Elwenil wrote:
I'd also like to see some sort of backup that there are 80,000 units in storage. There is a large pool of leftovers, but no where near that many, lol.
This article reports 647,000 surplus vehicles from all three U.S. auto makers. The picture shows a lot of Jeeps.
http://money.cnn.com/popups/2006/fortun ... uto/3.html
That same article shows Hummer sales up a whopping 38 percent! Ever since Arnold Schwarzenegger bought his H1, I think most Americans -- those who can afford it, and who haven't already bought a Japanese truck -- turn to Hummers for durability and offroad prowess. Their current military service gives them a lot of credibility, and people eat that stuff up. You see Humvees in Iraq on the news practically every day. I can't remember the last time I saw a military Jeep except
M*A*S*H reruns.
I think that when most people hear the word "Jeep," they think only of the Wrangler and its ancestors. Sadly, I think Jeeps are coming to be known as toys, just a notch or two above dirt bikes and ATVs.
I think the buying public has spoken loud and clear. Those who can pay more for a trail-ready rig right out of the box buy Land Rovers and Hummers. Those who like to mod and tinker turn to Jeeps because of lower prices and abundant aftermarket parts.
The Compass, in my opinion, is DCX trying to cash in on the
outdoorsy (not necessarily rugged) Jeep image. For example, what good are tailgate-mounted pivoting stereo speakers going to do you on the trail? Pure gimmick. Had gas prices stayed under $2/gallon, I don't think DCX would have bothered with the compass, but people expect better fuel economy these days. I think the Compass is bad for the Jeep brand. That ball should have been left in Dodge's court. I agree with those who think that maybe Jeep should scale back its product line to become a smaller company that does one thing
the best and to do away with the cannibalization. Why does the market need both a Grand Cherokee and a Commander? With the availability of a 4-door Wrangler, why does Jeep even need a Liberty any more since those who want a grocery-getter will buy the Patriot? Leave the Nitro a Dodge.
FWIW, I don't think the Compass is for yuppies. Do real yuppies even exist anymore? Thought that was an '80s phenomenon. I don't think our economy can support a modern class of yuppies. The rich have only grown richer, and they surely don't want a Compass! They'll go straight for the Lexus, Infinity, Benz, or Land Rover. The Compass is a first car for young adults who probably can't afford anything better.
(I just read this. My thoughts are all over the place. Sorry for rambling!)
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