The Little Things

[Gsan]

There are two things that many official reviewers of the Liberty hate. Center mounted windows controls and "road noise is pronounced." What?? This is the quietest vehicle I have ever owned, and I love the window controls there even though I'm not used to it yet. It HAS to make the wiring simpler, and removal of door panels easier, plus it lets your passenger control the windows if you need to keep your eyes on the road.

I also love:
- my heated seats
- the BEHIND the wheel audio controls
- the heated mirrors
- the cargo cover (no looky, no takey)
- the tinted windows
- the seating position and height and view
- the ground clearance
- the fact that it is MORE THAN AN INCH shorter than my wife's old Honda Civic. Makes for nice garage parking, parallel parking...
- nice big bright map lights
- 65/35 fold down seats (that's a change most people don't realize from the older 60-40), technically allows a little more storage when you have a third passenger (think: Taking a student to college)
- Stopping power (4 wheel disc and ABS). Now I want to upgrade my brakes on my chitty S10
- Cargo door that opens away from the curb (unlike the Honda "cramped rittle vehicle" CR-V)
- I like the spare tire on the back, as opposed to under the vehicle (or INSIDE!! ACK!)
- This vehicle is REALLY easy to wax, especially with the '05 chrome trim that can be waxed. No plastic to get in the way.
- storage space between the driver seat and door and passenger seat and door (snow brush, umbrella, mag-lite mod, etc)
- battery saving features
- key and keyfob remote thingy all in one
- low wash fluid indicator
- an owners manual that tells idjits how to drive
- Well-welded and painted seams on doors, door-wells, engine compartment, should help keep rust at bay
- DEEP cup holders
- really bright and well adjusted headlights


Dislikes:
- getting flashed by one out of every twelve cars because they think I have my brights on
- No interior storage at all
--------- Glovebox too small
--------- No place for spare change
- When cruising when it's raining, then slowing down to a stoplight, the water runs down that little dip in the hood, hits something (or an air current) and splashes all over the place, including the windshield
- Dirty back window
- Factory racing/grocery-getting tires
- ABS is an option, should be standard. I got it anyway.

 

[fouros]

i donno if anyone has listed this

Power fold in Mirrors, the y are a brilliant feature \/

 

[jjo]

I agree on the glovebox size; I can barely fit a map in there. Although its nice to have a "hidden" area for the manual.

And as far as the change goes, I picked-up an ash tray for mine. It fits nicely in the cup holder, and is removable to make room for a 2nd cup, or to find the exact change at a toll booth.

 

[Hammer]

And as far as the change goes, I picked-up an ash tray for mine. It fits nicely in the cup holder, and is removable to make room for a 2nd cup, or to find the exact change at a toll booth.

Solved that problem by purchasing (what we call in Illinois) a IPASS. Now I ZOOM right through those toll plaza's!

- Hammer.

 

[Gsan]

Agreed. "hidden" owner's manual area in glovebox is really nice. As was the canvas jeep "bag" that the dealer packaged all the owner's manual stuff in.

\/

 

[SRotblat]

Power fold in Mirrors, the y are a brilliant feature \/

export only option?

 

[Hammer]

I believe what he meant was, the power mirrors on a Limited fold in. As do mine. I also believe most cars with power mirrors have fixed mounted mirrors.

Hammer

 

[-=JoN=-]

no, exported KJ's do come with power fold-in mirrors, someone in JU from england or oz posted a photo of his mirror controls, on top are the usual L R switch, with the 4 way circular pad, and the switch to fold em in...

You must be registered for see images

notice the extra switch below the 4 way pad...

 

[Marlon_JB2]

no, exported KJ's do come with power fold-in mirrors, someone in JU from england or oz posted a photo of his mirror controls, on top are the usual L R switch, with the 4 way circuar pad, and the switch to fold em in...

Yeah, you're right. I remember that thread.

As for manual folding mirrors... my Sport has them... I think all KJs do. (Maybe not 4 bangers, but I don't know about those)

 

[Hammer]

I stand corrected. Interesting stuff.

- Hammer.

 

[fouros]

in glass antenna in the Aus models, keeps the lines very clean

 

[Flaren]

K, here's my mini list:

*The flipper glass - love the fact I have a button for it!
*The driving position - gotta love towering over most of the traffic!
*The forgiving ****** and shifter on my manual - still learning!
*The fun-factor - I actually look forward to long trips now!

And the number one thing:


Libby looks way more badass than any teacher-mobile parked in front of the school I work at.....lol. When I leave school at the end of the day, kids sometimes watch me get into my KJ like they can't beleive a "teacher" would drive one of those. (There's another KJ that parks near me, a white 05 ltd, for some reason, the kids like mine I guess.) I opened the fliiper glass by remote one day and a kid was like "Whoa! That's cool! Do it again!" My outdoors club kids love it. They actually argued over who gets to ride with me on the next trip! Lol.

I'm sure there'll be more to follow as I discover things (my next project is this "hidden" glove box area...lol.)

I LOVE my KJ! \/

 

[-=JoN=-]

yeah, that flipper glass thing gets a lot of ppl....

 

[grogiefrog]

yeah, that flipper glass thing gets a lot of ppl....

I'm just waiting to knock someone out with it, lol.

 

[melted]

Raves (in order):
1. The seat and all associated features, room for my accelerator leg, ***** warmer, power adjustments, height above the road, cool color.
2. Turning radius (I love doing donuts in front of the house. It drives my neighbor with the Escalade crazy).
3. The compression ratio of the CRD (did I read 17:1?), and how with the overdrive disengaged, the KJ holds its speed on Colorado downhills.
4. The acceleration of the CRD-turbo (once it gets above 1500 rpm). It satisfies a bit of my "Andretti" complex.
5. The window control positions. I don't understand all the negative comments about this in the reviews. Do people who write automotive reviews have an extra joint midway between their elbow and wrist, that allows them to comfortably work these things on the armrest?

OK there are also some things I wish were different.
1. The fixed radio antenna mounted so low on the passenger side. Juvenile delinquents, and car wash sociopaths love 'em. Has anyone modded-in a power antenna?
2. The seat (I know I said I love the seat but ...). It's a bit hard, and it lacks some side to side stability. I know, I'm whining, but 12 years in a Saab seat has definitely spoiled me.
3. That the State of Colorado has a higher use tax (my new plates cost $610), and more frequent & more costly & less accessible emissions tests for diesels. OK, this has nothing to do with the KJ, but I ran out of negative issues.

 

[chaz0_man0]

I love my low range! kiss.gif

 

[Teneo]

1) Rear wheel drive
2) Turning radius
3) "Tank" like feel, yet nimble handling
4) The design and size of the dashboard
5) The view of the hood from the drivers seat
6) The overall look.
7) Rear pop-up window

 

[Flaren]

Found another one....the way the rear gate opens and holds itself at 2 different positions, instead of swinging about wildy and whacking me in the behind...lol.

 

[m0th]

Found another one....the way the rear gate opens and holds itself at 2 different positions, instead of swinging about wildy and whacking me in the behind...lol.

And it opens the right way. One thing that bugs me about my TJ is that loading stuff from the sidewalk is a pain because the gate's in the way. With the KJ it's easy - the gate swings away from the kerb. And on the TJ the flipper goes down before the gate closes. And every time I close it (about 4 times per day) I get it wrong.

 

[Flaren]

I feel your pain on the TJ thing, I kept trying to close the gate and the glass like I was closing a TJ the first few days I had her...lol. My BF has a TJ and he gets it wrong every time he uses it...lol.