Grocery getter, sure—the Jeep Liberty is versatile enough to do that and lots more. Hey, the hooks behind the back seat hold other things besides grocery bags. But a woman’s vehicle? We’d really have to be scraping the bottom of the ignorance barrel to find someone dumb enough to put that in print. Besides the sexist attitudes that comment reveals, those who like to rant like that simply reveal their complete ignorance of this vehicle’s capabilities. While I’m sure it’s meant as some kind of childish insult, according to DC 50% of Liberty owners actually are women. Perhaps I’m limited in my thinking, but what normal person would mind if a vehicle appeals to both sexes? In fact, I think that’s called a success in vehicle manufacturing circles! And why is anyone threatened by a lot of others buying Jeep Libertys—unless of course you sell Hondas, Toyotas, Nissan, Ford, or GM SUVs (if I left any brands out, it wasn’t intentional). The Liberty is a nice looking, practical vehicle that gets good gas mileage. It out-handles a lot of other SUVs on the road, and goes pretty much where a lot of hunters, fishermen, and trail riders like to go. Very nice manners on road also. It's tall, sitting above most cars allowing you clear vision ahead. Even if you don’t want one yourself, you have to realize the Liberty and Grand Cherokee together produce the bulk of Jeep sales. This allows DC to continue producing TJs, which actually comprise only about 12% of all vehicles Jeep sells. The Rubicon gave it a shot in the arm, but that line is still not a top seller and car manufacturers look at things like this. But there’s always an ignorant few who want to bite the hand that will be making their next Jeep—or not.

Do I care if you buy a Liberty or not—heck no! I’m already seeing myself coming and going a little too often for my tastes (although I am surprised at how many I see out there). I ordinarily wouldn’t mind keeping a good thing to myself. But I do mind ignorance, misrepresentation (like “All Jeeps” on the cover of JP Magazine!), and windbags who invent crap just to sound like they know what they’re talking about. Edgar Allen Poe once said: “to vilify a great man is the readiest way in which a little man can himself attain greatness.” Apparently someone seems to think that vilifying certain Jeep models might do the same for them. Guess what, it won’t. It’s a cheap substitute for actual expertise—which if you had any, you wouldn’t have resorted to this. Hey, if someone doesn’t like a vehicle, they won’t buy it. It’s pretty simple. And if you think driving one challenges your masculinity or femininity (although most women don’t seem to have those kinds of hang-ups) then you have a problem. Or is it you think you’re smarter than nearly a half-million Liberty owners who have bought a vehicle without checking with you first? In that case, you really have a problem!

I suppose the ultimate curiosity is will this faux pas go away quietly? Or, put another way, just how dumb is it to insult and alienate a segment of your readership while at the same time crimping the sales of your advertisers who sell products for that market segment? You know, the ones who pay your salary! Most readers would have to be pretty dumb to put up with this constant cutting down of Jeep products even if it isn’t their own model. Advertisers, and Primedia for that matter, would have to be extremely dumb allow this to go uncorrected. Curiously, when you go to Primedia’s web site, JP magazine is listed under businesses. Must be another joke no one gets.

So, mirror mirror on the wall, who’s the dumbest of them all? The editors, Primedia, the advertisers, or us readers?

[The mirror will have to get back to us on this one].  

Marc

 

I buy the mag on the newstand. Used to buy it without thumbing thru it. Never again! It seems to me that it's the editor's self inDULgance and less reader based. I'll still drive my Liberty, and love every mile. A couple more issues and I'll decide if JP magazine will be by my side.  

The Liberty is a true Chrysler product, not a true Jeep.  Jeep hasn't been Jeep since ChyCo bought the Jeep line in the 80's, especialy now that Daimler is involved!  The Rubi was a small step in the right direction but there is rumor that ChryCo will discontinue the Wrangler (as we know it) in 2006.  I own a 2000 XJ (cherokee for you ChryCo fans) and it makes me sick every time I look at the Key fob and see the Chrysler emblem on the back!  So yes the Libby is a good vehicle, but they should have released it under the Dodge or Plymouth name, not Jeep.  

" Jeep hasn't been Jeep since ChyCo bought the Jeep line in the 80's, especialy now that Daimler is involved!"  quote SEANRAF  ....

Ok, What makes a Jeep, a Jeep? How pure do you want?

Bantam?

Ford?

Willys?

Kaiser?

AMC?

Chyrsler?

Daimler Chrysler?

All of these companys have made Jeeps at one time or another in the past 60+ years. 

I like ALL Jeeps!! No matter what manufacturer produced it. They may not all be created equally, but I would rather have the ugliest,  most poorly designed Jeep, than a drive something like a Acura, or BMW suv.

If you have to ask why? It's a Jeep thing and you don't understand!!!

I just hate Chrysler. Never liked them.  I don't think they are doing the 'Jeep'  line any favors.  The people at JP are reporting on what I (and most other) Jeepers want to read about,  modified, trail rigs.  I have been involved in the Jeep culture for many years. Would I buy a Libby? yes just to drive around town in.  I would not waste my time modifing it or trying to make it trail worthy.  It is more of a minni van than a Jeep.  I am sorry some of you don't like JPs reporting, but that is why we buy the mag.

not dodge...that would be just as bad...probably just chrysler would work  

I think your statements are a little ingnorant.  Take a look at the polls listed on this message board and you will find that most readers want to see articles on adventure and easier trails along with "on-the-trail fixes".  I do not think you represent "most" readers as you put it.

Chrysler has only strengthened the Jeep brand.  The brand is stronger and healthier than ever before.  The Rubicon, likely the most capable stock Jeep ever built, is a direct result of Chrysler.  Chrysler is also not the company that introduced "around town" vehicles into the Jeep line.  What about the original Jeepsters, Willys Panel's, Kaiser and AMC built wagons?  The pre-Chrysler Jeeps ( what you believe to be true Jeeps) borrowed all sorts of parts from various manufacturers.  Tons of them used General Motors keys.

I think you should take some time and actually learn about the history of the jeep brand and culture if you are such a loyalist so that you do not put your foot in your mouth in the future.

Well I sit corrected.  The way I wrote I did make it sound as if Jeep was more Jeep before Chryco.  Some times I think faster than I thing and things dont always come out as I ment them to say.  All I am saying is that I don't think the Libby is at all capable as an Off road vehicle in its present form. I don't want this to get into an argument or a war of words either, after all we are all Jeepers, right?  My last comment is Just because it says Jeep dosn't make it a capable off road vehicle.  Does any one remember the Cadillac Cimeron?  Not many celebs and dignataries rode around in the back of that hunk. I would not put it in the same class as the Fleetwood or Eldorado.     

You are very right.  Point well made!  I am actually excited to see where Chrysler or DC is taking Jeep.  I sell Jeeps for a living and the Rubicon is a hot item.  They sell as soon as we unload them.  If they are a great success then it will be interesting to see what may come next.

SeanRaf,

You say the Liberty is not a capable off-road vehicle. You probably weren’t aware that the Liberty, as with all current models of Jeep, has been tested on the Rubicon trail—I’m sure with experienced drivers at the wheel. But any vehicle that can traverse the Rubicon is certainly a capable off-road vehicle. My own is a daily driver that can (and has) knocked off a thousand miles of interstate a day on trips, yet gets plenty of time off road and in a wide variety of conditions. I wouldn’t say it will go everywhere the Jeep Rubicon, perhaps the most capable production 4x4 ever made, would go. But it certainly takes me everywhere I want to go and gets me back safely and comfortably. It has more room than a Wrangler, tows as much as a Grand Cherokee, and gets better gas mileage than either one. It’s a well-behaved, dual purpose vehicle that fills the space nicely between the Wrangler and the Grand. The Liberty’s capabilities are a little surprising, if and when anyone take the time to learn something about it.

Marc