Something to make you cringe.

markrumsey · Posted: Tue Jan 16, 2007 10:25 pm Post subject: Something to make you cringe.

I'm not a Jeep fan, its Land Rovers for me all the way. But even I cringed when I stumbled across this. The Jeep heritage does not deserve this sacrelidge.

They call it a 'fuel efficient SUV', but its nothing more than a reskinned and retrimmed Dodge Caliber. And if that's not bad enough, its not even 4 wheel drive! Click the pic for the full horrific details.

mrstu · Posted: Wed Jan 17, 2007 4:47 pm Post subject:

It does have a 4x4 option and many other Jeeps have been offered in 2x4 configuration. The XJ Cherokee was available in the state as 2x4. Might appeal to the freelander types.

Stu.

markrumsey · Posted: Thu Jan 18, 2007 6:32 pm Post subject:

I think the Freelander does have one big advantage over the Compass. The Freelander has a 4x4 system that works off road and enough ground clearance to let it work. Looking at the Compass I think the 4x4 is more of an an on road type system like the Audi Quattro and there doesn't appear to be much ground clearance.

maebelone · Posted: Sat Feb 24, 2007 6:43 am Post subject: Compass

I was test Driving for Land Rover when The Freelander was a secret vehicle . When you are in the test biz you rarely see the best vehicle condition. I have a friend at Chrysler proving grounds I kept asking Him what about that CVT gearbox. I guess from all else on that Compass Jeep the gearbox was intended to get some kind of advantage. Not sure how that will be in the long run. When I was at Land Rover they had Just finished testing their version of a CVT in a Rover Car called the TomCat. Never have seen it on the market at all Here In the U.S.A. Did you ever come across one of those Tom Cats ? The test vehicles we had seem to Go through a Lot of Gearbox faults with that CVT never heard if any was made to sell.

bazza_413 · Posted: Fri Mar 02, 2007 3:31 pm Post subject:

The Tom Cast was the Rover 200 turbo coupe, had one for 18 months and no box problems.

maebelone · Posted: Sat Mar 03, 2007 3:05 pm Post subject: Well Sure enough

That's interesting 18 months you say. Durability testing is a stepped up version of what a customer is expected to drive a vehicle over the Life span and a bit beyond. We tend to Put on an average of 8 to 10 thousand miles a month. If the target miles are needed in as short a time as possible. Three shifts will drive it 24 hours a day. Typically a vehicle on 24 hour shifts can be driven for 3 to 9 months. Accruing about the average for a three to four year span of driving.