Here's my philosophy: I have a nice vehicle (04 Renegade) and a daily (Ranger). The Renegade gets driven approximately 2 times per week to keep the mileage down. The Ranger gets driven through trees and slings rocks .
Too nice to be wheeled? In some aspects of my mind yes.
I will take it mudding, through construction sites
, and hit puddles all day long. But I'll be danged if you see it parked within 5 spaces of another vehicle in a parking lot. I have never taking it trail riding...yet. But if there were a 3 foot gap between tree branches, heck no. I don't drive it to school because 1. It's 36 miles round trip and 2. I park at a university parking garage.
I know it's not a $20,000 rig but It's my pride & joy. I put it to use, but don't abuse it.
It's like this...you buy a $100 pair of shoes. Walk on the concrete, asphalt, and grass, but don't jump in the mud puddles.