surprisingly.

I like the "muscle car vs sports car" distinction.

Yep they nailed it! You can tell the driver has the same temptation every SRT driver has - WOT between lights

For the lazy.........


AT A GLANCE:
FIRST-QUARTER
AS-TESTED PRICE: $44,390
MILES DRIVEN: 8220
FUEL MILEAGE: 14.6 mpg
FUEL COST: $1,568.62
DAYS OUT OF SERVICE: None
MAINTENANCE: Replace windshield ($213.25); 4500-mile service ($85)

The first time any of us drives our 2006 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8, the overwhelming impression is of the invincible 6.1-liter, 420-hp Hemi V8 blasting this nearly 5000-pound Jeep forward.

As one staffer explained it, “The SRT folks have sorted out the whole Hemi powertrain, with every bit of power seemingly available at a touch of the throttle to send this vehicle into instant rapido mode.” Another said, “This Jeep verily begs for you to stomp the throttle and hear it scream.”

Earlier this year we timed a similar model at 4.7 seconds from 0 to 60 mph. The brakes (four-piston Brembo calipers with 14.2-inch front/13.8-inch rear rotors) also have been fine. There’s not much body roll, but on long, bumpy trips it gets a little uncomfortable. The front seats are comfortable, with textured seat bottoms to keep passengers in place. The black-and-gray interior drew a few complaints about plasticky-looking material.

Our Jeep-collecting staffer states, “This feels like a muscle car, not a sports car. The differences are especially apparent after spending a night in the Cayenne S recently. Porsche has a superb chassis/suspension setup (no surprise) and more than adequate power. Jeep has given us amazing power and a good enough suspension setup. I enjoy the SRT more than the Cayenne, if only to hear the Hemi scream and then rumble as you coast down to legal speeds.”

Fun aside, our Grand Cherokee had to make a couple of dealer visits, one for a repair and one for maintenance. Our Jeep met one of those notorious highway rocks, which cracked the windshield. We had it replaced. We also took our Cherokee to a dealership for a 4500-mile service. It’s normally a 6000-mile service visit, but a computer monitoring the Jeep’s goings-on sent us to the dealer sooner due to our faster, harder driving.

One editor used it for a 600-mile-plus trip. He averaged about 16 mpg on the highway, but mileage plunged when he gave in to hot-rod temptation (“hot-rodding from stop light to stop light”).

We will experience plenty of temptation (which one of us calls warp-speed) in the next nine months. We’re going snow-tire shopping.

Well, they got it mostly right ;)

"We also took our Cherokee to a dealership for a 4500-mile service. It’s normally a 6000-mile service visit, but a computer monitoring the Jeep’s goings-on sent us to the dealer sooner due to our faster, harder driving."

This statement is incorrect, and they should have known this. The service mileage is set in the EVIC. The computer doesn't tell you...."my god man, you are really beating on this thing, better bring her in early". :rolleyes:

Here is another article from the same site:
http://www.autoweek.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061005/BLOG06/61004004&Profile=1011

Star-like Qualities: 2006 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8
Blog Posting: 6:00 am, October 5, 2006 | Author: ANDREW LUU

People notice it, so if you like for your ride to attract a lot of attention, the Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8 is the vehicle for you.

It doesn’t even matter where you go. I took our long-term SRT8 to Toronto for 12 days. I went up north fishing on a private lake where old American trucks dominate, and even the old men sitting in their rocking chairs in front of the most primitive bait shop I’ve ever seen gave me the thumbs up.

Rolling through Toronto’s downtown club district, it turned everyone’s heads, including two guys in a blinged-out BMW 745i who wanted to race. Knowing I’d blow their doors off and embarrass them in a car half the price of theirs, I turned down the offer.

And on at least three occasions while cruising around the city, folks would pull up alongside, wait until I acknowledged them and then smile and nod.

Even when parked in the driveway, I’d look outside and notice cars just crawling down my street in front of my house, staring at it. I had to ask myself, is it really that cool?

Oh yeah.

Most of the people that acknowledged the SRT8 weren’t typical enthusiasts. The sharp chrome wheels, deep front fascia and sweet center exit exhaust tells everyone this ride is something special.

And if those styling cues didn’t set off someone’s vehicular radar, all I needed to do was stab the gas and let that 420-hp 6.1-liter V8 do all the talking.

The lucky few I took for a ride could not believe the brutal acceleration and robust handling this big SUV delivered at a moment’s notice. It is quite stiff, but worth the sacrifice in my opinion to be able to drive it like a sports sedan.

There are very few vehicles on the market with so much character wrapped into a single package. And at this price, it makes it that much more special.

I didn’t encounter another SRT8 anywhere in the city, and no one I knew had ever seen one, including the handful of attendants who stopped to chat after I parked my car in their lots.

I do, however, have a few complaints. The fuel tank is quite small, and with an average fuel economy of 13 mpg (and just under 15 mpg on a steady all-highway drive), you’re forced to visit the gas station quite often. Secondly, I’m disappointed in the plastics used on the dash. It’s not the nice soft-touch stuff, just hard, shiny, cheap looking plastic. If the Dodge Magnum and Chrysler 300 can get a soft touch dash, why can’t the Cherokee?

Thankfully, the majority of the time your eyes are either locked on the road as it rips by, or on people that just can’t stop looking at you.

No doubt about attracting attention. Its everywhere I go. I go inside to pay for gas and people are driving there cars upto to my SRT8 and staring till I come out. A funeral procession was driving by once and every dude that drove by turned and watched me drive by. NO ONE has seen anything like it and thats not even realizing the incredible power!!! Agree with the cheap plastic interior but what do you expect for an american car at that price point. You could spend twice or more on a Cayenne for less power, no real sex appeal anymore, but nicer buttons only to get waxed by me when I drive by. Your choice!!!!

PS I used to HATE american muscle till now!!

It appears to me that DC has been paying attention to some of the feedback on the GC given the changes made in '07. I think the last review summed it up very well. I know many of us have had some issues but you have to admit we all have a pretty sweet ride. I've also noticed the attention factor, it's pretty cool!

They summed it up perfect, the attention is something I'm amazed about. Also, it's the first vehicle I've owned that I hope I hit all the red lights. Every time I'm first at a light my wife say's "Here we go".:)

Here is another article from the same site:
http://www.autoweek.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061005/BLOG06/61004004&Profile=1011
Good find, and spot on, these things attract attention!

From the bad: My window getting pried open

To the good: Guy in a big Tahoe pulls up beside me this morning, at the light, with his window down and a big grin on his face... He wanted to say something to me, but it took me too long to get my radio turned down and the window open, so he gave me the thumbs up and pulled away.

If I hadn't been sitting behind a half-asleep lady in a Honda, at the light, I would have really given him something to see and hear! :cool:

The interior doesn't really bother me, but I've driven Jeeps before... Here's what my ex-girlfriend had to say about it:


it's definitely a nice ride for the ladies too! as long as you don't scare them in it.
I guess she wasn't expecting to leave the traffic light behind quite as fast as we did.... :eek: :D