It's a trend across all sales forces. The internet has given the consumer so much information that it's easy for us to get better informed than a sales staff. Last weekend I went to look at the 2005 Tacoma out of curiousity. The salesman had just been to a rollout informational session the day before, and I still knew more about the truck than he did. It's rare you find a salesman who's an auto enthusiast.

The elections caused the sales to decrease, all car sales were down.

I work for a Jeep only store, at least you might as well consider it that since Suzuki doesn't really count. Most of the salesmen here aren't real off roaders, but most of them do know their product. Since we aren't in a big city, the pressure on us to "move the metal" is tremendous. The most rabbid off roader in our store is a 26 year old foxy girl. LOL Most of the people I talk to are excited to find someone who not only knows the product, but can actually explain how it works.

Jeep seems to be in a no win situation. When they bring out a vehicle with more mass market appeal to put some bread on the table all you jeepers do is bash it. If they improve the comfort of a Wrangler even without diminishing it's capibility, again you bash it. If it weren't for the sales of the less capable models there would be no Wranglers at all. As for Wranglers getting too expensive and the buyers turning to less expensive models, what a joke. If they can live with the performance of those less expensive models, they shouldn't have been looking at a Wrangler in the first place. Without spending at least another $10k in the aftermarket there is no way a RAV4,
V, or Ranger 4X4 pickup will cover the ground that a Wrangler from the factory will.

Its a combination of things slowing down jeeps sales. People waiting on rubicon unlimited, 05 grands, high fuel prices, election. I was seriously considering buying an unlimited several weeks ago. I was given the keys to a grey soft top. I put the top down and drove over 300 miles in 3 days doing my job and had a blast. One thing was the gas mileage was horrible. I drive a 98 GC 4x4 and it gets better mileage not much but better. With gas prices so uncertain i could not justify getting the wrangler in lew of a gas saver vehicle. If i didnt drive as much it would not be a big consideration but given i drive 50K a year it is a big expense.

Edmunds has a great review of the Unlimited Rubicon. The journalists were really impressed with it’s of road performance.

I agree about 95% about the salesmen, In my store there are just two of us that know everything about jeeps:history,future and of course all the specs. Its sad but 95% of the customers never ask the question's you guys are asking, just the basics like color,towing and looking good in a new vehicle. DCX will not build a JEEPs only store, even with the growing line up. Look for more dodge,chrysler, and jeeps stores in the future. I do agree that more salemen should be more knolegable with the Jeep product.

I see we've all experienced these salespeople....SO funny! I already have a job I love..(retail/wholesale auto parts)...so even thought like you all say...we all seem to know MORE than these talking heads>>>>Why don't they hire us? It's not just Jeep dealers though....I looked at the new '05 Mustang last night...out of 5 salespeople...only one seemed to notice I was gawking in the showroom at the car.....the other 4 were more concerned with the latest world series scores.....and then when I said I've been waiting to see this stang for a year or so..one guy(salesman) actually said.."yeah, it's sorta cool..but I'd rather have a convertible Spyder..(Mitsubishi Eclipse)..ironic huh?

I'm shopping for a new vehicle, and I drive 30,000 miles a year In my Cherokee XJ. Gas in my city is $2.48 a gal for regular. If I buy a Toyota Prisus my gas bill will go down by $260 per month if the Toyota lives up to its EPA combined rating! That would go a long way toward a car payment. I'd rather have an Unlimited Rubicon, but between the high price of the vehicle and the cost of keeping gas in the tank I just can't justify it. Bring on the Diesels!!!

My favorite line when I walk up to a Jeep salesman is "It rides just like a car" (referring to a TJ. I usually say, "That's a shame". Another could not tell the difference between a 6 cyl and a 4 cylinder engine while the hoods were open.

here is my comment
The wrangler is too crude, too small, too old and alot more too...on the negative ways compare with much more modern vehicles from other manufacturer.DC can not forever sell cars based on old traditionalist buyers. There are only so many of these buyers. The rest will just find other more modern models. This down ward sale will only continue if DC do not "move on" to satisfy today's more demanding buyers.
Traditionalist Jeep lovers how many of you out there that can continue to buy the amount of jeeps being churned out everyday?

According to CarConnection, Toyota, Nissan, Honda, and Hyundai all posted sales increases -- perhaps customers are unwilling to buy "gas guzzelers" given the high cost of crude. I truly hope DC is looking at increasing the diesel opportunities here to a level comparable with Europe so that we can also partake of plus 30 mpg vehicles. Indeed, it would be nice to have the six speed manual transmission with diesel an option in NA.

I must say, I recently visited a local dealership that sells Jeep only and was surprised, while checking out a Rubicon, when a salesman started talking to me about Suburus and comparing Cadillacs and Mercedes. When I changed the topic of conversation to the Rubicon I standing next to he had nothing to say except that it was too much for his wallet...

Ive been finding more and more salesman with similar attitudes- lacking the details that every single Jeep-lover can recite.

only in a jeep,

I would have to agree with you... I think that the jeep brand should be a stand alone unit... It use to be... Then the sales staff would only be trained for one brand.. You have dealers that sell dodge, chrysler and jeep.. I mean honestly it is really hard to remember everything on all those vehicles and to touch on all the new options.. I use to sell chrysler's and jeeps... I seen salespeople that treated the jeep brand just like a chrysler.. AND IT'S NOT!!!
>> All car sales in every brand were down due to the elections.. And from what I am hearing they are still down even now everyone know's who the winner is.. But I will say this.. If jeep keeps expanding their brand...... It may be viable for them to look into going back to a jeep only store!
the marketing for that would be great.

I totally agree with the above post. I always have fun going into our local Jeep dealer and asking questions the salesman can't answer. If Jeep just sold their own, and had a knowledgeable sales staff, I am sure they would do a whole lot better. Nothing worse than salesmen who know less than the customer.

Mark my words..."This is the beginning of the end of Jeep"...simply put: Prices TOO HIGH; DCX Jeep Dealers/Salepersons are NOT Qualified to Sell this unique marque..DCX should sell JEEP at its OWN store...Just like HUMMER is doing in most cases....Ever see that Hummer Quonset Hut-style building..? Jeep should go it alone; it has enough substance..and gaining enough model selection to split away from snake-oil salesmen...who don't respect Jeep enough to honestly sell and display the TRUE JEEP EXPERIENCE.....

It looks like everyone is waiting for the Unlimited Rubicon

Bill, most of the commentators here just simply want new Jeep models to be no less than perfect. Every new Jeep model that has come out in the past 20 years has been harshly critisized (the YJ for square headlights that werent "Jeep", the TJ's quadracoil suspension was doubted by off-roaders at first, and now Jeeps IFS is a vast departure from the norm...) Its about preserving the Jeep heritage and image that, so far, has lasted the past 63 years while remaining competetive.

Its the critisizm that keeps a company in line with their product development. The day that I will worry about Jeep is the day that I stop hearing people commenting on the new models.

Its good to hear that there is a dealership out there with knowledgeable sales staff, they are rare these days...