Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT-8 (2006 - 2010) 6.1 V8 5d Auto Owner Review

What a vehicle! Some history...

I needed a versatile preferably 4wd vehicle, but I don't need the any off road capability. My previous 3.5l v6 2000 registered Shogun saved my life, but I didn't need anything that big and I wanted something with plenty of acceleration, more modern, but just as rare.... And I don't do 'ordinary'! I also don't do diesel! I've had several fast estates before (Volvo T5 P1, P2 ex police, Volvo T6 AWD ex police and a P2 V70R) but wanted something higher up with more load capacity.

Options... BMW X5? Porsche Cayenne? Land Rover? Range Rover... But only a budget of 18k or so!!! None of those appealed due to issues with their image and/or reliability/running costs (fuel doesn't worry mel, I like a big lazy engine over a highly tuned 2.0...im old school, you have to pay to play as they say), as in repairs/servicing/parts.

I'm lucky enough to already own a Lexus so the bar was already set high especially with reliability! Volvo XC90 crossed my mind, but V8 has the bearing problem, 3.2 just not quick enough, T8 still too expensive... Land cruiser, lovely but just too slow, and a bit too big for my needs...ditto Nissan patrol! I diid consider a Lexus Rx400, but there are just too many out their and then there's the cost of the eventually needed battery replacement! Then I found it...

Jeep grand Cherokee SRT8 :-)

Petrol ..tick
Big lazy engine ..big tick
Rare.. big tick
Good acceleration...very large tick
Reliable (in theory) tick

I could of chosen the 5.7 instead, but they have issues related to the pistons, they are slower and no more economical... Blus the SRT8 has far superior braking and handling!

So what's it like.... Surprising, and in a good way!

It's surprisingly quiet, almost refined when cruising, you can hardly hear the engine, but when you press the loud pedal...oh, my, god! The noise, the surge, the aggression...all there in spades! My previously mentioned Lexus is the 5.0 IS-F (M3 rival) and the SRT8 deals every bit as fast, probably more so in that the 4wd means instant traction!

Biggest pros:

Seats are very comfortable
Great high up driving position
Sereo sound is fantastic also (though obviously in decent weather the 6.1 V8 is all the soundtrack you will ever need!)
The lights on the 08 onwards are fantastic...never need full beam
Plenty of load space and cleverly designed for stopping it sliding all around the boot!
A great easy exit system, driver seat powers back to allow easier entrance and exit from vehicle

Gripes...well there will be...

I'm negatively biased, I have to remember it's not a Lexus!!

The service schedules need to be maintained, and they are set at relatively short intervals...especially important is transfer case oil change every 15k maximum... You really can't afford not to follow any of them really though!
Build quality/materials in the cabin! These aren't well put together... Mines done less than 50k and there are rattles a plenty..nothing broken or worn that I have found, but plastics are scratchy, leathers easy to wear.
Steering wheel reach is limited, it's rather low especially.
Not a great amount of room for rear passengers, especially taller ones!
The fuel consumption is horrific... Late teens if you drive it like you're learning again... Single figures if the road is clear and open, just because you can!
It can't tow anything... The twin exhaust is in the centre where the tow bar would go!

Overall....

I absolutely love it! The sense of occasion when driving it, the way it looks, and the noise, omg the noise!
You won't see another (only 160ish in UK), and despite its looks it's a bit of a Q car! Yes, it looks menacing, but unless you know....
Long distance trips leave you refreshed when you arrived, usually with a huge smile on your face too if the roads are fairly quiet!
All my 'petrol head' friends love it, it's different in a positive way.
Parts/servicing/insurance are all reasonable for the type of vehicle it is
Finally, there's not much quicker out there if you choose that path... Either off the line or acceleration mid trip... Even the weight through the corners isn't too much of a handicap, any any lost are very quickly picked up again... The gearbox always feels to be in the right place (probably as it's only a five speed, no point using the manual option!)

One last thing... did I mention the noise????