A deal’s a deal: Uncle buys nephew Jeep Wrangler for graduation

By Mike Driehorst

Note: We were alerted to a brief but pretty cool story and photograph on Facebook, about an Ohio man who kept a deal with this young nephew many years ago to buy him a Jeep Wrangler when the young man graduated from college. After contacting the uncle, Johnny Nation, he sent us the story.

Mario and his father, Mark.

When my nephew Mario Palmisano was 5, he lost his father, Mark in a whitewater accident. As a result, he and his two sisters spent a great deal of time with us growing up in Northeast Ohio. I had a small green SUV in those days. He liked it, but asked if when he grew up I’d buy him a “real” Jeep® SUV. Not a “fake one” like I had. Ha. Ha. I promised I would, if he graduated college. So, he drew up the “contract” and we both signed it.

As you’ll see on the contract (left), sometime around middle school, he was worried I might buy him a Matchbox Jeep toy, so he added a bit in the corner that says “real and full size, expensive.” This has been a source of a lot of comedy in our family.

In 2011, Mario graduated from Willoughby South High School and was accepted to the University of Chicago on a full academic and athletic scholarship for wrestling. I was driving a compact SUV at the time, but traded it in to buy his 2011 Jeep Wrangler, green of course. My goal was to have it paid off by the time he graduated. Mario carried the spare key with him throughout college, and insisted on driving it when he came home for holidays.

Johnny and Mario at Mario’s college graduation.

In June 2015, Mario graduated from the University of Chicago with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology. He was also inducted into the Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society for being in the top 5% of his class. Recently, Mario took a job with Teach for America in San Francisco.

Where we live is a very rural area and many roads aren’t paved. We also get extreme lake effect snow in this part of the country. A foot or more of snowfall overnight is a regular occurrence here.

It didn’t take long for me to fall in love with the Jeep Wrangler I bought for Mario. I knew when I made good on my promise to my nephew, I was getting one for myself. Upon returning from Mario’s University of Chicago commencement ceremony, I went to the Great Lakes Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram in Kingsville, Ohio, and bought one.

I’ve never had any trouble with the brand, plus they’re sporty and practical. I foresee being a Jeep Wrangler owner from here on out.

(Images courtesy of Johnny Nation.)

2015 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Sahara 4x4

BY MIKE FITZGERALD

Drive Editor Kansas City Star

The new Jeep Wrangler Unlimited is the kind of vehicle where a front winch is definitely not out of place and probably should be standard equipment.

After all, we’re talking about a 4X4 that now comes with a Torx tool kit for removing the cloth top and the four doors.

The 2015 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Sahara 4X4. Judy Revenaugh

This convertible Jeep comes in two-door Wrangler or four-door Wrangler Unlimited versions. They are offered in Sport, Sport S, Willys Wheeler, Freedom Edition, Sahara, Rubicon, Altitude, X and Rubicon Hard Rock models. My test vehicle for the week was a Sunset Orange 2015 Wrangler Unlimited Sahara 4X4.

The only engine available is a 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6 with 285 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque. Jeep says that the oil sump was designed to provide oil to the pump even at extreme vehicle angles, and the alternator was placed up high so the vehicle could maintain its water-fording capability.

That, in essence, is what the Wrangler Unlimited is all about – going off-road. It’s not that the Wrangler doesn’t have any creature comforts: it does, and they make it a serviceable daily driver. But off-roading is in the Wrangler’s DNA (the Jeep is famous for its service in World War II), and it’s designed to adapt to just about any task you can throw at it.

Besides removing the Wrangler Unlimited’s four doors and Sunrider Soft Top, the front windshield can be lowered and secured against two rubber bumpers on the hood for a full open-air experience, although at slow speeds.

In addition to a five-speed automatic transmission, the Wrangler Unlimited has an AutoStick feature which allows for manual shifting, which can be useful when towing or driving on slick streets.

For the most traction, including going off-road, the Sahara model offers standard Command-Trac Shift-on-the-Fly part time four-wheel drive with four operating modes: 2H (two-wheel drive high range), 4H (four-wheel drive high range), N (neutral, which allows the vehicle to be towed) and 4L (four-wheel drive low range).

Also standard is a Dana 44 heavy duty rear axle, a Dana 30 solid front axle, 3.21 front and rear axle ratios and skid plates for the transfer case and fuel tank.

All of that gives the Wrangler its go-anywhere adeptness. One might think that its rugged attitude might carry over into the cabin, but the interior is notable for its comfort and technology. So instead of cloth seats and an AM dial radio, you get comfortable leather, heated front seats and a nine-speaker Alpine sound system, a 6.5-inch touch-screen display with voice recognition, navigation and satellite radio.

That will allow you to drive it on the highway, although that’s not playing into its strength. While the ride is acceptable, the cloth top lets in a lot of road and wind noise at highway speeds.

Cargo space is good. There is 31.5 cubic feet of storage behind the rear seat and 70.6 cubic feet with the rear seat folded. The rear seat headrests fold automatically so the 60/40 rear seats can fold without moving the front seats.
Warranty

Three years or 36,000 miles; five-year or 100,000-mile powertrain warranty.
Price

The base price of the Wrangler Unlimited Sahara is $32,795. Options include the leather, heated front seats, an Electronic Vehicle Information Center, tire pressure monitoring display, five-speed automatic transmission, hill descent control, Premium Black Sunrider Soft Top, an Alpine nine-speaker sound system with all-weather subwoofer, satellite radio, 40 GB hard drive, 6.5-inch touch-screen display with navigation and a remote start system. The sticker price, including destination, was $40,020.


Mike Fitzgerald’s email address is mfitzgerald@kcstar.com


2015 JEEP WRANGLER UNLIMITED SAHARA 4X4

ENGINE: 3.6-liter, 285-horsepower Pentastar V-6 with 260 pound-feet of torque

TRANSMISSION: Five-speed automatic with Command-Trac Shift-on-the-Fly part time four-wheel drive.

WHEELBASE/LENGTH: 116/184.9 inches

GROUND CLEARANCE: 9.7 inches

CURB WEIGHT: 4,294 pounds

BASE PRICE: $32,795

AS DRIVEN: $40,020, including options and destination

MPG RATING: 16 miles per gallon in city driving, 20 on the highway

Read more here: http://www.kansascity.com/cars/article31734909.html#storylink=cpy

Cold Chamber Chills Jeep® Renegade at FCA US Headquarters

Renegade On Ice

How cold is it? Try 40 below zero.

BY KEVIN E. FRAZIER

AUGUST 13, 2015

If you don’t like the weather, wait five minutes.

However, this is the FCA US LLC Climatic Test Facilities in Auburn Hills, where conditions for testing the 4×4 capabilities of a 2015 Jeep® Renegade Trailhawk have been dialed down to a crisp minus 40 degrees.

Coincidentally, 40 below zero is the only point at which the Fahrenheit or Celsius scales agree, and where skin freezes and water is completely frozen; mercury freezes at minus 38 degrees.

Science trivia aside, FCA US  has invested $2.5 million for a new 4×4 dynamometer (dyno)  to bring another industry-leading capability in house.  The cell that houses the new dyno can be chilled to 40 degrees below zero  and create winds speeds up to 100 mph to evaluate how its vehicles perform under blizzard-like conditions or  heated to 130 degrees Fahrenheit to simulate  the extreme heat of the Gulf Coast countries.

“Our world-class environmental test center provides dynamic and static testing conditions to simulate the climatic environments that are experienced by our customers around the world,” said John Nigro, Vice President-Product Development, FCA – North America.

The upgraded drive cell consists of a new front dyno that can handle loads of up to 350 horsepower and a rear dyno up to 650 horsepower. The cell also received a significant upgrade in ductwork and exhaust capabilities to accommodate high-output engines such as the 2016 Ram 2500’s 6.7-liter Cummins High-Output Turbo Diesel with a segment-topping 900 lb.-ft. of torque.

“With more 4×4 and all-wheel-drive (AWD) vehicles in our fleet than ever, this investment will go a long way to providing the durable cars and trucks our customers expect from us,” Nigro added.

Size MattersThe extreme climate test is one of thousands performed daily at the Chrysler technical Center (CTC), located at the FCA US headquarters. It is the auto industry’s only headquarters building where a vehicle design can go from a napkin sketch to production prototype to advertising campaign – and everything in between – under one roof.

• Except for the Pentagon, CTC the largest headquarters of any kind in North America’s — 5.4 million square feet of floor space. Among its features:
• The aerodynamics testing facility generates the highest wind speeds (160+ mph) of any domestic OEM’s wind tunnel
• Its 129 dynamometer cells run 24 hours a day, seven days a week
• The facility has been running 24/7 since it opened in 1991
• CTC’s current employment numbers (14,000+) represent its historic peak
• The site produces no landfill waste

Six Ways to Customize your 2015 Jeep® Cherokee with Mopar Accessories

Can’t wait to get your new 2015 Jeep® Cherokee out on the trails when the weather warms up? We don’t blame you. While you’re waiting for Old Man Winter to finally move out, spend some time adding a few Mopar accessories to your Cherokee that’ll be great to put to the test this summer.

All-Weather Slush Mats

The snowy season may be winding down, but that doesn’t mean the outdoor slush and mud will stop anytime soon. Protect the interior of your 2015 Cherokee with these slush mats.

Jeep® Cargo Management System

Keep all your gear organized and ready to go with this cargo management system in the back of your 2015 Jeep Cherokee.

Door Sill Guards

Add these guards to the interior of your 2015 Jeep Cherokee to help protect your vehicle from the wear and tear of your everyday adventures.

Front Stabilizer Bar and Rear Stabilizer Bar

Thinking about modifying the suspension on your 2015 Jeep Cherokee? Adding stabilizer bars to your vehicle can help reduce the sway of your vehicle during a tight turn.

Rock Rails

With Mopar rock rails, you can explore the toughest trails with confidence. These rails run along the side of your vehicle to help protect it from any obstacles you may encounter during your off-road excursions.

Removable Roof Rack

Need a little extra storage space on your next adventure? Add this Thule roof rack to the roof of your 2015 Jeep Cherokee to help haul all your extra luggage and equipment.

Have you already added a few Mopar accessories to your 2015 Jeep Cherokee? Let us know which parts you love in the comments section below!

Sonju Exclusive Value Package | Sonju Two Harbors | Two Harbors MN

SONJU has developed the following Online Value Package for our Exclusive Internet Customers. This valuable package provides you with:

• 110% PRICE PROTECTION GUARANTEE *.
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• Highly trained and fully certified sales/service and parts staff
• Complimentary service shuttle (10-mile radius).
• Complimentary vehicle delivery to your home or office when you buy a vehicle
• MONTHLY DRAWINGS with great prizes, just for coming in to the dealership.
• SATURDAY SERVICE to conveniently take care of your vehicle.
• VIP lounge access with wireless Internet, cable TV, fresh coffee, popcorn and toys for your little ones
• SONJU Café – open every day serving delicious food (daily specials!)
• Do you like the outdoors? We have something for you too - Check out our POLARIS selection of 4wheelers and sleds!
               

                          Check out our New Inventory and Pre-Owned Inventory

*We will pay 110% of the difference in price should you find the same year, make & model vehicle with identical equipment and options for less, from any other area dealer. The vehicle must be in stock, ready for delivery, and available for purchase by Sonju Two Harbors. Must provide proof of buyer's guide.