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Is the Compass “spiritually wrong” ?!?!?

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pdxbubba

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Discussion starter · #1 · (Edited)
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Jeep loses its way with Compass
AUBURN HILLS -- When the 2006 Detroit News Automotive Consumer Panel spent a couple weeks test driving the 2007 Dodge Caliber in the spring, they gave the feisty little Neon replacement a glowing review.

An amazing 10 out of 10 panelists said they would recommend the Caliber to their families and friends, while six out of 10 said they would consider buying one themselves.

But things turned ugly when the panel, which includes a Southfield hair stylist, a University of Michigan freshman and a Detroit bus driver, got behind the wheel of the Caliber's sister vehicle, the much-anticipated 2007 Jeep Compass.

After putting nearly 2,000 miles on three Compasses over the course of two weeks in July, an equally amazing 10 out of 10 panelists said they wouldn't buy the compact SUV, which is Jeep's first front-wheel-drive, car-based model.

Only two out of 10 said they would recommend the five-passenger Compass to their families and friends. And one of those, 21-year-old Detroit resident Meah Khrysteana Tweh, said she did so with reservations and thought it would be suitable for a "mature" audience only.

The panel not only hated the newest Jeep, they expressed concern that the car-like vehicle -- which the Chrysler Group describes as a "breakthrough" product -- was pointing the brand in the wrong direction.

Detroit architect Andrew Hetletvedt, 32, castigated the Compass for "unnecessary sissy-ness" and said that while Jeep is "one of the strongest names in American motoring," the Compass was "spiritually wrong."...

..."Jeep, to me, no longer can justify having that 'rugged' reputation attached to its brand name," wrote Michael Lysaght, 18, the U-M freshman, in his driving log. "A Jeep is supposed to bellow 'run me into the ground.' Instead, this Jeep says, 'You guys want to go to the mall?' "...
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source

tough crowd... I hope the reviews are better for the Patriot!:eek: :eek: :eek:
 
#2 ·
I would like to know how this group was picked. Sounds almost as if they had magazine articles, which thrashed the Compass, lying around the waiting area. "Pointing Jeep in the wrong direction"--how many times have we read/heard that statement from folks who don't like the Compass.

I do agree, though, that "mature" purchasers are lurking in the background and will be a substantial number of buyers of the Compass. They may not want to do serious off-roading any longer, but want to stay with the Jeep name.
 
#3 ·
Does Toyota's FJ Cruiser or Honda's Ridgeline and Pilot tarnish Toyota's and Honda's reputations for good gas mileage?

So what if the Compass isn't a "true" Jeep? Based on some of the videos I've seen here, it looks like the Compass can still hold its own for light off-roading.

Who cares if ONE model doesn't offer a Trail-rated capability?

If Jeep's target audience is younger people, the Compass makes so much sense. Most recent college-grads don't have the money for a new Liberty or Grand Cherokee. Plus most of them don't have the funds to deal with repairs that are almost guaranteed once they take it off-road. So that pretty much forces them to buy a non-Jeep vehicle (assuming they want to buy a new car). So they probably build a loyalty to that non-Jeep brand, and their next purchase will probably be from that brand.

So if Jeep can attract younger customers with a new vehicle, it will increase the likelihood of them buying Jeep again.
 
#4 ·
HoosierMud said:
I would like to know how this group was picked. Sounds almost as if they had magazine articles, which thrashed the Compass, lying around the waiting area. "Pointing Jeep in the wrong direction"--how many times have we read/heard that statement from folks who don't like the Compass.
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So true. 10 people is not statistically significant by any means (although a large number of people would be swayed by an article like this). Though, like the Liberty, I think the sales numbers will eventually speak for themselves.

Although I love Jeeps, one thing that has bothered me to no end is the resistance of the Jeep fan-base to change. I think the Compass is starting to really bring this out. The Compass seems to be more of a marketing scheme to establish brand loyalty to younger customers.
 
#6 ·
SirFuego said:
Although I love Jeeps, one thing that has bothered me to no end is the resistance of the Jeep fan-base to change. I think the Compass is starting to really bring this out. The Compass seems to be more of a marketing scheme to establish brand loyalty to younger customers.
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No doubt Jeep wants to hook em young, and keep em for future Jeep enthusiasts. Good marketing strategy. Too bad they didn't come out with the Compass and Patriot back when the Suburu mafia was gaining strength. Every other car here is a Sube, and it has a huge loyal following.
 
Discussion starter · #7 · (Edited)
To me it comes down to one thing... perception. For a lot of people there is one image that comes to mind when they here the name "Jeep"

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It doesn't matter that 99% of them will never drive out down a "Jeep Trail"... it's the visual image they think of when they hear "Jeep".

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Jeep means off-roading to so many that it is even a verb. Haven't you heard anyone say they were going Jeeping? or going down a Jeep trail? they don't say they are going down an FJ trail nor a Ridgeline trail... Even the signs for the trails show a Jeep silhouette!

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Some people refer to any 4x4 as a "Jeep" (if it looks rugged enough).

...so it is no real suprise that there are people who slam any Jeep vehicle which doesn't look like that image.
 
#8 · (Edited)
While I understand why DC is producing the Compass I also feel it is "spiritually wrong" as the article states. I have had Jeeps since before I was old enough to legally drive, my first Jeep was a rusted out 46 CJ2 that literally fell apart one day. Over the years I have owned about every CJ model made, several YJ's and TJ's and currently own a modified Rubicon Unlimited. To me Jeep has always been a rugged, go any where, screw the norm type of vehicle. I caught so much hell from my Jeeping buddies in 91 when I sold my CJ and bought a XJ, reality had set in and with two small children, limited income etc a CJ no longer was practical for my family. After 3 years my situation improved, I purchased a mini van for the family and I modified the hell out of the XJ. I can tell you I beat the hell out of that XJ, with an OME lift, lockers and 31" BFG MT's I took it places modified CJ's had trouble with. My point? The XJ fit the bill as a family wagon but at the same time I was able to modify it to use off road. The Compass will never be able to fit this bill without extensive and expensive one off modifications. It has no place in the Jeep line up and should have remained a Dodge/Chrysler platform. To me if cheapens the Jeep image. The Patriot, while no extreme off road vehicle, should be able to do mild trails (not dirt roads like the Compass) with minimum damage with a good driver. The Patriot is "walking the line" and almost going over, while I feel it also is not true to the Jeep image it does at least come with some options that while not hard core do allow for some use off the beaten path.

Call me old fashion, stone age, living in another time etc, but Jeep made a mistake in my mind with the Compass. One thing is sure in my mind, a Compass will never get a “Jeep” wave from me!

Stone age Mark
 
#9 ·
They shoulda kept the looks of the concept Compass and marketed as a Jeep-brand rally car rather than a Jeep SUV. I would have a lot more respect for it then. I also think a better name would have helped... what's everyone think about the name Jeep Eagle? ;)
 
#10 ·
. . . and your position, although not stated, applies to the new 2 wheel drive Wrangler and the 2 wheel drive JGC and Commanders and, yes, a 2 WD XJ? We can also add the Jeepster from the 40's, along with their 2 wheel drive trucks. While the Jeep legend is steeped in 4WD, it DOES have a long history of offering 2 wheel drive vehicles, which aren't suited for off roading.

I, for one, would rather see more Compasses, that an ugly CR-V or RAV4 on the road.

XJ Owner
228,000 Miles and Counting
 
#11 ·
HoosierMud said:
. . . and your position, although not stated, applies to the new 2 wheel drive Wrangler and the 2 wheel drive JGC and Commanders and, yes, a 2 WD XJ?
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I initially thought the same thing, but the more I thought about it is that those same models offer 4wd models that are off-road capable. The Compass does not -- hence the problems they have with the Compass.

On a side note, I lived in Raleigh, NC for 6 months a few years back for a college internship, and I was looking at the lot of a Jeep dealership. I was surprised to see that 90% of the GCs and Liberty's on the lot were 2wd. It makes sense that they get about one or two snowstorms a year which shuts everything down anyways, but from being up north (raised in Pittsburgh and living in Buffalo now) I just assumed that no one really bought the 2wd Jeeps :)
 
#12 ·
SirFuego said:
I initially thought the same thing, but the more I thought about it is that those same models offer 4wd models that are off-road capable. The Compass does not -- hence the problems they have with the Compass.

On a side note, I lived in Raleigh, NC for 6 months a few years back for a college internship, and I was looking at the lot of a Jeep dealership. I was surprised to see that 90% of the GCs and Liberty's on the lot were 2wd. It makes sense that they get about one or two snowstorms a year which shuts everything down anyways, but from being up north (raised in Pittsburgh and living in Buffalo now) I just assumed that no one really bought the 2wd Jeeps :)
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Being from Montana, I too always thought that no one bought the 2wd Jeeps. However, when I lived down south, the 2wd rigs were everywhere.
 
#14 ·
. . . however, even discounting the Wrangler, JGC, and Commander, Jeep has a long history of vehicles that were 2WD and were not considered off roaders. At least the Compass, while not an off road warrior, will get you off the beaten path.

We'll have to see how the public reacts to the Compass and how it reacts to owner's expectations. Will owner's of the Compass want it to crawl the backroads of Colorado, or will they be satisfied that it gets them through the northwest Indiana winters where I live.

If it attracts more people to the Jeep brand, then maybe Jeep will be able to build more off road capable vehicles.

For crying out loud, Jeep is doing something different. In the past, people critisized them for NOT doing anything--now they are because Jeep is NOT doing what THEY want. There is always Land Rover, Hummers, and Toyotas, along with a slew of other vehicles for these people to hop in.
 
#15 ·
HoosierMud said:
For crying out loud, Jeep is doing something different. In the past, people critisized them for NOT doing anything--now they are because Jeep is NOT doing what THEY want. There is always Land Rover, Hummers, and Toyotas, along with a slew of other vehicles for these people to hop in.
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Amen!
 
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pdxbubba
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