Well I fit in with the Patriot demographic

 

I got picked up in a Wrangler Unlimited in that exact colour to pick up my Patriot last week !

 

Wow, they consider the Grand Cherokee their 'old person' vehicle.

I think I see more 'perpetually 38' year old females driving them then 58 year old men.

 

I always notice college age girls driving Wranglers. I guess I wouldn't remember seeing men driving.
OH, its so clear, middle aged sugar daddies buy Wranglers for their girlfriends to drive.

 

Diluting the brand?

Sounds like a marketing department version of the whole "not a real Jeep" thing.

You could argue that the Porsche Boxster or Lamborghini Gallardo dilute their respective brands.

 

Well, let's see....I'll be 70 in December. Does that mean that they come and pull me out of my Patriot? They'll have to pull the steering wheel out of my cold dead hands!

 

They'll have to pull the steering wheel out of my cold dead hands!

Excellent response John ! I to am a bit over the Patriot's demographic age (as defined by the marketinig gurus). I think they are pitching the Patriot too low. This Jeep covers the needs of many people, why limit the marketing to just the 20 to 30's demographic. Jeep is making a mistake here.

 

Demographics are a load of horse ****, how can a "marketing guru" decide that a certain type of person only falls between the age of 20-30 years old.

Just another way to label/categorize people, think they can heard us like sheep.

 

You buy the vehicle thats right for you.Not what somebody says you should drive.

 

The late Benjamin Disraeli said of stuff like this, "There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies and statistics".

 

marketing people just love to generalise and pigeon hole

isn't a vehicle based upon a person need or a person ego or status symbol not age ..... like the 300c touring is for the funeral industry and the nitro is designed for italian hit men ....oh am I generalising again so sorry

good luck selling cars to a specfic age group sort of cuts out a pretty big market

 

Well, I am 44 and driving my Patriot. I bought it because of the Cherokee styling, fuel economy and safety features. If fuel economy wasn't so important, seeing as I drive 40 miles a day to work, I would have waited for the new squared-off Liberty which is closer to Jeep's perceived demographics for me. I like my Patriot a lot, but a smooth V6 with gobs of torque is a joy to drive. I miss my straight 6 Cherokee for that reason. I may be demographically schizophrenic though, because when I was considering what to buy, I felt I could have gone many different ways. I initially liked the Caliber as an economy car a man could be seen in. At the dealer looking at them, I saw an 07 Sebring and suddenly felt the urge to relax and listen to classical music in numb comfort in a semi-sporty euro"ish" sedan. Then I would see a Mini Cooper on the road and think how fun that would be and to never grow up. Then I saw a Wrangler Unlimited whilst checking a Jeep dealer for a Patriot and got all frothed in the mouth over it and entered into a death match between logic and emotion. Logic won thankfully, and I am glad to not be driving that wind-noise laden beast 80 miles a day at 18 mpg. Then I saw an Avenger R/T and had all manner of nostalgia dredging up my former hot rod days drag racing my Barracuda. My wife is not much better at 8 years my younger as she refuses to submit to the mini-van ranks with all of our children and has a red Scion Xd. It fits her though :wow:

 

Loved reading this post. It made me think of all the types of cars we have gone through to get to the Patriot. Lots of cars, but highlighted by a 69 Roadrunner, 78 Camaro, and the MOST fun car of our lives...an 05 Mini Cooper. (we traded it in for the Pat). If anyone here ever gets a chance to test drive one.. DO IT. And make sure you take it out on a windy road somewhere. You'll have an experience like no other, I promise!
We love our Patriot for many reasons but we both admit that in terms of the purest "fun" factor..a Mini will probably never be beat. (fun factor on level windy roads, curvy interstates with no police nearby, etc . Off roading is a totally different kind of fun factor here).
Oh, speaking of demographics..I'm 52 and the wife is..well..younger than that. (I had to word it that way guys..if she reads this I was gonna be dead meat for telling..) Neither of us "fit" into those idiotic demographic numbers but we loved the Pat enough to get one anyway.

 

The only problem with the demographic is that the Commander stole sales from the Grand Cherokee instead of pulling sales from other companies.. Plus it is a little small on the inside for 7 people.

 

Although, I fit into the Patriot's target demographic, I agree with you guys. Its a vehicle that fits all my needs and looks cool while doing it.

 

It is a comfort to know that I fit in to the demographic for my Jeep. I have always prided myself on being a trend follower, not a trend starter

 

Well, I'm a 40 yr old female and I just bought an 08 Patriot. I don't fit the demographics! I bought this cute little jeep (I can't help it and my husband gets mad when I call it cute...he says Jeeps are not cute)anyway, I bought it because it is the practical for my family right now. I love the plastic interior. I can wipe off my daughter's nasty red mud from the softball field! I love the plastic cargo area for the same reason. Now, if I wasn't an athlete's mom, I'd have a Black Miata. Yep, I had a 1990 Miata, the first year they made them and it was the absolute funnest car I've ever owned. Middle age and family responsiblities have crept in though and I have to do what's best for the family you know? I love the Patriot though, it's the perfect little gas sipping suv for me. Who knows? One day I might be able to drive a little sports car again, of course, everybody will be laughing at the little old lady in the convertable won't they???

 

Good for you Kat!

I remember being in high school in the 50's and there was this wonderful elderly gray haired lady who drove a porsche speedster with the top down in the fall, with a kerchief wrapped around her head. She was REALLY cool!

In my past I've driven just about every sports car of the 50's and 60's generation, including my 61 black Corvette. I'd love to own a Morgan, but probably would latch onto a Miata someday if we got a larger garage!

The Patriot is one of the most fun cars I've owned in a long time.:smiley_thumbs_up:

 

Johnda,
The Patriot is a fun vehicle and I love it. I really love being a bit different though. Everybody has a Highlander or a Pilot. I've always been one who doesn't follow the herd so to speak. Hmmm, I think I will go back to a Miata when my daughter can drive herself around. Maybe some sparkly Cat Eye sunglasses and a Jackie Kennedy scarf on my head. People will think I'm an absolute weirdo For now, I'm loving the Patriot!

 

I really love being a bit different though. Everybody has a Highlander or a Pilot. I've always been one who doesn't follow the herd so to speak.

Not to mention the conformity-mobile that is the CR-V! To me, the Pat reminds me so much of the Cherokee, which is still cool, IMO, and still stands out from the crowd!
I loved my old Saturn wagon, but the Pat is just cooler and more practical than the VUE ever thought of being!

 

We all just have to remember that it's not up to someone else to tell us what car we purchase. People can laugh all they want but it shouldn't matter as long as you are happy with the decision.

Long live the Jeep brand!

 

I hate to say this but, I am a 22 year old girl and I have seen about 10 other patriots now, and when ever I look into the driver's seat of my fellow pats, they are older men, that fit jeeps demographic. It makes me feel weird when I DO THE JEEP WAVE and they look at me funny.

 

I hate to say this but, I am a 22 year old girl and I have seen about 10 other patriots now, and when ever I look into the driver's seat of my fellow pats, they are older men, that fit jeeps demographic..

Oh.. my...

The demographic for the Patriot is 20's and 30's male... and you consider them
...older men....:wow:

I think I feel my mid life coming on...

 

jeepmuck, I think we're a lot alike.

I also owned a S series (1992 SL2), and it was a FAR better car than it ever got credit for. Extremely reliable, reasonably fun and efficient. Had they evolved the car instead of letting it die from neglect it would have been a real contender. In 1991 it was way ahead of its time, but by 2002, it was quite long in the tooth. My 92 had 180,000 miles on it when it got hit (was reading myself for a new car anyway, and I just didn't bother fixing it). I believe it could have done another 40K+ miles without any problems.

I don't consider Hondas/Toyotas to be overrated. While the styling can be hit or miss, they really are (generally) quite reliable and the Accord is just in a class by itself. The CR-V, however, doesn't impress me. My mother has an 02 CR-V, and the ergonomics suck (unusual for Honda), it drives like it is on stilts, and the reliability of it is pretty average- it hasn't stranded her, but it did suffer a catastrophic A/C failure at 80,000 miles. The new one, well, I am not quite on board with the "fell out of the ugly tree and hit every branch on the way down" school of design.

It's always better to please yourself with your car- you're the one paying for it and driving it. That's why I always chuckle when people love or hate something because of the press the automaker gets. What people say about something doesn't make it any better or worse.

Unless it's a Pinto. Those really were crap.

 

I agree with everyone who says that you must choose the vehicle that's right for you. I just think that so many people think you gotta buy a Honda or a Toyota to get quality and I don't agree with that. I think most cars today are made well. I bought the Patriot because it fits my needs right now. I love the styling and I love the 4 cylinder and the mileage. I think that alot of people overlook other brands like Jeep because they have been sucked into the whole press thing about Honda and Toyota being the best on the market.

ps...I'm 40 and female and the only reason I even hesitated about buying the Patriot is that I thought maybe I was 'too old' for it. I looked initially at one with the flip down rear speakers and I thought they were making this vehicle for college kids. Glad I didn't go with that instinct though!

 

I think that alot of people overlook other brands like Jeep because they have been sucked into the whole press thing about Honda and Toyota being the best on the market.

Sucked into the press thing? You mean basing a purchase on reviews, reliability and proven history?
This is a Jeep forum so of course everyone's (most everyone's) opinion is gonna be biased.
But the facts are the facts.

For many years in a row, the Honda CRV, the Toyota RAV4 and the Subaru Forester have ranked at the top of every small SUV owner satisfaction and reliabilty chart out there.

If you spend time googling small SUV comparisons form any reviewer, web page, author, owners list etc, you will constantly see these 3 on top. They offer a longer life and higher resale value than any other vehicle of equal value and type. They have proven themsleves to be the best value in their market. Period.

The only reason I bought the Jeep Patriot was because I was looking for a small 4cylinder SUV and I could get a new Patriot for the cost of a 1-2 year old Rav 4 or CRV. I could care less about the 'Jeep image' or 4 wheeling, or looking cool, or worrying about my image to other driver's when they saw me.

Whether the person at the stoplight thinks I am cool or not makes no difference on my checkbook at time of sale or resale.

I like to keep my vehicles for at least 8 years. I will admit I am a bit worrisome about the Patriot holding up that long. The mechanics may last, but oh man.. that interior won't be pretty.


Jim

 

My wife drives her 03 Toyota Camry (white/tan two tone, looks like a lexus) and it's a fine car. No problems, very reliable and quiet. It sure ain't the same car as my Patriot. My Patriot is ALIVE! ALIVE! Yes, it's not as quiet, the doors don't have that dead "thunk" when you shut them, but it puts a smile on my face whenever I get behind the wheel. It's my trail buddy. You can be sure if I'm driving along and come across another Pat, I WILL give the driver the Jeep wave, I just hope they understand that it's my thumb that's up in the air!:smiley_thumbs_up:

 

Well I'm in my early 40s,I guess too old for the Patriot statistics but in my mind I'm still 20

 

Demographics and Jeeps. Sorry mates they just don't go together.