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Irish Waif

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
New kind of customers key to Compass's success

Nov 08, 2007
By Alex Gary
BusinessRockford. com

EXCERPT:

"In October, as Chrysler LLC prepared a massive cost-cutting program that would include eliminating slow-selling models, several analysts pegged the Compass as one of the top candidates for the chopping block. After all, since it’s introduction on showroom floors last July, the most its sold in the U.S. in any month is 5,066 — and it’s only topped 4,000 in monthly U.S. sales one other time."
...

"The Compass, however, has more than met expectations in Europe — where it has ranged from 950 to 1,800 in sales monthly since February. European roads are smaller and more suited to the Compass and Patriot.

"We read all of the coverage, and one thing I can say is, (the Compass) was never in danger,” Chrysler spokesman Jason Vines said. “What people don’t realize is that it is selling well internationally, and it’s bringing a different kind of buyer to the Jeep line.”

Read the Full Story


Irish Waif ;)​
 
#2 ·
Interesting!

I'll tell ya this much... our friend's black Compass and the Inferno Red one that pops up every once in a while near my office look really nice!

Now, is it just my imagination or is the interior of the Compass smaller than that of the Patriot?
 
#5 ·
Irish Waif said:
New kind of customers key to Compass's success

Nov 08, 2007
By Alex Gary
BusinessRockford. com

EXCERPT:

"In October, as Chrysler LLC prepared a massive cost-cutting program that would include eliminating slow-selling models, several analysts pegged the Compass as one of the top candidates for the chopping block. After all, since it’s introduction on showroom floors last July, the most its sold in the U.S. in any month is 5,066 — and it’s only topped 4,000 in monthly U.S. sales one other time."
...

"The Compass, however, has more than met expectations in Europe — where it has ranged from 950 to 1,800 in sales monthly since February. European roads are smaller and more suited to the Compass and Patriot.

"We read all of the coverage, and one thing I can say is, (the Compass) was never in danger,” Chrysler spokesman Jason Vines said. “What people don’t realize is that it is selling well internationally, and it’s bringing a different kind of buyer to the Jeep line.”

Read the Full Story


Irish Waif ;)​
Click to expand...
Thanks, good read.

Not really surprised that it's meeting/exceeding expectations.
 
#8 ·
When it comes to whether or not Jeep will drop the Compass, the question is not whether it is selling. Rather, the question is: what would those buyers purchase if the Compass were not available. It seems to me the next vehicle on their list would be the Patriot. One would think that Jeep is asking its customers this question.
 
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Discussion starter · #9 · (Edited)
The Jeep Compass is here to stay!

HoosierRon said:
When it comes to whether or not Jeep will drop the Compass, the question is not whether it is selling. Rather, the question is: what would those buyers purchase if the Compass were not available. It seems to me the next vehicle on their list would be the Patriot. One would think that Jeep is asking its customers this question.
Click to expand...
Hoosier Ron,

Reasonable observation and questions, but as I interpret what Chrysler/Jeep spokespeople have been saying in their interviews and press releases is that the Compass is here to stay at least until the model completes it's planned production run.

Think about it: the Compass is reportedly selling 4000-5000 units and perhaps more per month worldwide, including the North American market. The Compass and Patriot are virtual runaway hits in Europe where it has been traditionally difficult at best for American designed, engineered and built vehicles to make any significant market impact. And too, there's the Australian market where the Jeep marque and these two 'little' Jeeps have been generally well received.

Most importantly .. the painful heavy spending to get the vehicle to market is for the most part finished: design, engineering, tooling and reconfiguration of Belvidere Assembly is bought and paid for, which means as time goes on the per unit profit on each vehicle will increase. So the longer Jeep builds and sells the Compass, the happier will be the folks in accounting.

Finally, kindly note that while some Compass buyers may cross-shop the Patriot, it is by no means the general rule. The styling of the Patriot and Compass are strkingly different [some might even say polarizing] and as we here in the JP.com forums know very well, each model has its enthusiastic and distinct fan base. My view is that if the Compass were to be removed from the product mix, I believe you'd see many people who would have bought a Jeep for the first time go back to their RAV4s, CR-Vs, or other similar small SUVs and Crossover vehicles.

Whatever our personal feelings may be about these vehicles, Chrysler/Jeep management has spoken clearly on the matter and both the Compass and Patriot are here to stay.

Just my two pfennig's worth.


Irish Waif ;)
​
 
#10 ·
HoosierRon said:
When it comes to whether or not Jeep will drop the Compass, the question is not whether it is selling. Rather, the question is: what would those buyers purchase if the Compass were not available. It seems to me the next vehicle on their list would be the Patriot. One would think that Jeep is asking its customers this question.
Click to expand...

I would never buy a patriot. If the Compass didn't exist, I would probably be driving a different brand all together.
 
Discussion starter · #15 · (Edited)
It's what makes a Subaru, a Subaru.

REPUBLIC said:
is it just me ??? or does compass have a Subaru look to it???
Click to expand...
MEGULA said:
I see it too... I think the Compass is a very sleek crossover but those big round headlights just don't fit on the face of it. :eek:
Click to expand...
Republic & Meg,

Those 'big round headlights' in juxtaposition with all the other Compass's unique styling features may be the visual cues that are ringing your 'Subaru-esque' chimes.

We currently have three Subaru Imprezas in my extended family and their unconventional and quirky styling is part of their endearing charm, at least to Subaru enthusiasts who make up the faithful core base. Off-center styling, bulletproof unorthodox drivetrains and other unique engineering attributes are hallmarks of the marque and are what make a Subaru, a Subaru.

Sadly in the past few years Subaru has been trying to woo the masses with mainstream exterior design and and has ended up with vehicles that are neither good lookers in a conventional sense nor faithful to Subaru's design heritage.

FWIW, the reason I began giving serious consideration to the Patriot in the first place is because the Subaru lineup has become visually 'less interesting'. This said .. if I weren't shopping a Patriot, I would be buying another Subaru.


2003 Subaru Impreza 2.5 TS Sport Wagon in 'Savannah Green'
Identical to the car 'The Love of my Life' and I spceial ordered from Ōta, Gunma, Japan & put in our garage in Dec 2002.


Irish Waif ;)
​
 
#18 ·
I think the compass and patriot were created as two separate looks. People who like the compass might not like the patriot and same for patriot lovers. I like the additional size of the patriot and it was a little cheaper. I can understand how critics can say the compass is for women and the patriot is for men because it was like the difference between the grand cherokee and the cherokee sport. One was box like and the other was a little rounded. Either way they are built on the same production line so dropping one of them doesn't really make sense. They aren't lossing any money by having both.
 
#19 ·
RAMBOY said:
What do the critics in Australia consider the top-rated offroad-capable vehicles?
Click to expand...
the critics love the japanese stuff

in the bigger cars - Patrol (Nissan) and Land cruiser (toyota)
both of these have 150+ fuel tanks which suits the long range tourer scene here in australia - desert and outback stuff
http://www.drive.com.au/Editorial/ArticleDetail.aspx?ArticleID=45293&vf=2

larger - prado (toyota)

Utes - hilux (toyota) and Mazda BT50 win there

mid range - pathfinder (nissan) kluger (toyota) and territory (ford)

small or softroaders - honda crv, toyota rav4

none of the smaller cars are all softroaders and the mid size are really used for people movers not off roaders

most offroading is done in the larger or utes in Australia - due to the amount of crap people carry

the wrangler sells well here but Jeeps have been too expensive due to Australian dollars being bad - Chrylser need to ramp now the $ is strong

but they need to have better suspension and larger fuel tanks as standard too be competitive with the jap stuff

Car of the year analysis

http://www.drive.com.au/Editorial/ArticleDetail.aspx?ArticleID=45205&vf=2&pg=1

new jeeps and chrylsers don't get a look in
 
#20 ·
zombie4569 said:
I think the compass and patriot were created as two separate looks. People who like the compass might not like the patriot and same for patriot lovers. I like the additional size of the patriot and it was a little cheaper. I can understand how critics can say the compass is for women and the patriot is for men because it was like the difference between the grand cherokee and the cherokee sport. One was box like and the other was a little rounded. Either way they are built on the same production line so dropping one of them doesn't really make sense. They aren't lossing any money by having both.
Click to expand...
Additional size? Where? Along the top back corners on the ceiling? Yeah I suspend a lot of stuff in mid-air...
:doh:
 
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