Now let's look across the ocean at some American car. It's time for a change, so we have a slightly whimsical first-generation Jeep Grand Cherokee in Limited trim. In contrast to the beautifully restored cars, this time we have a hard worker who serves his daily life in the Czech countryside and took away several scars from it. The age and handling of "golden Czech hands" (but we don't mean that in a good way) have left their mark on the car. A piece of insulation will do something, you have to follow the exact procedure when locking, otherwise the alarm will ignominiously laugh at you, but it's still a fairly simple, easily repairable car. According to the owner, a Skoda 120 with air conditioning and all-wheel drive… I have nothing against Skoda cars, but I feel a little different about this one.
In a way, even under all those clods of mud, it's elegant. It does not look as uncouth as the classic first Cherokee , it can be seen here that in addition to functionality, the designers also thought about how the car will look. Rather, it gives the impression of a ready-made SUV . This is partially justified, because the self-supporting body is here firmly welded to the frame. Thanks to this, it is possible to use a weaker and lighter frame, which, thanks to the connection with the self-supporting bodywork, ensures the same rigidity of the entire structure. The first person to use this revolutionary solution was the Russian Lada Niva . Jeep produced the smaller, older Cherokee in this way. The look is starting to feel a bit nostalgic today, at least for me. The early 1990s were characterized by angular cars that had curves on the corners of the body as camouflage. But I personally find it nicer than some of its later successors.
But enough of the boring technical details, it's time to sit in the seats and aaaaah… You could probably even sleep in that chair. True, the condition is no longer perfect, but I would repeat that. And after all, when you're sitting on the seat, you can't see what he looks like anyway. It just bothers me a little at first that I can't move it (however, I forgot about that after 10 seconds behind the wheel anyway). There are classic alarm clocks in front of you, but… what? A couple lives here. There is an indicator of battery charge and oil temperature . In addition, the speedometer is mainly marked in miles and only then in fine print in kilometers. I'm just missing a pedal at the bottom, well, again after a long time with an automatic… But something whispers to me that it will still be fun. If a pedal is missing, something remains under the right hand. In addition to the automatic transmission selector , there is also a lever from the Select-track system, which increases cross-country ability and helps the driver overcome obstacles. You can choose several modes – rear wheel, rear wheel with attachable front, four-wheel, or for real terrain, a mode that controls each wheel separately. In addition, a beautiful color display lights up in the middle (it's true, today it looks more like an old Tetris game), which evokes memories of KITT a. And what if the inline six-cylinder gasoline engine roars . That's different than cranking old diesels in work pickups. This is where the sound really makes you happy.
"So where can I drive it?" I ask with a hint of disbelief. "Well, actually everywhere, go wherever you want," he says from the passenger seat. Well, I don't see it. My experience is mainly from a constellation of road SUVs , I've only been off-road twice, once with a Toyota RAV4 , and that was like going over the curb compared to an off-road race track, and the second time with a Hummer H2 on a bit of a motocross track, but that happens everywhere it must have been very slow. Well, but the owner laughs encouragingly, so I reach for the lever. I would have put an R there, but no, we will drive forward across the grass border, well, if they think…. But you know what? It's going pretty well. It's true that this is just a touch, but we have a big four-wheeler with a proper engine, after all, I'm not that scared. "That car goes 5 times more than people think. Most drivers don't leave the city and think that they need a four-wheeler even on the cross country, where their dads drove around the Wartburg , for example. All I have to do is give these words the truth, what my poor Felicia once went through jumps in my mind, but there is no time for touching memories, the mud is coming and the first deeper puddle. It is enough to tickle the gas in the corners and the ass is already moving slightly to the side on the slimy mud. Yeah, this probably won't be boring. The car is really easy to drive, and you have a relatively large steering wheel in your hands, which is not seen so much these days. It must be admitted that the power steering is very willing to help you with driving. There is also a perfect view from the car, the pillars are sturdy but not too thick, and the front ones are not significantly slanted. So you have a perfect overview of which corner of the bodywork is exactly.
"You have to slow down in the puddle, and then really add it!" The muddy water splashes very high, and at times even a wave rolls over the hood. And I wince like when I got my first kiss in kindergarten. Bump or rut, who cares? Half a meter of water? Phew…. I can't understand that I'm actually sitting in a relatively luxurious, albeit more durable, SUV that was built for American mothers to take their children safely to school in the morning, while I'm driving quite briskly along a route that Soviet tanks and Tatra trucks used for years. Previously, the drivers had a steering wheel, pedals and an order for their hands to indicate which elevation to defend. Today I have electric leather seats , ABS , remote locking , self-dimming mirrors, beautiful electronics or air conditioning. The world is full of paradoxes. You must have noticed that this Indian doesn't exactly have the poorest equipment. Perhaps, to remind drivers at least a little of what it can do, you will find at least a compass . But it's almost time to go back and park it. As soon as I get out (while, due to my inexperience, I manage to wipe off practically all parts of my clothes from the mud that I brought from the track to the bodywork all the way here), I start to wonder how much my favorite Lada Niva would cost, for example. And actually, why not buy this piece? For twenty thousand you can have a really nicely equipped SUV with a sensational engine, which, as the owner boasts, has never been driven off-road. If I've pissed you off, don't hesitate, you really won't be bored with him! (For those interested, we will write the owner's contact). Once again I turn to the car in disbelief and do not understand. They say we drove in 4×4 mode on the roads the whole time. There must be something wrong with me….
Finally, we ask the owner a few questions:
Why did you choose this particular car, was it your long-term dream or a momentary decision?
I saw the same type once and told the owner that I would like to have a car like that one day. He asked me why I didn't buy it, so I actually bought it.
How hard was this car to get?
The most difficult thing is to decide and buy a car with a volume greater than 2.0, but only for the first time.
How do you live with the car in normal traffic? And do you have it for pleasure or for daily use?
On the road, yes, but it would like to fine-tune a few details. For now just for fun.
What was the most interesting experience with your car?
The first time the car went without hesitation up a hill that I wouldn't have climbed on my own.
Are you planning any modifications or repairs on it?
Not yet.
What is your biggest motoring dream?
El Camino, Ford F-150, Opel Kadet A for racing and Toyota Tundra.
Photo and video: Blanka Mojdlová, Martin Tolar and the owner's archive
