I consider those stupid badges the beginning of the end for the Jeep brand.
I spent 25 years in the wholesale end of the auto industry. The incompetence
of marleting types, combined with their corporate power, can destrou
anything. Just look at what the Wharton Business School types did to
Oldsmobile at GM. Not so long agoi Oldsmobile was the top selling domestic
nameplate, but it only took some incompetent MBA dumb asses about 10 years
to destroy the brand beyond salvation.

To paraphrase Gernal Patton, The marketing and finance dipshits at DC know
about as much about 4x4s and the Jeep tradition as they do about
fornicating. Expect Jeep to be on life support within five years.

Oh, BTW, GREAT ****** shots, keep 'em both alive!
"cactuscowboy" <cactuscowboy@bresnan.net> wrote in message
news:wM6dnaJ2tpqQcQHdRVn-iQ@bresnan.com...
> Hello John,
>
> I'm in the car business. My comment about most Jeeps not being used off
> road is based on what people tell me and what I see. "95%" highway/town
use
> is an educated guess. When I appraise vehicles as potential trade-ins, I
> test the 4WD in gravel behind the dealership. You'd be amazed at how many
> customers state that they'd "never used" 4WD. (At least they didn't
suffer
> the shame and embarassment of driving a minivan). :-) For the majority
of
> Jeep buyers, the Trail-Rated badge is meaningless.
>
> I'm not sure how you got the impression that my '49 ****** pickup is
> "perfectly good", and deserving a higher use than as a parts truck. In
> fact, the frame and firewall are badly butchered from a PO trying to stuff
> an Olds 350V8 and automatic transmission in the truck. A very crude and
> dangerous SOA conversion was done on the front axle. The rear spring
> shackles were 'extended' by booger-welding steel plates onto them. Many
> parts are missing. The grille is from a later model truck. The vehicle
is
> far from complete or correct for the model year. Here's a photo of my
'49:
>
> http://mvpimages.net/cgi-bin/******/...on=view&id=158
>
> And photos of my '62:
>
> http://mvpimages.net/cgi-bin/******/...on=view&id=224
>
> Best regards,
> Dave Rose
> Cactus Cowboy
> Big Wonderful Wyoming
> '49 ****** Pickup (parts truck)
> '62 ****** Pickup 4WD 226
> '98 XJ Sport
> O|||||||O
>
> "John Welch" <jcwelch@hal-pc.org> wrote in message
> news:13efcc39.0405070513.e65c1cc@posting.google.co m...
> > "cactuscowboy" <cactuscowboy@bresnan.net> wrote in message
> news:<Wr6dnVdn45YZYwfd4p2dnA@bresnan.com>...
> > > There is no "trail rated" badge on my ****** pickup. Yes, a stupid
> gimmick.
> > > Especially considering that 95% of the Jeeps sold nowadays will never
> leave
> > > the paved road, much less be shifted into 4WD.
> > >
> > > Best regards,
> > > Dave Rose
> > > Cactus Cowboy
> > > Big Wonderful Wyoming
> > > '49 ****** Pickup (parts truck)
> > > '62 ****** Pickup 4WD 226
> > > '98 XJ Sport
> > > O|||||||O
> > I must take issue with your assertment that Jeeps sold now days will
> > never leave the paved road. It might be true that sometimes the first
> > owners will keep them shiny, but eventually a teenage kid will acquire
> > them and then they will go off and have fun in them. My kids are
> > going through their teens and they and thier friends do this a lot.
> >
> > Also, as the owner of a 49 pickup I am saddened that you are using a
> > perfectly good 49 as parts. This points out something else that makes
> > me take issue with all the 'these jeeps are driven by posers' yak.
> > Today's grocery getter will be worth a lot to us true practicioniers
> > in 30 to 40 years, Let the soccer mom baby sit the heap of spare
> > parts for now. Think of all the free storage we are getting in the
> > suburbs of America.
>
>

 

OK, as long as we're on the subject:
http://www.darryl.com/badges/
(or, everyone needs a hobby...)

Capt. Purple


"Andy" <trailrider2008@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:WaSmc.46504$0H1.4400117@attbi_s54...
> I have a 01 TJ without the "Trail Rated Badge". I guess this is why I'm
> spending big bucks to make it off road worthy. Gee, if only they had that
> badge. Stupid? YES!
>
> Andy
> 2001 Project TJ
> "Muuurgh" <meatbag@porkfat.com> wrote in message
> news:2g082aF31tf0U1@uni-berlin.de...
> > The Trail Rated badge has got to be the stupidest gimmick I've ever heard.
> > Is the Jeep the only vehicle to survive a Nevada Auto Testing Center
> > off-road trail? Now, if the NATS distributed this as an annual reward to
> > the vehicles most worthy, like Motor Trend--or something like that (I
> don't
> > know!) then the Trail Badge might mean something. Is there anyone here
> that
> > thinks the Trail badge is more than a stupid gimmick?
> >
> > -Muuurgh
> > I bet Bill says -- "Real Jeeps don't have trail rated badges."
> >
> >
> >
>
>

 

OK, as long as we're on the subject:
http://www.darryl.com/badges/
(or, everyone needs a hobby...)

Capt. Purple


"Andy" <trailrider2008@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:WaSmc.46504$0H1.4400117@attbi_s54...
> I have a 01 TJ without the "Trail Rated Badge". I guess this is why I'm
> spending big bucks to make it off road worthy. Gee, if only they had that
> badge. Stupid? YES!
>
> Andy
> 2001 Project TJ
> "Muuurgh" <meatbag@porkfat.com> wrote in message
> news:2g082aF31tf0U1@uni-berlin.de...
> > The Trail Rated badge has got to be the stupidest gimmick I've ever heard.
> > Is the Jeep the only vehicle to survive a Nevada Auto Testing Center
> > off-road trail? Now, if the NATS distributed this as an annual reward to
> > the vehicles most worthy, like Motor Trend--or something like that (I
> don't
> > know!) then the Trail Badge might mean something. Is there anyone here
> that
> > thinks the Trail badge is more than a stupid gimmick?
> >
> > -Muuurgh
> > I bet Bill says -- "Real Jeeps don't have trail rated badges."
> >
> >
> >
>
>

 

OK, as long as we're on the subject:
http://www.darryl.com/badges/
(or, everyone needs a hobby...)

Capt. Purple


"Andy" <trailrider2008@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:WaSmc.46504$0H1.4400117@attbi_s54...
> I have a 01 TJ without the "Trail Rated Badge". I guess this is why I'm
> spending big bucks to make it off road worthy. Gee, if only they had that
> badge. Stupid? YES!
>
> Andy
> 2001 Project TJ
> "Muuurgh" <meatbag@porkfat.com> wrote in message
> news:2g082aF31tf0U1@uni-berlin.de...
> > The Trail Rated badge has got to be the stupidest gimmick I've ever heard.
> > Is the Jeep the only vehicle to survive a Nevada Auto Testing Center
> > off-road trail? Now, if the NATS distributed this as an annual reward to
> > the vehicles most worthy, like Motor Trend--or something like that (I
> don't
> > know!) then the Trail Badge might mean something. Is there anyone here
> that
> > thinks the Trail badge is more than a stupid gimmick?
> >
> > -Muuurgh
> > I bet Bill says -- "Real Jeeps don't have trail rated badges."
> >
> >
> >
>
>

 

OK, as long as we're on the subject:
http://www.darryl.com/badges/
(or, everyone needs a hobby...)

Capt. Purple


"Andy" <trailrider2008@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:WaSmc.46504$0H1.4400117@attbi_s54...
> I have a 01 TJ without the "Trail Rated Badge". I guess this is why I'm
> spending big bucks to make it off road worthy. Gee, if only they had that
> badge. Stupid? YES!
>
> Andy
> 2001 Project TJ
> "Muuurgh" <meatbag@porkfat.com> wrote in message
> news:2g082aF31tf0U1@uni-berlin.de...
> > The Trail Rated badge has got to be the stupidest gimmick I've ever heard.
> > Is the Jeep the only vehicle to survive a Nevada Auto Testing Center
> > off-road trail? Now, if the NATS distributed this as an annual reward to
> > the vehicles most worthy, like Motor Trend--or something like that (I
> don't
> > know!) then the Trail Badge might mean something. Is there anyone here
> that
> > thinks the Trail badge is more than a stupid gimmick?
> >
> > -Muuurgh
> > I bet Bill says -- "Real Jeeps don't have trail rated badges."
> >
> >
> >
>
>

 

Nice. If I wrote a spoof it might include:

Officer: Let me see your badge.
Ben: You don't need to see his badge.
Officer: We don't need to see his badge.
Ben: He can go about his business.
Officer: You can go about your business.
Ben: Move along.
Officer: Move along. Move along.

-Muuurgh

"Captain Purple" <test@somewhere.com> wrote in message
news:6RHnc.8098$q_1.5040@twister.socal.rr.com...
> OK, as long as we're on the subject:
> http://www.darryl.com/badges/
> (or, everyone needs a hobby...)
>
> Capt. Purple
>
>
> "Andy" <trailrider2008@hotmail.com> wrote in message
> news:WaSmc.46504$0H1.4400117@attbi_s54...
> > I have a 01 TJ without the "Trail Rated Badge". I guess this is why I'm
> > spending big bucks to make it off road worthy. Gee, if only they had
that
> > badge. Stupid? YES!
> >
> > Andy
> > 2001 Project TJ
> > "Muuurgh" <meatbag@porkfat.com> wrote in message
> > news:2g082aF31tf0U1@uni-berlin.de...
> > > The Trail Rated badge has got to be the stupidest gimmick I've ever
heard.
> > > Is the Jeep the only vehicle to survive a Nevada Auto Testing Center
> > > off-road trail? Now, if the NATS distributed this as an annual reward
to
> > > the vehicles most worthy, like Motor Trend--or something like that (I
> > don't
> > > know!) then the Trail Badge might mean something. Is there anyone
here
> > that
> > > thinks the Trail badge is more than a stupid gimmick?
> > >
> > > -Muuurgh
> > > I bet Bill says -- "Real Jeeps don't have trail rated badges."
> > >
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
>

 

Nice. If I wrote a spoof it might include:

Officer: Let me see your badge.
Ben: You don't need to see his badge.
Officer: We don't need to see his badge.
Ben: He can go about his business.
Officer: You can go about your business.
Ben: Move along.
Officer: Move along. Move along.

-Muuurgh

"Captain Purple" <test@somewhere.com> wrote in message
news:6RHnc.8098$q_1.5040@twister.socal.rr.com...
> OK, as long as we're on the subject:
> http://www.darryl.com/badges/
> (or, everyone needs a hobby...)
>
> Capt. Purple
>
>
> "Andy" <trailrider2008@hotmail.com> wrote in message
> news:WaSmc.46504$0H1.4400117@attbi_s54...
> > I have a 01 TJ without the "Trail Rated Badge". I guess this is why I'm
> > spending big bucks to make it off road worthy. Gee, if only they had
that
> > badge. Stupid? YES!
> >
> > Andy
> > 2001 Project TJ
> > "Muuurgh" <meatbag@porkfat.com> wrote in message
> > news:2g082aF31tf0U1@uni-berlin.de...
> > > The Trail Rated badge has got to be the stupidest gimmick I've ever
heard.
> > > Is the Jeep the only vehicle to survive a Nevada Auto Testing Center
> > > off-road trail? Now, if the NATS distributed this as an annual reward
to
> > > the vehicles most worthy, like Motor Trend--or something like that (I
> > don't
> > > know!) then the Trail Badge might mean something. Is there anyone
here
> > that
> > > thinks the Trail badge is more than a stupid gimmick?
> > >
> > > -Muuurgh
> > > I bet Bill says -- "Real Jeeps don't have trail rated badges."
> > >
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
>

 

Nice. If I wrote a spoof it might include:

Officer: Let me see your badge.
Ben: You don't need to see his badge.
Officer: We don't need to see his badge.
Ben: He can go about his business.
Officer: You can go about your business.
Ben: Move along.
Officer: Move along. Move along.

-Muuurgh

"Captain Purple" <test@somewhere.com> wrote in message
news:6RHnc.8098$q_1.5040@twister.socal.rr.com...
> OK, as long as we're on the subject:
> http://www.darryl.com/badges/
> (or, everyone needs a hobby...)
>
> Capt. Purple
>
>
> "Andy" <trailrider2008@hotmail.com> wrote in message
> news:WaSmc.46504$0H1.4400117@attbi_s54...
> > I have a 01 TJ without the "Trail Rated Badge". I guess this is why I'm
> > spending big bucks to make it off road worthy. Gee, if only they had
that
> > badge. Stupid? YES!
> >
> > Andy
> > 2001 Project TJ
> > "Muuurgh" <meatbag@porkfat.com> wrote in message
> > news:2g082aF31tf0U1@uni-berlin.de...
> > > The Trail Rated badge has got to be the stupidest gimmick I've ever
heard.
> > > Is the Jeep the only vehicle to survive a Nevada Auto Testing Center
> > > off-road trail? Now, if the NATS distributed this as an annual reward
to
> > > the vehicles most worthy, like Motor Trend--or something like that (I
> > don't
> > > know!) then the Trail Badge might mean something. Is there anyone
here
> > that
> > > thinks the Trail badge is more than a stupid gimmick?
> > >
> > > -Muuurgh
> > > I bet Bill says -- "Real Jeeps don't have trail rated badges."
> > >
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
>

 

Nice. If I wrote a spoof it might include:

Officer: Let me see your badge.
Ben: You don't need to see his badge.
Officer: We don't need to see his badge.
Ben: He can go about his business.
Officer: You can go about your business.
Ben: Move along.
Officer: Move along. Move along.

-Muuurgh

"Captain Purple" <test@somewhere.com> wrote in message
news:6RHnc.8098$q_1.5040@twister.socal.rr.com...
> OK, as long as we're on the subject:
> http://www.darryl.com/badges/
> (or, everyone needs a hobby...)
>
> Capt. Purple
>
>
> "Andy" <trailrider2008@hotmail.com> wrote in message
> news:WaSmc.46504$0H1.4400117@attbi_s54...
> > I have a 01 TJ without the "Trail Rated Badge". I guess this is why I'm
> > spending big bucks to make it off road worthy. Gee, if only they had
that
> > badge. Stupid? YES!
> >
> > Andy
> > 2001 Project TJ
> > "Muuurgh" <meatbag@porkfat.com> wrote in message
> > news:2g082aF31tf0U1@uni-berlin.de...
> > > The Trail Rated badge has got to be the stupidest gimmick I've ever
heard.
> > > Is the Jeep the only vehicle to survive a Nevada Auto Testing Center
> > > off-road trail? Now, if the NATS distributed this as an annual reward
to
> > > the vehicles most worthy, like Motor Trend--or something like that (I
> > don't
> > > know!) then the Trail Badge might mean something. Is there anyone
here
> > that
> > > thinks the Trail badge is more than a stupid gimmick?
> > >
> > > -Muuurgh
> > > I bet Bill says -- "Real Jeeps don't have trail rated badges."
> > >
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
>