2014 Jeep Cherokee

[Rupert]

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.

Couldn't say, but I bet if you stick some mud tires on an otherwise stock rig...

I'd rather people stick to areas set aside, for sure, but I have never ever seen on of these areas that are in good condition. It's the very nature of the activity.

Side note, I have seen challenging Jeep trails that aren't causing any problems outside the trail prism, but never a whole dedicated off-road area.

[Soup DeVille]

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.

As long as you can lock it when you wanrt to and it listens to you: The Pilot isn't bad when the rear axle will stay locked, but will only do so in first or second gear at less than 15 MPH.

[Rupert]

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

Yes, but I mean all that stuff doesn't get you any more actual access to places you want to go than the stock K5 with AT tires.

[Soup DeVille]

Couldn't say, but I bet if you stick some mud tires on an otherwise stock rig...

I'd rather people stick to areas set aside, for sure, but I have never ever seen on of these areas that are in good condition. It's the very nature of the activity.

Side note, I have seen challenging Jeep trails that aren't causing any problems outside the trail prism, but never a whole dedicated off-road area.

That's true: there was very little my Wrangler on 31s couldn't get over that the big bad mudders on their 35s or larger could.

[Rupert]

As long as you can lock it when you wanrt to and it listens to you: The Pilot isn't bad when the rear axle will stay locked, but will only do so in first or second gear at less than 15 MPH.

Well, techy aids can do all the stuff you could ever want and beat the pants off old-school rigs, but whether they do or not is a different story.

[Rupert]

That's true: there was very little my Wrangler on 31s couldn't get over that the big bad mudders on their 35s or larger could.

It always cracks me up when people say that the best off-roaders are huge trucks with huge tires and huge lifts. An XJ with no lift, good tires, and a rear locker can wipe the floor with those big rigs in anything but axle-deep mud. Maneuverability is good!

[2o6]

Indeed.  Does the Compatriot have that stufffffff?!

IIRC, yes it does. I remember reviewers saying that the AWD system is pretty much the only redeeming feature of the Compass/Patriot.

[giant_mtb]

Yes, but I mean all that stuff doesn't get you any more actual access to places you want to go than the stock K5 with AT tires.

Bullshit.  A lifted K5 with bigger tires will go farther (and do so more easily) than a stock one with stock-size A/T tires.  I don't see how that's debatable at all.  That's like saying a stock Corvette will run a lap around Laguna Seca as quickly as a Corvette with racing suspension and slicks. 

[Rupert]

Bullshit.  A lifted K5 with bigger tires will go farther (and do so more easily) than a stock one with stock-size A/T tires.  I don't see how that's debatable at all.  That's like saying a stock Corvette will run a lap around Laguna Seca as quickly as a Corvette with racing suspension and slicks.

Obviously. But going further does not open up more places you want to go but couldn't with a stock rig. My point is, if you want to get to a certain trailhead, or a particular section to hunt on, you can do it without the modifications. The mods may be fun, but they aren't useful as a means to an end other than themselves.

[giant_mtb]

Obviously. But going further does not open up more places you want to go but couldn't with a stock rig. My point is, if you want to get to a certain trailhead, or a particular section to hunt on, you can do it without the modifications. The mods may be fun, but they aren't useful as a means to an end other than themselves.

We have differing views/concepts here.  You're talking about using an off-road vehicle to reach some destination like a trail or hunting location.  I'm talking about off-roading where your only destination is, well, off-roading itself.  The only place you're trying to get is as far away from humanity as possible in your vehicle, and on a route that a normal/stock vehicle would simply not be able to go.  Going to a trailhead?  Sheesh, my parents' FWD Explorer will take them to any "trailhead" they'd like.

[Rupert]

Right. My point is exactly that and has been always. There is nothing practical about modding a Jeep because all practical uses are met with a stock rig. Off-roading for its own sake isn't practical. Using some practical reason as an excuse to mod your rig is silly.

Same story with sports cars. There is no practical reason to even own a sports car, let alone modify it. I think everyone agrees with that, even if some people (*cough*rags*cough*) try to use practicality as an excuse to get new wheels and tires. For some reason, though (rednecks), off-road types more often think that what they are doing is somehow practical and useful to some goal other than off-roading for its own sake.

[giant_mtb]

I see no practicality in brutal off-roading.  It's for fun. 

WHAT THE HELL ARE WE EVEN ARGUING ABOUT ANYMORE.

[Rupert]

Goddammit, why aren't you seeing my point?! Fuck, man, don't be so den-- oh, right, nevermind.

[2o6]

This car is fugly for no reason at all. At least the Juke was meant to be ugly, if that makes sense. It stayed incredibly close to the Quazana concept. This Cherokee looks ugly for no damn reason at all, especially since the GC is actually one of the best looking SUV's on sale, IMO.

[MX793]

IIRC, yes it does. I remember reviewers saying that the AWD system is pretty much the only redeeming feature of the Compass/Patriot.

The Freedom Drive AWD system in the Compatriot did have a locking center diff, but it should be noted that '07-'10 model Compasses were not "Trail Rated" by Jeep.

[2o6]

The Freedom Drive AWD system in the Compatriot did have a locking center diff, but it should be noted that '07-'10 model Compasses were not "Trail Rated" by Jeep.

IIRC, Patriot was, though.

[Galaxy]

Looks like Jeep is getting killed in the press, and social media.

[giant_mtb]

Old vs. New


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[Soup DeVille]

Old vs. New


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= l l l l l l =

[SVT666]

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?

My stock Explorer with aggressive and slightly taller than stock A/T tires has never left me stranded or unable to get somewhere offroad that I really wanted to get to.  It's got to be pretty fucking bad for my Explorer to not get through and it's not exactly known for it's offroad prowess.  If the trail gets particularly rough, I drive around obstacles or am really careful about tire placement.

[giant_mtb]

= l l l l l l =

Yes, that.

[r0tor]

Holy fuck that abonimation is a complete disgrace to the Cherokee name and a stab in the eye to all of the loyal owners.  Hey assholes, all you had to do for a new Cherokee was shrink the Grand Cherokee a bit.

Holy fuck... they should have just went bankrupt

[r0tor]

We have differing views/concepts here.  You're talking about using an off-road vehicle to reach some destination like a trail or hunting location.  I'm talking about off-roading where your only destination is, well, off-roading itself.  The only place you're trying to get is as far away from humanity as possible in your vehicle, and on a route that a normal/stock vehicle would simply not be able to go.  Going to a trailhead?  Sheesh, my parents' FWD Explorer will take them to any "trailhead" they'd like.

Bleh, my JGC had an easier time in the deep ass sand at the outer banks then the redneck in an old Blazer with mudders who told me I didnt have a "real" 4WD vehicle.  I also had a redneck in a jacked up F250 get stuck behind me climbing an access road over a dune.

[Atomic]

If only the Jeep Liberty could've generated in one year the kind of buzz this new Cherokee has garnering in just 24 hours! Few have even seen the MY14 Liberty replacement and word that the Cherokee has returned has reached the universe. Jeep is expanding and a GC clone would've only brought yawns and a confusion vehicle buying public. I am excited to see the 2014 Cherokee in person, to drive one, to learn more about its packaging and how it handles on trails more so than on cushy roadways. Wanna cute-ute, there are plenty of those to choose from. I commend Jeep on the new Cherokee   

[Madman]

I can't say I'm terribly surprised to see all this negativity from the Jeep fanboys.  Most of these people seem to think everything introduced after the original Willys MB is a desecration of the Jeep name.  The problem with this line of thinking is there are only so many people who want a spartan, bare-bones off roader with fewer creature comforts than a Guantanamo prision cell.

Besides, I've never met a Jeep-freak who bought theirs new, so why should they try to pander to an audience who has never directly given them any money, anyway?  These guys remind me of all those bikers who ride around on 20-year-old Harleys and bitch about how the new ones all suck.

[Laconian]

Personally, I think Jeep is like Mini or Hummer in that it will forever be pidgeonholed as a "heritage" brand. It is so strongly associated with a very specific look, function, and time period that any type of evolution runs the risk of alienating the base.

[Rupert]

My stock Explorer with aggressive and slightly taller than stock A/T tires has never left me stranded or unable to get somewhere offroad that I really wanted to get to.  It's got to be pretty fucking bad for my Explorer to not get through and it's not exactly known for it's offroad prowess.  If the trail gets particularly rough, I drive around obstacles or am really careful about tire placement.

Oh yeah, it's amazing where you can get a Buick LeSabre if you're determined.

I once managed to get a stock Durango up what was half a step from a dedicated Jeep trail. Some huge old International Travelall shambled up in low range and passed us. The look we got.

[Rupert]

Personally, I think Jeep is like Mini or Hummer in that it will forever be pidgeonholed as a "heritage" brand. It is so strongly associated with a very specific look, function, and time period that any type of evolution runs the risk of alienating the base.

Tell that to Porsche and the Mini ute.

[r0tor]

If only the Jeep Liberty could've generated in one year the kind of buzz this new Cherokee has garnering in just 24 hours! Few have even seen the MY14 Liberty replacement and word that the Cherokee has returned has reached the universe. Jeep is expanding and a GC clone would've only brought yawns and a confusion vehicle buying public. I am excited to see the 2014 Cherokee in person, to drive one, to learn more about its packaging and how it handles on trails more so than on cushy roadways. Wanna cute-ute, there are plenty of those to choose from. I commend Jeep on the new Cherokee   

That abomination is as cute ute as it gets

[CJ]

The people who ACTUALLY buy a majority of Jeeps don't give a rat's ass about its off-roadability.  They don't care.  They want a Jeep because it's an SUV and then a Jeep.  This is perfect for those people.  Want Jeep to keep building the Wrangler?  It takes vehicles like this to keep doing it.