here is my comment
Yes, I am a woman, and yes, I am heterosexual, and yes, I've wanted a Jeep since I was 3 years old (1958) when I decided I had to replace my toy red Jeep that my nasty little brother put down the sewer storm drain. I finally got my red Jeep Wrangler, and I cannot even COMPREHEND that they may never be around. My next one will be a Rubicon, although I've heard rumors (on this site, no less) that they may not be around? God help us. I'm a purist, I admit - I have my round headlights and my soft-top. For some stupid reason, everybody and their brother keeps on asking me, "Do you STILL like that Jeep?" What is their problem? I LOVE my Jeep - it's the greatest car I've ever owned (it beats out such priors as a 1972 Riviera (Body by Fisher design award), 1980 Cutlass Supreme V8, and 1994 Chrysler LeBaron Convertible). OK, so on to the question. Would I buy a Compass? Not me. I want a REAL JEEP. I want a tough, off-road vehicle that will go anywhere, do anything, and that I know will go through the flood waters in my neighborhood without a quiver or a hesitation in the engine (I live on a peninsula and I've gone through water that came through the doors, and I've also been through snow halfway up the wheel-wells and had lines of traffic following me in my wheel tracks so they can get home, too). I'm not happy with Daimler-Chrysler softening the Jeep name with something like the Compass, but who am I and what do I know? Will it sell? Probably. I suppose those kids need an entry-level vehicle. I agree with the guy that says to put the Dodge brand name on it. I'm sorry, I want Jeeps to remain Jeeps. At the dealership, since I am a woman, they kept telling me there was no way I wanted a Wrangler and kept trying to sell me a Liberty. Why do they think women don't want a tough, safe car that will get them through everything the road (and the Off-Road) can throw at us? I go through lots more than those "potholes at the Mall," but I do have to admit, I like that line. I think the Compass might be able to handle those, too.

I think the compass or a car like it would seel very well and bring in a whole new group of cusromers to jeep. while a lot of hard core enthusiests will be unhappy, the car wont be marketed to them but rather to those who love the durability and unstoppable ruggadness associated with jeep, but also have a desire for speed and handling that current jeep models cant satisfy. the compass doesnt seem to be a car trying to pass itself off as another rubicon cerified suv. It's jeep's take on a sports car: fast and indistructable... I like it

Lets face it, it is like the bumper sticker says, " A jeep is built not bought ", so as long as there is a Jeep out on the market that can be lifted, fenders choped, bumpers smashed and replaced with bigger better ones, and you are able to slap some huge Mud tires on the thing and Krawl over the Compass when it is infront of you on the trail, who cares what they build. The only offroading the Compass is going to see is when there is a pothole in the Mall parking lot like most of the Wranglers I see these days anyway, so maybe people who want a car like ride but that,
" I can drive in the snow! ", felling will buy the Compass and leave all the Wranglers to people who want to use a Jeep for what it was built for!
But what do I know I just have a Cherokee!

quit making suv's for women and get them some station wagons. don't water down the jeep name

Lets face it, it is like the bumper sticker says, " A jeep is built not bought ", so as long as there is a Jeep out on the market that can be lifted, fenders choped, bumpers smashed and replaced with bigger better ones, and you are able to slap some huge Mud tires on the thing and Krawl over the Compass when it is infront of you on the trail, who cares what they build. The only offroading the Compass is going to see is when there is a pothole in the Mall parking lot like most of the Wranglers I see these days anyway, so maybe people who want a car like ride but that,
" I can drive in the snow! ", felling will buy the Compass and leave all the Wranglers to people who want to use a Jeep for what it was built for!
But what do I know I just have a Cherokee!

Lets face it, it is like the bumper sticker says, " A jeep is built not bought ", so as long as there is a Jeep out on the market that can be lifted, fenders choped, bumpers smashed and replaced with bigger better ones, and you are able to slap some huge Mud tires on the thing and Krawl over the Compass when it is infront of you on the trail, who cares what they build. The only offroading the Compass is going to see is when there is a pothole in the Mall parking lot like most of the Wranglers I see these days anyway, so maybe people who want a car like ride but that,
" I can drive in the snow! ", felling will buy the Compass and leave all the Wranglers to people who want to use a Jeep for what it was built for!
But what do I know I just have a Cherokee!

Well people, according to Car-Truck.com the Compass is a go and maybe as soon as 2004 in a hard top like the concept and a semi-soft top like the Izuzu
Rodeo Sport ( Amigo )

"Jeep loses sales to Subaru, which makes competent all-wheel-drive cars with a rally flavor. Why can't Jeep attack this segment?
Jeep can have both off-road warriors like the Wrangler and rally cars like the Compass.
Who would you rather buy a rally car from? Dodge, Chevy, Ford or Jeep? It fits the brand."

Very well said, Erik. That sums up my thoughts perfectly. I have seen so many negative posts on the Compass. There are lots of cars out there that I don't particularly like but none of them gets me all fired up like some of those who are posting. If they make the Compass, some will like it, some will not. Is that so bad? Give me variety anyday. Without variety, we would all be driving Camrys.

As far as the Compass' rally flavor, I enjoy WRC and would LOVE to see Jeep involved in this faster "off road" activity. It just seems like a natural fit. Could the Compass do it? Even with its "rally styling" it might be a bit big to do it. Maybe not. Would probably need independent suspenion all around too. But who knows. I for one look forward to seeing Jeep involved in WRC someday. Sure seems like a great way to advertise your car's off road handling capabilities to the world.

Regardless, yeah, I would buy one if they make it. At the price point they are talking about, it would make a great everyday, kick around vehicle. Just reposition that spare. : )

Michael

If Jeep wants to get into the rally car cicuit, then they can also dominate this segment.

I totally disagree with those who think the brand is being diluted. The Liberty is still more off-road capable than anything else out there, it just doesn't do it the "traditional" way, so purists get upset.

Jeep loses sales to Subaru, which makes competent all-wheel-drive cars with a rally flavor. Why can't Jeep attack this segment?

Jeep can have both off-road warriors like the Wrangler and rally cars like the Compass.

Who would you rather buy a rally car from? Dodge, Chevy, Ford or Jeep? It fits the brand.

Erik

I believe there is a market for the Compass, and I am sure it would be a hit.

I am also not too excited about the new direction of Jeep, but who am I to stop it. All I can do is take my dollars elsewhere when it is time to purhase another SUV.

However, back to the Compass. One thing that comes to mind: I am sure this vehicle will have no problem surpassing the $ value of rear-end bumper damage sustained by the Liberty, during it's round of Insurance Bureau testing.

First off, NO, I would not buy one if it were produced. However if the Compass
were to be produced I do feel that it would be well received buy the general
public. Unlike some of the other posters here I see no reason why Daimler
should not push the envelope, so to speak, when it comes to future Jeep
products. I think that the fact Daimler is trying to broaden the reach of the Jeep
brand is what has a lot Jeep enthusiast a little ( OK, a lot ) nervous. Daimler
may be the first owner of Jeep who has the resources and finances to push the
Jeep brand in a new direction A Jeep with rally car intentions could be just what a lot of younger people are looking for, and a whole new area for Jeep to conquer. I would hope the actual people in charge of Jeep have enough common sense to develope the next generation Wrangler along the same
lines as the current model, capabilities and live axles. If they want to enter
other areas of the 4x4 world thats fine as long as they don't abandon the markets they already exhist in.

It is a sad day when Jeep's main concern is about
"On-road" performance.

here is my comment

I think this car would do great in the market if DC would tag the Compass as the "Dodge Compass" or the "Chrysler Compass". I do think DC is going in the wrong direction with using it's TTR (Through The Road) hybrid drive on the upcoming Liberty HEV variant. There is no physical connection between the transmission and the front axle. I'm all for a 30-40 MPG Wrangler/Liberty/Cherokee using hybrid technology, but let's keep it a real 4X4 DC!!!

Hey I like the idea. But I think the rear has to be redesigned. The spare can't be put any higher.
It's already impairing rear vision much like the
ridiculous Isuzu Vehicross.
I say raise this thing a bit and sling it under?
Or atleast create a bumper system where it's not
integrated into the useless fiberglass body panels

My head spins to think of costs of repairing the
rear end of this Rav-4 look alike after a 5 mph collision. Yes I have insurance. But the rates in
Massachusetts are bad enough not to mention the
deductable and surcharges.
I'll keep my nice simple Wrangler

I agree totally with XJ Ken.

here is my comment

You are absolutely right Erik. It seems to me that the purist you mention hate
IFS on the Liberty more than anything else and they would not have a problem
if it still ran the solid axle like the Cherokee. Other than the fact they seem to
think the Liberty is ugly. Independent suspensions are the future and for Jeep
to remain with solid axles would ultimately lead to their demise, although I still
believe at this point the solid axles are still the best set up for the Wrangler.
I do believe that if anyone can make an affordable, rugged and workable
independent suspension for a Wrangler type vehicle it is Jeep. Besides we all
know that real Jeeps are built not made, the factory just builds us a decent place to start. You are already seeing the aftermarket tackle the Liberty just as
they will if the Compass and the Willy's are produced. I also think the M80
concept Dodge truck with the usual Jeep styling cues would make a fine addition
to the Jeep line for the new millennium.
It seems that the purist look at where Jeep has been and wants them to be faithfull to that heritage. There is a lot to be said for that reasoning and I admire them for their devotion to the brand. However their is another group of Jeep enthusiast who are just as devoted to the Jeep brand but look at Jeeps future and see all kinds of possibilities and what if's. In the end the only thing we may be able to agree on is that we are ALL Jeep enthusiast past, present or future.

I agree with XJKen. It should sell well and it is not a bad idea to expand the Jeep brand. I would hope that they would go more along the lines of the Willys2, though. However, it is necessary to maintain some vehicles with outstanding off-road capability. You can see this happening a lot with the luxury brands moving downmarketMerc, BMW, Bentley, etc. ie. Mercedes is creeping downmarket (although the new C isn't all that great), but they are also releasing the Maybach ($300,000). Bentley, same thing, they are releasing a more "mass-market model, but coming out with a $1,000,000?? model with 1000 horses.

No, I wouldn't buy one. I agree it would probably sell, but really... what makes this a Jeep? This vehicle has nothing to do with the ethic behind the brand. An ethic that is quickly being cashed in. Homogenization of brands is evil.

Seems to me that Jeep is concentrating its "off-road" interests in a new version of the standard TJ and in the TJ-Rubicon version. Everything else (Grand Cherokee, Liberty, and perhaps the Compass) looks like an concerted effort to "cover the economic and demographic waterfront" in terms of the luxury-Jeep, sport-cute, and Jeep-for-kids "on-road" market segments.