Just saw a commercial for the New Jeep Compass

DarbyWalters · **Posted:** Mon Jul 31, 2006 3:45 pm

The front end was really pretty good looking...very KJ like but sculptured for a car. I think it looks better than the Dodge Caliber (not so chunky). I think it will probably sell pretty easily.

Man, if they would put a 2.0L CRD in the AWD version, I think it would create a little following.

Elwenil · **Posted:** Mon Jul 31, 2006 3:58 pm

We have one here and I can honestly say it is the worst thing to happen to the Jeep name in a long time. It's a car for christ's sake, lol. Basically identical to the Caliber but with the Jeep'ish grille. Some nice features but I would buy the Caliber just because it looks different and not like a squashed version of a KJ. What is more disturbing is the fact that in the Parts System the Compass is listed as a MK model and has the description of "Compass/Patriot". I had hopes for Patriot, but if it's Caliber based I will have second thoughts.

mb818 · **Posted:** Mon Jul 31, 2006 4:15 pm

the patriot has always been known to be caliber based..

Elwenil · **Posted:** Mon Jul 31, 2006 4:20 pm

Eh, shows how much I pay attention to our Jeep line, lol. Other then my 1967 M715, I have never owned a Jeep until I got my KJ. From the look of the Patriot I had thought it would be more comparible to the XJ. Sad to see so many Jeeps with IFS...

Jeepjeepster · **Posted:** Mon Jul 31, 2006 5:20 pm

I kinda like it.

If I was going to get a car, thats what I would get. Kinda like the patriot too, dont understand why they used IRS?

DarbyWalters · **Posted:** Mon Jul 31, 2006 8:38 pm

Well IFS/IRS on an AWD Compass for Dakar style racing...hummmm

Takes all kinds

I understand the SFA/SRA arguement...I would not like them to take away our SRA... :cry:

alljeep · **Posted:** Mon Jul 31, 2006 8:47 pm

DarbyWalters wrote:

The front end was really pretty good looking...very KJ like but sculptured for a car. I think it looks better than the Dodge Caliber (not so chunky). I think it will probably sell pretty easily.

Man, if they would put a 2.0L CRD in the AWD version, I think it would create a little following.

Have you seen them in person yet? I saw about 15 at a dealership on my lunch break while getting an air filter for the CRD. They don't look so hot in person. All white is ok, silver is ok, the rest :roll:

In person, the front end looks too "heavy" for the rest of the car if you know what I mean...

JFortier777 · **Posted:** Mon Jul 31, 2006 10:25 pm

I think I'll go test drive one this week.

desertkj · **Joined:** Mon Jan 30, 2006 8:24 pm **Posts:** 677

Honestly, I dont think the Compass would be a bad car if it werent trying to pass as a Jeep. I drove the Caliber while I was car shopping and was very impressed by the tranny and the amount of go it had for a four cylinder. I dont understand why they didnt make it a Chrysler and a Dodge, rather than trying to use the Jeep brand. The styling of the Compass doesnt really do anything for me either.

Marlon_JBT · **Posted:** Tue Aug 01, 2006 1:29 am

I know why. Their market studies showed that women wanted the Compass and nothing to do with the Patriot. Men wanted the Patriot and nothing to do with the Compass! Why not just build both then? That's exactly what they're doing. Why the Compass had to come first I have no clue.

ShoreRenegade · **Posted:** Tue Aug 01, 2006 8:25 am

A Jeep should NEVER have Continuously Variable Transmission! It's an abomination IMO

ShoreRenegade · **Posted:** Tue Aug 01, 2006 8:30 am

Here's one of the new ads:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nsIM2HB0hrs&search=jeep%20compass

Se7enLC · **Posted:** Tue Aug 01, 2006 9:08 am

ShoreRenegade wrote:

A Jeep should NEVER have Continuously Variable Transmission! It's an abomination IMO

That thing has a CVT??? That's so hot...

I just found this video also on that page - a couple jeep compass playing in the sand dunes:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T_4kYQQWZ-0&mode=related&search=jeep%20compass

That thing has a really surprising amount of ground clearance for a car. I wonder if it is more than my liberty had when it was stock... (6.5")

Elwenil · **Posted:** Tue Aug 01, 2006 9:13 am

You would think so, but I'm still waiting to see if it holds up. I think the real reason for the Compass is for the CAFE rules. Basically the Jeep brand needs something that gets better MPG than all the other gas guzzlers.

ShoreRenegade · **Posted:** Tue Aug 01, 2006 9:58 am

What’s the controversy? For starters, no matter how many times the Jeep marketing folks say the base Compass is “two-wheel drive,” this is the first front-wheel-drive-based Jeep. Those screams you hear are from the Jeep faithful jumping off a cliff somewhere in Moab.

Then there’s the fact the Compass, despite its tough truck exterior, is a car at heart, built on the same chassis as Caliber, Dodge’s upright small-car replacement for the Neon. Compass doesn’t even try to meet Jeep’s vaunted Trail-Rated off-roading standards. Those moans you hear are from the Jeep faithful slashing their wrists somewhere along the Rubicon.

If that’s not enough, consider this word combination: “diamond-plate plastic.” It’s enough to make a proud, self-respecting Jeep devotee consider buying a Hummer.

(I'm going to go throw up now, excuse me...) :roll:

JFortier777 · **Posted:** Tue Aug 01, 2006 10:53 am

ShoreRenegade wrote:

A Jeep should NEVER have Continuously Variable Transmission! It's an abomination IMO

A CVT strong enough to handle the abuse of a jeep would be a dream come true for an offroader. Imagine the possibilities...

With some tuning and tweaking it would be nothing less than godlike.

ShoreRenegade · **Posted:** Tue Aug 01, 2006 11:13 am

If they made a CVT strong enough ... a big if. From what I've read on the CVT, it's not anything spectacular.

My parents have a Saturn Vue with the CVT and I hate it. It's loud and annoying and struggles to pull their 4'X8' utility trailer. Granted it's a 4cyl, but so is the Compass.

And as far as a dream come true for offroaders, it's alread out there, it's called a manual transmission. (you do remember those don't you?)

JFortier777 · **Posted:** Tue Aug 01, 2006 11:45 am

ShoreRenegade wrote:

If they made a CVT strong enough ... a big if.

And as far as a dream come true for offroaders, it's alread out there, it's called a manual transmission. (you do remember those don't you?)

It may be an "if", but the technology has fantastic potential if it can become popular. The current CVTs are small and weak and unable to handle heavy duty applications.

Manual transmission are far from a dream tranny for offroading, they have their ups and downs just like an auto. Calling them a dream is just no good.

Loopkey · **Posted:** Tue Aug 01, 2006 11:48 am

Elwenil wrote:

You would think so, but I'm still waiting to see if it holds up. I think the real reason for the Compass is for the CAFE rules. Basically the Jeep brand needs something that gets better MPG than all the other gas guzzlers.

As far as I understand it, the CAFE rules don't distinguish between different brands, it compares the EPA mileage from all of the vehicles sold by a manufacturer. They could have kept the Jeep brand for “Trail Rated” vehicles and kept the cars under the Chrysler, Dodge, and Mercedes brands. They just are trying to leverage the Jeep name to sell more cars. If CAFE did sanction a specific brand, we should be seeing the 4 cylinder, front wheel drive, hatch back Hummer H5 based on the Chevy Aveo next year :shock:

ShoreRenegade · **Posted:** Tue Aug 01, 2006 12:06 pm

Quote:

It may be an "if", but the technology has fantastic potential if it can become popular. The current CVTs are small and weak and unable to handle heavy duty applications.

Manual transmission are far from a dream tranny for offroading, they have their ups and downs just like an auto. Calling them a dream is just no good.

I'll agree with you on the potential part. It would be interesting to see what they could come up with if Jeep produced a CVT that was really made for offroading. But the Compass is just a car, with a car-like CVT, designed to LOOK like a truck.

As far as manual transmission goes, to me the fun of offroading (in my limited experience) is the challenge of crossing obstacles and getting in and hopefully out of situations and bouncing around in the dirt. The manual transmission adds to that challenge. Instead of the car deciding what gear works best for a particular situation, YOU get to decide. And if you're wrong, you try it again. I don't like the car making those decisions, but that's just me. To each his own.[/quote]

Just saw a commercial for the New Jeep Compass

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