Back to my plight, Liberty owners, and even journalists who are bold or foolish enough to venture off life's beaten path with
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| Cherokee and Comanche owners, if you can find any of the latter, are given reasonable respect on the basis of both vehicles integrating solid axles at each end. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press) |
one, are "universally" snubbed for purchasing the first Jeep ever to feature a dreaded independent front suspension, and Grand Cherokee owners are merely given a passing nod, with Jeep purists only grateful that such lackeys have paid good money to keep their favourite brand in the black. Cherokee and Comanche owners, if you can find any of the latter, are given reasonable respect on the basis of both vehicles integrating solid axles at each end.
But I mostly jest. While it was easy to see Jeep owners take a great deal of pride in their vehicles, there was only a couple out of the few dozen I spoke with that night who took the rub out of me for driving a Liberty. Most were down to earth family types who thoroughly enjoyed their
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| There were all colours, ages and body types, plus both sexes were represented as owner enthusiasts. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press) |
vehicles, their kids, and the fun loving folks they joined year after year at the Jamboree. And if you'd figured that the vast majority would be redneck Caucasians with gun racks in the back window, you'd be misinformed again. There were all colours, ages and body types, plus both sexes were represented as owner enthusiasts. I think my favourite couple was Paul Ho and his wife Camile, a wonderful couple on the high side of middle age, about as unconventional as anyone uninitiated to the Jeep Jamboree experience would ever expect of off-road enthusiasts, but their silver TJ was purchased with this weekend's purpose in mind, and their enthusiasm was magnetic. After two days, seeing them go from trepidation to determination, all the while sporting twin white dust masks (the smartest two in the group), I'm sure they're now sure to become faithful Jamboree attendees year after year.
