1990 Jeep Wrangler S, 2.4l Tbi, 4 Cyl, 140k, 5 Speed Manual W/ac on 2040-cars

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2017 Jeep Cherokee vs. all-new Compass

If Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) can be described as on a roll, it's not by virtue of Fiat or Chrysler. The Fiat brand continues to struggle, with a restricted lineup and fragmented dealer network. The Chrysler brand is reduced to two models: an all-new Pacifica minivan and a 4-door sedan – the 300 – desperately in need of a revamp. And while Dodge is building interest via high-performance, its platforms are dated. The only real excitement is within the Ram and Jeep ranks, where global growth is fueled by cheap gas and a wealth of new intros. The newest Jeep is the Compass, and while classified as a compact, its size, interior room, and powertrain overlap nicely (or confusingly) with its midsize sibling, the Cherokee. And given their close proximity in price – the Trailhawk Compass starts in the high $20,000s while the Cherokee begins in the low $30,000s – they both could easily appear on a buyer's short list. Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk: This is an interesting crossover entry on many levels. You could begin with its polarizing sheetmetal. If, as a Jeep loyalist in 2014, you had expected the two-box profile of its wildly successful predecessor, you'd have missed the mark by an off-road mile. With a front-wheel-drive/all-wheel-drive platform housing a transversely mounted four or (optional) V6, you could store a small refrigerator in the new Cherokee's front overhang. And the previous Cherokee's slab sides and expansive greenhouse have morphed into aggressively sculpted sheetmetal and essentially no greenhouse. Yet we've grown to like it, but only as a jacked-up, big-wheeled Trailhawk. If considering the more street-oriented, front-wheel drive Cherokees, you'd do well to cross-shop. Inside, the Cherokee Trailhawk impresses. Its design and details hit above the competition, and the Cherokee won Ward's Autos 'best interior' at the time of its introduction. The Ward's team gave a shout-out to an interior "roomy, comfortable, and boldly styled with highly sculpted shapes and contrasting colors. Fold-flat rear seats add lots of utility and the Uconnect system is the best in the business." Our take is similar, and while in its fourth model year you could expect a refresh soon (make that very soon), there's little wrong with this introductory baseline. With roughly 25 cubic feet of space behind the second-row seat, you won't be blown away by the Cherokee's cargo capacity.

Feds fretting over remote hack of Jeep Cherokee

A cyber-security gap that allowed for the remote hacking of a Jeep Cherokee has federal officials concerned. An associate administrator with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said Thursday that news of the breach conducted by researchers Chris Valasek and Charlie Miller had "floated around the entire federal government." "The Homeland Security folks sent out broadcasts that, 'Here's an issue that needs to be addressed,'" said Nathaniel Beuse, an associate administrator with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Valasek and Miller commandeered remote control of the Cherokee through a security flaw in the cellular connection to the car's Uconnect infotainment system. From his Pittsburgh home, Valasek manipulated critical safety inputs, such as transmission function, on Miller's Jeep as he drove along a highway near St. Louis, MO. The scope of the remote breach is believed to be the first of its kind. The prominent cyber-security researchers needed no prior access to the vehicle to perform the hack, and the scope of the remote breach is believed to be the first of its kind. A NHTSA spokesperson said the agency's cyber-security staff members are "putting their expertise to work assessing this threat and the response, and we will take action if we determine it's necessary to protect safety." A Homeland Security spokesperson referred questions about the hack to Chrysler. Fiat Chrysler Automobiles has already been the subject of a federal hearing this month, in which officials scrutinized whether the company had adequately fixed recalled vehicles and repeatedly failed to notify the government about defects. But cyber-security concerns are a new and different species for the regulatory agency. Only hours before the Jeep hack was announced by Wired magazine earlier this week, NHTSA administrator Dr. Mark Rosekind said hacking vulnerabilities were a threat to privacy, safety, and the public's trust with new connected and autonomous technologies that allow vehicles to communicate. NHTSA outlined its response to the cyber-security challenges facing the industry in a report issued Tuesday. In it, the agency summarized its best practices for thwarting attacks and said it will analyze possible real-time infiltration responses. But the agency's ability to handle hackers may only go so far.

Weekly Recap: Jaguar takes a leap with price cut, new strategy

Jaguar was one of the famous automotive props and plotlines in the now-iconic drama Mad Men. There's a scene where the show's protagonist, Don Draper, deftly undercuts an influential Jaguar dealer by indicating that get-me-in-the-door local radio spots would be an effective way to sell cars like the slinky E-Type. The British executives think this is folly – Draper knows they will – and his advertising strategy wins out over the dealer's approach to move the metal. Jaguar's not doing that, but half a century later in the real world the company is launching plans to make its cars more attainable to new and younger customers like Millenials. These aren't coupons, but this is a leap for Jaguar, which has long banked on sexy styling and its rich motorsports history to overshadow its past mechanical flaws. Put simply, Jaguar is addressing the reasons why people, especially the younger set, don't buy its cars. The 2017 XE will start at $35,895 when it launches next spring – which makes it an attractive buy for a successful, relatively young person. When it's time to move up, the redesigned XF will be more attainable, coming in at $52,895, which is $5,275 less than the 2015 model. The flagship XJ sedan and the enthusiast-oriented F-Type sports car will also get thousands of dollars worth of added standard features, and Jag is actively pitching them as a better value than their competitors. "The Jaguar brand is on the eve of a major transformation that will see it dramatically increase its presence in the United States luxury marketplace with an expanded lineup, pricing focused on the core of the luxury market, and an all-new ownership package with best-in-class coverage," Joe Eberhardt, CEO of Jaguar Land Rover North America, said in a statement. The brand's quality and reliability dings have also lurked in the back of buyers' minds for decades, though that's an outdated notion. Jaguar placed third in J.D. Power's Initial Quality Study in June and was the top-ranked luxury brand in J.D. Power's Customer Service Index in March. Not content, the company is rolling out an enhanced program called Jaguar EliteCare that launches on 2016 models. It offers a five-year, 60,000-mile limited warranty, the longest among its competitors, with free scheduled maintenance during that period. The plan also covers roadside assistance and connectivity features.