Fred Martin Superstore

First Time Car Buyer Review: 2012 Jeep Patriot

2012-01-24T09:59:00.000-08:00

I said it in my last review, and it bears repeating. There’s a lot to consider when purchasing a new car, especially in Ohio. In recent days it has been looking like Jack Frost threw up everywhere; I’m going to test-drive a Jeep Patriot to navigate through the mess.

The Jeep name is one of the most recognized in the automotive world because of its reputation of reliability and continued excellence. The Patriot keeps up the tradition and you can tell its new design is inspired by the old Jeep Cherokee. It’s built like your standard compact crossover, but with enough bells and whistles to handle rough roads and the chaotic weather Ohio has to offer.

There’s nothing compact about the Patriot with enough room, in my opinion, to fit five full-sized adults. I actually had to move my seat closer because it felt like I was too far away from the wheel. Depending on the package, the Patriot offers your standard power features: locks, windows, seats. Once I settled into my seat and buckled up it was time to check-out the console and find some tunes for my ride. The console was very easy to navigate and all the controls were standard for Chrysler panels. Depending on the package, your Jeep could have navigation, or you could add it.

Ohio weather has drastically changed since my last test-drive. My current car is equipped with sled tires; I have to drive about 30 mph on the highway (yeah I’m that guy) in order to feel safe and not worry about losing control. In the Patriot that was definitely not an issue. I felt as though I could drive anywhere, over anything, and at any speed and not have to worry about spinning out on the highway, the way my “sled” has done before. There was no slide when breaking, no drift when turning, it handled exactly how I wanted it to in every aspect and against every challenge I put it up against. It handled every hill, back road and un-plowed “arctic trail” I took it on; that’s the Trail-Rated reliability you come to expect with a Jeep.

Everything about the Patriot was what I expected; the rear-view mirror was kind of small, but I don’t think it would be a problem unless you have a car full of people. The last test it had to pass was my “Gym Bag Test,” since I regularly have friends and players from my team riding with me. As expected, there was more than enough room for five gym bags and it even had a spare tire with a mat for you to change it on if you ever needed.

I have to make the Patriot my new favorite, surpassing the Chrysler 200 with a 4.3 rating. For a compact, it’s definitely efficient with a 29 HWY/23 City MPG. The price doesn’t break the bank either. It’s the cheapest SUV- standard crossover with a starting MSRP of $15,995.

See if the Jeep Patriot passes all your “tests”- stop by Fred Martin Superstore and test-drive today!

First-Time Car Buyer

2012-01-04T06:24:00.000-08:00

When we think back to the very first car we ever owned, nostalgic memories fill our minds. Some first car stories are about that brand new car that, “My parents bought it for me and it had my name on the side. It was dark green with tan interior; don’t forget the white top!” Some first cars stories make you feel like the big man on campus again because you were the only person in high school with a convertible and a metallic paint job. Plain and simple some first cars “rocked,” but most first cars are a different story.
Typically when you ask someone about their first car you hear something along the lines of, “I remember getting my first car passed down to me from my sister who had it passed down to her from our parents.” Or, “I remember getting my first car from a wrecking lot for forty dollars.” Most first cars had quirks, like having to always go in through the passenger window because the driver door wouldn’t open, or having to put your car in neutral and push the brake while you pumped the gas at traffic stops so you wouldn’t stall. Most first cars have embarrassing nicknames like “Lead Sled”, “Tommy the Tank,” and “Baby Squirt” because of the sounds it made when you drove it. Just like my story, most first car stories end with, “It got me from point A to point B and I drove it ‘til the wheels fell off, but it’s not what I would’ve chosen.”
This year I get to choose, I don’t have to take something that was given to me, but with this new freedom comes a lot of pressure. Other than buying a house and getting married, buying a car is one of the longer commitments you have to make in a life. You never thought of it that way before have you? Me either. “Do I want a coupe or sedan? What color do I choose? A big engine or great gas mileage? Am I too big for a car? Should I consider a crossover, SUV, or truck?” There’s a lot to think about. Luckily, I work at a car dealership and have a chance to test drive and review tons of cars before I decide. Today I’ll be reviewing the Chrysler 200.

The Chrysler 200 is probably most well known for being the car Eminem drove in Chrysler’s “Imported from Detroit” Super Bowl commercial. In 2011, the 200 replaced Chryslers Sebring model. It comes with either a 2.4L four-cylinder engine or 3.6L Pentastar V6 engine and in either 4-speed or 6-speed automatic. The 200 also has four packages to choose from (LX, Touring, Limited, and S) and I decided to take the Touring for a spin since it wasn’t too basic and wasn’t too fancy either.
Right from the beginning I noticed how comfortable it was to be sitting in the 200. I’m a taller guy and from the outside this Chrysler model can look pretty small, but I had more than enough head space and room in my seat. Once I adjusted my seat I realized the back seat was kind of small, so having a full car would make it a bit of a crunch for the driver if there was a taller person in the back. Before leaving I had to set the mood with some tunes. The console had a very modern look and was easy use. Everything was spaced perfectly with all the labels being easy to understand.
Normally when I drive a new car the gas and brakes are pretty sensitive and it takes a while to adjust, but I didn’t have that problem in the 200. The drive was relaxing to the point I didn’t realize I was going 75 MPH on the highway, I felt like I was just cruising. Once I got into the city I found myself imitating Eminem in the commercial, looking at everyone as I passed by to see if heads turned because of the luxury-sport look, and they did. The braking was on point and the handling was perfect. The only problem I had was the car felt bigger to me than it actually was; after getting out when I parked I noticed there was a lot more room than I thought between the 200 and the car I parked in front of.
The last thing I had to look at was the trunk. My friends and I always put our gym bags in the trunk with our shoes and basketballs, so it needed to go through my gym bag test. The trunk door gives the impression of being small, but once you open it you see and enormous amount of space. What the backseat is lacking in space, the trunk makes up for. It gets a 3 out of 4 in the gym bag test. The Chrysler 200 is currently the front runner in my "Race to Purchase" with 29 HWY/MPG and a very reasonable MSRP starting at 18,995. I give it a 4 out of 5 overall. And for as affordable as it is, 4 out of 5 is great!
Next up for consideration is the Fiat 500.

Look What The Bowmans Said About Us

2011-03-07T12:41:00.001-08:00

We purchased yet another vehicle from the Fred Martin auto group. Two new ones from Fred Martin in Green and our recent purchase at Fred Martin in Barberton. Our salesman [Lonnie] and your Finance person [Shannon] were remarkable and made our day an exciting one. We will highly [like we always do] recommend your company to our family and friends.

2011 Jeep Wrangler Features

2011-02-25T12:30:00.001-08:00

Top Ten Mopar Accessories

2011-02-23T10:11:00.000-08:00

Popular parts
Top 10 sellers from Chrysler’s
Mopar brand in 2010:
1. Wheel lock kit. From $44-
$46.
2. Roadside safety kit. $103.
3. Portable navigation system.
Includes lane assist with
junction view and pre-loaded
maps. $309.
4. Electronic vehicle tracking
system. Features setting
speed and distance parameters
with text alerts, unlimited
online tracking and full concierge
service. $459.
5. Premium carpet floor
mats. From $36-$118.
6. Slush mats. Custom-fit
mats feature deep grooves
that help prevent water, snow,
and mud from ruining vehicle’s
carpet. From $41-$162.
7. Molded splash guards.
From $45-$55.
8. Bed liners. $336.
9. Chromed tubular side
steps. From $327-$717.
10. Hitch receivers and
towing accessories. Prices
vary.
Source: Chrysler Group LLC

I Would Recommend Fred Martin Superstore to Everyone

2011-02-21T08:52:00.001-08:00

Karen Drove From Michigan to Purchase a vehicle from Fred Martin Superstore

2011-02-21T08:51:00.000-08:00

I Traded My Dodge Charger in on Beautiful Used Four Wheel Drive

2011-02-21T08:45:00.001-08:00

We Love Our Beautiful Used Van we Bought From Fred Martin Superstore

2011-02-21T08:29:00.001-08:00

They Have a Huge Selection Of Vehicles At Fred Martin Superstore

2011-02-21T08:21:00.000-08:00

Fred Martin Superstore Announces The 2012 Dodge Charger SRT8

2011-02-15T10:38:00.000-08:00

This Just In

2011-02-15T06:58:00.000-08:00

2011-02-15T06:21:00.001-08:00

Congratulations to Susan!!!

2009-04-23T15:38:00.001-07:00

Thanks for the purchase of your new vehicle Morgan family

2009-02-20T11:28:00.000-08:00

A Quote from The Morgans:
"Scott worked really well and hard with me to make everything come together, he's a good salesman. We will still watch him on T.V."

Congratulations to the Hatfield family

2009-02-05T12:33:00.000-08:00

A quote from the Hatfield family
"Very pleasant experiance and nice doing business with our salesman, he also beat our expectations!"

Congratulations to the Rader family

2009-02-05T09:12:00.001-08:00

A quote from the Rader family
"We thought it would be impossible for us to get a newer used car because of our credit, but Mike worked with us and explained everything to us so we could understand. He was very helpful and enjoyable to work with. I would send anyone back to him to buy a car. Thanks for making this happen for us Mike. This was great for us."