Now that the first reviews are coming in, how many Patriots will D-C be able to sell in the next few years?

I'll start it off: I see unit production of 10,000 per month over the next 36 months and easily seeing an ongoing demand of 7500 per month from 37 - 60 months. That is very good numbers for a Jeep and is similar to Cherokee's numbers.

I also see the potential of reaching 15,000 units per month if engine and power train options are expanded and interior packages offered. That would be epic for Jeep.

I hope you are right. I want to see it do well too!

What is the capacity of the assembly plant?

I believe the Belvider assembly plant used to be able to crank out 260,000 cars per year when it was building Neons on two shifts. I figure maximum capacity on three shifts is around 300,000 today. I don't think assembly plant capacity is the limit. Engine/CVT supplies, however, may be limiting.

I think it has good potential seeing as how people like me who we're die hard Cherokee fans thought and still think the Liberty was not at all what the ideal Cherokee replacement should have been and tried to much to blend into the Rav 4/Honda CRV market; the Patriot finally being a reincarnation of the beloved XJ.

i think it will outsell the Compass, on the basis of styling alone. i also think the Patriot will draw some sales away from the Liberty, especially women buyers. Second generation Libby should appeal more to Jeep traditionalists than did the first.
I have no idea how the Patriot will fare in terms of sales vs. RAV-4, CRV or Escape.

I would never consider a Rav4, CRV or Escape, only Jeeps for me.

"DenverDude2002" -

"we're die hard Cherokee fans thought and still think the Liberty is a Japaneses ripoff pos; the Patriot finally being a reincarnation of the beloved XJ."

Now there's an observation, I must say. The Liberty (a very traditional Jeep built in Toledo) is a "Japaneses[sic] ripoff pos", but the Patriot (a front-wheel drive vehicle built in a Belvedere, Illinois factory which originated thru one joint venture with Mitsubishi and powered by engines built by another JV with Mitsubishi and Hyundai) is a "reincarnation of the Cherokee". Most interesting. I think that you might want to get past outward appearance similarites and do a bit of research before you start mouthing off about someone else's true Jeep being a "pos". :rolleyes:

ok indian there i refined it for you, thats what i meant to say

The big thing for me is the blending of value/durability/rugedness in an everyday around town driver. This is what the cherokee was to me when I was too young and not in a position to afford one before. The Liberty doesnt do it for me and never has; I also can't justify it price wise or gas wise.

I think they will sell a S#!TLOAD of these.

And despite what some people think about the compass's looks it is selling well:

http://www.myjeepcompass.com/misc/compass-sales-figures.php

I figure if the compass can do this well the patriot will easily put up better numbers. Maybe at the expense of the liberty and the compass. The revamp of the Liberty is another good move for the jeep brand.

Denver -

That's better! ;)

You might want to take a look at some of the pictures of the 2008 Liberty too, though. To me, it looks like more of a heir to the Cherokee legacy (engine, drive-train and suspension-wise, at least) than does the Patriot. (On the other hand, some folks are calling it a mini-Commander, which I can also see.)

give it the 3.0L blutec diesel and its my next jeep....after the patriot.

Patriot Fan -

Speaking of diesels, I'm wondering which DCX vehicles will be featuring the new smaller Cummins diesel which is slated to begin production not later than 2010. If it performs anything like its bigger brother (available in the Dodge Ram), it might be a real hoot in a Liberty-size vehicle. ;)

give it the 3.0L blutec diesel and its my next jeep....after the patriot.

I'm with you there...maybe they will put in a 2.0L diesel for a little better gas mileage (that's the size going into the 08 VW compact SUV)...I'll take the 2.0L as well...

The 2008 Liberty is an improvement, though i still would have liked to see the patriot/wrangler grille on it. Ive sat in a Nitro and found it quite nice, main concern being a lack of 4WD low.

Is there not a diesel version of the Patriot/Compass being sold outside the US? Does DCX not allow them sold here due to the fact they cant pass emissions, to expensive, or not a high enough demand? Around here the Liberty CRD was selling like hotcakes, dealers werent able to keep them in stock.

give it the 3.0L blutec diesel and its my next jeep....after the patriot.

X2

Patriot Fan -

Speaking of diesels, I'm wondering which DCX vehicles will be featuring the new smaller Cummins diesel which is slated to begin production not later than 2010. If it performs anything like its bigger brother (available in the Dodge Ram), it might be a real hoot in a Liberty-size vehicle. ;)

X2

I'm with you there...maybe they will put in a 2.0L diesel for a little better gas mileage (that's the size going into the 08 VW compact SUV)...I'll take the 2.0L as well...

X2

The 2008 Liberty is an improvement, though i still would have liked to see the patriot/wrangler grille on it. Ive sat in a Nitro and found it quite nice, main concern being a lack of 4WD low.

Is there not a diesel version of the Patriot/Compass being sold outside the US? Does DCX not allow them sold here due to the fact they cant pass emissions, to expensive, or not a high enough demand? Around here the Liberty CRD was selling like hotcakes, dealers werent able to keep them in stock.

X2

Listen up DCX!!!! WE WANT DIESELS!!!!!!!!!

Put me down for a traditional "Jeep" front end, too (i.e., round headlights, etc., ala the Patriot, Wrangler and current Liberty).