Tuesday, May 28, 2013

Five Things I Love About Jeeps

Greetings, Jeep Lovers!
After a thorough drenching last week, things may be slowly warming up here in the great Northeast. The sudden changes in weather, that we in New England have come to expect, got me thinking about some of the reasons I love driving a Jeep. In fact, I thought it might be fun to make a list! Therefore, without further ado, let's run through the top 5 things I love about Jeeps - maybe some of them are your favorites too?

1. Driving Surface Flexibility
Showing some practicality up front, let's cover Driving Surfaces first. For safety and reliability, having a vehicle that can handle snow, rain, mud, sand and street surfaces is a huge benefit here in New England, as well as other places. Knowing that a blizzard, thunderstorm, mudslide or miscellaneous mess won't stop you from getting to work, the store, the kids' practices or miscellaneous place is a great comfort. We may not all be crashing through the jungle on our days off, but I've yet to find the surface I needed to traverse that my Jeep couldn't handle. Having made other automotive choices in the past, experience shows that 4-wheel drive tops all other options in certain circumstances. I still remember going snowboarding, following my buddy who was driving a very fast, very powerful, very German sports car, and watching him fishtail his way unsuccessfully up a hill covered with black ice. At that time, I couldn't lose traction if I tried. Jeeps handle all weather driving incredibly well in my experience.

2. Seasonal Flexibility
This had to be in the list as well, because there are not many rides that you can honestly say offer so many options for the various seasons. We love our seasons here (otherwise we'd live elsewhere), and having a vehicle that can change so much with each season is like having four autos in one. Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter each bring their own set of needs and activities and Jeep responds in kind. We'll cover this more in the Accessorizing discussion below, but basically, if you don't want to be bored, buy a Jeep.

3. Looks & Appearance
We can't leave this out, I mean, really. As our friend in Zoolander says, "There's more to life besides being really, really good looking." Well, nobody told my Jeep. If an iconic style award were up for grabs, Jeep would definitely be in the running. When you see them rolling down the road, you know it. Nothing looks like a Jeep, except a Jeep. And as options for personalizing them continue to get better and better, we get the best of both worlds; recognizable and individual at the same time. We love the way our Jeeps look. It's great to have a vehicle that looks as good as it performs, that can ride through the mud and dirt, providing hours of enjoyment, then get the hose and come out looking like a night on the town. Flexibility is the name of the game with Jeeps, are you noticing a theme here?

4. Options for Accessorizing
Oh yes, my friends...we've covered some pretty important themes so far, but only Jeep has made the additional options and accessories worthy of its own field of study. People love their Jeeps. That's part of the reason they can be tuned and toned so specifically towards your particular use or preferences. This is huge, and makes a big difference to the aforementioned reasons. Jeeps can be flexed towards particular surfaces, seasons and desired appearance by playing in the accessory space. Want to go off-roading? Done. Want lightweight doors and roof coverings to take advantage of warmer weather? No problem. Want to turn your Jeep into a rolling dance club, home base for camping or slick city commuter? You got it. Long before Apple launched the iPhone, Jeep had an "accessory for that", meaning whatever you wanted to do in your Jeep, you could get the parts to help you do it. And why not? You are you, and no one else. You deserve a vehicle that fits you and helps you accomplish your goals and desires. Jeep can do all that and more, growing and changing with you as your life develops into a work of art.

5. Room for All
Last, but certainly not least, we need to talk about the people sharing your life experiences with you. The lone motorcyclist may enjoy heading off into the sunset on his own...and the sports car driver, squeezing his or her date into the passenger seat with no room for a daybag or sports gear probably gets a kick out of zooming through the curves...but when you want to hit the road with friends, family or loved ones, you need someplace to put them. A Jeep is more than a means from point A to point B. It's a way of life. It's a rolling comedy show, road game, time capsule and visual tour all in one. It's you, your tribe, your gear, your favorite snacks and your pets exploring the best the world has to offer, together. Memories don't have a price tag. So get out there, make your Jeep your own, wave to each other, enjoy your time and make some memories! You'll be glad you did.

Until next time, stay safe out there.
J.M. for Lahti's