The Commander Goes Down

sleeve84028 · **Posted:** Sun Jan 21, 2007 9:05 pm

Even with the current gas priced - the Commander only gets around 14MPG and around 18 MPG on the highway! That is like driving a suburban or tahoe... If someone is going to lay out 40K for a vehicle like that, it had better consider the competition a little more. The Commander was a botched vehicle plain and simple.

The liberty did well because it was the beginner Jeep... those that return to purchase another will probably step into the GC for more leg room and a better engine.

tommudd · **Posted:** Sun Jan 21, 2007 10:00 pm

Liberty...a Beginner Jeep? After owning 9 Jeeps from CJs, Wranglers, Cherokees etc. my decision to buy a Liberty was based on the fact that I liked the size, what it offered etc. I did not want to buy a big bloated Grand just like I would NEVER buy a Commander (plus the fact they are ugly) I look at what I need and what suits me the best. I realize that a lot of younger people are buying Libertys but I think a lot of people buy them for the same reason as I did. My 96 Cherokee has over 265000 miles on it and is the reason I bought the Liberty, 4 doors, the size of it, like I said and other things. The Commander was an afterthought I think trying to make something look like the old Cherokee but failed big time. When the Liberty gets 200,000 plus miles on it will I buy a Grand, or anything like the Commander, NO WAY, too big to get into places I go.

Jeger · **Posted:** Mon Jan 22, 2007 8:15 am

I wouldnt suprise me at all to see the Commander discontinued. I see maybe 1-2 on the road around here. Maybe there just isnt a market for a 7 passenger jeep?

I believe gas prices will only continue an upward trend. In a few generations there may not be many vehicles on the road that dont get at least 30 MPG....unless you are rich. Vehicles the size of the Commander will not survive when people start to feel the crunch. They will either go out of production or have to be so overpriced it is ridiculous.

moose · **Posted:** Mon Jan 22, 2007 10:04 am

The GC will likely bloat on the next redesign if the new Liberty is growing too.

Skyjump136 · **Joined:** Tue Jul 05, 2005 6:50 pm **Posts:** 1633

moose wrote:

The GC will likely bloat on the next redesign if the new Liberty is growing too.

You got it. The DC rep that visited the LOST Rockies group mentioned this. So by getting rid of the Commander they are in effect making room for the new Grand (which will apparently be much more of a "luxury" vehicle as well as being bigger). Still quoting the DC rep here...consumers are confused by the Jeep lineup right now because they consider the GC to be "top of the line" but the Commander comes with a hefty price tag as well. Making the GC bigger and more luxurious will better match consumer expectations.

So yeah, DC knows they screwed up and they're trying to right the ship.

sleeve84028 · **Posted:** Mon Jan 22, 2007 1:06 pm

Too bad the product planners weren't thinking about this when they approved the more expensive Commander...

Do we know if Jeep will also drop the Patriot (the boxier and cheaper version?)

Jeger · **Posted:** Mon Jan 22, 2007 3:19 pm

sleeve84028 wrote:

Too bad the product planners weren't thinking about this when they approved the more expensive Commander...

Do we know if Jeep will also drop the Patriot (the boxier and cheaper version?)

I bet the Patriot does well, it is not a bad looking vehicle and as long as those transmissions hold out I think they will do well. I may be wrong, but I am sure they will do better than the compass is going too. I have seen a few of those on the road....they look even worse than they do in photo's. Now that dodge Nitro...that is a good looking vehicle, they will sell.

sleeve84028 · **Posted:** Mon Jan 22, 2007 5:10 pm

I like the Compass in person - the pictures don't do it justice. I've had a good deal of seat time behind the wheel of one too and I am very impressed (my sister bought one.) I was sure when the Patriot came out that I wanted to get one (better MPG) but the I'll have to wait and see.

And so far - the CVT seems to be doing great in my sisters car. Only at 3K miles though...

Gris · **Posted:** Fri Jan 26, 2007 9:46 am

1) What ever will recon do if they take away his beloved Commander?! oh noes!

2) The only real difference between the GC and the Liberty is the power available. Same basic size, same luxury options. But a lot of people want a V-8 and until they put one in aLiberty, it can never be a replacement for a GC. Also, at this point, it think it's just too late. Liberty's are already pegged as a "Happy looking car" and the GC never was and never was supposed to be. I'm not sure the higher payed clientel that buy new GCs want a "Happy" car.

3) Since I saw the first spy shots of the Compass I've been saying "WTF". The cmpass IS a nice vehicle, but it is so far away from what a Jeep is supposed to be.I should have been badged as a Dodge, or even a plymouth to revitalize the name. But calling a small-sized minivan/car crossover a Jeep was just rediculous. They don;t even advertise it as a Jeep. All they ever show is the thing driving through the city with people gawking at it. Jeep was, is, and always should be an off-road based company. Sure, their vehicles do fine on the road, but they also do better than most off the road. They never should have released something that detracted form that image.

4) The Commander was DCXs answer to the Expidition class vehicle. But it's not big enough to fill the role. At least they show the thing offroad.

jerbacher · **Posted:** Fri Jan 26, 2007 10:13 am

The biggest problem with the Commander is actually that it is too small. The difference between it and the GC is that it offers 7 passenger seating. But, if I'm a guy looking to haul around 7 people in a truck, I would never buy the Commander because it doesnt actually offer enough space for 7 people comfortably. So, its a lost soul. A product without a market and one that competes with other products in its own brand. Very bad marketing/product development descisions by Jeep. Same problem with the Compass/Patriot. Why make competing models in the same brand??!!

sidewayskj · **Posted:** Fri Jan 26, 2007 12:47 pm

Yes the commander is out the door which is about right because if you look at one if u actually use the 7 passenger seating storage is nothing in the back. It would make a nice roomy 5 passenger vehicle and kick out the GC out. I don't like the grands but I know they sell well. I am with jerbacher on the compass/patriot argument I see compass out of the race and patriot staying and being the entry level jeep. If the odd person just crusied logging road or going to the ski hill or drove in some crappy winter the patriot would be an excellent choice of vehicle and some decent millage to boot but would never consider taking it on some moderate trails=death. If the tranny in the patriot works out well and they can keep a good millage number on it, I think it would sell. The compass is dead in the water. I seen 90 year old grandma's that look better than that thing and that is not saying much at all :shock:

.

Gris · **Posted:** Fri Jan 26, 2007 1:22 pm

off topic...

Meatwad rocks

wendell · **Posted:** Fri Jan 26, 2007 3:30 pm

The compass just doesn't look good compaired to the caliber, the frontend has to much bulk, not to mention it's worthless. The patriot on the other hand does look good and has posibilites offroad. I believe the patriot will come to the front between the two and this will let DC know that people still have expectations of what a jeep should be and a compass isn't it. I had alot of fun with my escape offroad, so the patriot should even be better. All the escape needed was some better tires, a lift and a lsd and it wouldn't be bad, so I can see possabilities for the patriot. The compass is to ugly for the street and to weak for the trail, it just doesn't fit in anywhere. The patriot would be perfect for skiers, campers, hikers and even hunters and fishermen, it won't excite the extreme crowd. I saw somw pitures of lifted comanders, they rock, they look rugged unlike the GC. This last restyle ruined the GC in my opinion. I'ld keep the comander, drop the CG and the compass and add a jeep p/u, then call it a day. I can't see the civic crowd jumping to a compass just for mpg, or the crossover folks giving up the good looks of an escape or rav-4 for a compass, it's doomed. They've been out for awhile now and I still don't see any on the roads, not one of DC's better idea's.

ShoreRenegade · **Posted:** Fri Jan 26, 2007 3:44 pm

Leave it to an American company to introduce a gas gozzling monster just as gas prices hit $3. Chrysler/Ford/GM have consistently shown over the years that they have no idea what the public wants. Honda & Toyota really beat the Americans to the fuel efficiency market. The days of Expeditions, Suburbans and Commanders are over.

chetos · **Posted:** Fri Jan 26, 2007 3:51 pm

ShoreRenegade wrote:

Leave it to an American company to introduce a gas gozzling monster just as gas prices hit $3. Chrysler/Ford/GM have consistently shown over the years that they have no idea what the public wants. Honda & Toyota really beat the Americans to the fuel efficiency market. The days of Expeditions, Suburbans and Commanders are over.

and our libbies are really that much better in gas gulpage??

ShoreRenegade · **Posted:** Fri Jan 26, 2007 3:57 pm

chetos wrote:

ShoreRenegade wrote:

Leave it to an American company to introduce a gas gozzling monster just as gas prices hit $3. Chrysler/Ford/GM have consistently shown over the years that they have no idea what the public wants. Honda & Toyota really beat the Americans to the fuel efficiency market. The days of Expeditions, Suburbans and Commanders are over.

and our libbies are really that much better in gas gulpage??

Very true. The Libby survives on it's good looks and the rugged offroad theme that Jeep uses. I do believe Liberty's sales are hurt by its horrendous gas milleage. I know I don't commute in it anymore. I got a 20 y/o honda for that

wendell · **Posted:** Fri Jan 26, 2007 4:16 pm

The american compaies built exactlly what the american public wanted, The american companies are getting a bad rap for building gas guzzlers when thats what people wanted, it's supply and demand. The americans wanted it and the big three supplied it. Those big land yahts that toyota builds are as bad if not worse on gas as the americans. The days off the big suv isn't over, there's still alot of 30 foot jayco's and large boats that still have to be pulled and a ranger isn't going to do it. Maybe a socker mom with her two kids won't be buying large suv's anymore, but there is still a market for suv's with alot of room and large towing capassity. I live up by lake erie, there's a lot of big boats and campers that are getting pulled around. SUV's may have seen thier hayday, but thier far from extintion. 4x4's have weight and drag no matter what size they come in, it's a trade off. If you want a 4x4, it's gonna use gas and 4x4's are still a hot seller around here. My buudy has a 98 4x4 regularcab tacoma with a 4 cylinder manual, his average is 18 mpg. Just because it's from japan, doesn't mean it's good on gas. These crossovers do a little better, but there not true 4x4's, if it has a transfer case it's gonna use gas, no matter who makes it.

Jeger · **Posted:** Fri Jan 26, 2007 4:17 pm

ShoreRenegade wrote:

chetos wrote:

ShoreRenegade wrote:

Leave it to an American company to introduce a gas gozzling monster just as gas prices hit $3. Chrysler/Ford/GM have consistently shown over the years that they have no idea what the public wants. Honda & Toyota really beat the Americans to the fuel efficiency market. The days of Expeditions, Suburbans and Commanders are over.

and our libbies are really that much better in gas gulpage??

Very true. The Libby survives on it's good looks and the rugged offroad theme that Jeep uses. I do believe Liberty's sales are hurt by its horrendous gas milleage. I know I don't commute in it anymore. I got a 20 y/o honda for that

This is another reason the CRD flew out the doors like it did, people will be drawn to the higher MPG figures..even if the fuel costs more. Hmm, a patriot CRD...or even TDI would be a slick little ride.

TheJawsOfDeath · **Joined:** Sun Nov 05, 2006 3:56 am **Posts:** 305

I think that the compass just looks weird. The proportions are all off. The Caliber looks much better to me. Correct me if I'm wrong but if the KJ's engine bay is long enough for a 2.8 4cyl and wide enough for the 3.7, then it probably has room for the 4.7 V8, right? Especially if offered with a manual trans, that would be one hot Jeep! Can you imagine what your v6 liberty would be like with an extra 130hp?! Thats what they should have done, but it wouldnt have fit into the overall DC product portfolio, take sales away from too many other vehicles. The next gen KJ is probably going to get the 265hp 4.0, to deal with its extra size and help move it "upmarket" which sounds like what theyre doing once the Commander departs. Well that was kinda off topic, but mark my words, one day my KJ WILL have that 4.7...

Tokyojoe · **Posted:** Fri Jan 26, 2007 10:43 pm

The Commander's problem was that Daimler/Chrysler used the same format as the Grand Cherokee. That made them have limits on the size they could give it...hence the 2" length difference.

DC was being cheap and it cost them. Like I said, one had to go and I think the better choice would be the Grand. It does have less room and costs as much as the Commander.

Those loyal to the GC and Jeep would buy the Commander.

The Commander Goes Down

Who is online