It looks like there is a gas station at the light to the left. Must be a different problem besides no gas. Or maybe no money to buy gas? Or is the Commander just exercising his minions?
Personally I would be interested in knowing what the situation is. Around here there are several companies that do “non-emergency medical transport” to doctor’s appointments for people without reliable transportation. (Tis a very rural very poor area I live in…)
There are a few Commanders in their fleets and I know these companies try to avoid vehicles that are going to be often broken down and or expensive to repair.
The Commander was actually based on the Grand Cherokee chassis. It was only 2″ longer, but narrower and taller. Then, they stuffed a virtually unusable third row seat into it. It didn’t have polarizing styling (a la Pontiac Aztek) but its upright, old-school appearance wasn’t even close to attractive (in the way the Wrangler’s rugged looks stayed appealing), and the whole package was a whole lot less practical than any other large SUV (with the possible exception of the Hummer H3, which was the target market).
Combined with truly abysmal fuel mileage (14/18) at a time when gas prices were sky-high due to Hurricane Katrina, it pretty much sealed the Commander’s fate the very moment it hit dealer lots.
It was poor timing in the classic way that only Chrysler can do it. In fact, the only way it would have been more perfect is if then Daimler CEO Dieter Zetsche had had the Commander built in Italy by De Tomaso.
I think he meant “looking” like a Jeep Cherokee, which it kind of does. Well, a Cherokee on steroids. Lol
Don’t think he even had the aero-mess Grand Cherokee, in mind.
The Commander is known as XK, while the Cherokee Sport, as we all know, is XJ. Interesting.
rudiger
Posted July 21, 2015 at 3:38 PM
Oh, yeah, whether you want to say they tried to copy the original Jeep Cherokee, or even the later Caliber-based Patriot, Daimler was definitely going for the old-school, traditional, flat side glass Jeep look with the Commander. They didn’t pull it off, not even close.
It’s too bad they didn’t try to copy the original Wagoneer. That’s the Jeep that needs the retro-treatment.
Sarcasmo
Posted July 21, 2015 at 3:52 PM
Well, You’re in luck…
Jeep is bringing back the Grand Wagoneer in 2018, and I like it.
Concept pics are already on the web. It looks very close to the original, with a 21st century twist. Some concepts even have the woodgrain.
Hopefully, it’ll fill the void left by the Commander in 2010.
Sarcasmo
Posted July 21, 2015 at 3:54 PM
2018 Grand Wagoneer concept 2
Even though, it looks like a Commander with a retro Wagoneer front clip and extended rear overhang, it looks nice.
jz78817
Posted July 21, 2015 at 6:12 PM
those aren’t “concepts,” they’re hideous photoshops.
Sarcasmo
Posted July 21, 2015 at 10:15 PM
I said concept pics, NOT running, driving concept cars… BIG difference.
Whether they are photoshopped to create or enhance someone’s idea of what it “might” look like, it IS still a concept. Right?
Besides, did you mean photoshopped… like someone visually altered actual vehicles pics? C’mon really?
“It was poor timing in the classic way that only Chrysler can do it.”
bullshit. it was what happened when you let nickel-and-Daimler try to dictate what a “Jeep” should be.
trust me, I sat at PROC (better known as JTE) in those days; the men and women working on launching these things knew damn well what pieces of crap they were going to be, but the Iron Fist of Stuttgart ruled all.
Anyone who blames Chrysler for the failure of DaimlerChrysler is ignorant.
Old Pete
Posted July 21, 2015 at 8:07 PM
“…nickel-and-Daimler…”
Brilliant!
James Slick
Posted July 21, 2015 at 8:11 PM
Damn It, Why didn’t I think of that?!
rudiger
Posted July 21, 2015 at 8:16 PM
Lighten up, Francis.
Sarcasmo
Posted July 21, 2015 at 10:23 PM
Anyone, who makes a comment like yours is an ignorant. Try decaf or anger management.
Was never really impressed with the Commander. Always came off as a clobbered-together attempt at making the Grand Cherokee a three-row SUV. My younger cousin whose still in high school recently got a used silver one as his first car. I find it very weird that his parents are both die-hard GM people, but they’ve bought all three of their kids who can drive used Jeeps as their first cars.
One of the dismal products of the Daimler era.At a time and gas was cheap and other large SUVs were selling well these never sold well relative to the other Jeeps of the era. IIRC Marchionne once said that the 3rd row seat was “unfit for human consumption”
The Commander would make a great CC. It was Daimler’s answer to the Hummer H3. Unfortunately, by the time Daimler got the Commander to market, the Hummer market had evaporated. I still recall new Commanders on dealer lots with big incentives, particularly the base, V6 models, for months.
Weak! I pushed my Corvair by myself a quarter mile in traffic with cars lined up behind me yesterday when it died in an intersection. 🙂
The hot wire to the coil snapped off at the connector, by the way. Luckily, I was going to lunch with my wife and the maintenance department had some connectors and pliers. Easy fix. 🙂
My younger brother who is a pompous jerk, and doesn’t talk to the rest of the family… has one exactly like the one in the pic, white with 20″ chrome rims.
Nice photo to show to him.
“Yo, bro… There’s your future, jackass.” Love it. 😀
The few I saw here had a 3.0 liter V6 Benz diesel. The Grand Cherokee also had that engine. So there were Jeeps with a 3.0 liter V6 diesel years before it was called an EcoDiesel (from another manufacturer).
With fuel mileage at 14/18, probably just out of gas. The engineering was no better or worst than the Grand Cherokee upon which it was based. The Commander was just packaged extremely poorly. It was a large, ungainly, thirsty SUV that was small and cramped on the inside and lasted for five years (2006-2010), with peak sales the first year of 88, 497, dwindling down to less than a tenth of that (8115) in the last.
While it’s all too easy to put the Commander into the ‘What were they thinking?” category, it’s worth noting that the usual rules for vehicle sales often times do not apply to a ‘lifestyle’ vehicle brand like Jeep. I mean, the Wrangler, by just about all measurable accounts, is a pretty miserable vehicle, too. And, yet, it continues to be very popular.
Have been in a similar situation with a ’05 Ford Escape on a bridge over the Hudson River. Ended up being a very expensive tow fee!!
It’s always nice to see folks out taking their Jeep for a push .
-Nate
+1 lol 🙂
That wouldn’t be happening if it had the 4.0 straight six.
Unless the 4.0 drank all the gas…
When you find out that it is *always* uphill to the gas station. Why is that?
It looks like there is a gas station at the light to the left. Must be a different problem besides no gas. Or maybe no money to buy gas? Or is the Commander just exercising his minions?
Re: Modern Jeeps….J.E.E.P. – Just Empty Every Pocket
Personally I would be interested in knowing what the situation is. Around here there are several companies that do “non-emergency medical transport” to doctor’s appointments for people without reliable transportation. (Tis a very rural very poor area I live in…)
There are a few Commanders in their fleets and I know these companies try to avoid vehicles that are going to be often broken down and or expensive to repair.
Wouldn’t be doing that, if ya bought a Toyota Land Cruiser. Ha!
I saw a car like this in Odense, Dennark today. Ugly car. (IMHO)
Tried to make it look like a Cherokee, but to big. Say hello to Hans Christian Anderson.
The Commander was actually based on the Grand Cherokee chassis. It was only 2″ longer, but narrower and taller. Then, they stuffed a virtually unusable third row seat into it. It didn’t have polarizing styling (a la Pontiac Aztek) but its upright, old-school appearance wasn’t even close to attractive (in the way the Wrangler’s rugged looks stayed appealing), and the whole package was a whole lot less practical than any other large SUV (with the possible exception of the Hummer H3, which was the target market).
Combined with truly abysmal fuel mileage (14/18) at a time when gas prices were sky-high due to Hurricane Katrina, it pretty much sealed the Commander’s fate the very moment it hit dealer lots.
It was poor timing in the classic way that only Chrysler can do it. In fact, the only way it would have been more perfect is if then Daimler CEO Dieter Zetsche had had the Commander built in Italy by De Tomaso.
I think he meant “looking” like a Jeep Cherokee, which it kind of does. Well, a Cherokee on steroids. Lol
Don’t think he even had the aero-mess Grand Cherokee, in mind.
The Commander is known as XK, while the Cherokee Sport, as we all know, is XJ. Interesting.
Oh, yeah, whether you want to say they tried to copy the original Jeep Cherokee, or even the later Caliber-based Patriot, Daimler was definitely going for the old-school, traditional, flat side glass Jeep look with the Commander. They didn’t pull it off, not even close.
It’s too bad they didn’t try to copy the original Wagoneer. That’s the Jeep that needs the retro-treatment.
Well, You’re in luck…
Jeep is bringing back the Grand Wagoneer in 2018, and I like it.
Concept pics are already on the web. It looks very close to the original, with a 21st century twist. Some concepts even have the woodgrain.
Hopefully, it’ll fill the void left by the Commander in 2010.
2018 Grand Wagoneer concept 2
Even though, it looks like a Commander with a retro Wagoneer front clip and extended rear overhang, it looks nice.
those aren’t “concepts,” they’re hideous photoshops.
I said concept pics, NOT running, driving concept cars… BIG difference.
Whether they are photoshopped to create or enhance someone’s idea of what it “might” look like, it IS still a concept. Right?
Besides, did you mean photoshopped… like someone visually altered actual vehicles pics? C’mon really?
Very observant, Columbo.
“It was poor timing in the classic way that only Chrysler can do it.”
bullshit. it was what happened when you let nickel-and-Daimler try to dictate what a “Jeep” should be.
trust me, I sat at PROC (better known as JTE) in those days; the men and women working on launching these things knew damn well what pieces of crap they were going to be, but the Iron Fist of Stuttgart ruled all.
Anyone who blames Chrysler for the failure of DaimlerChrysler is ignorant.
“…nickel-and-Daimler…”
Brilliant!
Damn It, Why didn’t I think of that?!
Lighten up, Francis.
Anyone, who makes a comment like yours is an ignorant. Try decaf or anger management.
Was never really impressed with the Commander. Always came off as a clobbered-together attempt at making the Grand Cherokee a three-row SUV. My younger cousin whose still in high school recently got a used silver one as his first car. I find it very weird that his parents are both die-hard GM people, but they’ve bought all three of their kids who can drive used Jeeps as their first cars.
One of the dismal products of the Daimler era.At a time and gas was cheap and other large SUVs were selling well these never sold well relative to the other Jeeps of the era. IIRC Marchionne once said that the 3rd row seat was “unfit for human consumption”
My favorite auto scribe (Dan Neil) skewers it here:
http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/AUTOMOTIVE-REVIEW-Ugly-cramped-Commander-2593483.php
Dan Neil is an asshole, even if he might occasionally be right.
Never met the man, don’t know. “Some say…” Clarkson is too. Regardless, I find them both quite amusing.
The Commander would make a great CC. It was Daimler’s answer to the Hummer H3. Unfortunately, by the time Daimler got the Commander to market, the Hummer market had evaporated. I still recall new Commanders on dealer lots with big incentives, particularly the base, V6 models, for months.
Weak! I pushed my Corvair by myself a quarter mile in traffic with cars lined up behind me yesterday when it died in an intersection. 🙂
The hot wire to the coil snapped off at the connector, by the way. Luckily, I was going to lunch with my wife and the maintenance department had some connectors and pliers. Easy fix. 🙂
Once saw a bunch of kids push a Buick Skyhawk across an intersection after it wouldn’t start. Luckily there was a a service station on the other side.
That’s what you get for not putting a winch on a Jeep. Karma.
My younger brother who is a pompous jerk, and doesn’t talk to the rest of the family… has one exactly like the one in the pic, white with 20″ chrome rims.
Nice photo to show to him.
“Yo, bro… There’s your future, jackass.” Love it. 😀
I think it qualifies as a hybrid.
Really?
What’s it’s alternate fuel?….. Flintstone foot power? 😛
The few I saw here had a 3.0 liter V6 Benz diesel. The Grand Cherokee also had that engine. So there were Jeeps with a 3.0 liter V6 diesel years before it was called an EcoDiesel (from another manufacturer).
Those are the Jeeps we got here American cars from Belgium.
Belgium ? Probably Graz, Austria (Magna Steyr). The complete Mopar diesel list (in liters) of yore:
2.0: Volkswagen.
2.2 – 2.7 – 3.0: Mercedes.
2.5 – 2.8 – 3.1: VM Motori.
Now all diesels from Fiat & VM Motori. And Cummins for the big Rams.
“Although it worked well, Frank admitted his fuel-saving method probably wouldn’t catch on…”
Maybe hackers shut it down. Hehehe.
http://www.wired.com/2015/07/hackers-remotely-kill-jeep-highway/
Yes Michael, I bought a Jeep, ROFLMAO.
Have not read Consumer Reports or Internet Forums on these so I can only speculate what might be wrong with this Commander.
With fuel mileage at 14/18, probably just out of gas. The engineering was no better or worst than the Grand Cherokee upon which it was based. The Commander was just packaged extremely poorly. It was a large, ungainly, thirsty SUV that was small and cramped on the inside and lasted for five years (2006-2010), with peak sales the first year of 88, 497, dwindling down to less than a tenth of that (8115) in the last.
While it’s all too easy to put the Commander into the ‘What were they thinking?” category, it’s worth noting that the usual rules for vehicle sales often times do not apply to a ‘lifestyle’ vehicle brand like Jeep. I mean, the Wrangler, by just about all measurable accounts, is a pretty miserable vehicle, too. And, yet, it continues to be very popular.