Episode 603 – The Do’s and Don’ts of Going Topless

This Week In Jeep

Jeep Only Dealerships?

With the mighty house of Stellantis constantly exploring the upper limits of what customers are willing to pay for a rig with a Jeep badge on its nose, it seems that placing six-figure Grand Wagoneer L models next to entry-level Ram work trucks and Chrysler minivans is a dying strategy. If some super-stuffy-execs have their way, Jeeps – or at least the high-end ones – could earn a place in their own dedicated showroom.

It’s a trick as old as the auto industry itself, of course. Take for instance the way Lincoln showrooms started encroaching on the most valuable floor space of their Ford dealers.

Separating the wheat from the chaff is a common way of catering to customers planning on splashing out the big bucks – especially if they are new to the brand and trading out of a legacy luxury brand. Showcasing the best of the best of what you can offer them with the top-of-the-line models featuring every conceivable option, is a strategy that Jeep’s parent company is willing to bet on. Jeep wants in on this action, and to be honest it’s a solid move. The only question will be at what cost and how long will it take?

According to Automotive News, brand CEO Christian Meunier expects that more than 300 dealers will be adding Jeep-only sections to their premises over the next two calendar years. 

He anticipates these spaces will house top-of-the-line, more expensive Jeeps like the Grand Wagoneer L, plus the forthcoming all-electric SUVs from the off-road brand. 

Some, like the Michigan-based LaFontaine dealer, jumped on the idea way back in pre-pandemic times, reserving (and branding) an entire wing of their new facility solely for the purposes of showcasing Jeeps. Now a lot of us conspiracy theorists may want to see this as the writing on the wall for Jeep finally becoming its own brand with its own dedicated dealers. As of right now, that may or may not be part of the plan, and we as the general public may never know until it’s too late. GM went down that road with the Hummer brand 15 years ago, leaving many of the eye-catching, intricately designed buildings completely vacant when GM went through bankruptcy. Still, there’s a definitive desire here to start separating Jeep from the typical Stellantis dealer hive. Will both the entirety of the dealer network and its customer base be on board with this idea? 

Only time will tell. It’ll be interesting to see which dealers decide to go down the trail of separation versus those who continue to pack six-figure Grand Wagoneers right next to stripped-down minivans and work trucks.

Only Superman Was Faster Than a Speeding Locomotive

Jeeps are incredible vehicles. They are nimble, strong, and incredibly capable machines. But they aren’t indestructible. Sure, they make versions that are bulletproof, but that doesn’t mean the Jeep off the showroom floor is train proof.  That is a lesson one Jeeper is learning the hard way. The incident occurred in the area of North Dixie Highway and Garfield Street in Hollywood California. Witnesses told local news reporters that the driver of the Jeep was racing south and attempted to cut in front of the train as the crossing arms were in the downed position. That’s when (they say) the train struck the vehicle. The impact was so severe, that it caused the white 4-door Jeep Wrangler to flip over several times ejecting the driver in the process. Nearby drivers pulled over to flip the driver of the Jeep off before he was rushed to a hospital in critical condition.

“They said he was chasing the train and he must have seen that the arms were down and he tried to zig-zag around them,” said one witness who was one of the first people to rush over to help the driver.

This incident comes a day after a man was killed in a crash involving another Brightline train, that time in Pompano Beach. Brightline officials say that at least 64 people have died in collisions with their trains since 2018. The driver of the Jeep, in this case, was taken to a nearby hospital in critical condition, and it is unsure of the extent of his injuries or if he will live to understand the idiocy of his decisions.

It’s Not All Bad News For Wrangler

Car sales are struggling due to various factors, including supply chain issues and price surges. Even the beloved Jeep Wrangler, which recently won Vincentric’s Best Value Compact SUV award, saw lower sales in the first quarter of 2022. Nevertheless, the Wrangler’s sales haven’t been as poor as other models. Read on to learn more about how the Wrangler stacks up to the competition.

The COVID-19 pandemic and resulting supply chain issues have plagued the auto industry in recent years. A serious problem affecting car manufacturers, for example, has been a shortage of semiconductor chips.

Manufacturers’ inability to produce sufficient numbers of cars has led to an imbalance in supply and demand and a surge in vehicle prices. That has driven down car sales in the United States as consumers struggle to find affordable vehicles.

Stellantis, which owns Jeep, recently reported that its overall car sales stateside were down in Q1 2022 compared with the same period last year. Though the news isn’t necessarily a surprise, it’s still not good news for the industry. 

Despite the industry’s struggles, Stellantis found a silver lining when it came to Jeep sales in Q1 2022. For starters, though Jeep Wrangler sales were down 8% compared with Q1 2021, that’s still better than the national average, which saw an overall decline of 14%. 

Stellantis also notes another feather in the Wrangler’s cap: the 4xe was named Best 4×4 in the Women’s World Car of the Year Awards. 

Jeep had even better luck with some of its other models, such as the Grand Cherokee. The popular SUV’s sales were the best they’d ever been for the quarter, with total Q1 2021 sales increasing 36% and retail sales increasing 44% in Q1 2022.

The Jeep Compass also performed remarkably well in the first quarter of 2022. Its total U.S. sales were up 22%, and retail sales increased 23%. 

The 2022 Jeep Wrangler offers numerous trims and models, ranging from the basic Sport which starts at roughly $33k and comes with a 3.6-liter V6 engine producing 285 hp and six-speed manual transmission. 

Of course at the other end of the spectrum lies the pricey Rubicon 392, which Jeep says is the only Wrangler that comes stock with a 6.4-liter Hemi V8 boasting a whopping 470 hp. This Jeep with this engine is one of the more powerful on the market, and it can take you from 0 to 60 in just 4.5 seconds. Of course, all of that power and luxury will cost you. The Rubicon 392 starts at $77,390. So it’s certainly not a purchase to take lightly if you’re considering helping Jeep with its sales figures for the next quarter. 

Tech Talk with Jeep Talk

TOPIC/QUESTION: Lubricating Without a Funnel

Have you ever struggled to fill a transfer case, a differential, or some other hard-to-reach something on your Jeep that requires lubrication? Since space is so tight under our Jeeps, especially in areas like where the transfer case fill port is, in some areas funnels are all but useless. Try this: Fill a quart or gallon zip-lock freezer bag with lube, gear oil, transmission fluid, or whatever you are needed to use to fill things up. Seal it up real good, and then cut a quarter-inch off one corner, making sure to hold it upright while doing so. This will ensure you’re cutting where there’s air, and not where there’s fluid, spilling it all over the place. You’ve just made the automotive equivalent of a pastry bag, …you know…that thing that you see on those cooking shows used for decorating cakes. Now you can squeeze lube up or over and into the fill hole from almost any angle. In fact, you won’t really need to squeeze much at all, as the contents of your Jeep fluid pastry bag will drain right into wherever it is you’re trying to get lubrication.  The only thing you need to pay attention to is keeping the little cut end of the bag in the hole, and ensuring you don’t overfill. 

Jeep Life – With Jeep Momma

Top 10 Topless Tips

To be Topless — is what inspired me to buy my Jeep spontaneously one day in the Spring of 2013. It wasn’t too off-road but to be topless. Since though Off-roading and being topless is my form of Jeep Therapy. I was at a point in my life when I realized time goes by too quickly to wait for the right moment to do the things you want to do. So my life motto is to “Live Life”.  Live means to “be alive” and when I’m in my Jeep — with the top down — feeling the warm sun on my face — and the wind blowing through my hair that’s what I feel — ALIVE! Topless in my Jeep is also therapeutic. I am in major need of some #JeepTherapy right now.  I feel like old man winter is over-staying his welcome this year. At least for us folks up in the north.  I am so excited that Spring will be arriving soon. I can see the blooms coming out on the trees. I miss the sun in my face and wind in my hair days.

With Spring arriving that means I can start driving with my top-down, but there are always precautions you must take. Now that I am out of the high desert I don’t need to worry about all that dust as much.

When you have a Jeep Wrangler you can’t just put your top-down, hop in, and hit the road. Well… if you get prepared, you can do just that. But it takes some thought to “Be Prepared”. Here are some tips I learned in “Going Topless in My Jeep“. Topless Jeep Driving DOs & DON’T There are 10 not 5  but 10.

1. For the Jk and JKU owners Make sure your top folds back into the perfect Jeep”W”. This keeps the soft top lasting longer. If you don’t know how to do this I have a how-to video on YouTube. I am guessing the JLs would be the same as well. Not sure though.
2. Don’t park under trees that are shedding their blooms or under trees with lots of birds hanging out in them.
3. When you are going 65 mph down the interstate, and you have long hair, tie it back, or put on a hat. There is a high potential you will go blind momentarily, and crash.
4. Leave No Trace is definitely a principle you should use for the inside of your Jeep.  You don’t want that”litter fine” when trash goes sailing out the top of your Wrangler.
5. Anything you want to keep in your Jeep make sure it’s tied down.
6. When you bring your drink in the Jeep make sure it has a lid. Those Jeep rides become very bumpy. I suggest staying away from anything carbonated. The bumpy Jeep rides take the fizz right out of the drink.
7. When you have kids you will want to have a blanket for each of them.  Even when it’s warm outside the back seats tend to get a little chilly for the little ones.
8. Spray your floor mats with bug spray.  Some say spiders like to spin their web inside your Jeep.  Fingers Crossed — I haven’t had this issue yet. I did have an ant invasion the summer I went to Texas though.
9. When it’s sunny out, keep sunscreen handy. Especially for your face.
10. Don’t leave valuables lying around. Leave ’em home or lock ’em up in the glove box or console.

 My last tip… number 11

Music can is a great therapy along with a Topless Jeep. We all have those songs that provoke excitement and invigorate us. Add that music while driving a Jeep with the top down — those favorite songs blaring from the speakers at full blast and you are at the pinnacle of feeling alive.

Links Mentioned in this Episode

NEXEN Tires USA https://www.nexentireusa.com/

Trails 411- POWERING Your Adventure https://www.youtube.com/user/backcountrydriver

The 4×4 Radio Network http://4x4radionetwork.com/

Interact With The Show! https://jeeptalkshow.com/contact

Jeep Talk Show on Facebook https://facebook.com/jeeptalkshow

Rat Bastards Facebook Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/ratbastard

Rat Bastards Webpage https://ratbastard.lol

Looking for Amazon products we’ve talked about on the show? https://jeeptalkshow.com/amazon

You are invited to our Discord Server!  https://discord.gg/txeYMs45sm

Show notes powered by sevenslats.com