Since the 2014 Jeep Cherokee was introduced earlier this year with an exterior design that has proven to be more than a bit controversial, I’ve heard a fair mix of people who hate the polarizing design and those who think that Chrysler made a good moving going outside of the box with styling that is – unquestionably – very unique. Among our thousands of Dodge lovers here are plenty of people who have owned or driven Jeep products so with this week’s featured question, I want to know what you all think.
Do you love the 2014 Jeep Cherokee or is it so horrifying that it should be killed with fire?
I expect that once it is in dealerships and on the road in full force, the striking face of the 2014 Cherokee will grow on most people. Lots of people hated the new Charger when it came out because it has four doors but that has quickly grown to be one of the company’s bestselling vehicles. Provided that the Cherokee is as impressive as the other new models from the Chrysler Group, the quality of the vehicle will it to overcome the negativity focused on the exterior design but at the same time – there have been rampant rumors that Chrysler is working on an “emergency refresh” front end in case the Cherokee flops early on. Of course, those rumors have not been verified in any way by Chrysler brass.
"Before I was old enough to walk, my dad was taking me to various types of racing events, from local drag racing to the Daytona 500," says Patrick Rall, a lifetime automotive expert, diehard Dodge fan, and respected auto journalist for over 10 years. "He owned a repair shop and had a variety of performance cars when I was young, but by the time I was 16, he was ready to build me my first drag car – a 1983 Dodge Mirada that ran low 12s. I spent 10 years traveling around the country, racing with my dad by my side. While we live in different areas of the country, my dad still drag races at 80 years old in the car that he built when I was 16 while I race other vehicles, including my 2017 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat and my 1972 Dodge Demon 340.
"Although I went to college for accounting, my time in my dad’s shop growing up allowed me the knowledge to spend time working as a mechanic before getting my accounting degree, at which point I worked in the office of a dealership group. While I was working in the accounting world, I continued racing and taking pictures of cars at the track. Over time, I began showing off those pictures online and that led to my writing.
"Ten years ago, I left the accounting world to become a full-time automotive writer and I am living proof that if you love what you do, you will never “work” a day in your life," adds Rall, who has clocked in time as an auto mechanic, longtime drag racer and now automotive journalist who contributes to nearly a dozen popular auto websites dedicated to fellow enthusiasts.
"I love covering the automotive industry and everything involved with the job. I was fortunate to turn my love of the automotive world into a hobby that led to an exciting career, with my past of working as a mechanic and as an accountant in the automotive world provides me with a unique perspective of the industry.
"My experience drag racing for more than 20 years coupled with a newfound interest in road racing over the past decade allows me to push performance cars to their limit, while my role as a horse stable manager gives me vast experience towing and hauling with all of the newest trucks on the market today.
