I own a Jeep.
It's not because I settled. I did 4 months of research, comparing the whole spectrum of vehicles, from Toyota Prius (not freaking likely) to SUV's. I looked at cars I have no business looking at, and I fought off potentially what was (or is) a mid-life crisis.
My criteria was: Warranty, flexibility, ALL weather driving, and cruise control. Not in that order.
My jeep is pretty bare bones. It's dead sexy with the top down. That's right! Sexy.....(enter midlife crisis). Having said it's sexy, I fully understand while I may feel like Brad you-know-who behind the wheel, I fully understand it would look more like Rowan Atkinson from the outside looking in.
Jeep owners, are, I am beginning to discover an odd bunch. I have been waved at going down the highway for no particular reason, stopped in parking lots by strange people wanting to share their life stories on their Jeep they owned, own or will own. People commenting on the colour (yep, it's orange, or copper depending on the sun.) Officially its Mango Tango according to Chrysler, but that doesn't fit on the registration entry at the MVR.
I recently came outside to find a note tucked under my wiper blade. Apparently, Jeep owners patrol the back alley's of Drayton Valley. I initially thought someone had magically run into it and had left a "sorry about your luck chuck note". Alas, it was a invitation to the Drayton Valley Jeep Club. Oy vay.
Non Jeep owners are all fascinated with "so, what are you gonna do to it. Lift it? Put on bigger tires? Check Plate? ". Lets see. No. Why would I? I'm not compensating annnnnnnnd it's brand new. I like my Jeep the way it is. It does need "rock runners" or "running boards" but not at the moment. It does need better Tires it's got the same deal of the week tires Chrysler supplies, but they're okay for now.
The most rampant concern I find is everyone raises an eyebrow when I say it's only a soft top. It's like a I have contracted SARS or something. "But what about the winter?". It comes with a heater these days, actually more like an easy-bake oven even in -30 or more. I am only one guy. Where (seeing as how I live on a second floor am I supposed to put a hard top. How likely am I to want to try to take a Hard Top off by myself. What if I'm streaking down the highway (and it does streak quite nicely) and decide to go topless. Do I just toss it in the ditch and come back later? Uhhh...no. So the soft top comes down in about 10 minutes and goes back up in the same time. It comes with handy storage bags for the windows and a cool boot for the top so it looks sexy.
I'll be honest, I was pissed the first time I went to take it down. Jeep's instruction are quite frankly shit. The DVD video is shit. I looked it up on YOUtube. Life is good. We won't talk about the Boot instructions. Thanks for the Internet and Jeep forums. Now it's all old hat....and I love it.
It does not have air conditioning. It's a convertible. at 100+ km/h, it isn't hot out even at +25. It's nice.
It doesn't have four doors, it has two. Why would I need four doors? Someone countered with, so I can get people in the back easier. That's why the passenger seat pops forward quite easily.
It has a six speed, 6th obviously being overdrive and easily stays at whatever speed I want. It goes like an assaulted ape when I need to pass. It's not a rally car, its not a pro-stock, it's not a sports car. It's a jeep.
Concerns have been raised about people breaking in. Well, I don't keep anything worth while inside anyways and I hope that they just unzip the windows.
Noisy? Well, I just turn the stereo up with the top down and it isn't any noisier than my 96 ford 1/2ton with the top up.
It's the funniest vehicle I have owned and opening the hood, it is completely owner serviceable. A surprise for a new vehicle. NO shield or protectors on top, you can access all the components a person needs too.
I think I'll go for a drive and put in a little Right Said Fred in the CD....no satellite, I have 8GB of music so what do I care.
No comments:
Post a Comment