FYI, my thoughts and observations on Jeeps and SUVs . and their use as
rolling camera bags.
Since 1986 I've owned 4 jeeps and rented Toyota SUVs.. And now I drive a
Honda Pilot . Primary off-road use has been Colorado (e.g., areas like
Mosquito Pass, Engineers Pass) and Utah canyons (e.g., areas like Pritzker
Canyon, west side of Canyonlands, etc.) Oh, their role as rolling camera
bags has been a significant component. Also have spent considerable time in
Minnesota in the snow and ice. But, truth be told, I'm not at all an
aggressive off-roader . just enjoy the ability to get out into what passes
these days for the wilderness. I stay on the tracks, though. And carry a
fair bit of kit.
Observations:
1 Manufacturers can't stop adding-on to models. Each year they seem
to get plusher, bigger, more on-road oriented. I mean, Jeeps with the
accouterments of the latest Grand Cherokee ?
2 The best off-road was the earlier circa 1988 model. Had a 94 GC
of the same line. Great handling. Not bad on-road. A bit noisy.
3 Worst off-road was the 2001 GC. Jeep lost its way, in my view.
Couldn't wait to trade it in. Just a poor vehicle.
4 Toyota (4-runner) didn't quite have it.
So what you ask? Since I'm not aggressive (don't need winches, rarely get
into low-low, if ever), the only critical features (in my view) are
somewhat high clearance, good 360 degree visibility (and nothing that will
fall off the underbody), 4WD, and enough oomph to go up reasonable grades.
And SiriusXM .
This has led me to - horrors - really like the semi-SUVs like the Pilot (the
earlier ones, due to point #1 above.) I know, seems odd. But the
combination of reasonable size, reasonable on-road performance and enough
off-road capability is very attractive.
Bob
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