2014 Jeep Cherokee - XJ fans look away.

Fueled by Caffeine wrote:

Flight Service wrote:

logdog wrote: In reply to Fueled by Caffeine: I forgot about all the TJ hate. "Coil springs?!?!"

If memory serves the TJ got listed as the most capable off road vehicle in the history of the civi-Jeep. I can't remember the metric or which one of the rags that rated it, but it was a fun read.

Reality doesn't matter. Yes the tj is a good jeep, but when it was being developed it got the same b.s. scrutiny that this thing is getting. Iditotic fear of something new, it's a jeep thing you wouldn't understand.

I'd say the TJ was mostly getting the scrutiny because people were worried about its wheeling accumen with the suspension changes, etc. Not because it was a RADICAL change in appearance from the previous edition.

In this case, the scrutiny is because the name that was once used for a true 4x4 utility vehicle that was highly capable in off-road situations, is now being given to a vehicle that is most certainly not going to have much in the way of off-road abiliity. Hell, it won't even be real 4WD.

I don't much care about this new one's capability....I'm not in the market (ever) for a goofy "crossover". I just think it's pretty lame to use the Cherokee name. It would be like the US Navy devoloping a new trainer aircraft with a prop engine, and then calling it the "Tomcat"........the trainer may be very good at what it does, but it doesn't deserve the name.

At very least, they could give the Liberty the Cherokee name (since at least it's fairly capable off-road and is the same kind of vehicle as the Cherokee was for the most part), and then call this new thing the Liberty....

JohnRW1621 wrote: I see that Jeep is capitalizing on the good looks and positive reviews of the Nissan Juke.

Yeah, I think so too.

irish44j wrote:

Fueled by Caffeine wrote:

Flight Service wrote:

logdog wrote: In reply to Fueled by Caffeine: I forgot about all the TJ hate. "Coil springs?!?!"

If memory serves the TJ got listed as the most capable off road vehicle in the history of the civi-Jeep. I can't remember the metric or which one of the rags that rated it, but it was a fun read.

Reality doesn't matter. Yes the tj is a good jeep, but when it was being developed it got the same b.s. scrutiny that this thing is getting. Iditotic fear of something new, it's a jeep thing you wouldn't understand.

At very least, they could give the Liberty the Cherokee name (since at least it's fairly capable off-road and is the same kind of vehicle as the Cherokee was for the most part), and then call this new thing the Liberty....

Liberty was once described in exactly the same way you described this new vehicle. I say lets give it a chance to prove itself as a failure or worthy first. This coming from a guy used to yell " get those berkeleying square headlights off my trail" all the time.

It has the body of a Pontiac Aztek and the lights of a Nissan Juke. Its disgusting that they (Jeep) would tarnish the Cherokee name with this.

it took nearly 15-20 years for people to like the xj as a Jeep. I guess memories are short.

When I used to wheel xj's were a running joke on the trail.

That thing is flat out ugly. In 15-20 years I predict I will still feel that way. I never though XJs were ugly. Not when they were new, not when they were 15-20 years old, not now.

T.J. wrote: That thing is flat out ugly. In 15-20 years I predict I will still feel that way. I never though XJs were ugly. Not when they were new, not when they were 15-20 years old, not now.

Yup never heard that before.

I was wheeling Samurais when they were a running joke too (beep beep, hi!). Thing is though that the capability was built in and it was there for all too see but maybe just ignored. This thing has none of the hardware that's been time tested and proven to be part of a capable off-roader that the XJ Cherokee is. Street biased IFS will never be half as capable as an old-school solid axle either with coils or even four leaf springs like the Samurai. The Cherokee name has from its inception meant off road machine.... Until now anyway.

it seems that Jeep fans are the most dyed in the wool people you will ever meet

mad_machine wrote: it seems that Jeep fans are the most dyed in the wool people you will ever meet

They seem to eat their own.

mad_machine wrote: it seems that Jeep fans are the most dyed in the wool people you will ever meet

Speaking for myself, I just feel that after maybe the Broncos demise in '96, there weren't too many off the shelf vehicles as capable off road as Jeeps. And you can take your pick to boot: XJ, YJ, SJ etc., etc.

I guess the H3 and H2 can fall in there but not in my opinion.

2nd gen Trooper, Land Rover Defender, Geo Tracker. ;)

Also, here's some more food for thought:

http://grassrootsmotorsports.com/new-cars/2012-jeep-grand-cherokee-overland-summit/

The new "ruined" grand Cherokee was quite capable off-road.

They just look puffy and swollen to me. But I do think the hate is funny. Im to young to remember but CJ guys hating YJs? They were so similar! I have CJ doors and a hardtop on mine. The tubs almost interchange! A little lower and a little wider... But those square lights... Which is funny, because the whole dumb truck thing is square, but not the lights! berkeleyers need to be round!

I want a small wrangler again. Just because I like small vehicles that are easy to park.

Joey

Tom Suddard wrote: 2nd gen Trooper, Land Rover Defender, Geo Tracker. ;)

Can't disagree too much with those. But aside from the almost total lack of usable suspension travel, the enormous body-cladding that could double as pontoons seriously inhibit off road travel on anything gnarlier than a dirt road. Unless we wait ten years until we don't care

about body damage. But then we're still left with a suspension more suited to the mall than a wooded trail

On which?

Wow, that is ugly. Really ugly. Really really ugly.

I don't mind it. I always remind myself that the "new" Cherokee will never be like my XJ.

Soccer moms will love it and thats what will help produce the Wrangler.

Tom Suddard wrote: On which?

Me? I'm looking at the front and rear of the entire Jeep line save the Wrangler. It appears one could fill those front and rear ends with foam and float away (if a 6" rock or broken tree limb didn't pop them and let the air out).

Of course this is true of most makers' SUVs but only one is calling itself a Cherokee.

FF to 1:00 and enjoy and ask yourself if that new Cherokee could put up with this.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Do0cbG-5jYk

ebonyandivory wrote: FF to 1:00 and enjoy and ask yourself if that new Cherokee could put up with this.

Unknown, since the vehicle hasn't been produced yet, but hey since this is the Internet lets argue over conjecture and here say. Sounds fun.

Unknown, since the vehicle hasn't been produced yet, but hey since this is the Internet lets argue over conjecture and here say. Sounds fun.

You're right, it's just plain wrong to discuss what we think the future might bring in a forum dedicated to automobiles and opinions... silly me.

Holy hell that is an ugly berkeleyer.

Having owned both an XJ and a Liberty, I'm definitely not a fan of the looks of this. Most of the car has that same small SUV shape, with a messed up front end. Almost looks like they threw a bunch of stuff together just to try to make it's face stand out.

Is it me, or is the lower grille lifted straight from Kia?

I think this is one of the most useless and displeasing cars ever made. But it will sell. So I try to console myself when I see one of these crossover stepchildren that at least they seem to be stocking these bloated soccer mom mobiles with decent motors. And when these cars end up in a fender bender from a texting incident I can take those Motor bits out and fit them to something better looking and lighter. .... My beer is half full!

When I'm Emperor of the Known Universe (TM), One of my early decrees will be that all non-Trail Rated Jeeps shalt be crushed.

Water down the Jeep name? Nah, it is either already watered down or it simply can't be watered down as long as they are producing a true off-roading king. I don't see that ever stopping.

As for looks, I thing that thing is disgusting. Maybe it will grown on me, but I kinda doubt it... Not that styling really matters IMHO on a Jeep.

The thing that annoys me about it (and I am not a Jeep guy at all) is that they are putting a Cherokee name on a vehicle that is rumored to be on the same platform as the current Dart. I don't know much about off-roading, but I do know that every "legendary" off-roading vehicle has a RWD-based 4wd system. Someone correct me if I'm wrong here, because I really don't know if there has been a serious one with FWD based, or if FWD can be as good. For some reason, it just seems less rugged to me.

But again, they have the Wrangler for that.