Why Is Everyone Hating on the Renegade?

"Godspeed11- I own a SAAB" (Godspeed11)
03/04/2014 at 21:06 • Filed to: None

As far as I'm concerned it's a cheap, small, economical, off-road capable hatch that offers a turbocharged mill and a row-your-own stick shift. So many people here are lamenting the loss of cheap and economical offroaders like the Suzuki Samuri or Geo Tracker.

Imagine the capabilities of one. It could be lifted, like so many are talking about, and used as a mini Rock Crawler. It has a short wheelbase and tiny overhangs making it an ideal base for off road tuning. OR you could go the other way and make it a crazy hot hatch killer. Lower it and give it a road holding suspension and maybe a few chassis tweaks and it could be a competant little beast.

Just think what an SRT Renegade would be like. Aggresive front diffuser, low to the ground, give it a manual or the DCT they were talking about, throw in a Pentastar or maybe a fiat group turboed four-pot. Anything north of 230 HP, AWD, manual/paddles, what's wrong with that?? It just adds to the selection of already amazing performance deals on the market today: Focus ST, Fiesta ST, Toyobaru Twins (although not as practical), GTI, etc.

So for me the Renegade is an awesome vehicle. Yes 90% of them will be seen in shopping malls and at the salon, but what about 90% of the focuses on the road? I don't care if Jeep makes it into a hot hatch, it it's a good one then where's the problem? So many people complain about it diluting the brand - take a look at the liberty and compass for crying out loud and tell me they aren't soiling the sacred seven slit grill. For the 10% that go offroad or get the theoretical SRT renegade it will all be worth it.

That's my two cents

DISCUSSION (31)

Velocity- Peuguette Connoisseur > Godspeed11- I own a SAAB
03/04/2014 at 21:08

And this is my opinion exactly

Coty > Godspeed11- I own a SAAB
03/04/2014 at 21:09

No row your own in the states.

Also I get to drive an ST tomorrow.

You didn't need to know that last bit but I enjoy saying it.

xxxxxx > Godspeed11- I own a SAAB
03/04/2014 at 21:09

Isn't it on a unibody? That would render it nearly useless for any serious off-roading.

Bandit > Godspeed11- I own a SAAB
03/04/2014 at 21:09

I like the idea of it. I will need to see a production version on the road to make my final call. If Mopar can pull off the execution and not make it suck, I can see it as a decent seller. If it were FWD I would have no respect for it at all since it's badged as a jeep.

Godspeed11- I own a SAAB > Coty
03/04/2014 at 21:10

Focus or Fiesta? Either way, you will have a blast.

And this is all theoretical internet talk, everyone here is moaning about the whole idea of the car. I was just presenting it in a new light.

Velocity- Peuguette Connoisseur > Coty
03/04/2014 at 21:11

I swear they said there was, but only on the lower models (not Trailhawk)

Godspeed11- I own a SAAB > xxxxxx
03/04/2014 at 21:12

Kinja'd!!!

Velocity- Peuguette Connoisseur > Bandit
03/04/2014 at 21:12

With the things they've pulled off recently I'd say they can do it

Godspeed11- I own a SAAB > Bandit
03/04/2014 at 21:14

I feel the same way, but when I heard it was AWD only I was relieved. Chrysler seriously has huge potential with this, they could have the trailhawk on one end and the SRT on the other, talk about wide customer base.

Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire > Coty
03/04/2014 at 21:16

No, you can get a manual on the smaller motor.

Coty > Velocity- Peuguette Connoisseur
03/04/2014 at 21:18

No, no you're right. I was thinking the diesels, I guess.

xxxxxx > Godspeed11- I own a SAAB
03/04/2014 at 21:26

Wow. I never knew the old Cherokee was a unibody. Isn't off-roading then damaging to the unibody? I'd imagine the one in that Cherokee has been stiffened significantly.

Godspeed11- I own a SAAB > xxxxxx
03/04/2014 at 21:48

Most people fix roll cages if they are going to modify one that heavily. Even without mods they can handle the rough stuff pretty well without any major unibody distortion. Over long periods of time and much abuse it will wear down and start to warp but the same goes for body on frame set ups. The mounting points will wear and the body could break loose if not cared for properly.

xxxxxx > Godspeed11- I own a SAAB
03/04/2014 at 22:13

Okay. I'd imagine off-roading wasn't a massive priority of the team making the Renegade.

RotaryLover > Godspeed11- I own a SAAB
03/04/2014 at 22:38

I ain't hating yo.

Big Bubba Ray > Godspeed11- I own a SAAB
03/04/2014 at 22:41

From what I've seen on Oppo so far, I think the general consensus is that its going to be a great car. I'm still not entirely sold on the looks, but I think seeing one in person might change my mind. I'm interested in seeing what engine/drivetrain combination becomes the most popular with these when they are released.

Coty > Godspeed11- I own a SAAB
03/04/2014 at 22:52

Focus. I work at a Ford dealer and have to learn the inventory. That means driving at least one of each car. Hello Race Red ST.

Garrett Davis > xxxxxx
03/04/2014 at 23:14

I did plenty of rock crawling with my XJ with no stiffening of the chassis. The whole "unibodies can't off road" thing is totally false. Here's my Sheila:

Kinja'd!!!

1991, 192k miles, over half of which where done lifted on big tires with three owners who all wheeled the shit out of her. Yes, a unibody can off road just fine.

Long Live the Longdoor > Godspeed11- I own a SAAB
03/04/2014 at 23:37

I hadn't even thought of an SRT Renegade. That, would be most excellent!

But powered by what engine?

CRider > Godspeed11- I own a SAAB
03/05/2014 at 00:38

It will be very difficult, if not impossible, to lift this thing just like the new Cherokee. The old Tracker had a frame, not a tiny little unibody.

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > Godspeed11- I own a SAAB
03/05/2014 at 01:03

I really want some one with more skills than me to shoop one with a top like this

Kinja'd!!!

Jayhawk Jake > Coty
03/05/2014 at 08:16

Since when is it no row your own in the states? The not trailhawk will be available as a 6MT, with the 1.4T. As long as AWD is available with it, which it should be, that's fine.

Jayhawk Jake > Big Bubba Ray
03/05/2014 at 08:18

I'd bet the 1.4T with the 9 speed auto will be the most popular.

I want to drive the 1.4 with manual. If it's not too soft I'm going to be very tempted.

ThatWillBuffOut > Godspeed11- I own a SAAB
03/05/2014 at 08:18

One of the main things the offroad community does to their vehicles is lift them. If the suspension is like the new Cherokee's then there won't be a lift available for it. At least the Vitara's and Tracker's can be lifted.

Futura1000 > xxxxxx
03/05/2014 at 10:50

Lets just say this jump bent the axles before it bent the unibody

Big Bubba Ray > Jayhawk Jake
03/05/2014 at 11:49

Ya I'm sure that will be the most popular cause it will probably return the best mpgs. I'm excited to see one in person eventually and see how the looks compare to the pictures so far.

seriouslywhyiskinjastillterrible > Godspeed11- I own a SAAB
03/05/2014 at 11:59

IMO, It seems like its trying too hard. too many wavy style lines, too much plastic, too much colourful interior pizzazz.

It needs to be more utilitarian and less barbie playset car.

Jayhawk Jake > Big Bubba Ray
03/05/2014 at 13:04

I'm excited to drive one and see which side of the crossover line it lies on. Soft SUV or fun car. If it's close enough to a fun car, it's going to be hard to resist.

xxxxxx > Garrett Davis
03/05/2014 at 15:21

Okay. However, the Renegade still doesn't look like it will be a very potent off-roader. For example, you wouldn't take a Lexus RX rock crawling without the expectation of frame damage.

Garrett Davis > xxxxxx
03/05/2014 at 15:58

It's no successor to the XJ, sure, but it's not because it's a unibody, which was my point.

xxxxxx > Garrett Davis
03/05/2014 at 16:11

But in general, unibodies are not used in cars made for off-roading. The XJ was an exception.