before all jeeps go into production, dont they have to be rubicon trail tested and approved? I dont think that the only thing that lil rally car can do is go 40 on a bumpy underconstruction road without spilling the drivers coffee, yeah, theres a good use for IFS. just scrap the whole idea and make a real jeep. GO AGAINST THE COMMON MAN AND MAKE SOMTHING A TRUE JEEPER WILL BUY!!!!

Why is it that those who don't like the Compass are all convinced that Jeep has personally insulted them by even considering it's production? Seems people either love it or hate it, I rarely see anything in between. And usually, the argument against the Compass involves statements like "Jeep has sold it's soul" or "Independent suspensions sucks" or "this sucks, that sucks, mine is better than yours blah blah blah". Really, who gives a flying fork? Are we in elementary school again? "My dad can beat up your dad." Please! Drive whatever you want. There are a BUNCH of cars on the road that I wouldn't drive. Doesn't mean I feel the need to scream from the mountain top about the injustice of there being vehicles that I don't like. Life will go on. Of course you are entitled to your opinion (as am I) about the Compass and the impending downfall of corporate giant Jeep and whatnot. But believe it or not, the sky is not falling. Jeep will go on. Compass does not equal doom. For goodness sake, at least wait till it's in showrooms and you have test driven it before telling me out crappy it is. Doesn't that make at least a little sense? It's not just here on this site that I see such negative reaction, its across the web. And most of the reaction isn't actually negative, there is a lot of positive reaction as well. It's simply that the ones who don't like it are so adamant about it. I have yet to see someone politely say "The Compass is just not for me, I prefer __________". Nope, it's always "The Compass sucks the big one" and "Now we have another new Jeep to make fun of" and "Jeep is being run into the ground". It's just getting so old. I wonder how many of those complaining actually bought their Jeep new. How many actually put money into Jeep's pockets? Most buy used and refurbish. If you want Jeep parts to exist, then keep Jeep healthy and making money. That means expanding their line. That means trying new products. If a vehicle fails? Then they will stop making it and all is well. That is how things work. Thank god for variety. Thank god for car companies actually taking risks and making unique vehicles.

And now my rant is finished.

YOU GUYS ARENT ALL TOGETHER WRONG HERE. I AGREE WITH GRIFF THAT THERE IS A LARGE MARKET OUT THERE FOR A J-SERIES TRUCK LINE AND A FULL SIZE WAGONEER.AND TO RESPOND TO AN EARLIER COMMENT FROM SOMEONE,CHRYSLER CUT THE TRUCK LINE FOR 2 REASONS . 1- IT WANTED TO CUT EXSPENSE RIGHT AFTER BUYING JEEP AND 2-THE TRUCK SALES NUMBERS WERE DOWN . THE REASON THEY WERE DOWN WAS LACK OF FRESH DESIGN. HOW MANY OTHER COMPANIES DO YOU KNOW OF THAT HELD THE SAME BODY DESIGN FOR OVER 20 YEARS? I KNOW THERE ARE SOME OF YOU OUT THERE THAT DONT KNOW WHAT REAL DAYS WORK IS NOR DO YOUR TRUCKS! TIME AND TIME AGAIN I HERE THE SAME STORIES FROM PEOPLE THAT WORK AND DEPEND ON THEIR TRUCKS! "THEY JUST DONT MAKE'EM LIKE THEY USE TO." IVE HEARD STORIES FROM OWNERS OF EVERY BRAND OUT THERE AND THE NEW TRUCK CANT TAKE THE HEAT.
IN MOST CASES ITS NOT THE ENGINES ITS THE REST OF THE TRUCK. WE THE CONSUMER HAVE TO DEMAND BETTER QUALITY. AND THAT BREED OF QUALITY COULD RETURN IN AN ALL NEW J-SERIES TRUCK! AS FOR THE COMPASS, ITS NOT FOR ME BUT I HOPE SOME YUPPIE OUT THERE LIKES AND BUYS IT.THAT MEANS MORE R&D DOLLARS TO BE SPENT ON THE FULL SIZE LINE!AND FOR THE FELLOW WHO THINKS I HAVENT SPENT ANY MONEY ON JEEP IM ON MY THIRD GRAND CHEROKEE AND THIRD WRANGLER SINCE 1995 SO ID SAY I HAVE ALOT ROOM TO TALK ,HOW ABOUT YOU? -JEEP FOREVE-

You are right Griff, All of those market segments or niches are void of Jeep
vehicles. What you seem to forget is that they are empty because they all
failed to sell in big numbers the first time around (Honcho, J-series, CJ-8,
Comanche ). Back in the 1960's Jeep was not only a producer of niche vehicles,
Jeep as a whole was a niche producer. Today that kind of marketing for an
entire brand just won't work. As for your other ideas, the only ones that makes sense are the 4-door Wrangler (Dakar) and the SportTrac, but only if it came with the same type of bed cover as the Chevy Avalanche to protect your cargo from the elements. The last thing the world needs is another full size SUV.
There are already many KJ owners building capable off-road vehicles and if the
Compass is produced you will see the same thing happen. As for your displeasure with the word car and Jeep being used in the same sentence, they
have built thousands of two wheel drive vehicles in their history and I don't see
you whining about them being cars.

Good because Jeep needs to make a "rally car inspired" vehicle, because so much of jeeps heritage is based in rally cars and cars in general.

DCX has sold Jeeps soul. Rally cars are built by Subaru not Jeep. Don't even argue that Jeep needs to expand their lineup to appeal to the masses. Well they might but there are plenty of segments that could be filled that aren't and they sure as hell don't include a "rally car." There is the truck segment which jeep has been absent from and there are plenty of options, a full size Honcho or J-series truck, a small Comanche type of truck, a wrangler based truck ala CJ-8, a 4 door wranger, a sport trac (god forbid), a Wagoneer full size SUV? What about all of these, there are all ready platforms in use that can easily be used for these or pulled off the shelf for these, same with engines. Someone needs to throw these guys a bone.

Well atleast now the KJ guys will have someone less jeep than themselves to make fun of. Because it doesn't get less jeep than a fully independant front AND rear suspension and calling the thing any type of CAR inspired. Car!?!?!?! go buy a freakin WRX

Oh and all you KJ fans seems that the rebates are out and what is it been less than a year since the first KJ deliveries, well you can't say that your KJ is better because it doesn't need rebates because it seems thats not the case any more.

SOLID AXLE FOREVER,
Griff