1993 Jeep Wrangler Yj 4.0l V6 on 2040-cars

Auto blog

Best places to get your car maintained and repaired

In this era of rampant inflation and high interest rates, the challenges of acquiring a car or SUV have been well documented. And so it has never been more important to protect that expensive investment by maintaining it. In recent months, Autoblog has shared Consumer Reports' evaluation of the least and most expensive car brands to keep running, as well as tips to prolong a car’s useful life. Especially since the pandemic, a number of factors have impacted these costs: more complex vehicles, new materials and manufacturing methods, a shortage of qualified technicians and replacement parts. Since 2022, repairs costs have jumped each year by about 10 percent. This month, Consumer Reports is offering a useful primer on keeping your ride in great shape, suggesting what might be the best options for searching out a repair shop, depending, as CR says, “on your car and your situation.” Author Ben Preston identifies three basic types of repair facilities: dealership service departments, independently owned repair shops, and chain repair shops. Building up trust with a specific shop and feeling comfortable going there is important. Preston quotes John Ibbotson, chief mechanic at Consumer ReportsÂ’ Auto Test Center: "You might be able to save a few bucks by going to whichever shop offers the cheapest prices, but if you want consistent, reliable service, itÂ’s best to find a repair shop you trust and stick with it,” Ibbotson says. The story goes on to evaluate each type of service facility. HereÂ’s a breakdown of CRÂ’s findings: Dealerships These work well for owners of newer cars, especially for covered warranty work. But the disadvantage is the high labor rates common to dealer service. Satisfaction ratings for dealer service departments range from very good (Acura, Lexus, Mazda, and Volvo) to not-so-good (Jeep and Kia). Dealers are best for: Fixing infotainment system glitches: "If the screen in the center of your dash has a habit of freezing up, or the touchscreen-activated climate controls arenÂ’t working, the dealership is the most likely place to find someone with the know-how to fix problems that maybe only a factory-authorized technician can access," Ibbotson says. Safety system recalibration: "Anything from a crack in your windshield to a minor fender dent can upset the calibration of the sensors that make features like automatic emergency braking and adaptive cruise control work," says Ibbotson.

2019 Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk Drivers' Notes Review | Capable, yet costly

The 2019 Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk is the refreshed version of a model that debuted back in 2014. It was a controversial model. Opinions were mixed on the styling — especially the front fascia — and some considered it an insult to the Cherokee name. Still, we liked that version so much we spent a full year with one. It proved to be a solid and reliable crossover that racked up more than 27,000 miles in just 12 months. This refreshed model occupies a strange place in Jeep's lineup. The Cherokee is positioned between both the Compass and Grand Cherokee, though it offers less interior space than either one of those. Pricing on the Cherokee falls right on top of those two models, too, meaning shoppers have to look hard to see what the best fit may be for them. The refreshed styling is certainly less polarizing, though it now means the Cherokee is less distinctive. This Trailhawk model is the midsize Cherokee's most rugged variant. It features a beefed-up suspension, more aggressive rubber, new front and rear bumpers, and an enhanced four-wheel drive system. Despite its car-based platform, the Cherokee Trailhawk is still plenty capable, but there is a price to pay for all that capability. Editor-in-chief Greg Migliore: I would not buy this Cherokee. With a sticker of more than 41 grand, it's too expensive. You can get pretty capable Wranglers and pretty nice Grand Cherokees for this price point. But, if you really love the Cherokee, this decked-out Trailhawk Elite is kinda awesome. You get all of the Trailhawk aesthetics and off-road prowess — you just have to pay for it. The Cherokee is in an interesting spot for Jeep. Even with the 2019 refresh, it's still fairly old, with most of the major elements dating to the 2014 relaunch of the Cherokee model. The Compass is arguably a better deal. It's newer in its lifecycle, starts at a lower price point and offers more cargo volume than the Cherokee. That being said, after rolling around town in the Cherokee for a couple nights, I'd probably buy one before I'd buy a Compass. It feels more substantial and more like a Jeep. I like the design. With the smoked grille and exterior trim, meaty wheels and flared fenders, this one looks especially sharp. Besides, the Compass' cargo volume advantage is less than 2 cubic feet. This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings.

Jeep Wagoneer, Grand Wagoneer, and pickup confirmed for production, all built in the US

Jeep has confirmed some much-anticipated future models: a new Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer as well as a pickup truck, which we expect to be based on the Wrangler. FCA has also announced where these new vehicles be produced, the investment involved, and that adding the models will create 2,000 American jobs. The Wagoneers will be built at FCA's Warren Truck Assembly Plant in Michigan, which currently produces the Ram 1500. The overhaul required to add the Jeeps will also set the plant up to build Ram Heavy Duty models, which are currently made in Mexico. (It's not clear whether this would be additional Heavy Duty capacity or a complete move of production of those trucks to the US.) The confirmed Jeep pickup will be built at the Toledo Assembly Complex in Ohio as expected. This is the same plant that builds Wranglers today and will produce the new JL Wrangler that the pickup version is expected to use. View 30 Photos All of these factory upgrades are part of a $1 billion investment by FCA. The retooling is scheduled to be completed by 2020, which means these models are likely to come online for the 2021 model year, which jibes with the rumors that the Wagoneers have been delayed. That the large Jeeps will be built at the plant that currently produces Ram 1500s also leads us to believe that they will in fact use a version of the Ram truck platform instead of being built off the Grand Cherokee platform as originally planned. The timing of this announcement and its mention of Mexico and US jobs may have something to do with recent talk from President-elect Trump about US auto industry jobs and possible tariffs to be imposed on vehicles built across the border. Marchionne says these plans have been in discussion "for some time" but it's not clear what that timeframe was. Trump has targeted Ford, General Motors, and Toyota in recent tweets but has stayed quiet on FCA. While the announcement may have been political in nature, Jeep fans will no doubt welcome the news of the returning nameplates and the long-awaited pickup model. Related Video: Featured Gallery 2019 Jeep Grand Wagoneer Dealer Leak Spy Shots Jeep Crossover SUV Luxury Off-Road Vehicles jeep wrangler pickup