KL Cherokee Owners out there?

[KJ Ryu]

Thanks, Stuka. I feel like it's a good deal but may have to ask my credit union about a refi for a lower interest rate. It's a one-owner with 75K miles since Dec 2015. Well, add about 30 miles, now. It's fun but, I am, so far at least, disappointed in the manual shifting. Even in sport mode, it just doesn't have any aggression, if ya'll know what I mean. I want to feel that gear change! I am sure I will get over it, as it does take corners like nothing else I've ever owned!

And this job is stable even when oil isn't! Still oil-related but fixing drill pipe, which everyone does when they aren't using them, or it's damaged beyond use. So, there's always work.

[Chubbinius]

Fancy new ride, plus congrats on the new job! That's a great way to close out May!

[tgreese]

Congratulations!

I tried Sport Mode on mine for a while, and didn't much like it. Seems like it only moved the shift points up, and with 9 speeds, it felt like it was hung up on a lower gear during regular driving.

[REDONE]

Definitely, the semi-automatic shift mode is only useful for holding speed going down hill. Might not do much for Flatlanders but on the paved passes up here it's awesome.

Also, while we still love our KLTH, we did test drive a gladiator this weekend. If the new-car smell wasn't so strong you could taste it in your mouth 6 minutes later, we'd have probably drove it home. We've decided too wait until the lease returns start coming back to the lot before we test drive another.

[KJ Ryu]

That's pretty much how it seems to me too, Tim. Redone, I hadn't considered it for "engine braking." Thanks for that!

[REDONE]

Totes! For what it's worth, on really long, consistent downhill sections, the computer brains will do the engine breaking for you after you slow yourself with the brake pedal once or twice, then wait for you to hit the gas before coasting again. It's a really smart car!

It's in the twisty downhills or in hurky-jerky I-70 traffic that I use the semi-auto mode to engine brake. When you shift into semi-auto mode, it automatically goes into one gear lower than the one you're already in, too. I got into the habit of using the semi-auto because we toasted the brakes twice. It probably has more to do with the fact that the off-road "hill descent control" doesn't use the engine to slow down, it just activates the brake calipers without you touching the brake pedal.

I installed some Powerstop drilled+slotted rotors with their better-than-stock-but-not-quite-racecar pads. I doubt many KLTH owners have to do this, but we really do take ours of road fairly often.

[tgreese]

Is this semi-automatic mode what I'm thinking of? When you move the shifter to the left, you can upshift/downshift manually, and it holds in gear. AFAIK mine never changes gear without my input in this mode - no "one gear lower" thing. It also indicates the gear number in this mode, which helps to satisfy my curiosity about which gear I'm in (move shifter over, look at gear number, move back.)

[Stuka]

When you have it in manual shift mode, the only time it should shift on its own is if you redline while accelerating, it will shift to the next gear. And if you come to a stop, it should down shift into lower gears as you stop. There is technically an override if you are in too high of a gear, and the engine is under enough to load to be lugging it, it will first unlock the torque converter, and may downshift, but then typically goes back up into the gear it was in before once you are on level terrain again.

[REDONE]

Nope, at least on mine, when I flip the shifter over to the left, the RPMs jump because it downshifts one gear when going from automatic to semi-auto. It's like they knew when the designed it that nobody wants to try and beat the gas milage of letting the trans shift itself.

I call it semi-automatic because that's the term industry used when Ferarri brought it to market (with the steering wheel mounted paddle shifters), and "sport mode" is a mode on the 4x4 selector.

[KJ Ryu]

Seems to just limit the highest gear the trans can use, for me. Never seen or felt a down-shift when moving the shifter over. But, since I've put a few hundred miles on it, of my own, I've noticed that I can feel shifts now, and it's a dramatic difference from how the car drove a week ago. I'm guessing the beautician that owned it before me didn't drive like I do. So, maybe it will "learn" to down-shift at some point, as well.

[KJ Ryu]

Yep! I love it! Being a 2018 yours shouldn't have the known issues with the Uconnect or the low range. The important thing is to use your low range. It has a dog gear (gear with teeth on the side rather than projecting outwards, it "bites"=dog) for engagement. The more you use it, the smoother it engages.
Also, the hill descent mode is probably my favorite feature for 4 wheeling. It does wonders for easing squeemish passengers on a hairy down hill.

Forward visibility is awesome, rear leaves a little to be desired. Only a few of the 4x4 modes work in hi, and I really only use the auto mode for dry/wet/snow/ice. In lo you have the full Gambit including the locker. I really only use the locker and Hill descent, I haven't found enough sand or mud to try the modes against the locker.

Another thing I really love is the mileage. Our adventures involve a ton of windshield time, even with the roof basket loaded, we still get 30ish going 70+ enroute to the destination. I took 10 extra gallons with us for the eclipse trip, spent the whole day bombing around the boonies West of Casper and didn't have to wait in line for gas the whole way back to Denver.

Should have said something. We have passed each other on the highway more than once, and didn't know it, I'm sure.

[KJ Ryu]

Seems to just limit the highest gear the trans can use, for me. Never seen or felt a down-shift when moving the shifter over. But, since I've put a few hundred miles on it, of my own, I've noticed that I can feel shifts now, and it's a dramatic difference from how the car drove a week ago. I'm guessing the beautician that owned it before me didn't drive like I do. So, maybe it will "learn" to down-shift at some point, as well.

I found a solution for the car not wanting to shift down fast enough when you punch it. Pedal Commander. Kind of expensive but, I no longer worry about passing a semi on a 2 lane highway. The difference is amazing!

[Stuka]

Seems to just limit the highest gear the trans can use, for me. Never seen or felt a down-shift when moving the shifter over. But, since I've put a few hundred miles on it, of my own, I've noticed that I can feel shifts now, and it's a dramatic difference from how the car drove a week ago. I'm guessing the beautician that owned it before me didn't drive like I do. So, maybe it will "learn" to down-shift at some point, as well.

I found a solution for the car not wanting to shift down fast enough when you punch it. Pedal Commander. Kind of expensive but, I no longer worry about passing a semi on a 2 lane highway. The difference is amazing!

The pedal commander is a pretty great little device. Makes the throttle much more responsive. But then, if you are offroad, you can make it less sensitive so the vehicle is less jerky in low range.

[KJ Ryu]

Anyone tried this, yet? https://www.baxterperformanceusa.com/pr ... n-adapter/

[Stuka]

Its an interesting setup. I kind of like the element only filter, as its very easy to see if there is anything in it. Not a huge fan of having to hook up pressurized air in order to remove the oil filter. I understand the why, but its one more thing to have around, and it means you have to change your own oil. No going to a quick lube if you are short on time.

Also, if there was ever an engine issue, this would hands down result in having the warranty voided on the engine.