Intrepidation

Remember the original Compass concept? Now THAT looked cool..I also don't see the point of both the Patriot and the Compass

My Dodge has has 207k miles on it with the original engine and tranny. So blow it out your exhuast pipe

30 March 2006 By Jonny Lieberman icon The non-Trail Rated, four-wheel drive Jeep Compass; in repose. Grizzly Pete owned a Jeep. My college roommate's idea of a relaxing weekend: drive into Death Valley with a handgun and a knife and forage for food and water. Pete didn't need GPS; he could navigate via stars reflected off tortoise shells. Heated seats? He'd rub two Gila monsters together until they burst and spread their warm innards on his chair. Parking radar? Pete was the master of the dry lake reverse bootlegger's turn. And if Pete gouged his truck on the razor sharp spines of a Joshua tree, so much the better. A Jeep looked more like Jeep with trail damage. Amen. Flash forward (mumble) years. I've spent a week putting (15 MPG) and blasting (8 MPG) around Los Angeles in a Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited. Yeah, it's got a HEMI, complete with cylinder deactivation/vasectomy. It was also equipped with a six-disk in-dash changer, Sirius satellite radio, a rear seat DVD player, adjustable pedals, heated leather seats, dual-climate zones, auto brights, a GPS navigation thingy, ParkSense (backup beeping), traction control, a manu-matic gear grabber and blingy chrome rims. I'd no sooner take this luxochariot off-road than I'd take Pete's battered Jeep down Rodeo Drive. If I paid $43,830 for it, that is. Since I didn't, I drove it off a cliff. Then, with the help of Jeep's astounding Quadra-Drive II 4WD system and bona fide low-gears, I climbed back up. After that, I found a mud bog and did enough donuts to tank Krispy Kreme's stock. Off-road adventure accomplished, I slid the Cherokee into neutral, flipped the switch for the transfer case and calmly drove off to grab a beer. No question: the gussied-up Grand Cherokee is still a real Jeep. Why wouldn't it be? Like virtually all Jeep products, it wore the coveted "Trail Rated" badge. To earn this distinction, Jeep vehicles must satisfy the brand's criteria for a "proper" off-roader. Here's the boilerplate: "The Jeep Trail Rated® badge certifies that the vehicle has been designed to perform in a variety of challenging off-road conditions identified by five key consumer-oriented performance categories: Traction, Ground Clearance, Maneuverability, Articulation and Water Fording.” Grand Cherokee? Yup, yes, absolutely, uh-huh and you betcha. And now… the new Jeep Compass. Aside from the fact that Jeep's soon-to-be-released trucklette is uglier than a casino lobby at 7am, the Compass will be a terrific Jeep-- for antiquing and wine-tasting. That's right; you guessed it: the Compass won't be Trail Rated. It will never cross the Rubicon, no matter how big the tires. Although the Compass isn't the first Jeep bereft of the badge-- 2WD versions of the Liberty and Grand Cherokee share that dubious distinction-- it will be Jeep's first non-Trail Rated AWD vehicle. And proof positive that the brand is ditching its off-road roots in pursuit of soccer moms and style conscious left brainers. These are the same oxymorons who calmly insist that a passenger vehicle that can mount a 50 degree incline is as useful as a dyslexic accountant. While it's true that current Jeep buyers don't climb every mountain or see a stream and automatically think there's a ford in their future, they find their Jeep's untapped capability endlessly reassuring and secretly thrilling-- like a condom in their wallet or America's nuclear arsenal. The Compass reveals a radical change in Jeep's marketing strategy, an attempt to court “non-traditional buyers.” Or, if you prefer, they're chasing people willing to trade the actual, honest-to-God possibility of off-roading for the mere foggy idea of it. Wrong answer. Does Daimler Chrysler really believe that buyers will stroll into their local Jeep dealer, have a look at the Grand Cherokee and ask if they have anything with a little less machismo? Maybe DCX is hoping potential customers will see the Jeep logo and brand design cues, assume off-roading ability, clock the lower price, sign-up and, please God, avoid the rough stuff. If so, it's a cynical marketing ploy that will bite the brand on its ass. A brand's identity flows from its products, not to them. A Jeep that can't survive Death Valley sells off the backs of the ones that can. And dishonors them all. The Compass shows that Jeep has lost its bearings. Even if it sells well, it's an SUV that seems specifically designed to alienate the Grizzly Petes of this world, who gave the brand its cachet in the first place. In fact, I doubt the Compass will be a sales success. Aforementioned donuts to dollars, the faux Jeep will mimic the appeal of Land Rover's Freelander: unloved, unwanted and, most importantly, unsellable. But the Compass' effect on the Jeep brand will be incalculable. Like Buick, Lincoln, Mercury, Pontiac, Saturn and Saab, it will condemn the company to becoming yet another American automotive nameplate with no clear mission or purpose, slowly heading off-road for all eternity. -- Yep...non-trail rated and ugly...what were they thinking?

This looks liek a lotta fun, so I guess I'll give it a go... I like the chevy name "Uplander" so I desided to keep it. Got the front 3/4 and interior views... I'll do the rear soon.

but the Charger doesn't wish it was a coupe with a manual...it's a big bad sedan that can blow the doors off most cars on the road. the Charger is the Cahrger and the Challenger is for everyone who wished for a coupe with a manual.

lol...my family had a 91 Spirit...the paint peeled a lot on the trunk and roof but it had zero rust. I just never cared for the old-school look of the interior, and the exterior always looked to me like a big Shadow. Sorry to hear about your Neon, my friend's mother has a 2000 and has never had a problem with it. But you know Corollas brake down too, sorry to disappoint ya.

me too Wish i could afford one lol

how can you not like the Fusion though? I mean out of the four cars it's easily the best looking outside and looks nice inside...not daring but certainly easy on the eyes. I've seen a few on the road and they look really good. That Gillette Mach 3 grill of its looks great. See that test doesn't make much sense...they have no real complaints about it, except the engine noise and lack of some features...and the wood coulda been ordered if they wanted. The car drove good and stuff, and in the second opinions they even say the Fusion and Sonata are better deals. Screwy

you know what baffles me? They harped on the Fusion's interior in this test..but in an earlier road test. "The Fusion really shines from within, where little details jump out at the driver like freshly laundered pants with a dollar bill hidden in the pocket. Soft-touch materials abound in the cabin, and fit and finish is remarkable. Every panel is perfectly aligned, and gaps are kept to a minimum. The leather-wrapped steering wheel is comfortable to hold, and loaded with easy-to-use audio and climate controls. Even the analog gauges are easy on the eyes yet somehow sporty and just a little bit different. Settling into the driver seat, the first thing you'll notice (on SEL models at least) is the contrasting stitching in the leather seats. This wasn't necessary on Ford's part, but it really dresses up the look of the cabin. Automatic climate control comes standard on the SEL, and it works very well with a basic three-button interface. Ford even designed the duct system for quiet operation, and it became obvious on a hot August day with the A/C blasting." WHy is it that in one artcile they say it's great but now it sucks all of a sudden? baffles me.

a keyhole...people are complaining about a keyhole... DO YOU GUYS EVER LISTEN TO YOURSELVES?! lol seriously. I think it's better that it's in the middle right below the badge than placed in some random location. Would you rather it not have a keyhole at all so if you need to unlock it while back there you can't? Didn't think so.

lol you're right, but I thought I'd post it anyway

I think the newer designs are great, they're a lot more distinctive than what most other companies are putting out. I suppose the Spirit was a fine example of design? I think not. But then to each his own.

http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/coupe/...pes_comparison/ It was a pretty fair comparison I think. Both are hella powerful, the GTO is a bit farter to 60 since it's lighter, but the Charger handles better, and is easier to get the power out. Goat is cheaper but the Charger has more standard equipment and performance mods. GTO has a nicer interior design, but the Charger is roomier, more practicle, and has things the Goat doesn't. Charger loooks badass...th GTO doesn't. "The Charger is the obvious choice--the best musclecar for the job. Not only does it look the part--no other V-8-powered American sedan appears as ominous--but it plays the part with an involving driving experience, be it sensationally, aesthetically, or acoustically. That's a powerful argument--one we're sure Ezra Scattergood would appreciate." Let the posting begin!

I've seen these before on edmunds...anyway it looks far better than what GM's got now, especially the interior. My only real gripe about it, as with all Domestics, is that they haven't switched to integrated stereo units...it would look so much better that way. However I think GM's corporate stereo is probably the best looking and most integrated-like of the Domestics.

I spent just 35 bucks on my car this week, and with some help from my Dad, we fixed the motor mount, heater controls (I have heat and A/C again!!!) and fixed the dome light. This would have cost 365 dollars to have someone do, so I'm glad I took the cheap and more fun way out and did it myself. So now all that's left is to reconnect the radio wire to the fusebox (forgot to today) and replace the chime box. I'm gonna go steal a headliner out of the junkyard for 20 and a have a new ceiling The point is, especially with older cars, is that they can be very cheap to fix, especially if you can get someone to help you fix them yourself. I'm thrilled that most of the stuff on my car is fixed now...although I must admit I felt a bit envious when I saw in the junkyard a 94 Shadow ES with a turbo, ground effects kit, and nearly all the options in great shape (at least as far as the interior and exterior go..no rust or anything). I was almost tempted to ask if it ran and if so...how much?

There's a few consumer reviews of the Caliber on edmunds and so far they seem really happy with it. No real complaints about the interior either. It's a good starting sign, now if it can be reliable Dodge will be all set.

I saw my first Mark LT...looks...um...like an F-150 with a Lincoln grill. Yet somehow it looks elegant...guess that's just cuz teh F-150 is a good design to start. Still a silly idea though

The government really needs to revamp the healthcare system, but with your idiotic president and his stupid adminitration (sorry Bush fans, but this is how I feel) he's too busy trying to blow crap up in the middle east, while all he does for America is tell the automakers that they need to be more efficient, yet won't do a damn thing to help. He's such a moron...but that's another story for another thread. You UAW guys don't wanna give up the pay and benefits you have right now, which is understandable...but the bottom line is that GM doesn't have the money to supply you with that these days. Until GM is profitable again, you should consider taking the cuts until they're doing well again. One way to look at it is what's worse: Taking a pay cut for a while until things get better? Or keeping your pay until the company runs out of money and ceases to exist? Then no pay and no benefits. I really don't mean to offend anyone (except maybe Bush) but that's just how I see it. O could be wrong, but yeah.

I say give it another chance, especially if you have a fondness for the car. It's kinda funny, some of the things your car needs mine does/has needed. My tank leaked, it was rotting...cost 280 to have it replaced with a new one. (the day i got it back from teh shop some idiot hit it...) My upper radiator hose needs to be replaced soon (pretty easy to do-it-yourself..just been too cold this winter to do it yet) Driver's door is pretty rusty...prear door on that side is a bit rusty too. Anyway, some stuff you'll deffintely want new (like the hose and tank) but other stuff you can get for cheap at a junk yard...when I get a replacement door, that's where I'm heading

Oh yeah? My mistake then. I just don't see that many of them in my area (and not not a single one when i was in Witchita for 2 weeks). I'm curious how the refreshed one looks in person...

My Shadow surprised me...last week it got hit by this: My passenger fender is dented, and I think some wiring came loose or something (my horn and the door chime stopped working) but it drives fine...there was no structural damage besides the fender, no parts broke off, and the bumper bent back into place, and the wheel, which too most of the impact, had barely a scratch on it. His car bounced off mine, and my wheel left a huge impression on his bumper. Both headlights broke, the grill pierced his radiator I think, and his engine was knocking (like something grinding against the fan maybe). After the accident report, I drove away, he couldn't. So what surprises me is that my little Shadow was hit by a bigger Oldsmobile and my car PWNED his Also I have some souvenirs of his car that got put in my passenger seat, hah.

Couple weeks ago I saw my first Solstice..in dark blue...parked in my friend's driveway!! omg that thing is sexay

those doors looks tough to get into...but...how the hell would you see out of it? the windows are TINY! Cool idea though

Is that the new Aveo they tested or the current one? And the Uplander better get 5 stars...that thing has enough crash-absorbing nose to BE a small car stuck in front of the windshield.

Caddy? yes way superior (except the CTS' interior) Buick? HAHAHA If there's one thing Lexus can do is build a better buick...with Japanese sheetmetal. Come to think of it Lexus stands for everything Buick should but doesn't. Reiable, comfortable, not the most exciting, cruiser, RWD...yeah