patrick.net

Eric Holder says

some kind of rented "cute-ute" (like Jeep Compass and such)

Had a GF with one of those stupid "City Jeeps" as I derisively called it. Buzzy 4 cylinder engine, CVT that worked well for the engine size, and front wheel drive with a pegleg differential that relied on traction control applying the brakes to control wheelspin, costing more momentum on steep slippery hills than it saved. Absolute shit off road capability no better than any other street econobox on the road. Not worthy of the Jeep badge.

There once was a time when every factory stock Jeep had to be capable of running a certain trail in Moab.

I traveled through the Baja desert way back then during the summer thousands of miles with a brand-new rental PT cruiser from CA. At some point there were no roads and the rocks so big you had to remove them first before continuing at 5 miles per hour. Aaah, young and reckless but that rental car was done after its first rental. Also I used to go to DV, loved to stay in stovepipe wells in the summer and go swimming at night. Also badwater basin and the moon over zabriskie point highly recommended.
In other news 2020 is on track for the 2nd warmest year after 2016, so unless it rallies there will be no record this year. But GW is totally out anyways in the era of Covid.