New Compass

[Cottontail]

I saw the new Compass on jeep.com and saw it is schedule for a late 2006 release to the dealers. I think it is a nice looking vehicle, so I decided to compare it to our beloved XJ and the much-distained KJ.

I like numbers and stats, and I know a lot of you do to. If so, enjoy. If not, go read another thread

All numbers are as follows and in inches:
XJ/KJ/Compass

Wheelbase: 101.4/104.2/103.7
Length: 166.9/174.7/173.4
Width: 67.7/71.8/69.3
Height: 63.8/71.5/64.2

Front Head room: 38.3/57/40.9
Front Leg room: 41.4/40.8/40.6
Rear Head room: 38.5/42.2/39.9
Rear Leg room: 34.9/37.2/39.3

It appears the XJ is the smallest of the 3 vehicles in size. But it also was the best "small Jeep" for driver leg room.

Just thought someone else might be interested as I was.

 

[IXNAYXJ]

I agree that the Compass looks kinda cool, but comparing it to an XJ? It's FRONT WHEEL DRIVE, BASED ON A DODGE NEON! AWD is an option, but it's fully independent suspension seems totally at odds with what the Cherokee stands for.

The Compass was debuted with another concept (Jeep Patriot) that I REALLY like the look of, but shares the same crappy underpinnings with the Compass.

If this is the direction Jeep is heading, I think they will lose most of their credibility among 4-wheelers. I just thank God that they didn't ruin the Wrangler...yet.

-----Matt-----

 

[casm]

If this is the direction Jeep is heading, I think they will lose most of their credibility among 4-wheelers.

See, here's the thing: I can understand DCX wanting Jeep to have a vehicle in the same market segment that Subaru (and to a lesser extent, Volvo and Audi) is in, but I see a couple of problems with it:

1) It'll never be a real Jeep, and they shouldn't try to sell it as such. But they will, instead of going against Subaru.

2) The drivetrain is crap compared to the competition.

I just thank God that they didn't ruin the Wrangler...yet.

Yeah, I'm just wondering how much more they're going to dumb down the JK over its lifespan. I look at the Hurricane concept with independent suspension at each corner and see that as giving a hint to the future direction of Jeep engineering.

 

[Cottontail]

Me and my big mouth.

I should have known this was going to turn into another "DC sucks because all their new idea aren't Cherokees" thread.

We've all heard all the arguements and complaints more times than we can count with our shoes off.

The fact of the matter is that is the direction Jeep appears to be heading. People hated the KJ, but I know there are people on this board that own them. They didn't like the look of the XK, but people on this board own them. The WK went IFS, but people on this board own them.

If people are interested in the comparison numbers I put on here, great. If it turns into a big ole "DC can kiss my @$$-fest," then can a moderator PLEASE PULL THIS THREAD.

We don't need to hasta .

Thanks

 

[casm]

Me and my big mouth.

I should have known this was going to turn into another "DC sucks because all their new idea aren't Cherokees" thread.

I'm kind of failing to understand what the issue is - you asked for opinions on it, a couple were given (and they were less than glowing), and that was it.

Were we supposed to fall fawning all over it because it's a new Jeep?

I stand by my original statements: if DCX builds a vehicle that competes in the same market segment that Subaru already occupies, that's fine. But they need to be realistic about its capabilities rather than trying to sell an AWD compact wagon on the shirttails of the Jeep name. Bets on the initial advertising showing it on some clifftop alongside KJs and JKs that it would never, ever have a hope in hell of getting to without the aid of a helicopter?

I don't like the drivetrain that it's been given. Having driven PT Cruisers with what the Compass is getting (minus the AWD), Subaru's got DCX beat in the powerplant stakes.

Comparing its dimensions to the XJ and KJ was definitely interesting, but ultimately isn't going to influence the existing opinions. A test drive might, but as far as I'm aware nobody here has been behind the wheel of one yet. If it really is that much better than the Outback I'll be prepared to eat my words, but I'm not going to say that it instantly appeals to me because quite frankly, it just doesn't.

I agree with you that by no means do we need another 'I HATE DCX FOR NOT MAKING THE XJ ANYMORE' thread. But that doesn't mean that we can't register at least our initial opinions of it, be they good, bad, or indifferent.

 

[RichP]

Me and my big mouth.

I should have known this was going to turn into another "DC sucks because all their new idea aren't Cherokees" thread.

We've all heard all the arguements and complaints more times than we can count with our shoes off.

The fact of the matter is that is the direction Jeep appears to be heading. People hated the KJ, but I know there are people on this board that own them. They didn't like the look of the XK, but people on this board own them. The WK went IFS, but people on this board own them.

If people are interested in the comparison numbers I put on here, great. If it turns into a big ole "DC can kiss my @$$-fest," then can a moderator PLEASE PULL THIS THREAD.

We don't need to hasta .

Thanks

I'm not gonna compare it to either my XJ or our wranglers. What it amounts to now is $PRICE$, bottom line. The V6 they put in the wrangler is a cast iron block and aluminum head engine, they tend to go thru head gaskets in the minivans they were designed for, how long you think that engine is gonna last crawling off road on a 100F summer day ? Granted 95% of the buyers will NEVER be in that situation. They put the frigging MUFFLER under the gas tanks ACROSS the back [collapsable skid plate maybe ].
As for the compass, already drove one at camp jeep, not bad till I saw the IFS front and rear, they would not let me take it on the commander course
Otherwise I liked it but for the price, I'd look at some other brands from asia and save $8 or $9K.
I'd like to know who decided to design these based on the 'pug' look cause thats what they remind me of. I liked having that long hood out there with that straight 6 in front of me, it gave them the ability to have more leg room but with the V in there they could and did shorten the cabin.
I'll be interested to see the 4 door wrangler, got a feeling that might turn out decent if it's anything like that dakar at camp jeep I was in even though it will the new jeep 'pug' design and have a v6 though rumour has a V8 as an option.

 

[xtrememtbiker85]

The above picture is the patriot. the compass looks like the toyota matrix.

 

[Blackash132]

how much? cause my girlfriend hates the liberty but wants more of an outback type jeep... it's not like she's going to go offroading in it... that's what my xj is for. besides i'm trying anything to talk her out of buying a ford escape

 

[seanR]

Here are two articles in the local news paper about the Jeep(Dodge) compass.
It will be built here in Rockford.
It is being built on the same assembly line as the Dodge Caliber.
So I am sure there will not be much differance between the two.
If you read carefully, they accidently call it a Dodge Compass!
dodge caliber
Jeep compas

 

[RichP]

how much? cause my girlfriend hates the liberty but wants more of an outback type jeep... it's not like she's going to go offroading in it... that's what my xj is for. besides i'm trying anything to talk her out of buying a ford escape

Really, whats the difference between the escape and the jeep, 7 slot grill is about it, as soon as they went IFS/IRS they totally LOST the major difference between them and any other brands but I guess that does not matter to the corporate design teams. Must have been some really interesting meetings when the new wrangler design was being decided on between Independent and live axles.. 'you want to put the muffler WHERE !?!?!?!?'... 'Putting CV joints on both ends of both driveshafts will not eliminate vibration but it sure will up the income for parts', 'You want to eliminate the door sills, geeze thats the only reason the removable doors are legal in 50 states'...stuff like that must have been a riot..

On another tack, whats the longevity like on the subis drive train ?

 

[casm]

On another tack, whats the longevity like on the subis drive train ?

From the couple of owners I know (one's a 2000 and the other's an '02 or '03, I believe), it's bulletproof. This jives with the '86 Brat I had waaaay back when - total rustbucket in the body, but healthy as an ox mechanically even at over 220,000 miles.

 

[RichP]

From the couple of owners I know (one's a 2000 and the other's an '02 or '03, I believe), it's bulletproof. This jives with the '86 Brat I had waaaay back when - total rustbucket in the body, but healthy as an ox mechanically even at over 220,000 miles.

Guess it won't hurt to look and see if I can fit in one...Still want an unlimited but I don't see that happening $$ wise, just paid 3 tuitions and books today...and I thought FSM's were expensive..

 

[Art Triggs]

One of my daughters is on her third subie, lots of wear and tear, but never any trouble out of the driveline, her current one has over 200k and is going strong, my wife's 03 subie has 70+k and is running great.

 

[Lawn Cher']

My mom and dad each had early 90's Subie wagons and both lasted a good long time, especially considering that both my younger brother and I learned to drive stickshift in them.

 

[riverfever]

I'm also a big fan of Subaru. I almost bought a WRX when I was looking at Jeeps. I wish we had gotten my g/f one now instead of her 01 XJ. But I know I would have sunk a bunch of cash into it getting it to look the way I wanted.

 

[Cottontail]

I'm kind of failing to understand what the issue is - you asked for opinions on it, a couple were given (and they were less than glowing), and that was it.

Were we supposed to fall fawning all over it because it's a new Jeep?

Actually, if you read my original post, I didn't ask for opinions. I simply made some numbers comparisons and stated that I think it is a nice looking vehicle.

 

[Lawn Cher']

I wish we had gotten my g/f one

I thought she was your wife?

 

[riverfever]

I thought she was your wife?

I know...here's the thing...the people at her sh!tty job prefer the term "partner" over g/f or b/f. I personally think that partner sounds ghey. So when her boss/co-workers are around, I call her either my g/f or sometimes I'll take it up a notch and just go with beatch. A lot of times it's easier to just say wife though. Technically I'm still "available" I guess.

Funny side note:
She works with some freaks. She had to attend a 3 day training up in Denver last week. She shared a room with her crazy boss one night. This gal is taking a bath and walks outta the bathroom buck naked. This is an older gal so you can forget about any fantasies. She then proceeds to lay ON TOP of her covers on her bed and tell Heather that she's gonna read for a while. All the while....naked. I'm thinking it would be appropriate for me to be sitting on the couch naked, watching the toob one day real soon as she comes home from the salt mines. It's kinda like Seinfeld "good naked/bad naked" thing. Torquing a shackle bolt...bad baked. Me curled up on the couch with a magazine...good naked?

 

[Lawn Cher']

Technically I'm still "available" I guess.

Good to know.

Torquing a shackle bolt...bad naked. Me curled up on the couch with a magazine...good naked?

Methinks bad naked as well.

 

[riverfever]

Probably so. But dude I been tonin' up. Eatin my wheaties and all.

I could tell some stories about this place she's at now but...it wouldn't fit the agenda.