Jeep Compass

[katuah]

I bought a Forester. You can get 'em with a manual transmission.

33MPG highway aint bad. Especially compared to the XJ. And it is almost exactly the same size and "feel" of the XJ. Well, if my XJ were quiet, and didnt shake, squeak, hum, pop, or rattle. And if my XJ stayed aligned. And if my XJ didnt bumpsteer/DW. And if my XJ had disc brakes all around. Anyway.

The Compass is... not really a Jeep. Which means you might as well stop thinking of it as a Jeep, and just compare it to everything else in that class.

 

[4WDlifeform]

The Compass is... not really a Jeep. Which means you might as well stop thinking of it as a Jeep, and just compare it to everything else in that class.

I agree. I would never use a compass off roading. All i want it for is a driver. The AWD is a necessity for me because of winter travel here. I disagree with the way "Jeep" as a name is going toward the mini-van market, but, the compass (i think) is a sharp looking little SUV. Just so happens to be a Jeep. Infact, i think its the best looking in all of its class. I am talking about the "rallye" edition of coarse!

As for the 5-spd, I believe it is a must in vehicles for purposes like racing, or offroading. Sometimes, its just really nice to give it gas, steer, and sit back. The autostick seems pretty quick in responce. I have drove a Mazda 6 with a "manual" over-ride, and it had much more lag between the time you tell it to shift, and the time it actually did shift. So, if I am feeling the need to control power, I got that.

 

[rocknxj]

Nice mountains. Too bad there's something blocking the view.

 

[bjoehandley]

Is it me, or does that look like a really well done photoshop of that "Jeep"

 

[mcantar18c]

Nice mountains. Too bad there's something blocking the view.

Is it me, or does that look like a really well done photoshop of that "Jeep"

X2 on both

 

[Darky]

I agree. I would never use a compass off roading. All i want it for is a driver. The AWD is a necessity for me because of winter travel here. I disagree with the way "Jeep" as a name is going toward the mini-van market, but, the compass (i think) is a sharp looking little SUV. Just so happens to be a Jeep. Infact, i think its the best looking in all of its class. I am talking about the "rallye" edition of coarse!

As for the 5-spd, I believe it is a must in vehicles for purposes like racing, or offroading. Sometimes, its just really nice to give it gas, steer, and sit back. The autostick seems pretty quick in responce. I have drove a Mazda 6 with a "manual" over-ride, and it had much more lag between the time you tell it to shift, and the time it actually did shift. So, if I am feeling the need to control power, I got that.

That is no SUV. It's a wagon. And an ugly one at that.

 

[rocknxj]

If you want a REAL wagon, get this.

 

[Zuul99]

If you want a REAL wagon, get this.

There is a side of me that wants that really bad. But any who, the Compass is a hatchback and not and SUV or a wagon. with that being said, some dude early suggested a Subaru Forester, and that is not a bad ride, and FYI it has the same suspension mountings as the WRX STI, infact it can use many STI parts. So you could have a Subaru Forster STI

 

[DrMoab]

^^^ one would get fewer laughs than the compass.

 

[4WDlifeform]

:doh:

Going to go check out the 2010 WRX... Not a fan of the forester. I was originally looking at the 07 WRX, but, decided just to buy new. Maybe the 2010s wont be too bad, especially if I can snag a 2010 left-over.

 

[kastein]

That is no SUV. It's a wagon. And an ugly one at that.

According to the titles many of us own station wagons :lecture:

Definitely agreed on the ugly part though.

 

[XJLI]

it really seems that besides what everyone here has to say, you still want a compass. if its what you want, just get it.

BUT

do me a personal favor, as a man, and go test drive one. put on some ac/dc, turn it up and stomp on the gas pedal. remember how you feel.

THEN

go to your local subaru dealer. pick out a used 06+ WRX 5spd (in your price range) OR a used forester 2.5XT 5spd (same motor as the wrx, same price as the wrx).put on some ac/dc, turn it up and stomp on the gas pedal. listen to the turbo spool, and feel it as it pushes you into your seat. go on the highway, do 75 mph. take the off ramp without slowing down. compare this to the feeling you had driving the compass "rallye" edition.

if you still decide on the compass, chop your sack off and never come back here again.

 

[hubs97xj]

You should definitely buy it.

 

[rocknxj]

...if you still decide on the compass, chop your sack off and never come back here again.

Jeep Compass. For the sackless few who seek a new direction.

 

[4WDlifeform]

it really seems that besides what everyone here has to say, you still want a compass. if its what you want, just get it.

BUT

do me a personal favor, as a man, and go test drive one. put on some ac/dc, turn it up and stomp on the gas pedal. remember how you feel.

THEN

go to your local subaru dealer. pick out a used 06+ WRX 5spd (in your price range) OR a used forester 2.5XT 5spd (same motor as the wrx, same price as the wrx).put on some ac/dc, turn it up and stomp on the gas pedal. listen to the turbo spool, and feel it as it pushes you into your seat. go on the highway, do 75 mph. take the off ramp without slowing down. compare this to the feeling you had driving the compass "rallye" edition.

if you still decide on the compass, chop your sack off and never come back here again.

I will get it if that's what I want... I like to come here for insight and direction. Obviously, there is a massive prejudice against this vehicle on here, I get it. It basically sucks. I realize that. BUT not looking to buy a fast, hauling ass vehicle. I will drive it, like it was designed to be. Yes, like a PUSSY. So, don't try to bring me down like that... I already know this car has no balls.

I have not made the decision for the Compass. I have always liked Subaru Imprezas, and I would really like to get one, but the cost is steep, and same for insurance. Buying used is just buying somebody elses problems, especially a performance car. I have enough at hand to deal with car wise.

What I was really hoping to get out of this thread were pro/cons/alternatives. All i got are cons and that's cool. I never come on here expecting life's answers and the best support. But, I like you guys on here, and usually it helps with something.

 

[kastein]

If you're gonna drive it like a pussy why not just buy a Honda or something cheap like that instead?

 

[rocknxj]

You'll get a lot of heat from the guys on this forum due to pride. If the badge on the vehicle said Honda Compass, it would still be an ugly ass car, but nobody here would be dissing it.

The Comp-ass is simply the latest manifestation of the unJeeping process of the Jeep brand. Then again, Jeep has a history of that with it's square headlights on the YJ, unit-body designs of the Cherokees, and implementation of the IFS on the GC's and Liberties. For this reason, the flat fender society is full of d-bags because of the long history of de-Jeeping that has been done. Can't say I blame them, for I am a loyal snack food junkie and I hate what they've done to my trans fats.

Do your research and be satisfied with whatever you buy. Just don't look for much love on this forum.

 

[fyrfytr1717]

When my wife and I were getting ready to have our first child she needed a 4-door and traded in her New Beetle Convertible on a brand new 2008 Patriot Limited. I personally can't stand the looks of the Compass myself, but I guess it's the same as a Patriot underneath. Like you've been mentioning, it is what it is. It's not a racer, it's not an off-roader, it's just an affordable commuter car that looks kind of like a small Commander (the Patriot anyways).

It is cheap feeling (lots of plastic interior parts) and it feels pretty gutless, but the auto stick lets you overcome that if you need some get up and go when passing or climbing a steep grade. The CVT does take some getting used to, but once you become accustomed to the way it drives and learn how to work the gas pedal to get it to do what you want, it's really pretty driveable. There is a bit of a learning curve so I wouldn't really expect anyone that's only driven a rental for a day or a week to get used to the CVT. It doesn't work like a standard automatic transmission so it's not really fair to compare it's performance to one.

My wife has put 60,000+ miles on it in the two years since we bought it. We have had regular (free) oil changes done on it through a Chrysler Service Contract and we just replaced the original tires. Aside from an over eager service advisor talking my wife into a coolant flush at 30K, that is the extent of the work/money we have put into it. We regularly get 26.5mpg in it and it's really been a great little car for what it is. It's a little tight once we get all the baby stuff packed in there, but aside from that we have no regrets.

They look more alike than you realized, don't they...

OK, flame away.... just trying to provide 4WDlifeform a little positive info from an actual long time owner/driver of one of these econo boxes. Don't get me wrong, I still like my station wagon better than hers, but you better believe that when we go on long road trips we always take the Patriot.

 

[4WDlifeform]

Thank you! I realize "jeep" is losing it name, and it really is a shame to see it happen, but they are probably doing it for a reason. There just isnt many people that off road anymore. It gets harder and harder to go now days... The way society is leaning is toward fuel efficient commuters. If jeep kept making their typical, what jeep should be making kind-of-vehicles, they would be at a loss. And again, just so happens that this commuter that falls in my price range and meets (almost) all my requirements out of a new vehicle, so happens to be a jeep. Sucks for them, but, works out for me.

I love my XJ more than I can say, and I will always have that for showing/driving/wheeling as I please. It is just not road friendly at all... And there really isnt very much done to it... yet... so its going to get even harder soon.

But yeah, I have got the heat of before! but, its good cause it wakes me up out of whatever the hell thinking about and gets me to start realizing the right things. Im still shopping, still test driving other vehicles. The more I am made aware of before the purchase the better... whatever car I should pick. I started a big thread up on here about buying the XJ I did, and NO ONE gave me positive support in buying it cause it was wrecked. Well, I bought it, and not a single problem. 100% rust free and clean. Love the choice I made. So, we'll see what happens.

 

[hubs97xj]

Funny, I was going to mention that. You bought an XJ, and were quite enthusiastic about it, despite the problems. I wouldn't have bought it, for my own reasons, but it seems to have worked out for you. The same can be said about many vehicles, and many opinions. That's why there are so many cars, of so many types (and the shit I hate, 5 different "models" under 2 or 3 brands that are all exactly the same car with different plastic pieces stuck on them) in the first place.

We've established that the things other people care about in a car, don't really matter to you. That's not necessarily wrong or bad, but it is what it is. If it makes you happy, buy it. I personally hate it, but I'm sure my friends can't understand why I'm so attached to an outdated station wagon with 4WD that rides like a truck and makes strange noises. We all like different things about different cars for different reasons.