2014 Jeep Cherokee

[Soup DeVille]

Lol. What kind of car was that? I wasn't alive when they made that movie, but I don't think I've ever seen anything resembling that on the road.

It was the Wagon Queen Family Truckster.

[giant_mtb]

What blind motherfucker looked at that and said, "Build it."?

This.

[giant_mtb]

What a pussy looking piece of shit.  The old Cherokee was actually good at being a Jeep.  This?  Naw, nobody will be talking about this Jeep 20 years after it comes out unless it's to say that it was a total failure.

[Colin]

You have to ask how big the market is for the old style of Jeep compared to the current fashion for SUVs and CrossOvers which based on their looks promise but rarely deliver much in the way of off-road ability. Like Land-Rover, and unlike almost all other rivals, I will bet that this Jeep has still got plenty of off road ability.

[giant_mtb]

I bet a stock 1993 XJ would whack this thing off the trail without breathing a second thought.

[280Z Turbo]

I drive on roads. The XJ sucked.

[Soup DeVille]

One has to consider that the "old" 4wd vehicles: the XJs, the K5 Blazers, the full size Broncos: they all still command a premium in the used market; and they're being bought by people who keep them in a garage and wipe them down with a cloth diaper either.

There's a reason for that.

[giant_mtb]

"...and they're being bought by people who keep them in a garage and wipe them down with a cloth diaper either."

Not sure if you meant that they're not being bought by people who baby them in a garage?  Or if you meant the other way?

In my experience, people are not babying their K5s, XJs, Broncos, and old-school 'Yota pickups...they're driving the shit out of them because they actually go places.

[Soup DeVille]

"...and they're being bought by people who keep them in a garage and wipe them down with a cloth diaper either."

Not sure if you meant that they're not being bought by people who baby them in a garage?  Or if you meant the other way?

In my experience, people are not babying their K5s, XJs, Broncos, and old-school 'Yota pickups...they're driving the shit out of them because they actually go places.

yes, there's a missing "not" in there.

[giant_mtb]

yes, there's a missing "not" in there.

Just had to make sure.

[Rupert]

"...and they're being bought by people who keep them in a garage and wipe them down with a cloth diaper either."

Not sure if you meant that they're not being bought by people who baby them in a garage?  Or if you meant the other way?

In my experience, people are not babying their K5s, XJs, Broncos, and old-school 'Yota pickups...they're driving the shit out of them because they actually go places.

You must mean because they actually go places for the sole purpose of "using" their Jeep under the guise of some need to get there.

[giant_mtb]

They use them to go places because it's fun to go places 94% of other vehicles cannot.  That is the essential use for such vehicles.  Why that would ever be seen as a problem is beyond me.

[Soup DeVille]

You must mean because they actually go places for the sole purpose of "using" their Jeep under the guise of some need to get there.

Yes, and killing all the lovely rabbits, birdies and endangered lichens along the way.

Just liek you in your Department of Trees and Stuff vehicles, except they don't get to wear that snazzy hat.

[Rupert]

I bet a stock 1993 XJ would whack this thing off the trail without breathing a second thought.

Tech in new off-roaders can do a lot against the purity of old off-roaders. Assuming stock XJ means open diffs and AT tires, I would not necessarily bet on it against the lastest Grand Cherokee or this next gen model with the same tires and stock driver aids/fancy differentials.

Now, an XJ with mud tires, skid plates, and front and rear lockers is a different story...

[giant_mtb]

Tech in new off-roaders can do a lot against the purity of old off-roaders. Assuming stock XJ means open diffs and AT tires, I would not necessarily bet on it against the lastest Grand Cherokee or this next gen model with the same tires and stock driver aids/fancy differentials.

Now, an XJ with mud tires, skid plates, and front and rear lockers is a different story...

New Grand Cherokee =/= New Cherokee

[Soup DeVille]

Tech in new off-roaders can do a lot against the purity of old off-roaders. Assuming stock XJ means open diffs and AT tires, I would not necessarily bet on it against the lastest Grand Cherokee or this next gen model with the same tires and stock driver aids/fancy differentials.

Now, an XJ with mud tires, skid plates, and front and rear lockers is a different story...

Yes, except that new Cherokee is going to be 40,000 and made of shiny, easily scratched, soft plastic bumpered parts.

That, more than any other reason is why you don't see a lot of them anywhere more adventurous than the parking lot of the nearest REI.

[Rupert]

Yes, and killing all the lovely rabbits, birdies and endangered lichens along the way.

Just liek you in your Department of Trees and Stuff vehicles, except they don't get to wear that snazzy hat.

I just mean that in thousands of miles of driving primitive roads, there has only been, uh, maybe one time where I had to get somewhere or wanted to get somewhere that I couldn't get in my stock rig with AT tires. I mean, it's fine if you want a modified Jeep to play around with (though kind of silly, I think, and not infrequently damage-causing), but don't do it under the pretend idea that you actually need it to get somewhere, you know?

[Rupert]

New Grand Cherokee =/= New Cherokee

Ooooh, this is just a Cherokee! I see your point.

But still, I bet it'll beat a stock XJ.

[Rupert]

Yes, except that new Cherokee is going to be 40,000 and made of shiny, easily scratched, soft plastic bumpered parts.

That, more than any other reason is why you don't see a lot of them anywhere more adventurous than the parking lot of the nearest REI.

You should see the $40k (formerly) shiny plasticy Jeep GC I drive around the woods for work.

[giant_mtb]

I just mean that in thousands of miles of driving primitive roads, there has only been, uh, maybe one time where I had to get somewhere or wanted to get somewhere that I couldn't get in my stock rig with AT tires. I mean, it's fine if you want a modified Jeep to play around with (though kind of silly, I think, and not infrequently damage-causing), but don't do it under the pretend idea that you actually need it to get somewhere, you know?

Yeah, this is modern society.  We have roads going virtually everywhere you could ever need to go.

...which is why it's nice to have an old off-roading beast to get where no normal stock vehicle can go.

[Soup DeVille]

I just mean that in thousands of miles of driving primitive roads, there has only been, uh, maybe one time where I had to get somewhere or wanted to get somewhere that I couldn't get in my stock rig with AT tires. I mean, it's fine if you want a modified Jeep to play around with (though kind of silly, I think, and not infrequently damage-causing), but don't do it under the pretend idea that you actually need it to get somewhere, you know?

Some of the fire-roads up north can be pretty tough for any stock vehicle; and yes, a lot of them are used as access to hunting areas.

Plus, there are areas set aside for those who want to play around with their modded Jeeps- areas that may look like they've been flayed with a rubber whip, but other than the coloration sustain minimal damage.

[Soup DeVille]

You should see the $40k (formerly) shiny plasticy Jeep GC I drive around the woods for work.

That you didn't pay for either, ehh?

[Rupert]

People who want to off-road their rigs don't buy anything >$15k for the most part, excepting some pick-ups.

[giant_mtb]

Ooooh, this is just a Cherokee! I see your point.

But still, I bet it'll beat a stock XJ.

I'm guessing (based on its crossover-style looks) that this new Cherokee is FWD.  That's basically where I start to wonder about its offroad prowess.  If it isn't, or if it has optional 4WD, it probably would go farther than an old (stock) XJ. 

Or I'm just being a grumbly old man saddened by the potential wussification of the Cherokee nameplate.

[Rupert]

Yeah, this is modern society.  We have roads going virtually everywhere you could ever need to go.

...which is why it's nice to have an old off-roading beast to get where no normal stock vehicle can go.

Nice as in fun, but not nice as in useful. A modified off-road rig is only marginally more useful than a modified two-seat track car, and that's only because of more storage space.

[giant_mtb]

People who want to off-road their rigs don't buy anything >$15k for the most part, excepting some pick-ups.

That's for sure.  That's half the reason older Jeeps and K5's and Yotas are so popular for off-roading.  They're cheap, there's great aftermarket support, they're built well, and nobody worries about scratching the paint because it's likely that the 1984 'Yota that has not one, but two solid axles you just bought doesn't even have any paint left.

[2o6]

Cherokee is replacing the Compass/Patriot and the Liberty. Underneath, it's a Dodge Dart.

[giant_mtb]

Nice as in fun, but not nice as in useful. A modified off-road rig is only marginally more useful than a modified two-seat track car, and that's only because of more storage space.

I agree.  An old K5 with 35" tires and a lift is not an ideal daily driver.  Definitely need a second vehicle.

[Rupert]

I'm guessing (based on its crossover-style looks) that this new Cherokee is FWD.  That's basically where I start to wonder about its offroad prowess.  If it isn't, or if it has optional 4WD, it probably would go farther than an old (stock) XJ. 

Or I'm just being a grumbly old man saddened by the potential wussification of the Cherokee nameplate.

Initial drive wheels won't matter if it has 4WD or you can otherwise lock the front and rear together, and especially if you can also lock the left and right together or if it has techno stuff to successfully mimic that.

[giant_mtb]

Initial drive wheels won't matter if it has 4WD or you can otherwise lock the front and rear together, and especially if you can also lock the left and right together or if it has techno stuff to successfully mimic that.

Indeed.  Does the Compatriot have that stufffffff?!