2008 Jeep Compass making a splash

The 2008 Jeep Compass seems to be making a splash in the market. According to the Jamaica Gleaner, Automotives tested the Jeep Patriot which in their opinion was pound for pound the best value crossover SUV.

According to this article, "The Patriot has more space and luxury compared with the other products in its class. It has the power to go anywhere because of its 2.4 liter inline four, which is joined to a new-fangled CVT transmission. While not outstanding in any one area (except ride and off-road-ability), the vehicle is a pleasure to drive and many will love it for its great interior amenities."

Now, the title of this post says it is about the Compass. Yes, the Patriot has a little brother - the Compass. While the Patriot has the length of a seven seater, the Compass is built on a smaller wheelbase, so there is a limit to how big a family it can accommodate. But with about a half ton less weight to carry, and having the same size inline four engine as its big brother, the Compass is a fun-to-drive compact SUV.

The Compass carrying less weight means greater fuel mileage. MPG figures are now similar with the smaller engine equipped RAV4 and CRV. The Toyota RAV4 and the Compass get the same 27 mpg. But because of its bigger engine, the Compass has 172 hp compared to the lesser 150 hp of the RAV4. I like that!

While the article comes out of Jamaica, the facts and figures won't be any different in any part of the world. The Compass looks to be a great value, and if you are a Jeep lover, here is another great option with better fuel mileage.

Good time to buy a Jeep!

Now would be a great time to buy a brand new Jeep! According to CarScoop, Chrysler LLC is introducing a "Let's Refuel America" campaign that will run through June 2, 2008. They are trying to address consumer worries on increasing gas prices.

With the purchase of eligible Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge vehicles, customers can select the "Let's Refuel America" program in lieu of other available incentives and receive a gas card that locks their gas price (up to 87 octanes regular, E85 fuel or diesel fuel) to $2.99 for three years.

Customers who select this option receive a Let's Refuel America Gas Card which can be swiped at an eligible gas station. While fueling, a PIN number is entered, and after the fueling process. is completed, the customer's personal credit card (identified in the registration process) is charged $2.99 per gallon.

With gas prices rising daily, this would be a great time to buy a new Jeep!

Grand Cherokee's new features

I am one who always wants the newest, latest upgraded version of something. Unfortunately, new innovations are so frequent that it is too costly to keep up. So I just sit and drool for quite a while until I can justify the cost to upgrade.

I am the same way with my Jeeps. They are making a lot of new features available that I wish I had on my Grand Cherokee or Liberty. For example, the Jeep Grand Cherokee for 2008 now offers a "progressive and flexible Hill Descent Control for significantly improved vehicle control away from paved roads," according to Super Auto. Now, I don't do a lot of off-roading, but it sure sounds like a great feature to have. So I drool!

Another new feature is the Uphill Start Hill Start Assist which ensures a gentle and controlled start. That sounds great! So do all of these: ABS, brake assist, ESP, traction control and overturning avoidance system on board, an advanced passive safety system with multi-front airbags, curtain side airbags for both rows of seats, a transponder immobilizer and a tire pressure monitoring system.

And for my favorite must-have: 20-gigabyte hard disk audio system for integrated information, entertainment, and communication and - upon request - Navigation. This Radio-/Navigation system is the next generation with a 16.5 centimeter moving large TFT touch screen, and a USB port to upload pictures and music and an RCA jack for connection of MP3 players.

Drool, drool, drool. If only my current Grand Cherokee would wear out so I would be forced to upgrade. O well. Someday!

Heater problem solved

In January, I mentioned a heater problem I was having with my Grand Cherokee. The air from the fan wouldn't keep blowing where I wanted it to. For example, if I had the air turned to the floor for heat, as I accelerated, it would cycle through the vent and up to the defroster position. Then as I evened off on the gas, it would cycle back down to the floor. It kept getting worse until it was on the defroster level most of the time.

At the same time, my cruise control was not holding steady. It would go down about 10 mph just a small hill. And it wouldn't stay where I set it even on the level.

Neither of these problems was an emergency, just a nuisance. So I kept putting off getting it checked, especially since it took five times to get it fixed the last time I had a heater problem. And I don't really care for expensive auto repairs.

However, with summer coming, I didn't want to face hot weather without the vent area working for cooler outside air or with the air conditioner. My wife mentioned the problem to our daughter-in-law who happens to have two brothers who are mechanics. My daughter-in-law immediately phoned her brothers. They both said it sounded like a problem with the vacuum system. (I thought it acted like that, but I didn't realize the heater controls or cruise control relied on vacuum. Obviously I'm not a mechanic!) They also had a suggestion as to where to take it to get it fixed.

So I made a phone call to Autocare Specialists in Omaha. They said to bring it right in. So I drove the 35 miles happy that they could check it so fast. Within about an hour, they had the problem fixed. It was an $0.83 part. That's right, 83 cents. And that fixed the cruise control problem as well. Now I'm kicking myself for putting it off so long.

As a coincidence, "Jack of all trades" left a comment the next day on the original post suggesting I have my mechanic check the vacuum lines. He was right also.

So if any of you are having a similar problem, don't put if off forever like I did. Have the vacuum lines checked already!

Jeep leads the way for SUVs

I knew it must be true, but now I see others are agreeing. Jeeps are leading the way for SUVs. According to Wheel Power, Jeeps obviously leads the way in the SUV segment by providing so many different vehicles, they're sure to satisfy any consumer's needs. That appeal has just grown larger with the addition of two compact models that should appeal to most people, even city dwellers.

The article gives a nice summary: "These two (new) Jeeps are the smaller Patriot and Compass with a base price of less than $ 20,000. These compact trucks are powered by an economical four-cylinder engine and they can be ordered with an automatic or a standard transmission, front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive. But, for motorists looking for more capabilities, only the Patriot can be bought with the Trail Rated option. Jeep also redesigned its very popular Wrangler (once known as the TJ) last year and it is now available in a two-door or four-door (Unlimited) version. The only engine in the catalogue is a 3.8 litre V6.

The popular Liberty was also recently redesigned with the Dodge Nitro body and platform. But it is still a very affordable SUV. Thinking about a bigger Jeep? Then opt for the internationally- renowned Grand Cherokee. This mid-size SUV can now be ordered with a Mercedes-Benz-designed turbo diesel V6. There is still a base V6 or one of twoV8s in the catalogue, including the mighty HEMI. Incidentally, the Grand Cherokee can also be delivered in a very sporty SRT8 with lowered suspension and 420 horsepower HEMI V8. Finally, if you are considering carrying up to seven passengers, look for the biggest Jeep available, the impressive Commander."

So if you are looking for a SUV, Jeep has one the will surely fill your needs. The hard part might be deciding which one.

Grand Cherokee upgraded

For those of you who like the Jeep Grand Cherokee, there have been some upgrades. According to NewCarNet, there have been changes both to the inside and outside. You can see one of the changes to the outside on this picture which shows the revised front end.

According to the article, the interior has new soft-touch materials and has been changed to include a new instrument cluster, new steering wheel, a new leather package on the doors and dashboard, and there is an optional touch-screen navigation system and integrated 20GB hard drive. As far as I am concerned, a touch-screen navigation system is no longer an option. That should be standard equipment. Of course I like toys like this. If you do too, check out some GPS systems available until they become standard equipment at HonestBargain.com, or HonestBargain Stores.

Now, back to the Grand Cherokee. On the outside, the headlamps have been redesigned, the grill has been replaced and a front air dam has been added to give the Grand Cherokee a more sporting look. New 17-inch wheels are included on the Limited version and new 18-inch wheels on the Overland.

For those of you who like off-roading, the Grand Cherokee features a Hill Descent Control system and Hill Start Assist for difficult road condition on steep slopes.

These sound like some good upgrades to my favorite Jeep. My Grand Cherokee is just approaching 100,000 miles, so I have a long time before I'll need to upgrade myself. In the meantime, I'll just have to drool about all those new features. And I'll continue to use my portable GPS, even though my wife likes to make fun of me every time I use it. Oh well, at least I'm not being made fun of for not stopping to ask for directions. I already have the directions.

2nd generation Liberty looks good!

The new 2nd generation Liberty is hitting the roads, and looking good! Sporting some exterior and interior changes, the new 2008 Jeep Liberties show some great improvements.

Auto123.com has a review in which they point out that the average family SUV is not pushed to its off-road abilities. Most SUVs won't see more challenging conditions than a snowy side-road or an icy driveway. “To most machinery this is fine – but to a Jeep, it's almost in insult.”

“The 2^nd generation Liberty is now on the street and trails, and it promises a more comfortable on-road ride and even more capability off of it. This was never a vehicle chosen for its refinement or smooth operation – but it's now better mannered and more upper-scale and civilized than the last.

As you can see from the picture, it has a more blocky look that the original Liberty. It almost looks more like a smaller-scale Commander.

The interior also shows some great improvements. And there are some tremendous options available including power heated leather seating, an auto-dimming mirror, leather steering wheel with audio controls, and a 120 volt power outlet. Add the Sky Slider roof and you are really stylin'! Made of a layered fabric and metal assembly, the entire thing can be folded back at the push of a button, leaving the majority of the cabin open to the sky above. It's as close to a convertible as the family SUV will ever be.

The review says "On the highway, Liberty's new suspension delivers a smoother and quieter ride- though tire and suspension noise can become intrusive at speed. The solid rear axle setup favors truck-like toughness and towing capacity over comfort- so Liberty rides a bit on the rough side. It's stronger and more rugged than a car-like independent suspension setup, but it actually handles well, with minimal body roll. It may prove a bit rugged for some- but this isn't a cute-ute, remember.

After all, on-road driving is only part of the Liberty's story. It's a machine that off-roads like a champ- scaling and pulling through most any challenge without hesitation. There's even a hill descent control function to carefully inch its bulk down steep, slippery grades with ease.

With ground clearance and water-fording abilities not common to competitors, it's the obvious choice for the adventurer in this market- bringing terrain-terrorizing traction to any situation while delivering an adequately comfortable and composed on-road ride.

It's also got the features and the flexibility needed to keep up to most every day routines. There are certainly more comfortable and refined machines at this price- though few if any as capable."

Maybe someday I'll drive a 2nd generation Liberty, or perhaps I'll wait for the upgraded Grand Cherokee I hear is coming in a few years. At any rate, I'm sure I'll be driving a Jeep. It's a Jeep thing, after all.