advice wanted - not a Volvo; a JEEP COMPASS.

[bigkev414]

Hi all......My beloved S70T is in some danger of being disposed of due to advancing age (mine) and arthritic knees and back (also mine)
I have reached the stage in life where (horror of horrors) I would be more comfortable in a compact SUV that is easier to get in and out of, and that my 'co pilot' can drive on the odd occasion (like when we have a big row and she storms off to the shopping mall on her own in the car, complete with credit card).
OK, I'll get to the point; has anybody got, driven or know anybody who has a current model Jeep Compass? Impressions and opinions please. Looking at 2l CVT. yep, I know but I'm too old and tired to work a clutch now.

thanks Guys.

[jblackburn]

Stay away from jeeps - they're terrible, unrefined, and unreliable cars. Someone at work has a Compass - its noisy and VERY bumpy. Many better small SUVs out there. My dad has a 2005 Liberty (a Consumer Reports best buy at the time - until they realized reliability issues) and it's falling apart. 70,000 miles and the transmission is on its last legs, along with other numerous small problems and issues. A real shame - I used to love the old Jeeps, but they just don't make them like that anymore.

Look at the Ford Escape (parks itself, even!) or Honda CRV.

[jimmy57]

I have a few of the compass and dodge caliber (same platform) that I service. They eat motor mounts at a rate greater than an 850 and the mounts are expensive. I also have had to replace the thermostats and it is an assembly with t-stat made within and it is expensive. Base motor and trans seems fine if it weren't for all the stuff all around it. I also have had to replace the front struts often and they are more expensive than the norm and are different left front to right front.
Mazda Tribute (not sure if that is the Ozzzy nameplate for it) is a good small SUV choice.

[Matty Moo]

Pass on that....it's a Caliber and never should have had the Jeep badge put on it.

I've had numerous Jeeps. An XJ, WJ, TJ and now a JK, all of them have been solid, reliable and very low maintenance.

[jblackburn]

XJ's were the best - we had one and I almost bought another, and I could see the old Wrangler as being a fun toy. But Grand Cherokees?! I've heard of SO many people having nothing but problems with those. We have some close family friends that owned nothing but Jeeps for as long as I can remember - they gave up on their WJ years ago and switched to a Denali.

I stand by my statement - they just aren't as good as they used to be. On-road, where any car spends most of its time, they're far behind any competition - with the exception of the new Grand Cherokee. That thing is amazing.

[fazool]

My boss had a Liberty years ago and it was really nice but he only ever drove it from the airport to the office and only on snowy days.

We had a chrysler/dodge product new in 97/98 It was a terrific design but unreliable (had 3 engines). Bought another in 2005 and it was crap. Cheap, chincy, unreliable crap.

I suspect that Chrysler/Dodge really took a downturn in quality and is dragging Jeep down with them.

[Matty Moo]

Benz treated Chrysler like a stepchild....then Cerubus picked them up to flip and dragged them down lower than Benz already did.

Fiat is making huge changes for the better.

[bigkev414]

Thanks for the info guys ......you are all spot on I think. Had a look at a compass, and they've been flogging them to death on TV but when I went over and sat in one and had a good look my first impression was it's crap and a lot like like the Dodge as Matty said. Didn't even want to drive it but I had a short 'around the block' and everything you guys said it true. There's an old Aussie saying that old ladies use to door to door salesmen; 'Not today, thank you!"
This forum is great, and I havent been a member for long but every question I have asked has been answered accurately and professionally. Thanks a heap.
Now going out in my 'wonderful' beloved S70. I Just won't watch the fuel gauge.