Dear FCA ... a positive suggestion

14591 Views 31 Replies 21 Participants Last post by GSO_Kyle, Dec 3, 2015

Tobor

Discussion Starter · Jun 6, 2015

My wife and I are a bit longer in the tooth yet really like the Renegade and are seriously considering buying one, except ... The option packaging and color choices.

I like all that the trail hawk has except the "boy racer" red trim and solid black interior.

My wife liked the comfy ride and features of the Limited 4x4 but the limited is as limited as the name suggests. If you want all black interior you can get almost any exterior color, except Orange and Yellow. If you want the lighter interior colors your left with the dull exterior colors. and in either case you can't get the 4.23 final drive ratio.

A lot of people like all black interiors, and good for them, but you offer other colors but then deny those colors to only certain models, limited exterior colors, and to certain trim levels ... why? Even if the dealers are wary of color choices it should be available to special order status cars.

Had it been on the lot, I would be driving the orange trailhawk with the tan leather interior and brushed nickel trim pieces, or my wife would be driving the yellow limited 4x4 with light gray leather interior, but seeing as how the only choice for the exterior color or model we want is black interior, we went home without a new Renegade.

People buying the Limited or TH are a wider demographic of tastes and expect many more choices, although it worked when the automobile was some new fangled device, the old adage "You can have any color you want ... as long as it's black" just doesn't work in today market place.

Also, please look into why all the cars smell like days old fish. Really, every new renegade on the lot had a bad fish smell.

1 - 20 of 32 Posts

twospirits

· #2 · Jun 6, 2015

Welcome to the Forum.

Fish smell? I don't think I've ever gotten in any new vehicle and it smelling like fish. Maybe due to the ocean voyage but still its a vehicle cargo ship not a fish ship. So odd.

As for the option part. I totally agree. I can possible live with a Limited living in the NYC since it doesn't have trails and any sort of rock climbing areas (unless you consider the trench like potholes and snow banks of winter). Still, be as that may be, I rather get a Trailhawk and you are right about the color choices for the interior. They suck. Granted, I do not mind black, but it would be nice to see the other interior color choices that the Limited has put on the Trailhawk. And don't get me started on the US/Europe choices debate. Different engines, diesel, etc. I just never understood how they come up with these region only choices.

But eh, it is what it is. Hopefully they correct themselves in the next year model or mid 2016-7 facelift. But for those wanting one NOW, its a hard choice to make in terms of interior color.

TS

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Lackadazikal

· #3 · Jun 6, 2015

I actually noticed that smell in a couple that I checked out. I just figured it was the dye in the cloth of the seats. Sometimes new clothes have that smell too. It was not pleasant but wasn't overpowering either. Thought maybe it was from being all shut in on the boats over here. Not all of them were like that though and mine didn't have the smell so maybe it wasn't as "fresh off the boat" as the ones that did have it.

I wasn't thrilled at first over having black interior either just because I'm so neat freaky that I knew seeing every speck of dirt or dust would get on my nerves. But I'm dealing with it fine so far. One step at a time. :laugh:

raz-0

· #4 · Jun 6, 2015

I have sat in a few. It's not traditional extra toxic new car smell, but I wouldn't call it fishy. It could lead be due to more environmentally friendly plastics and foams.

Reg

· #5 · Jun 6, 2015

raz-0 said:
I have sat in a few. It's not traditional extra toxic new car smell, but I wouldn't call it fishy. It could lead be due to more environmentally friendly plastics and foams.

Agreed. Some of the environmentally-friendly materials have some odd properties, some of which are odors. I know one dash-cover that despite cleaning methods, always had a light tack to it, like Post-It pad adhesive. Not a big problem other than being a dust magnet.

As far as identifying odors, one person's "fish" is another person's "ammonia" and so forth. Perceptions vary.

Reactions: 1

Retiredguns

· #6 · Jun 6, 2015

Well if the "new" new car smell is of fish, we can easily duplicate it on our old cars by throwing a dead Bass under the driver's seat! >

fmunk

· #7 · Jun 6, 2015

Tobor said:
My wife and I are a bit longer in the tooth yet really like the Renegade and are seriously considering buying one, except ... The option packaging and color choices.

I like all that the trail hawk has except the "boy racer" red trim and solid black interior.

My wife liked the comfy ride and features of the Limited 4x4 but the limited is as limited as the name suggests. If you want all black interior you can get almost any exterior color, except Orange and Yellow. If you want the lighter interior colors your left with the dull exterior colors. and in either case you can't get the 4.23 final drive ratio.

A lot of people like all black interiors, and good for them, but you offer other colors but then deny those colors to only certain models, limited exterior colors, and to certain trim levels ... why? Even if the dealers are wary of color choices it should be available to special order status cars.

Had it been on the lot, I would be driving the orange trailhawk with the tan leather interior and brushed nickel trim pieces, or my wife would be driving the yellow limited 4x4 with light gray leather interior, but seeing as how the only choice for the exterior color or model we want is black interior, we went home without a new Renegade.

People buying the Limited or TH are a wider demographic of tastes and expect many more choices, although it worked when the automobile was some new fangled device, the old adage "You can have any color you want ... as long as it's black" just doesn't work in today market place.

Also, please look into why all the cars smell like days old fish. Really, every new renegade on the lot had a bad fish smell.

You're probably SOL on the color schemes. The Renegade was specifically designed to capture sales from the younger crowd and Jeep/FCA specifically tasked their younger designers for this reason.

As for the smell, it's the plastics. All new cars have it, and it's actually toxic (but probably not harmful unless you live in the enclosed car 24/7). It does air out eventually.

Tobor

Discussion Starter · #8 · Jun 6, 2015

fmunk- Awww man, don't say that, but I see what you're saying.

Although, FCA may want to rethink that strategy as many of the older crowd and empty nesters, who may be looking to down size their autos now that the kids are gone, have the money and means to have a choice. If FCA doesn't care to attract the widest potential buyer pool that's up to them, but then they may be the ones SOL as that money goes down the road to buy a grown up car.

fmunk

· #9 · Jun 7, 2015

Tobor said:
fmunk- Awww man, don't say that, but I see what you're saying.

Although, FCA may want to rethink that strategy as many of the older crowd and empty nesters, who may be looking to down size their autos now that the kids are gone, have the money and means to have a choice. If FCA doesn't care to attract the widest potential buyer pool that's up to them, but then they may be the ones SOL as that money goes down the road to buy a grown up car.

IF their sales become stagnant because of the on-going quality issues... that may certainly be motivation enough to broaden the model's appeal. But, looking at the industry's past, not likely. Lots of cars in the past were designed and marketed specifically to capture the youth market... only to wind up in the hands of a much older crowd. The young simply don't have the purchasing power and that is especially true today. A Trailhawk is priced at half of what a college grad could hope to make annually. And, that's assuming he/she is lucky enough to find a job.

Anyway, it's a very common phenomenon for youth oriented cars to be bought by people outside of that demographic. And, as far as I know, none of the auto makers have tweaked those products to have even broader appeal. They just accept the unintended sales as happy accidents.

bwbike

· #10 · Jun 7, 2015

The Sport model I test drove had a noticeable "fish" smell. The Trailhawk I purchased didn't have the smell. Maybe some cars are parked at the "dock" or in the ship with windows or doors partially opened for a little too long.

raz-0

· #11 · Jun 7, 2015

Tobor said:
fmunk- Awww man, don't say that, but I see what you're saying.

Although, FCA may want to rethink that strategy as many of the older crowd and empty nesters, who may be looking to down size their autos now that the kids are gone, have the money and means to have a choice. If FCA doesn't care to attract the widest potential buyer pool that's up to them, but then they may be the ones SOL as that money goes down the road to buy a grown up car.

Even if they do, it isn't happening until they can actually get options they meant to put in delivered on something resembling a timely and regular basis.

(I'm looking at you $75 Tonneau cover).

trailerhitch

· #12 · Jun 7, 2015

All three of the Renagades I drove all had an oily smell to them.

hfpsimon

· #13 · Nov 12, 2015

I heartily agree with your 'color choice' comment. Renegade Trailhawk was my #1 choice, but I'm walking away, because I don't want to hate the black and red interior every time I open the door. I'm an RN, not a superhero.

fmunk

· #14 · Nov 15, 2015

hfpsimon said:
I heartily agree with your 'color choice' comment. Renegade Trailhawk was my #1 choice, but I'm walking away, because I don't want to hate the black and red interior every time I open the door. I'm an RN, not a superhero.

The red trim can be easily solved by repainting yourself or taking them to a body shop. Making it a deal breaker would be making an ant hill out of nothing.

syzygy

· #15 · Nov 15, 2015

fmunk said:
The red trim can be easily solved by repainting yourself or taking them to a body shop. Making it a deal breaker would be making an ant hill out of nothing.

The black and red was the only interior we liked.

hd4tools

· #16 · Nov 16, 2015

hfpsimon said:
I heartily agree with your 'color choice' comment. Renegade Trailhawk was my #1 choice, but I'm walking away, because I don't want to hate the black and red interior every time I open the door. I'm an RN, not a superhero.

Yes you are. Both my mom and aunt were RNs. The nurses are the real ones that make hospitals work not MDs!

Traceee

· #17 · Nov 16, 2015

hfpsimon said:
. I'm an RN, not a superhero.

Ahem.....you ARE a super-hero.

BuckeyeBud

· #18 · Nov 16, 2015

Not only is it a matter of marketing, it is a matter of economy. When you start offering more and more options / levels then the economy of scale gets hammered and the cost of these options goes up.

CLShifter

· #19 · Nov 16, 2015

Having known several RN's, I've always equated them to sergeants in the Army. Sure the officers (doctors) get the paychecks and the accolades, but they all know who really runs the place.

joejamiejeep

· #20 · Nov 16, 2015

My 2015 Latitude did not have a typical new car smell either. I wouldn't call it a "fishy" smell but it did not have the typical new car wonder smell we have all grown to love. In fact I sat in many new Renegades before I made my choice and none had the typical new car smell. I purchased the vehicle anyway as I love so many of the dynamics that it offers

1 - 20 of 32 Posts

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