Over the weekend I folded our Jeep Compass's rear seats flat to haul some cargo. When returning them to their upright position I discovered that their seatback recline angle can be set to multiple positions, including this one. This position is less than 90 degress relative to the seat bottom (that's my handy T-square for 90-degree reference). Who sits like this?
I've been known to love a vertical seatback when driving, but less than vertical? In the rear seat? Come on. I'm not sure what the point of this postion is, but it made me laugh. Anyhow, after a few yanks and shoves I found a seatback angle better suited for humans.
Oh, and there's this:
This seatbelt trim cover has fallen off. It won't go back on properly without some persuasive physics. And since this poor car has already been on the receiving end of persuasive physics on several occasions, I don't think I'll bother.
It's also too slow.
Josh Jacquot, Senior road test editor @ 13,464 miles
daytona_500 says:
04:03 PM, 12/10/07
Enough with this vehicle! Sell it already, isnt one year enough?
bemanix88 says:
04:28 PM, 12/10/07
Seriously, we all know this car sucks and so does the general public. I've literally seen TWO of these things in the last year, I can recall both occasions.
daytona_500 says:
04:44 PM, 12/10/07
Well I see quite a few of these, they're fairly common, but still if you guys dont like then sell it and stop blogging on it.
sabastian says:
04:58 PM, 12/10/07
"It's also too slow."
LOL
bimmerjay says:
05:15 PM, 12/10/07
Why would they sell it just because nobody seems to like it? If it's a one year test, it's a one year test!
kurtamaxxxguy says:
05:42 PM, 12/10/07
the 1 year test is for now apparently telling us this vehicle's a dog. still, will be interesting to see if it acquires new "tricks" (like the crummy plastic interior changing colors, etc.).
stovt001 says:
05:51 PM, 12/10/07
Thats odd. Stuff like trim falling off almost never happens to the Edmunds Long Term test cars. Hmmm.
zach101 says:
06:01 PM, 12/10/07
I'm pretty sure it's been over a year that they've had the Compass.
I laughed when i saw the milage this car has on it. Only 13,500 miles? The Enclave has about half the miles of this car and Edmunds has been driving it for only a few months..
estreka says:
08:25 PM, 12/10/07
Is it wrong for me to chuckle every time I see a Compass on the road?
daytona_500 says:
08:46 PM, 12/10/07
bimmerjay the Compass has been in the fleet for more than year, the first blog post for this car was September 2006. I dont understand why one of the worst cars in the LT fleet would be kept longer than necessary, when the better cars like the Azera and Tahoe promptly leave after a year.
My only guess can be no one wants to buy it, so until its just racking up whatever little miles it can.
zach101 says:
10:02 PM, 12/10/07
They should just trade it in... haha.
gspfan says:
10:14 PM, 12/10/07
Better be good or Santa will bring you a Compass.
mopar424 says:
11:58 PM, 12/10/07
Trade this junk for a new CRD grand cherokee. I havent read anything about it, but Im interested.
bimmerjay says:
12:48 AM, 12/11/07
"Is it wrong for me to chuckle every time I see a Compass on the road?"
Certainly not. I avert my gaze, pretending that Chrysler didn't actually build that abhorrent excuse for an automobile.
"Better be good or Santa will bring you a Compass."
Ha! Finally a penalty worse than coal in your stocking!
willin58 says:
07:02 AM, 12/11/07
The only reason I could possibly see that seat position would be good for is some sort of "optimal" car seat positioning. But I doubt it.
jriz says:
09:52 AM, 12/11/07
"Trade this junk for a new CRD grand cherokee."
Any time I see CRD, I can't help but pronounce it with a 'U' between the r and d. I also like adding a U to GMC's SLT trim and Toyota's TRD racing division.
daytona_500 says:
10:06 AM, 12/11/07
LOL! ^^^
chryslerkid21 says:
11:19 AM, 12/11/07
As much the Chrylser/Mopar guy I may be, there's no denying that this is one of the worst vehicles on the market right now. I can't imagine why anyone would want to buy such an ugly, cheap, slow car.
Also, I'm convinced now that Chrysler can't make seatbelt trim pieces properly, as my father's 2006 Durango has had the exact problem with its seatbelts.
jr1m90 says:
03:07 PM, 12/11/07
You could always use the Compass to test the towing capacity of the trucks in the fleet (aka Tundra, Q7, and Silverado if it's still around). Just hook a big rope around the engine and leave it in reverse. It might fix some of the problems with the CVT....
gtlaw says:
03:49 PM, 12/11/07
Could that seat postion be intended to snugly fit a child safety seat?
altimadude00 says:
04:44 PM, 12/11/07
Maybe you could send it to Jeremy Clarkson for his next target practice show. Or maybe Mythbusters.
carfreak8394 says:
06:17 PM, 12/11/07
jriz,
rofl !
SubyTrojan says:
06:30 PM, 12/11/07
Perhaps the Hunchback of Notre Dame would feel right at home in one of those seats.
James, you've done it again! =Þ
cosmictdi says:
06:46 PM, 06/24/08
What happened to the updates? Did you guys total it? Blow it up? Or, just get lazy... with gas prices shooting up, I've seen a lot more on the road lately and am curious to hear what's happened to your Compass.