We came over here in July and bought a new Jeep Patriot albeit we have the 2.4l petrol. At the time they didn't sell the diesel and when we asked about the diesel in the UK models we were told that it failed to meet Canadian standards.
Seems completely barking to me, you can't have a 2 litre diesel but a 5.7 litre hemi is just fine. Bizarre.

As for the Patriot, we fairly happy with it. It's fairly basic but does what it says on the tin. Only problems are the small petrol tank and if we were to get another we'd avoid the CVT and go for a manual.

DOUBLE Over Head Cam!

DOHC - Double Overhead Cam - Petrol. Only jeep available today in Canada with a diesel is 3.0L diesel Grand Cherokee.

It's important to understand that cars are not built for the 'Canadian' market per se but rather for the US market. Yes, there are modifications to Canadian cars - daytime running lights etc - but US emissions laws & US & by default, Canadian fuel standards dictate what engines are available here. US diesel is not as high grade as European & emissions laws in California and elsewhere mean that making a 'clean' enough diesel vehicle is a challenge. It's my understanding that this is why VW dropped the TDI.

Add that to US consumer lethargy about more fuel efficient vehicles & thats why 2-3litre petrol cars & 4-6 litre trucks are the norm. It'll be interesting to see whether high gas prices here to stay change things. So far they don't appear to have done so!

Fuel costs are only one part of the cost of running a car; depreciation, insurance, maintenance and other costs typically predominate. Obviously that's not true if you're driving a car that gets 8mpg, but at current prices once you hit around 30mpg savings from further increases are usually relatively small.

People who worry more about fuel consumption than other elements of car ownership are usually either driving a really old car where depreciation isn't an issue, or lacking in financial sense. Over the last ten years my cars have varied between 30mpg and 45mpg average consumption and really I haven't noticed the difference at all... on the other hand, I certainly did notice the difference between the 2500 a year maintenance bills on the 45mpg car and the 500 a year maintenance bills on the 30mpg car.

So what were the two cars which had such a big difference in maintenance bills ?

What do you find wrong with the CVT ?

Rover 214 and Ford Escort. I later discovered that the 214s had a known problem of blowing head gaskets on a regular basis due to some valve in the cooling system getting blocked... would never have bought it if I knew that.

Needless to say, I didn't keep it long.

SOme people prefer to drive a car with less fuel consumption from perspectives other than just financial!

Which is good; it means that fuel is cheaper for the rest of us.

The CVT is fairly pedestrian when you set off and is fairly noisy. That said once you get up to speed it quietens down and is fairly comfortable to drive. Over taking requires a bit of forward planning as again, it takes a while for the gears to drop down and for the power to kick in. Fortunately the roads around us tend to be dead straight for miles!

Overall I like the car but would prefer something a little bit more involving. Of course it could be argued that when the roads are as straight as they are here how involving can a car get?

Woohoo Mr MMC bought me an old Isuzu Rodeo from one of the lads at work (apparently spending $50k on an SRT10 when I'm not used to driving in the snow he reckons is excessive go figure!). Its black and silver and big and lovely (well to me it is).

Joking aside I can't wait to get behind the wheel, its the 3.1ltr but its 4wd inside is spotless and I can play to my hearts content in it and if I have a bang its not too much of an issue.

Mandymoochops a very happy bunny at the mo! (but not changing my pic as thats what I want still darling hint hint!)

Sounds good think i will get one i don't have to worry about, scarred stiff of knocking my one here, so if i run into a trolly bay it won't matter,

anyone know an insurance firm that allows for no claims from uk ? saw a post with a link last week but can't find it now

thanks

We did ours through a local agency just the basic insurance for mine cos if I had a crash they would write it off so it cost as near as makes no difference $800. The broker used a company called Wawanesa mutual insurance co.

Don't know if they are just for AB though and I didn't bring any of my driving history over so started from scratch.

I'm insured with Thomson Fisher here in Med Hat and they accepted our UK driving history.

http://www.thomsenfisher.com/

Hope this helps!

thanks for that and Mandymoochops we are going eastern canada if anyone has dealt with them if they are cheaper