[fishgutz]

Just when I am ready to buy a Jeep patriot for a family Jeep to replace our 1999 Cherokee (XJ) it is announced that 2011 or 2012 will be the last year for them. Essentially the announcement is that all of the "not real Jeep" Jeeps are being killed off. Only the Grand Cherokee and Wrangler will remain. Makes a bit of sense. Jeep lower mileage vehicle will be balanced against higher mileage teeny weeny useless piece of Shiite Fiats.
The Commander was also put of the death list.

[srmitchell]

Finally.

A useless line of vehicles.

They're ugly and car like.

[Renegade86]

On AOL this morning, that had an article about the Commander, Patriot, and Compass being discontinued as part of the Fiat deal. Here's a little part of that article.


Going Away


Chrysler is expected to announce the death of the following models next week
Chrysler PT CruiserChrysler SebringDodge AvengerDodge CaliberDodge Grand CaravanDodge NitroJeep CommanderJeep CompassJeep Patriot


by: Reilly Brennan, AOL Autos

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At a media event next Wednesday, Chrysler is expected to announce massive changes to its brands, including the termination of popular models and the introduction of Italian vehicles courtesy of their new owner, Fiat. The Wall Street Journal reported on the forthcoming changes via inside sources with access to the plans.

Key to Chrysler's strategy will be the reduction of underperforming models within their Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep brands and the introduction of Fiat and Alfa Romeo models to the U.S. market. Fiat hasn't sold a car in the U.S. since 1984; Alfa Romeo left our shores in 1995.
Going Away


Chrysler is expected to announce the death of the following models next week Chrysler PT CruiserChrysler SebringDodge AvengerDodge CaliberDodge Grand CaravanDodge NitroJeep CommanderJeep CompassJeep Patriot




What's Going Away
When Chrysler's plans become apparent next Wednesday, more than a few models are expected to hit the chopping block. When reached for comment, Chrysler representatives told AOL Autos that "since the story relates to future products we can't comment." We expected that, of course.
Nevertheless, insiders have confirmed to us a wave of products that will die either by year's end or at the end of their current production run. The list of production models going away is listed at the right.
Why Kill Models?
With market share at a dismal 8.3% at the end of September, it's difficult see the wisdom in the elimination of brands. Furthermore, in aggregate these models represent millions of points of contact with customers. Why walk away from that?
The truth is that few of the products on this list are worth saving. Chrysler's product portfolio in America has been inconsistent and out of pace with the rest of the industry.
"The Caliber, the Avenger, the Commander, as well as the Compass, Patriot, and Dodge Nitro triplets, are vehicles that really failed to endear themselves to the American consumer, and the automotive media and quality analysts were never bullish on them, either," said Chris Paukert, executive editor of Autoblog.com. "As none of these are exactly long-time, storied nameplates, I don't see many mourning their passing."
Except their owners, of course. The way that Chrysler deals with the death of these products will be critical. Should you find yourself in possession of one of these vehicles when the announcements become official, you shouldn't panic. Chrysler will honor its warranties with owners and supply parts for a reasonable amount of time. While the models might be going away, don't expect they'll forget about your car payments, of course. Your resale values will likely be affected, though; market logic follows that fewer buyers will see the value in buying Chrysler products after they've been discontinued.
New Models Coming
In the automotive business, the speed at which you refresh your model lineup is your lifeblood. It's the same way that all the experts tell you to get your oil changed every three months -- in the car business, those refreshes and redesigns need to happen every four years or so. When you wait much longer, as Chrysler has, customers walk away and fast-moving competitors take the lead. As Chrysler slowed the rate at which it brought new models to bear, its U.S. sales dropped; in 2008 U.S. sales fell 30% from the previous year but in reality the entire decade underperformed the company's real potential. No year in the past decade came close to the sales they saw in the 1990s; in 1999 Chrysler sold over 2.6 million cars. In 2009 they are on pace for about half of that.

Gallery: See Dodge Grand Caravan

The problem a few years back continues to be a problem today: Chrysler really doesn't have much new stuff to bring out. The new Grand Cherokee is expected to arrive next year as a 2011 model and the Dodge Charger and Chrysler 300 will receive a redesign at the same time. Other than that, though, the pipeline is dry. Meanwhile, other companies are hot to refresh and redesign new models. Ford recently announced a company-wide goal to be 90% refreshed by 2012.
So, what's Chrysler's solution? Instead of begging for new products, they're simply going to borrow them.
Fiat builds and sells a number of exciting products in Europe and Chrysler could do a lot worse than simply bringing them over. And that's exactly what they're going to do. Fiat is expected to bring a few of those to the U.S. in short order to help Chrysler stay afloat.
Expected to arrive in the U.S. will be the Alfa Romeo Mito, Alfa Romeo Milano and the Fiat Cinquecento (the ultra-exclusive Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione actually already went on sale late last year). A few new programs, in cooperation between Fiat and Chrysler, will bear fruit for the company on both shores further down the road. As an example, a mid-size sedan under development by Alfa Romeo could provide a next-generation replacement for the outgoing Dodge Avenger and Chrysler Sebring.
Of course, it's not a simple copy and paste procedure to sell cars in the U.S.; the models from Europe would need to meet U.S. safety standards. Beyond that, the expensive task of actually marketing these vehicles would be a massive undertaking, especially in the case of a brand like Alfa Romeo which, in America, carries more baggage than a luggage cart.
Drastic Times, Drastic Measures
In 1998, Mercedes-Benz acquired Chrysler, and although the "merger of equals" sounded like a great idea, the reality never rang true. The relationship ended in a divorce. Unlike most domestic partnerships, however, love probably never brought the two together in the first place. The dreamy, 90s concept of massive efficiencies of scale wafted through the executive ranks in Germany and Detroit and produced one of the auto business's worst partnerships. Both Mercedes and Chrysler were worse off in the end.
So, why should we expect anything different with Chrysler's new owner, Fiat? After just 42 days of bankruptcy earlier this year, the Italian conglomerate took over (they now own 20% of Chrysler Group LLC with an option to buy up to 51%). Cynics might say that history will repeat itself, but this new chapter looks to be different.

Gallery: See Chrysler PT Cruiser

"Mercedes really couldn't use anything they got out of Chrysler," said Jim Hall, an analyst with 2953 Analytics in Birmingham, Michigan. "The water really didn't flow from America to anything of value for Mercedes. But now, Fiat gets the company for a song, gets them the volume they need to maintain critical mass purchasing and the ability to sell Jeep around the world. It's win, win. The problem is bridging the next two years."

Even with these bold announcements to come next week, Hall's warning is prescient: it will be a good while before we'll actually see these models hit the showroom floor. Until then, Chrysler just needs to hold on and wait for the tide to come in.

The decision to cut models, tighten their (Italian leather) belt and hope for a brighter tomorrow is the best decision they could make right now, even if it's unpopular.





__________________

[Tony1911]

How on Earth is Grand Cherokee a "real Jeep" and Liberty, Patriot, Commander(!) are not?!? Also, someone describing their vehicle as "bumpy, noisy and thirsty" should not be so quick to judge others... I find my Patriot to be quite useful, thank you very much!

[schoat333]

Like what you want, say what you want. To each their own.

All I know is my little MK has seen more offroad time then a large percent of your "real jepps" that I see daily.

[fishgutz]

The one thing I heard that makes the Patriot attractive is that one owner who is 6'5" said his 6'1" son can sit behind him in the Patriot. This despite the specifications say it has the same leg room of the Compass. I tired the Compass seat test. Front seat set for me and then try to sit in the back seat. It is not possible and that means my son who is taller than me won't fit either.
But the Patriot will not go where I take my YJ. Maybe dirt roads in a state park. But certainly not any trails.
If the Patriot passes the seating test I would still buy one before they are gone. But that doesn't mean I would ever view it as a "real" Jeep. But a Jeep that could fit my family plus stuff and have a highway rated 30MPG is rare indeed.
The Grand Cherokee off the show room floor is very capable. It could go on almost all the trail in Uwharrie National Forest. More with a 3" lift to fit 31" or 32" tires. The only Grand Cherokee that isn't intended to off road use is the SRT8 drag strip edition. 0 to 60 in about 5 seconds?

[Gramps]

I've had a 6'3" in the back seat of my Compass and he was comfortable. Maybe you tried the base unit that the rear seats that didn't recline or the the rear security cover was keeping them too upright. I prefer the rear seat in my Compass to the rear of the wife's WK because in hers my knees are up in my chin. She will never see the off road capabilities of hers.

[Jawa78]

I am 6'5 my brother is 6'4 and he sat behine me in my compass with out issue and I have the none reclining back seats .

[srmitchell]

Originally Posted by Tony1911

How on Earth is Grand Cherokee a "real Jeep" and Liberty, Patriot, Commander(!) are not?!? Also, someone describing their vehicle as "bumpy, noisy and thirsty" should not be so quick to judge others... I find my Patriot to be quite useful, thank you very much!

Real Jeep? Two solid axles.

And yeah. Bumpy, noisy and thirsty.

Your point?

If we cant have a full line of solid axled jeeps, at least cut the fat and go back to the roots.

Wrangler(And the 4 door)
Grand Cherokee
Chero-liberty something.

3 is all you need.

[Bane7962]

I still want the XJ back...

[ricku]

All this is pure speculation, folks.
Chrysler will be announcing their "Grand Plan" November 4th.
Let's talk after that.

[schoat333]

Originally Posted by srmitchell

Real Jeep? Two solid axles.

And yeah. Bumpy, noisy and thirsty.

Your point?

If we cant have a full line of solid axled jeeps, at least cut the fat and go back to the roots.

Wrangler(And the 4 door)
Grand Cherokee
Chero-liberty something.

3 is all you need.

Personally I would say the only "real Jeeps" are the CJ, YJ, TJ, or JK. If jeeps wants to be know as strictly offroad vehicles, they need to cut everything but the "original Jeep".

Thats doesn't sound very profitable to me.

[JeepDVL45]

Originally Posted by srmitchell

Real Jeep? Two solid axles.

And yeah. Bumpy, noisy and thirsty.

Your point?

If we cant have a full line of solid axled jeeps, at least cut the fat and go back to the roots.

Wrangler(And the 4 door)
GrandWAGONEER
Cherokee/Comanchee.


3 is all you need.

I fixed it for ya!!

[snikr]

Well if they do cut the Compass in 2012 it just made my descision to buy a Subaru Forester to replace my 2007 Compass (lease is ending) look that much better. And we really liked the Compass. It did everything we wanted it to do and got good mileage. 20 to 22 MPG around town and 26 to 29 MPG on a trip.

[fishgutz]

My personal experience with a Compass was that when I sat in the front seat and adjusted it for me, my knees hit the back of the front seat. I am only 6' tall. My son is 6'1" and he is not done yet.
We will try the Patriot for fit. Compass is too small to fit family plus camping gear. About 500 pounds of it.

I could rant about the unconstitutional and fascist CAFE (yes fascist. Government control of the means of production. In this case regulatory fascism), but I won't. Not right now anyway.