[CLShifter]

I've been excited about the Renegade since it was announced. I haven't driven one yet, but I stopped into my local CJDR dealer today after driving by and seeing more Renegades than I could count. The last time I checked was about a month ago, and they had two, both 2.4's.

I don't really do automatic transmissions. Never have. Well lo and behold, they had at least two 1.4 6-speeds, a Sport and a Latitude. The Latitude was even the color I want, Omaha Orange. It was late in the day so I didn't test, but I took a look around at the various models. Most of them were Latitudes, which is probably the trim level I would want.

I noticed something surprising. One of the Latitudes, a black one, had the all-black grille like a Trailhawk. So if that's available on the Latitude I would prefer that to the chrome-ringed version. I also noticed that the orange Latitude had silver interior trim pieces around the shifter and cup holders, rather than the orange I've seen in others. I'm not sure why they wouldn't put the orange trim on an orange car....are they swappable?

 

[Jeexer13]

Welcome to the forums! I have been getting a lot of helpful information here. Good luck with your purchase! I personally love the 1.4T 6 speed, and also have the latitude trim, it's been great. As soon as you get it figured out make sure to post some pics! The Omaha Orange would be awesome

 

[Beerwolf70]

Welcome!

 

[Mrsig]

and enjoy the forum!

 

[Hdreserve]

I'm not sure why they wouldn't put the orange trim on an orange car....are they swappable?

They haven't come out with aftermarket ones yet, but some forum members have been modifying them on their own.....

 

[twospirits]

They haven't come out with aftermarket ones yet, but some forum members have been modifying them on their own.....

Speaking of which, I wonder when they will. I've been even checking the Japanese sites to see if any aftermarket stuff has come out and zip, nada, nothing.

Anyway, back on topic. The trim pieces probably are swappable but I don't think anyone has done it. But some members have used Krylon Fusion paint for the trim, Tamia Acrylic Paint for the Gear knob, while others have used Plastic Dip for other things. Truly outstanding results.

Oh before I forget, obligatory welcome sign in the color of your future Renegade.

TS

 

[CLShifter]

Thanks for the replies, guys.

Those are interesting notes about the interior trim pieces. I've done that sort of mod before, on my long-time daily driver, now dormant project car / garage queen 1988 Nissan 200SX. This car has bright orange instrumentation so years ago I went with an orange-highlight theme in the black interor. This included an orange-aluminum shifter knob, black leather shift boot with orange stitching, and other small highlights. I did some painting on small trim pieces such as the dash-clock surround and shifter surround. I was going for a metallic orange much like that found on the Renegade pieces. I used a base coat of silver Krylon, then went over that with some transparent-orange marker light paint that came from Japan.

The results were actually quite good, here's a pic of it from about 2004:

So the modification suggestions are interesting, but if possible I'd rather have the stock orange pieces. It seems like it should be simple to swap them out, even if it requires removing the console that's something I've done before on various vehicles.

 

[CLShifter]

Well I'm in temporary possession of an Omaha Orange Latitude 1.4 manual. I went to a local dealer yesterday and they it on the lot so I started working a deal. They have some buyers submitting bids on my Spec V .I have a minimum acceptable trade-in value that if they can't get I'll walk away and wait. So the dealer offered me the Renegade to try out until Monday evening.

This one is a FWD. I sort of want the 4x4 but it's hard to justify the extra cost, weight and maintenance. I don't live in a snowy climate and the only thing I can foresee doing that would really require 4 wheel drive is possibly going beach camping, and maybe one yearly trip to my familiy's home in Buffalo in wintertime. Other than that it would just be extra weight to drag around, and this car will be a daily highway commuter.

Other than the FWD, this particular Latitude has just about all the options I would want, and none I don't. (No MySky or Navigation, neither of which I want.)

We'll see what sort of numbers get thrown around tomorrow.