What is it about the Jeep that makes
people feel impervious and impregnable to harmful outside forces? Is it the
fact that the Jeep was created for the war? A machine of malicious intent then
transformed to a quaint citizen vehicle. Maybe it gives well sheltered drivers
the opportunity to feel free from the agonies of their lives and pretend for
minutes at most they are a valiant soldier chivalrously driving, even if it is
only to their kids soccer practice. The Jeep is a regular Mr. Do It All, so whether you’re a thrill seeking adventurist swerving
around the bends of cliffs or a lifeguard in the Hamptons cruising down Dune
road with the top down, the Jeep will satisfy you.
There is something
about that 7 Slot Grille car that transports us to an unblemished time, where
we are still naive and young. The Jeep is a first car for many because it
balances safety and power together perfectly. For others, they remember being
pushed in the toy Jeep their fathers gave them at a young age. I for one was
blessed to be able to drive around a toy Jeep. I would pretend I was soldier in
the war transporting materials and weapons to the front line. I believe many
children fantasize about being a valiant hero who audaciously face challenges
and overcomes their opponents with ease and fluidity. My way of doing that was
with that small toy Jeep. Now that I can drive a real car, I feel that same
enthusiasm with my own 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The Jeep vehicle always
resembled something more than a car, it is a symbol. Why don’t kids drive
around in toy SAAB’s? The Jeep is synonymous with American Identity and
enthusiasm and we are taught this at a young age.
Many drivers opt for
four wheel driving and towing capability but rarely engage with these Jeep
specialties. Maybe this reveals a truly American ideal. We want to appear
bigger, better, and stronger than we really are. We want to hold the sword, but
not swing it. We want to watch a distant storm of adversity as we walk safely down
the path of least resistance. Many
Americans don’t want to fight in a war or even transport goods in one, but they
want the feeling of a brave soldier. Many will never go off-roading in their
Jeeps, but when asked by the flattering eyes of a pretty girl they will tell
tales of the rugged harshness they faced on their strenuous road trip to
Vermont. Some would term this as American wastefulness, buying products and
tools that we will never use to impress others. We want the appearance of a
rugged cowboy riding our colts to a duel. Though the duels are now our jobs and
the horses our cars, we still want to appear as the headstrong daredevil
willing to take on any risk at any cost.
On the list for Top Tenquintessentially American Cars the Jeep Wagoneer was number 10 and the
following comment was made about the vehicle. “Why it's your all-American: Take the rugged underpinnings of an
off-road truck, pile the creature comforts on top, and sell to people who want
to project an image of outdoorsy self-sufficiency without the discomfort. The
Wagoneer is still a somewhat ironic, if much-loved, status symbol today.” This state’s
exactly what I’m trying to prove, the Jeep is a vehicle that projects the
outdoorsy image while coddling the driver with simple interior comforts. No
other vehicle embodies the trailblazing force the Jeep holds.
With the economy
crumbling around us and the soaring gas prices, it’s a miracle the Jeep has
evaded a crushing death blow. On my last
Jeep I had a Hemi engine which got nearly 15 MPG. 15!!! And this was all in the
name of power and ability. With the evolving times it’s curious to think that
people still want their cars to project an air of intrepid authority and
heightened advantage, even if their gas bills are elevated.
This is why people love
Jeeps. It permits them to feel something, something that no other car can
produce. Knowing your vehicle has four-wheel drive puts your mind at ease when
it comes to safety.
Jeeps origin was in World War II. Because of its
origin, I believe there is a deeper connection with the nobility of war.
Today the Wrangler remains as one of few remaining
vehicles with a decent front and rear axles. The axles of the car are where the
Jeep brand gains its name for “durability, strength, and articulation.”
The Jeep has always
been known as an off-road vehicle, which gives it its rugged manly appeal.
Since it got its roots as a Military vehicle and then for the general public,
the Jeeps image of outdoor ruggedness has stuck. Even in today’s time there are
Jeep owners who do not tow, do not go off-roading or camping, but they take
solace in the fact that they can. Four wheel drive and off-road capability may
not be the top selling points any more for the industry as a whole, but those who
want to array an aura of strength and virility will seek out Jeeps.
You see Jeeps are U.S.,
and I mean that literally (United States). Jeep represents the Spirit of
America just as much as the flag does. It contains the American ideals of power
and capacity in a car that is pretty simplistic at the end of the day. In
European countries their signature cars are ostentatious and represent a sort
of grandiosity. In America we want the bear of a car, bulldozing down the
street affirming our presence and taunting others to challenge us. Now though,
we are catering more and more to efficiency but we are still preserving our
patriotic muscle. Cars like the Jeep Grand Cherokee and Wrangler now have
engines that are extremely efficient but the vehicles themselves are still
larger than life and extremely arduous.
