Jeep Patriot

[Aurezalia]

Talk to me about it - specifically the 2007. Anyone have any experience with it?
It seems to have what I'm looking for, as far as I can tell. It gets good fuel economy, is in my price range, gets good mark on crash tests, etc.

Give me the low-down on how it works with car seats. I know the Liberty plays well with Radians, does the Patriot inherit that as well?
Does it have 3-across capabilities? My Elantra right now pretty much only does 3 Radians, so you can't get much worse than that. It looks like it's only an inch and a half less hiproom than the Liberty - how does that translate IRL?

It is CVT (Bleh) but it seems to be really reliable - and pretty much any fuel-efficient SUV that meets my needs that I'm looking at has it. I may just have to deal. I suppose I could get a manual, but then I'd have to work on my skills - I'm a bit rusty.

I don't care about resale value. Whatever I buy is going to be driven into the ground - so I care much more about reliability than resale value.

If there's something really awfully terrible about it that I've yet to discover and your only advice is to stay far, far away - please, for the love of god, help me find an SUV for under 10k that gets 20+ MPG city! :dizzy:

 

[Aurezalia]

Also, if anyone on here has one, can I see some pictures? Specifically of, say, strollers in the trunk? Cargo space is what's giving me pause right now.

 

[Chely7425]

You won't get 3 across in it, MAYBE 3 radians with the middle one an opposite direction from the other 2 but even that is doubtful. It has the same weird seat sides that my car does plus its a narrower seat over all. The radians work well, all the seats that work in my car work in it. Cargo space is decent, not fabulous by any means but doable. Not sure if you could fit a large dog kennel back there with the back seats up. That's all I remember about them

 

[Aurezalia]

You won't get 3 across in it, MAYBE 3 radians with the middle one an opposite direction from the other 2 but even that is doubtful. It has the same weird seat sides that my car does plus its a narrower seat over all. The radians work well, all the seats that work in my car work in it. Cargo space is decent, not fabulous by any means but doable. Not sure if you could fit a large dog kennel back there with the back seats up. That's all I remember about them

But but but... that doesn't even make any sense! Lol. If it's only and inch and a half less space in the rear than your car - and you can fit a 3 across with a Nauti now. Hmmm. I really should just go look at one.
I'll probably be petbuckle-ing the dogs in the cargo area of whatever I get, anyway. I could at least fit a BJCMD, right?

 

[Chely7425]

Yeah, but the Nauti BARELY fits.. and if you remember the radian/cco combo was tight too ya know? Maybe if you got the right seats a 3 across would be doable but it would be tricky. RN/MA(MR)/RN would probably work if they were all RF. Remember it is the narrowing at the back of the seat thats an issue. The total back seat might be only 1.5 inches narrower but those plastic things cut a good 4 inches off the seat width which is the issue. Yes, you could definitely fit a BJCMD in there, I can fit a single and a double in my cargo area. LOL

 

[Aurezalia]

Yeah, but the Nauti BARELY fits.. and if you remember the radian/cco combo was tight too ya know? Maybe if you got the right seats a 3 across would be doable but it would be tricky. RN/MA(MR)/RN would probably work if they were all RF. Remember it is the narrowing at the back of the seat thats an issue. The total back seat might be only 1.5 inches narrower but those plastic things cut a good 4 inches off the seat width which is the issue. Yes, you could definitely fit a BJCMD in there, I can fit a single and a double in my cargo area. LOL

Oh yeah, I remember how much we fit back there! Lol.
Ugh. I guess I just need to drag along some seats with me and actually take a look at the car. With the right combination of seats I'm pretty sure I could fit 3-across if I need to, with any combination of kids, especially with the BB out and having several RN's to use if needed - or RSTV, or something. It's slightly less of a hassle when it's "just" the nanny car.

 

[Chely7425]

Definitely I think it would be a really good choice for you, big enough to have kids in but small enough that it still gets good mileage for when you aren't driving small people around. As long as you are willing to get an RSTV or bubble bum or play around I'm sure you can make it work!! It is a pretty cute car too

 

[Aurezalia]

Definitely I think it would be a really good choice for you, big enough to have kids in but small enough that it still gets good mileage for when you aren't driving small people around. As long as you are willing to get an RSTV or bubble bum or play around I'm sure you can make it work!! It is a pretty cute car too

Exactly. I'm more than willing to deal with these hassles when I look at the pricetag, haha.
I uh... also may have found myself very recently, on multiple occasions, wishing I had access to a vehicle with more off-roading capabilities. A Civic and/or the Grand Am weren't exactly cut out for it.

 

[Chely7425]

Exactly. I'm more than willing to deal with these hassles when I look at the pricetag, haha.
I uh... also may have found myself very recently, on multiple occasions, wishing I had access to a vehicle with more off-roading capabilities. A Civic and/or the Grand Am weren't exactly cut out for it.

I <3 you