I stepped over to the dark side last night ... traded my 2001 Bonneville SSEi for a new 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland. I was the original owner of the Bonneville and had accumulated 365,000 kms. (~230,000 miles). The headliner needed replacing, the SSS message was on again, and the transmission was starting to act up a little. I figure after 12 years and that many miles I got my value out of her.

I accumulated a few things I will put up for sale ... full set of factory shop manuals, engine cover, tool kit for the trunk (the one with the compressor hose in it), license plate filler for the front bumper, HVAC blower assembly I never installed and a few other things. I will post them as soon as I figure out what I have.

I went with the JGC because I have always like it, and the standard features on the Overland are nothing short of amazing. Also, my son is an engine calibration engineer for Chrysler and got employee pricing for me. He can also access the performance tunes the Chrysler engineers developed for the engine I have and flash it for me. When he does that, the tune he installs is registered in their database, and if it ever goes into the dealership, that is the tune on file in their system for that VIN.

I stayed away from the SRT8 because of the hefty price tag and the gas mileage, plus I probably would have killed or seriously injured myself within a month of having a beast like that. I actually went with the 6 cylinder engine. At 290 HP its no slouch, and paired with the 8 speed ZF transmission it is a nice balance between performance and fuel economy.

Don't hate me.

Tell Darth Vader hi for me!

thats a neat deal for the tunes. ive always loved jeeps but dodge ruined them. i would never buy one after 1999-2000