SUV replacement follow up

Guys... thanks for all the input on my Jeep Cherokee with the motor issue (see link for original thread).

Looks like I will be keeping the Cherokee and either rebuilding the engine or dropping a short block in it this summer. Will be a good experience for the boy too and give him something to drive this fall.

As for immediate transportation I'm picking up an older used Jeep liberty with real low miles and the 5 speed tomorrow. Doesn't have quite the room I wanted behind the seat but I think I can make it work.
Finding another Cherokee with low miles and a 5 speed in a short time frame was close to impossible.
Took a hard look at the Ford Escape, but the lack of a full size spare is an issue with me and I just didn't feel comfortable with a lot of little items (tow hooks were awkward, etc.)
Some of the other small SUV's either didn't have the room or seemed really cheaply put together.
Probably the biggest differences I found in this category of older used small SUV's was in the build and the capabilities/design intentions. The Jeep seemed the most utility oriented which is my need.
The Liberty does seem to be a step or 2 farther away from utility than the old Cherokee's though.

So, I post this both to thank you all and if someone else is looking for similar, let me know and I can maybe help too.

Thanks

Tony
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Tony: It is funny I just drove a Jeep liberty this last week. I was unimpressed. The seat set terrible and the overall feel of the vehicle just seemed chancy. The interior finish just was not very good. Nothing like the older Grand Cherokee we used to have.

I think we are going to go with either a Durango or Equinox AWD.

Yup... I'm not real impressed with the interior door handles either. Everything in it seems a bit cheaper than my old Cherokee. Not that it didn't have some cheap items. But compared to some others in its size class, the Liberty wasn't too bad. Stepping up to a larger SUV was not anything I wanted to do. For me, I use it to carry tools, misc. small building supplies, etc. It's my punchlist vehicle and something I can go to meetings in and still sell a commercial job to an owner. It also hauls my bass and bass rig to weekend shows. I like to feel the road and that Cherokee did a pretty good job of that!

Ultimately what got me over the bump on it was that I was going to keep the Cherokee and the boy and I fix it for when he turns 16 this year. I figure if the Liberty gets to me, he can use it and I'll go back to the Cherokee.

All in all, I figure I'm just getting older and stuck in my ways as anything newer (less than 10 years old) made me nervous...

I had one as a rental vehicle once. I agree with the seat. It was like sitting on a bar stool with a steeringwheel coming out at ya. I remember it being fairly unstable as well.

Have you ruled out the Chevy Tahoe and the Ford Expedition? As a personal preference they both rate higher on my list than the Dodge Durango. They offer the same or better fuel economy with more capability. If you are looking in the Equinox market you might appreciate the Toyota Highlander.