New Piglet in the Pig Pen...

Some of you know my affinity for Jeeps... Green Two has been acting up lately, and is now due for some repairs under the hood -- engine mounts, a transfer case, and a catalytic converter... All in all, over $1000 in work... The Queen has made no efforts at hiding her discontent with "Just Empty Every Pocket" but didn't seem to mind when I started looking for a replacement vehicle.

As a point of reference, I've owned a '93 Cherokee, an '02 Liberty, and most recently, a '00 Cherokee Sport. So, it was not surprise that I stopped at the Jeep dealership first...

With gas prices on the rise, I probably shouldn't have -- I still like the ride of the Liberty, but it's a real hog on gas. 15-17mpg was the best I could get when I had the '02, and it isn't exactly roomy in the back seat. But it was great for trail use...

The Wrangler would be fun, but also has crappy mileage, and the Commander is even worse (not to mention somewhat ugly...). I've never been a fan of the Grand Cherokee.

So that left the Patriot...

Honestly, I'd never considered the Patriot before, but it caught my eye. So did the gas mileage -- 20-22 in town. It also has lines reminiscent of the Cherokee, so I started pricing them out, and wound up purchasing one back in February.

So far, it's been a good ride. The only thing that's a little goofy is the CVT transmission. Instead of having shift points like most automatic transmissions, the CVT is constantly adjusting. It's wierd, but it keeps the RPM's steady. The only thing I don't like is that it doesn't coast when you take your foot off the gas. But, it sips gas compared to the Cherokee and other Trail-Rated Jeeps.

Green Two's feelings are a little hurt, but once Jesse starts driving later this year, she'll get some daily use again. Until then, she's in dry-dock for repairs as time (and money) permit...

Now, just because the Patriot looks a little wimpy doesn't mean that it doesn't have potential...

Here's what the guys at Chrysler's Skunkwerks came up with... When I first saw the photo, I thought it was an XJ... Then I realized it looked pretty damn good, and started thinking that all I have to do is replace the front bumper, get some bigger tires, put a lift kit on... Not exactly wild about the roof-rack, but the rest of it looks pretty slick.