Husband and wife team Ronald and Ruth Striano rely on their “fleet” of Jeep® vehicles as part of their very busy medical practice, traversing the state of New Jersey racking up approximately 50,000 miles each year seeing patients. We recently had a chance to catch up with them and find out a little more about their livelihood and how their Jeep vehicles are a big part of it.
Jeep: Tell us a little about your profession and how you utilize your Jeep vehicles to be successful.
RS: “My wife and I are psychologists with a statewide practice resulting in our logging about 1,000 miles each week. Most of our practice is consulting in hospitals, long-term care facilities and rehabilitation facilities. We need to be available when our services are needed, regardless of the weather, and our Jeep vehicles get us there without concern. We’ve traveled through blizzards and storms and, even on occasion, through washed out roads. I specialize in forensic investigations, both civil and criminal, often with equipment that I need to get close to the investigation site. My Jeep vehicles always get me and my equipment where I need to be. Other family members, like our son Michael who is an actor also rely on our Jeep vehicles to get him from one destination to the next. When he’s working, Michael needs to be on time and ready to perform regardless of weather conditions. The show must go on. One no-show or late-show could seriously harm his career. He’s always been where he needs to be, always on-time! Our Jeep vehicles have never let us down. We have 4 of them, all high mileage. They’ve always gotten us where we need to be safely, on time and in luxury.
Jeep: When did you and your wife first fall in love with the Jeep brand and become passionate owners?
RS: Our first Jeep vehicle was a 1996 model year. We were amazed at the comfort we enjoyed traveling in a Jeep vehicle. When we saw how reliable Jeep vehicles were, then how [having] a Jeep vehicle makes incumbent weather no longer a challenge, we began to love our Jeep vehicle. Seven Jeep vehicles later and currently owning four Jeep vehicles, we are passionate about them, not because they have a beautiful face, but because of the way they treat us.
Jeep: How important is the 4WD capability in getting to the numerous medical facilities where you provide services?
RS: It’s very important. With our Jeep all wheel drive (high drive) and four wheel drive (low drive) we never have concerns about getting where we need to be safely, comfortably and in luxury. Whatever the weather or road conditions, we’re covered. Jeep brand covered.
Jeep: Your Jeep vehicles have accumulated many miles. What type of service maintenance do you adhere to in order to keep your vehicles in tip-top shape?
RS: The most important service we perform on our Jeep vehicles on a regular basis is changing the oil and filters and keeping everything lubricated. Whenever one of our Jeep vehicles is in for service, I always ask the technician to “eyeball” the Jeep vehicle. We’ve never had a breakdown with any of our Jeep vehicles because we are very careful to perform preventive maintenance.
Jeep: Other than the Grand Cherokee nameplate, have either of you owned other Jeep brand models in the past?
RS: Besides owning Grand Cherokees, our family has owned a Cherokee and two Wranglers since 1996.
Jeep: Will you be adding a new Jeep vehicle to your “fleet” anytime soon?
RS: Our friends joke with us about our “fleet.” And they all seem to be buying their own Jeep vehicles after seeing ours. Our 2000, 2002, 2005 and 2008 Jeep vehicles are all running as good as they did when we drove them off the lot. We’re all car people, so when we see a Jeep vehicle that we feel would be a good addition it’ll take its place in our “fleet.”