Because Jeep is an SUV brand. When you hear the word Jeep, you don't automatically think of a sedan/hatchback, you think of hardcore off-roading. I have heard many people describe Explorers, Trailblazers,and various other non-Jeep let alone, non-Chrysler SUVs as Jeeps even though they share nothing with Jeep other than the class that they are in. Jeep and SUV are practically synonums(forgive my spelling).

4WD wouldn't make it off-roading capable like the other Jeeps because it doesn't have the ground clearance. It just doesn't belong. Making it Eagle-esque won't make it a true Jeep, it will make it a true Eagle. For it to be a Jeep it needs to be an SUV or truck, not a differently styled Caliber.

 

Mix the two. There is more to Jeep than OFF ROADING! Some people like Jeep for Jeep. Some people would like the SUV aspect without the TRUCK look.

[IMG]local://upfiles/26521/13C21B18EB574E2FABA7EA313F53D17B.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]local://upfiles/26521/216D3694905F4216959A49654557310C.jpg[/IMG]

 

Yes, butthat is the purpose of the other divisions. If you wantthat, convinceDodge to make it.Jeep has never been used for a sedan, that was the purpose of the AMC division which becameEagle, whichwasadded to Chrysler. It simply isn't the purpose of Jeep to make sedans. If you make sedans like this with 4WD, you will damage the brand image. Should GMC make sedans that are4WD as well? Should Hummer? No, itsimply does not make sense.

 

I'm sorry to the Magnum go. They're nice cars and I've seen some really nice ones too.

I think the Dakotas are here to stay for quite a while. I think that with the new engine and some new alterations to the front, it'll sell pretty good.

 

killing the dakota would be like killing the ram...it would never happen. with more and more people living in tight, cramped cities these days, midsize trucks are gonna be more popular than ever, better gas mileage, easier to park, etc. and todays midsize trucks are decent sized too. i remember my dads old 87 dakota he had up until about 97. that thing was tiny...my uncle has an 02 dakota and that thing isnt bad at all...decent bed space and towing capacity that will suit plenty (im gonna go out on a limb and say "most") people's needs

 

If they're killing the Magnum to provide the capacity to producethe Challenger, I'm all for it.Sameplatform, right? Still, I hate to see the Magnum go...

 

It is a shame. I'd have definitely picked a Magnum over a Charger, just because it's much more useful. I agree with John and Stone...I think (hope) the new design will really help the Dakota sell some trucks. I think the 05-07 design turned some people off to the truck with the fat lip bumper/front end design, and now it has a design that people can really buy into. Plus, as those guys mentioned, the new 4.7 and the fact that it's a lot smaller will help, especially if the new 4.7 meets it's better fuel economy expectations...it'll be right up there, or much better than the competition.

 

Forgive me for getting a little off topic, but I think the biggest handicap that the Dakota currently has is its transmission (in terms of gearing). The two transmissions that the Dakota uses are the 42RLE and the 545RFE. The 42RLE is just a four-speed unit and the 545RFE is a five-speed unit that is a mere step up from a four-speed. Here are the ratios for these transmissions:

42RLE

1st: 2.84
2nd: 1.57
3rd: 1.00
4th: .69

545RFE

1st: 3.00
2nd:
(a) 1.67
(b) 1.50
3rd: 1.00
4th: .75
5th: .67

vs.

the Tacoma’s 5 speeds


A750E/F
1st: 3.52
2nd: 2.04
3rd: 1.40
4th: 1.00
5th: .72

vs.

The Frontier’s 5-speed auto

RE5R05A
1st: 3.84
2nd: 2.35
3rd: 1.53
4th: 1.00
5th: .84

What this shows us is that the 5-speed units which are used in with their V6’s provide a better 1st gear ratio for acceleration that allows the engine to climb the RPMs faster and make it feel much stronger than the 3.7L V6 powered-Dakota (not to mention that those have considerably more power than the unchanged 3.7L). This is also why their V6 offerings compete effectively against the 4.7L V8-powered Dakota, although the Dakota is unquestionably more powerful, their choices for the 5 gear ratios were more wisely made. The 545RFE’s two overdrives could be turned into an advantage, but with these slightly different in size ratios, they really lack a purpose. The solution to this problem would be to give it different overdrive ratios. If they were to either use the overdrive ratios from the 68RFE (.82 and .625), they would have a more reasonable space that could potentially help fuel mileage or simply adjust the axle-ratio for better acceleration, or offer an extreme top overdrive of .5 and really adjust the axle-ratio for better acceleration, they would be able to shrink the gap and possibly boost the fuel economy. Either way the 42RLE needs to be retired as should the 3.7L. I’d go with the 4.0L while we’re waiting on the Phoenix engines. They should also offer the current version of the 5.7L Hemi with MDS. The new Ram could get the updated one to prevent the Dakota from cannabalizing the Ram's sales.

 

Dakota is not going to get a hemi. Period. It does get the new 4.7 which has plenty of power now. Also as I stated in another thread, in 09 the dakota will be a build to order truck. Two reasons for this move. 1. The mid-size truck market is dying. 2. We feel that demand will be so great for the new ram we will need the extra capacity to meet the demand.

 

I agree the autos offered in the Dakota were/are a mistake. I'd saw off my left arm for the 6speed manual, the new Silverado's walk all over our trucks and they're priced competitively with the new Daks. (Why are the new Dakotas so ridiculously expensive anyway?).

As far as the Compass, it doesn't fit with Jeep's brand image at all, it's a disgrace to the name and I'd be happy to see it go.