I made a previous comparison with the Cayenne and Touraeg. The VW starts in the $40s and the Cayenne Turbo S is like $180k. You could say that it’s unreasonable to pay $180k for an SUV that is engineered to be a mid $40k SUV but I don’t see or hear anyone lodging the same complaints. You could say that the Porsche…

So it sounds like you’re pretty hung up on the name and the brand. As in, it doesn’t matter how nice it is built, it still says Jeep Grand Cherokee on the side and that means it shouldn’t cost $85k. This echoes a lot of comments that I have seen here and other places and I struggle to understand that perspective.

and I guess that’s why, when you cram a big engine in it, it still costs $30k+ less than a Bimmer, Merc, or Rover performance variant. The question is: Does the interior and other touch points being inferior to the foreign premium brands make the Jeep not worth having, regardless of value. To drive the point home, it…

Edit. Nevermind.

I’ll agree completely with that.

Quite right. If you’re happy with a car based SUV with a ~380hp SC V6 why would you be interested in a 700hp SC V8 with terrible gas mileage. I think I’m learning, through these comments, that this vehicle just might transcend cross-shopping / brand image norms altogether.

I don’t expect many people to be cross shopping this with a V6 F-Pace, regardless of how nice the leather inside is purported to be.

How long has FCA been around, 9 years?

Didn’t the outgoing Touraeg start about $40k, which shares an awfully lot, including interior pieces, with the much loved Cayenne?

or better yet move close to work so you can walk or ride the bus and spend the money on track days for your track-prepped car because what moron drives a fast car on public roads!!! /S

You’re talking about both sides of your mouth though. I hear you that the market can provide a return that will likely beat interest rates but when you say, “it’s just another 30 grand to get to a premium brand...” you lose me. Bottom line, if I can’t either buy a car out right or pay it off in 3 years, I can’t…

You have me nailed. I do have AE’s when I have to dress up but my dailies are my vintage Blunnies from back when they were still made in Australia. My daily work attire is Pgonia and Prana and my watch is a Suunto (which draws more attention than my work-mate’s AP).

Yeah but no one knows that G-Wagen. From my limited circles the G-Wagen has established itself as an icon for the rich.

I disagree on that. My overland has leather upper door panels and stitched leather dash. A guy in the office has a Laredo and it’s all hard plastic. The difference is noticeable.

And you hit the nail on the head with what’s wrong with American consumerism. I can afford $85k and pay it off quickly otherwise I wouldn’t consider. I will not be upsold on the notion of “it’s just another $30k and if I extend my payments to 60 months or beyond, the payment hardly changes.” I know the value of a…

If I could easily afford a $200k+ car I probably wouldn’t cross shop the Jeep either. This is not a $200k car though, it’s $85k. Also, comparing it to the X6M or Cayenne GTS is hardly fair when a non-optioned X6 xDrive50i is $78k and, when you add a couple packages, you’re quickly in the mid 80s. I’ve sat in the new…

Well, you completely miss the point for me as well. I’m not interested in the conspicuous consumption of the premium brand but am genuinely interested if there is something I’m missing that really sucks on these Chrysler SUVs. My personal story: I have a co-worker friend who has moved up the ranks along side me and,…

I have a layered If/Then question:

1.5l Gas tow rating: 1500 pounds

Is there a difference in tow rating between the two small engines? If so, could a case be made that the customer might opt for the diesel to more comfortably tow his boat?