Chrysler isn't selling Jeep.

The Daimler-inflicted crap -- which is most of what you guys are complaining about -- will be gone in a couple of years.

M&M started as a local-in-India assembler of knocked-down Jeep products many years ago. There's a long relationship there.

EDIT: it's official. Chrysler said today that Jeep is "not for sale".

 

Why do people on this board keep saying the Patriot isn't needed because of the Liberty???? I'm looking at both, sitting next to each other, in my showroom right now. The Liberty is a Nitro...the Patriot is a Caliber. Yet no one says Dodge's 2 models compete with each other...WTF?

Anyway, george is right...Daimler's crap is going away. The Nitro, Commander, Compass, one van and a couple other models will all be dead in the next 12-24 months anyway. Caliber is getting a hybrid engine, which will keep it from competing with Jeep's Patriot. A small diesel is in the works for the Patriot.

 

Totally agree Jason, the Patriot is in a PRIME position in the market. A small 4 cylinder SUV w/ actual light duty offroad ability, and killer looks don't hurt. Add in the now revealed diesel possibility and I am REALLY intrigued. If they give it a nicer interior I would venture to say it would b the top of its class.

 

I've been saying that Chrysler has all too many similar CUV products. Maybe the Liberty and the Caliber would have made sense, but all 4?

 

I've heard there is a crash-course re-design of the Compass/Patriot interior on its way for '09...Ralph Gilles was interviewed by Automotive News 2 weeks ago I believe, and that was one of the nicest surprises in the article. As he said in the article, the nicest thing about Chrysler at this point is that they can move much quicker now that they don't have Mother Daimler, or stockholders, to answer to.

Despite all the doom and gloom you read about Chrysler these days, I think the company has a lot going for it in the next few years. Jim Press impresses me nearly as much as Lutz. Different skill sets, different missions, but both share a real passion and commitment to their respective companies.

 

Guys: Patriot, Liberty, Grand Cherokee. Small, medium, large. What's so hard to understand? Those three (with the GC getting a little larger than it is now) plus the Wrangler and a small Gladiator-type pickup will be the future Jeep lineup.

 

Chrysler will claim Jeep is not for sale right up until the day it changes hands.

 

Good maybe GM will hire him away whent Lutz leaves in 2010.

I like the size and scope of the patroit, the interior is very poor. I would consider one with a different interior. I'm gonna buy some small box in 2009, so far the HHR leads followed by Escape then patroit. The HHR SS is pretty temping, mid 08's will have a LSD option that I could spring for rather then 4wd. The CUV will become a very hot market. I feel the new Vue sorta missed the mark with a 4000lb curb weight, future hybrid options sorta make up for it but then we're talking $30K for a compact.