A V6, and a different transmission, would have blew away the price advantage. It also would have likely dropped the MPG below 20. For myself, at that point I would have bought a Wrangler.

 

I agree, I needed the mileage, and if Jeep didn't have the Patriot with it's mileage, I would have looked at other brands.

Plus the trail rated Pats do have steel skid plates and hooks. They have a lot of room inside IMHO, and what does that have to do with a trail rating anyway?

If I wanted the 6 cyl and more trail capable I would have bought a Wrangler.

 

Isn't that called a Liberty?

 

/thread

 

The two things that worked in Jeep's favor for my purchase of the Patriot were the fact that it gets decent gas mileage because of its capable 4-cylinder motor and the fact that it is built in the United States (and I am trying to keep my money in North America as much as possible). If the Patriot had been 6 cylinders, I would have simply bought a Mitsubishi Outlander or a Nissan Rogue and not bothered with the brand at all.

 

This comes up over and over again. Yes the Patriot could be a lot better "Jeep". It would have to give up the qualities that make it a great all around economy SUV.

 

The Patriot is a cheap family station wagon that just happens to have 4x4. Start messing with that formula ( V6 , big lifts , locking diffs etc ) & you end up with an Expensive Patriot that would end up way too expensive for its target market........

 

I´m agree with the idea: we are talking about a Jeep Liberty if you want a v6 and a better 4x4 SUV.

I have both Jeeps (liberty and pat) and I love them...but each Jeep is very different, thats why I love them.

 

How to rationalize:

The patriot gets great mileage and is safe in winter with 4 wheel drive.
Wow! this Commander has lots of interior space away from the elements, can tow almost anything, and gets double the mileage of the J-10 Pickup.
Sometimes a guy really needs a Jeep pickup.
The CJ is great, but if you want the top down, if it rains you really need a Jeepster.

 

I think the bottom line is, is that they should have never trail rated the jeeps. on top of that you get tons of these people who run the crap out of them and end up ruining their ride in the end. its not as an aggressive jeep as grand cherokee.

 

Any of us "real" Jeep people who own, or have owned Jeeps from all the different manufacturers. Willys, Kaiser, AMC and Chrysler's musical chair style of ownership, know, "trail rated" is a joke advertising gimmick aimed at non-Jeep buyers.

Or in other words, If you are impressed by the trail rated badge, you (not "you" specifically) don't deserve to be driving a Jeep.

 

If they give me a 40% hp increase, AND another 1 mpg or so, like they gave the Wrangler, throw in the hooks and plates, I wouldn't give a rats butt if it had a badge. In the meantime I need the extra torque multiplcation to get me to my fishing spots without walking.

 

I thought the Trail Rated package was a good deal. Got me a little bit more clearance, and the skid plates and hooks, plus the oil cooler and a full size spare. More mileage would be good though.

 

I'm not necessarily "impressed" by a trail rated badge, however when you compare it other manufactures "off road" packages (FX4 comes to mind) you'll find that the trail rated badge actually means something more. What other off road package includes a different transmission / transfer case? Typically it's things like side steps, maybe a different muffler or some colored shocks that are still junk. So while I don't look at "Trail Rated" and think "wow I can do whatever I want with that!" I do recognize that the vehicle that the badge is on is the best vehicle in its class for traveling an off road trail.




and yes, my Rubicon is "Trail Rated". Luckily. Not sure what I'd do without it.

 

What I meant was, the name JEEP itself used to mean trail rated, most useful, toughest, indestructible. There shouldn't need to be anything more. If you say "I have a Jeep" that should be the final word necessary. Having some trail rated and some not actually cheapens the Jeep name. Jeep would do more for their image by offering an ass kickin' tough pickup like the J-Series rather than pasting useless ratings on the vehicles.

 

Furthermore, since Jeep is used to using the 6 cylinder engines and not the 4's as seen in the patriots, they are still in the process of learning more and more about the engine. Some things they really have no fix or clue on how to fix them. This includes the electronics.

Isn't the Jeep Patriot/Compass built in the same plant as the Dodge Caliber and outside of sheet metal and 4WD, virtually the same vehicle as the Caliber? And the 2.4L World Engine is used by numerous manufacturers?

 

I think the trail rated badge makes their owners want to push their jeeps further than what they can handle. Thats the main reason why i think they should not have "trail rated" the jeep.

 

I always assumed the Trail Rated badge meant the vehicle is well equipped enough to complete either the Rubicon or Mojave Trails stock. But now thinking about it, that's probably wrong.

 

If you stack enough rocks, a FDII equipped patriot can complete the Rubicon.


no that's what I think it USED to mean. Now it's some measurement system it can flex so far, and ford so deep, and it's approach/breakover/depature angles are so steep....

 

Maybe some feel a little self-conscious about not having a real off road.
In my case, I bought a jeep to be a globally recognized brand with 70 years of trajectory, being American and all you want to add.
But mostly because I need a car with the comfort of a street car, fuel economy and safety, while having the opportunity to travel on dirt roads or in mud not too rigorous.
I can also add personal improvement according to my needs.
So far had a Hyundai Galloper (like Mitsubishi Montero) made in Korea and one Mercedes Benz C200 Kompressor.
I think I've reached a point between the two.
It is clear that I do not want to do great off road crossings or travel at 200 km/h