November 16, 2009
Does Chrysler have a future?
The Chrysler Corporation has a wonderful and interesting history. It started with Walter P. Chrysler and the Maxwell Motors re-organization in 1925. Through the years Chrysler has offered many engineering and design features that were leading the auto industry. The first Chrysler automobile had both oil and air filters plus a pressurized lubrication system. Later models introduced four wheel hydraulic brakes and rubber engine mounts. In the mid-1930’s Chrysler built the Airflow, the first auto maker to consider aerodynamics and an all steel unibody type construction. The 1950’s brought us the first Hemi engine and the Virgil Exner “Forward Look”. We also could buy the first “Muscle Car”, the 1955 Chrysler 300. The 1960’s found Chrysler experimenting with Turbine power and building High Performance cars with 426 Hemi engines. The 1970’s brought us the Challenger and ‘Cuda. The 80’s had Shelby Daytona’s and GLHS’s, the 90’s introduced a V-10 Viper. So many exciting “American Dream Cars”, but what will the future bring?
Earlier this month, the New Chrysler Corporation presented their five year plan. Following the forced bankruptcy which gave Fiat (Fix It Again Tony) a 20% interest and managerial control of the “new” Chrysler, many feared there was no future. During the six hour long presentation, many planned changes were discussed, some good, many bad from a car nuts perspective. The Viper will cease production after just 500 additional units are completed. A new sports car is planned, but with Fiat influence. It seems the Challenger and Charger will continue, but with more emphasis on smaller engines, will they just be in name only. Lets hope the HEMI survives!! There are plans for continued involvement in Motor Sports. Team Penske will continue at NASCAR. Dodge trucks will become a separate Ram division and late next year, Fiat will import their mini Fiat 500 to be sold from Chrysler showrooms. With all these changes and heavy Fiat involvement, will Chrysler survive as an exciting American car company or just another International producers of small, fuel efficient “jelly beans”.
From its 1925 inception amid the bankruptcy, re-organization of the Maxwell Motor Company and now the Obama Administration’s forced bankruptcy of 2009, Will Chrysler survive this? We can only hope for the best. What do you think? We look forward to your opinion and comments. 49 Comments 49 Responses to “Does Chrysler have a future?”
At one time Chrysler had alot of influence from Mitsubishi after their last brush with extinction. For car nuts, there will be some stuff that we won’t like. The greed,which is the American Way, needs to be eliminated. Its not just the UAW, its the “suits” as well. Everyone was being overpaid. Fiat makes money now. They were owned but their Government for awhile when they had hard times in their history. I think Chrysler will do ok. The way our government has screwed the Big 3 over the years, they desevred to be helped buy that same government. I woulda let the banks go under though.
Fiat is the biggest piece of junk that ever hit these shores period. I have worked on them and I wouldn,t give you a plug nickle for one. There a waste of time and precious money thats hard to come by lately. Chrysler sold out when Mercedes bought them and Mercedes was in bad shape when they bought Chrysler. and now while back on these shores were still suffering with Euro junk. Besides I dont like little cars anyway as there not safe in this country with all the big rigs that are rolling down the highway. You cant see them until it’s too late and there too light to sustain a general fender bender not to mention a serious wreck. The Italians can keep them in Italy and Europe for all I care . Besides where is the quality at? To get rid of the Viper is a statement that the Italians don’t want competion for a brutally bad highpowered sports car that can kick butt on what they have. American nostalgia is dying while european junk is taking over. So much for high performance muscle cars. I wont be buying any euro junk, thats for sure.
We should have let Chrsler die YEARS ago.
I went to look at the new challengers last october as i had not seen many on our local dealer lot. so, my son and i went to elk grove dodge and saw a sticker showing dealer markup of $15,000. when i questioned this, the sales guy just said, “well, that’s the price. if you can’t afford it, you can’t buy the car.”. now, understand, i’ve been a lifetime mopar guy. i own a 65 barracuda, 68 valiant, 2 lebarons, and a dodge truck. but with attitudes like this at chrysler dealers, there could be a ford in my future. i mean, here the company is in dire straits, and they can afford to have this kind of attitude?
that salesman at elk grove should be terminated,,he is the type that makes it tough for all car reps,,
Daimler AG and Chrysler merged in 1998, “Mercedes” did not buy Chrysler, and Daimler was “not in bad shape” and hasn’t been since the early post-war years. I say we focus on the real culprit here – the government environmentalist whackos. They have pick pick picked all automakers to death, and in particular, Daimler with all these damn stupid emissions standards from hell. And now, through hacked emails, we learn this global warming religion was a bunch of crap…….
AS A RETIRED BMW SERVICE MANAGER FOR A DEALERSHIP IN THE MIDWEST ALL I CAN SAY IS THE GERMANS CLAIMED TO HAVE INVENTED THE AUTOMOBILE. THAT IS HIGHLY QUESTIONABLE SEEING THAT HAVEN’T BUILT A REAL AUTOMOBILE YET. TO UNITE WITH FIAT IS LIKE DRINKING THE HEMLOCK. I HAVE OWNED NASH,FORD,GM,AMC,HUDSON,WILLYS AND CHRYSLER. I HAVE HAD GOOD SERVICE FROM ALL THESE MAKES. FIAT IS LIKE TURNING TO DOC KAVORKIAN FOR OPEN HEART SURGERY. FIAT COULD NOT MAKE AN AUTOMOBILE GOOD ENOUGH TO STAY IN AMERICA IN THE PAST BUT WOULD BE DELIGHTED TO USE CHRYSLER’S DEALERSHIP NETWORK. DODGE TRUCKS ARE THE BESTTRUCKS MADE, ESPECIALLY WITH THE CUMMINS ENGINE. SPLITTING THE TRUCKS AWAY FROM THE CARS MAYBE THEIR ONLY HOPE OF SURVIVAL. EUROPEAN SOCIALISM HAS ARRIVED IN AMERICA. M ANCESTORS LEFT EUROPE FOR A VERY GOOD AND CLEAR REASON SO LET’S SEND THIS ADMINISTRATION (DEVISTATION) AND ALL WHO VOTED FOR IT BACK TO EUROPE IN LEAKY FIATS.
you know they had the right idea bringing the plymouth division back to make roadrunner for one year just to see if it would sell, with the original hemi albeit cpu timing and fuel injecting but the 426. never the less. i think to keep the name and performance of these cars and still get gas mileage is the piston shutdown system runs on three cylinders when not in use. or maybe hydrogen kits i myself owned a 1970 dodge charger with a hemi, and i converted it and it wasnt so bad on gas mileage. thats the only way to save chrysler and mopar. from these shitty imports.
I ask Neal V Hutchinson about his comment,
“We should have let Chrysler die years ago.”
Why ? How many “years ago” ?
Could Mr Hutchinson please be more specific ?
Dont buy any FIAT !!! Junk crap is beter. Crap is movable sometimes, but Fiat NEVER!!
Neal V. Hutchinson: We should have let Chrysler die YEARS ago.
For what reason, Mr. Hutchinson?
Chrysler should have just closed its doors In the mid 70`s and saved us all having to put up with Aspen`s ,Colt`s,K-Cars and all the other crap they`ve built over the years…Fiat can only be an improvement over Chrysler…
The cars from Europe are not the problem. It’s the Asian vehicles that are breaking the American industry. How many Hondas and Toyotas are sitting in the parking lots of Detroit? These play on our sense of American loyalty by claiming to be “Made in America.” Of course, they are not made in America but just assembled here. Americans bolt them together. The profit goes to Japan and South Korea. True, some U.S. iron was pretty bad 30 years ago but Detroit has caught on and changed things. If people in this country will buy vehicles like the Chrysler 300, Chevy Malibu and the new Taurus which are better than the imports, maybe the American car business will survive.
I have watched the auto industry for the past 40 years. The shoddy quality that came out of Detroit back in the 70’s, competition from the Asian manufacturers and the eventual evolvement to what we have today. In addtion, the US car companies have been strangled by the high wages and benefits for both white collar and union workers over the years. Now that they’ve reduced those high costs, the burden becomes offering a vehicle that the consumer feels confident in purchasing. Unfortunately, the Asian car companies still have a strong following and it will be difficult to match that in the near future. When this economy rebounds there will be a strong return to foreign vehicles, but with leaner US manufacturers operations, they will be able to show profits earlier. The proof will come then who will survive. If I were to predict, of the three US manufacturers, Ford will be the number one in product and profit, GM will continue to struggle to regain the number one position, and Chrysler will eventually be liquidated. I hate to predict such an outcome, because I worked for Chrysler almost 30 years and have hope for their recovery in product quality and customer loyality.
with cars, trucks, suvs and minivans lasting easily to 250,000 miles (quality), is not the problem. the enviromental media is. my father, grandfather and i have owned and enjoyed Chrysler cars, trucks, suvs and minivans for 80 years now. imports bring inloads of money to coastal states, not middle America.
American Cars? Many of the good offerings from GM Ford and Chrysler are assembled outside of the USA and imported! On the other hand, european and asian manufacturers are building plants, sourcing parts and assembling cars in the USA. Was thinking about buying a new Challenger but it’s assembled in Canada with less than 50% US and Canadian components, then the dealers have their additional mark-up! Have also read that Chrysler quality is less than that of GM or Ford! Bought 70 challenger R/T new and sold it 7 years later – although drivetrain was strong, body was falling apart. Have had mostly GM since then, but won’t buy GM or Ford Made in Mexico, Austrailia, or whever else they are building plants while closing US plants! Chrysler is going to suffer and thousands will be coerced into buying the next K-cars! FIAT will eventually run back to Italy and Chrysler will die! GM won’t be far behind. I have 6 GM products now, but there may be a made in USA FORD, Toyota or Nissan in my future!
There has never been a perfect car.Never will be,as long as it is created by imperfect beings.
That said,all makes have their ups and downs.One of the best thigs to happen to Chrysler was Daimler stepping in. The 300 series cars are rock solid and affordable.The PT and the Neon are nice economy cars.The Viper is a wonderful sports car.Chrysler basically invented the mini van. The many other cars in their line up are on par with everyone elses offerings. The Dodge trucks are the top dog with the Cummins under the hood. I have owned every make built in the last 40 years and have to say Chrysler/Jeep/Dodge vehicles are fine and well worth the money. Unfortunately,the management of the company is weak. The public can be easily led to believe what is good and bad as most people don’t recognize quality if it were right in front of them.This is the same dulling down of the senses that has created the magic cars of today that park themselves,apply the brakes,lift the throttle and further take control over the vehicle from the driver during critical moments.Face it,there are too many stupid people behind the wheel.
I hope Chrysler continues on with whatever helping hand given. It would be a shame to see another great car manufacturer perish forever.
I have been a Chrysler fan since I was Seventeen, I had a Dodge Phoenix (Plymouth Fury l) in Sydney here in Australia. Henry FORD had the right idea if you want to work he will give you a job. The bosses that Henry had to deal with in the early years were only interested in money it took Henry to say well you lot can go to buggery and they brought him out so that they could start up GENERAL MOTORS. G.M now in the Toilet. We have the same thing in the year 2009 FIAT (Fix It Again Tony) as with Mercedes Benz they are after only profit. They are only interested in getting into the USA car market the public should not allow it to happen. What it will take is some body like HENRY FORD to take over the Chrysler Company and operate it as he did you only need to charge what it cost to build a car and some profit not as I read in a review charge $15.000,00 mark up. That is just profiteering and in my words STEALING. Chrysler has a very colourfull history and I am proud to be associated with it. I have trouble looking at a FIAT Bambino and looking at the Chrysler ROSETTE that is an insult to the name of Plymouth and Desoto, and the name Chrysler.
My Two Bob’s worth.
Graham McLean
President Chrysler Owners Club Quensland australia.
I sold Chrysler, Dodge and Plymouth products for nearly 18 years until my greedy owner sold out and put us all out on unemployment. The products were the most impressive vehicles built. The fit and paint finish were the best of the best. Just close the door on a Chrysler product. Such a nice and solid sound. Look down the side and notice the smooth and shiny paint job. Keep up the good work, Chrysler. And to Bill C., don’t you dare ruin our country more by thinking of buying a Toyota or Nissan. Wake up!!! “KEEP AMERICA BEAUTIFUL, DRIVE AMERICAN”
After leasing a 2006 300C for 3 years, and having the best time of my auto-owning life I am again reminded of what a great auotmobile feels like. I am, like so many now searching for a car company and line-up that gives me pride in my purchase/selection and an identity that stands out from the masses. The inbred corporate culture that could possibly dream up this Chrysler-FIAT aborition is proof that style and vision are no longer part of the corporate landscape. Reading the comments on cars mentioned are the “out-siders” of the line up. Most are the jelly-bean, metallic blisters that make up the lion’s share of sales for auto-makers. The sexy, exiciting, concept cars that dot the auto show landscape always get dumbed down to some market-research results. I myself, will either buy a 2010 300C or revert to the cars of my youth…I’m thinking a 1961 Cadillac coupe…If you are going to drop $35-40,000.00 might as well be assured of owing a classic.
All my best to Chrysler.
P.S. I ownde a FIAT 850 sedan in 1975…there are no words (printable) to describe the lack of quality, safety, inspiration, or sex apeal with that POS.
I am sure the stories here of excellent Chrysler products throughout the years are true to those who wrote them. I remember as a pre-teen drooling over the long and short crossram Hemi 300 letter cars at the local dealership, which was at the end of my street so I spent a lot of time there. When it came time to buy I drove a ‘69 Daytona and a Roadrunner and then in ‘70 a Superbird. Then I drove a Skylark (GS Stage 1). Sorry guys, no contest. The GM car was far superior to the Chrysler products in every way, and it was faster, sorry to say. I tried again every few years, but the Buicks stayed my car until I got some $$ and went to a (used) Benz for a few years. As a road car, the Benz was amazing, blowing the Buicks out of the water.
Today, I own a ‘70 GS and an ‘07 Corolla. One I drive 40 miles each day to work and back getting 35mpg. The other I drive on weekends getting 7 mpg, but it is a heck of a lot more fun to drive.
In the early ’70s my buddy owned a new Challenger R/T six pack and I had a new Stage 1 convertible. Talk about closing the doors–the convertible was rock solid, the R/T rattled like a baby’s toy. Oh, and I blew his doors off driving to work each AM down Palm Beach Lakes Blvd to the Royal Ponciana bridge, or on I-95 from Okeechobee Blvd south for about 3 miles when it was built but not yet opened to traffic. Of course, back then we had Sunoco 260 gas, but I promise you I would not have bought a Chrysler product back then or today. The story about the new 300 sounds interesting, so I might go drive one, and, apologies to Graham, but the Corolla saves me enough on gas money to drive the Buick on weekends. And, it never needs any service except 3000 mile oil changes and tires. Chrysler needs to find a designer who makes exciting cars again like the new Charger or Challenger, but for today’s middle class buyer. Then, they need to take apart a jap car and see WHY they are quiet and dependable and copy the darn thing. Why the big 3 didn’t do that years ago is a mystery to me. What’s good for the goose, as the saying goes. No way we don’t have as much engineering talent as they do. We just need to do it better and then everyone will come home to American cars again.
In order for anything that we grew up here with to survive we must stop this government of ours that has mutated horribly in the past half century and dismantle the EPA.Why not have Chrysler build their most popular body styles of the past 40 yrs and then sell the customer a choice of drivetrains.Then it is a kit and the EPA can take thier emission standards and go play sit and spin while the FED eats their safety guidelines!
For me, a Chrysler has always been a Chrysler…unimpressive as far as I’m concerned. I’ve owned 2 plymouths….yawn…. I’ve owned 13 Honda products….bulletproof…great cars. It makes sense for me to buy what works! Good value…resale…quality… I’ve worked hard for my money for 42 years in the Collision repair industry….worked on all kinds of vehicles. I have a passion for all the Honda line-up. They just do it right. I see doom ahead for Chrysler and GM….Ford still does nothing for me. It’s interesting to note that Toyota and Honda have more internet inquiries about their product than any other carmaker………….what does that say?
Let me start of my saying that I just can’t believe that so many Americans can forget thier own history, when just last month you, as it did, went and paid respect to our veterens and fallen Hero’s. You great Americans fought those ruthless Bastard Japs and Germans and won!. Don’t forget your history. I am a very proud Canadian who now sees things in a bigger sense, and that is North Americans have to save our way of life and that is buying our own products. Ford, Dodge or GM that’s it!
In 2005, I was going to purchase a new Dodge pickup. A coworker talked me into test driving a Ford. It was just a nicer feeling vehicle, had more power and just looked nicer. So I bought the Ford and never looked back. I feel Ford is on the up and up and Chrysler products are going to be dissolved. GM will maintain there level of just good enough. Toyota and Honda will always be a top shelf vehicle, but I just Can’t see myself buying one.
I am 53 years old and grew up in a Chrysler family. I started out in High School with my dad’s hand me down ‘65 Plymouth Wagon and drove it without any problems for five yearsuntil I was called for servive overseas. While I was overseas, my sister wrecked it. Coming home, I bought a Pontiac Sunfire. I finally got tired of dealing with the dealer over recalls and other problems so I traded it for a new 1988 Chrysler Lebaron 2.5 liter. About two years later, I bought a new 1991 Dodge Ram 4×4 with 318. Aside from a few problems over the years, I’m still driving them! I could buy new, but these vehicles still run superbly and the savings in the cost of tags and insurance look great in my wallet! I will probably buy a Jeep Liberty as a new “third” car while the quality is still there, and my wife thinks we should update the LeBaron so we may get a 300C too. Would like to get a Challenger buy the dealer is too proud of them, and this attitude will most likely result in lower than expected sales for the Challenger and kill it off. Really, it may be the dealers that spell the end for them. I have spent time in the Orient and Europe. I will never buy a Fiat, period! I think that Chrysler should sell their cars factory direct also, this would keep the dealers in line! It’s too late now, so I’m getting new ones while the quality is still there and I’m sure these cars will last the remaindar of my years. If they get wrecked, well, we’ll either find used Chryslers or buy new American, most likely Ford. One word of note: On a recent trip to Russia, I saw more Chrysler 300’s on the road than Mercedes or Lexus or any of the other luxury cars… Jeeps and Chrysler mini vans are popular there too.
I’m 73 yrs. young, at age 21 my first NEW car was a 57 Plymouth Belvedere Convertible. I courted my wife in that car and I still have her. Chrysler cars have always been my favorites. Currently I have two 59 Ply Sport Fury’s and a 60 Desoto 4dr. Adventurer. Back in early 60 I lost my job and traded my 57 Plymouth on a 59 Fiat 1100. It was like a 4dr. VW. My wife and I along with our dog moved to Miami in August of 1961 in that car. Rather than pack things in boxes the Fiat was the box along with a car top carrier with two toiler paper boxes full of stuff. Top speed was 55 MPH full out so we cruised 850 miles from New Orleans at 45 MPH. Took 20 hours driving straight thru with absolutely no trouble at all. I’v had VW’s since and feel the Fiat was a better car. In fact I would like to find a 59 Fiat 1100 to restore. I have a feeling the Fiat of today is a lot better than it used to be or they would not be one of the largest car companies in the world. Anyway I’d like to see one of those they plan to market in the U.S. before I make a Judgement.
Woulda, coulda, shoulda, and finger-pointing… Its just too late.
Fiat has control and just wants to market their cars through North American dealerships. I would hope that they could spin off Jeep, and the old and new HEMI V8s as crate engines. Maybe Ford would find a way to buy both operations…
I would hate to see Jeep and the HEMIs fade away.
I’m an italian fan of the american cars since I was a child and I hope FIAT will disappear from the face of the earth for innumerable reasons that only by living in Italy someone can understand why.
Therefore,
those who in good faith have put in the picture that indecent tumour called FIAT 500 under an historical masterpiece named Dodge Charger are kindly requested to remove it as soon as possible.
Thank you indeed!
p.s. Please don’t take it personally.
I owned a 1990 Dodge Dynasty, this was the worst car I ever owned, it spent more time in the garage than at my home. The transaxil transmission was over hauled 3 times in the first 16,000 miles (yes I bought the car new), at the 3rd rebuild the dealer said they would replace if it went bad again, before 20,000, it was doing the same thing, answer from dealer, the computer says there is nothing wrong with it, we can’t work on it. I begged this dealership to take the car drive it for a week and tell me there was nothing wrong with it, it was dangerous, when you let off the gas the transmission was lost, step on the gas the entire car shook, vibrated and then with a thud that felt like you had dropped an I-beam in the car it jerked and took off. The oil pressure gauge constantly dropped to 0 pressure, when it rained it sounded as if the windows were down, coming out of a parking garage making all left turns the car sounded as if someone were running beside you beating the side of the car. The Dealer’s answer to these other problems were if I would turn the radio up I would not hear these noises, they thought I was just looking for something to complain about, they also stated the could not understand why I was complaining since I had one of the good one’s. If I chose to take the car to arbitration they would fight me tooth and nail and no dealer could work on the car while in arbitration.
That was my first and last Chrysler experience, they should just go away since they can’t make a decent car.
I have friends with equal horror stories from Chrysler/Jeep/Dodge both cars and trucks.
My GM cars have been excellent cars and the dealer’s have never given me such a run around, I have also had many Asian cars and the same with them, excellent cars, excellent service.
Chrysler blew it, let them die.
The problem is never the competition such as toyo or hundai, The problem is americans that do not want to do a quality job.I have bought 4 new cars in the last 3 years and all american.1chevy 2 fords 1 lincoln.All of the fords had major workmanship errors, such as vents not installed correctly trim not installed correctly, and paint overspray on mirrors, and on and on the chevy was a corvette and the main gripe was poor finish on the paint. I looked at the same value euro cars and the quality in workmanship blew the american cars away as did the jap cars of the same value, (29K and Up), But I still bought american, but many americans don’t agree with buying a car where the people assembling them think we owe them. My cousin works for GM as an assembly worker and lives in a 500,000+ home and paid for it in 10 years so its not that they are not making money, the problem is that they are not doing a good job. Its what my grandfather would called spoiled rotten rich kid mentality. By the way welcome to the US. The work ethics are gone out of the majority of most americans mind, what ever happened to an hours work for an hours wages. No its you owe me I deserve it, I want it now, I don’t care if I didn’t earn it I still want it, if nothing else the gov should give it to me. So saying this, we as americans have made our beds don’t complain when the wheels are knocked out from under your litttle red wagon, when you are the one that left it in the road. Nodody owes us nothing, we have to earn it.
Okay, guys, I’m no mechanic, but I like a solid dependable car with some style that’s fun to drive.
I drive a metallic gold 2005 Plymouth PT Cruiser convertible (Touring Edition) that’s been a great car for driving around Palm Springs, CA. Top down in the Fall, Winter and Spring and plenty of a/c for those 120F desert summer days (top down again on those balmy summer nights for cruising around town under the stars!)
It’s been reliable, with good gas mileage and just fun to drive. The roll bar provides amazing stability with no convertible “shimmy” or noise as with other small convertibles I test drove.
With 70,000 miles on it, I’ve had no repairs, other than regular service appts., except one tail light bulb that I replaced myself!
The car is distinctive looking and sits comfortably “high” inside with plenty of trunk room.
My Mother had a 1958 Plymouth Fury convertible that was a fantastic car. Wish we still had it in the family.
My brother had a Barracuda fast-back, another fun car.
The Aspens, Colts, Cordovas, K-cars and Neons are what tanked Chrysler. That and the $6,000 to $9,000 added to sticker price of most American cars since we still don’t have a national health care system like all the other industrialized countries had 50 – 60 years ago. Their governments pay for health care, whereas our auto makers have to pass it on to the consumer.
Previously I drove only Mustang GT convertibles with much bigger V-8 engines. Those were great cars, but this little Plymouth’s a lot more “eco-friendly” and a lot less expensive to drive.
A “Fiat Chrysler” will never be the same. I wouldn’t buy one. A friend had a Fiat Spyder convertible in the 1980s that was in the shop more than it was on the road.
A former Chrysler dealer whom the company put out of business during it’s purge of Summer 2009 told me that it’s possible that Nissan will eventually take over the Dodge diesel pickups. Has anyone out there heard anything similar? Of the entire Chrysler line the Dodge Cummins engine pickups are, in my opinion, the product most worth saving. I’ve had four of them and they are just great dependable trucks!
As for FIAT, I can just see them moving production to an abandoned factory in New Jersey. There they will produce a sedan, the Chrysler Soprano. If you don’t like the car, they will have someone come to blow it up with you in it.
You can’t blame the government for this. You can the Chrysler big wigs, upper management, and the Unions for their troubles. All the above giving themselves pats on their own backs and fat cat wall street size raises and bonuses, while the little factory workers, design people, and R&D where left holding pocket change. The flipside are the horrible dealerships with their horrible attitudes and horrible service departments. I don’t think I’ll ever buy a new car ever again from any manufacturer. These sales people with their fuzzy math, outright lies, lack of product knowledge, and their attitude of these cars sell themselves, is outragous. I had a sales guy read right off the winder sticker of a car in the showroom. Even worse, you could be the only person in the showroom, and you either can’t get assistance, or they try to rope you into overpaying, and then slam you at the end of the deal with key loss protection, simonizing, ding protection, and all other crap. Bottom line is these people are vultures. Walk in with cash? They don’t want it ! They want to finiance because they get a commision from the bank. The extended warranty guy gets a commision when he swindles you into that. The options guy convincing you that you need lost key protection and siminizing gets his cut. I wish I could order a car directly from the manufaturer with no BS, and have them deliver it right to my house. Isn’t it funny how the government didn’t bail out AMC back in 88′? Chrysler took Jeep, and ruined it in 10 years. Now nobody want’s a jeep due to all the service issues and reliability problems.What comes around, goes around. I wish there were no bailouts, and the “big three” would have to merge to clean up their own mess.
The american big 3 used to be leaders in automotive design and engineering. Now they just follow and try to compete with crap asian imports and as such build the same butter box crap . You will never ever compete with cheap labour overseas. Build something inspiring with quality and just maybe the buying public will come back. Stop being followers and start being leaders again.
I wish Chrysler well. Their main connection with Fiat for a while will be only that the 500 will be sold at some Chrysler dealers. If there’s to be a meging of styles, it will be with Lancia, not Fiat.
I own a 2004 Chrysler Sebring Limited convertible with 75,000 miles, and a 1996 Jeep Cherokee with 154,000 miles. Both cars look and drive like new.
I sold cars for a number of years. Ford, Nissan, Volvo, Alpha Romeo as new brands and at the same time, used of all makes. My family still owns two used car lots. As for dealer mark-ups, the guy that thinks buying into socialized medicine will drop dealer mark-ups is completely out of touch and needs to educate himself. Dealers have nothing to do with the price of health care costs for the factory workers which are built into the manufacurers’ price to the dealer (estimates say 1k-1.5k per unit @ GM, which is hideously expensive) which is the same to all dealers. Dealer mark-up is simply the dealer’s price based on what the market in that location will bare. In less populated and lower demand markets, the mark-up is less. In an area like Sacramento (where I was selling) the mark up is more. I was on the lot when the new Ford “Exploder” came on the market. People were standing on the lot when we opened, waving cheques at the salesmen and paying thousands above MSRP and not caring what color they were, just wanting to be the first to be cool and have the new Explorer. After the supply increased and the initial feeding frenzy of the first buyers for whom the price was not an object subsided, the price came down. At one point, not too long after that, we were selling the Explorer for less than MSRP or we didn’t sell them. The very same thing happened with the PT cruiser when you had to be on a 4 mo. waiting list and pay an extreme mark-up to get one. As for the Challenger, I fully agree that the current dealer mark-ups are prohibitive for a great number of potential buyers, one of which would be me. It’s the nature of the beast. As the supply increases and the demand dwindles (the “money/color is no object” people are done driving the market price) the prices should come down to a more reasonable mark-up with in a reasonable period of time. That said, I hope that the person who said that the extreme mark-ups will make the unit prohibitively expensive long enough for the line to be dropped is wrong. In a normal state of manufacture and sales I’d say don’t worry about it. But, with the sale/merge with Fiat (one of which I owned and it was a S**T-box and always broken) could spell trouble since they may only look at current market share and not line potential as with the Explorer of old. So, we keep our fingers crossed and pray. If they drop the engine sizes in the Charger/Challenger lines, they’re doomed in my opinion. I hope they don’t drop the Viper because that is Chrysler’s last shining glory of muscle and prestige that will probably ever happen, but that’s just my semi-educated opinion. For the person who had a bad experience in ‘90 and decided never to look back, he’s missing the boat. Chrysler did realize that changes needed to be made and they have. The 300 is a great car. The trucks (The new Power Wagons are the best on the market and I’ve had them off and on since my father’s ‘69wt which was a tank) are the best made, hands down. I have been working at a company with the “best” of new Fords in the fleet and they’re great until they break. Impossible to work on yourself and very expensive at the dealership with many things going wrong that shouldn’t, I’ll stick with Dodge. I’ve owned a dozen Dodge and Plymouths over the years including a Fury III big block, a Satalite body Roadrunner (which I loved), my favorite (which I could kick myself for selling) was a ‘68 Coronet 440 wagon with factory tint/ac/power rear door and that fold up back seat that faced out the back that everyone loved (especially at the drive in when you backed in, dropped the gate and enjoyed the movie in open air) where you tossed the kids so you didn’t have to threaten them every five minutes on a road trip. Solid as a rock, cheap to fix and I drove it for years. As for the 80’s products, all the dealers had their moments, just as Chrysler, even Ford and GM turned out total turds for several years. They just took turns. The Govt. should not have gotten involved at all. The bankruptcy courts and laws are in place for a purpose and work without the govt.’s interference. Just as with the large airlines, there would be someone to step in and buy or aid in finance and if the company has to die, which is very unlikely, the market will absorb and adapt and move on. Checker cab company and several other entities have failed BECAUSE of government mandates and interference over the last few years, not because of their help. Prayers for Chrysler and blessings to you all.
And yes, I should have used paragraphs and line breaks but I was trying to save some space *laugh*
Chrysler can rot in hell. They bought AMC to get the Jeep line and decided to crush all the old Rambler parts. Rescuing orphan brands has a huge niche in the automotive hobby world. When Chrysler becomes an orphan I will dance on their empty dealer lots. Thanks for nothing dickweeds.
I am very pleased with the thought and don’t feel like adding anything in it. It a perfect answer.
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jonsmit
PLYMOUTH SHOULD COME BACK BY THE END OF THIS DECADE!!!! IF IT DOESN’T, THEN CHRYSLER IS GOING DOWN THE SHITTER FASTER THAN IT IS NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Chrysler makes good products. I own two Chryslers a 1999 and a 2009. Chrysler will survive if consumers overcome their irrational fear of the pending bankruptcy. I expect Chrysler to be around in 2019 when I need my next car. My next Chrysler will be a plug in electric.
look, its very simple all 3 of the major automakers forgot where they came from.building what some idiot said to and charging major markups has been the standard operating proceedure for a while..your going to tell me i need a 60000 dollar truck and thats what i paid for my frickin house YOU IDIOTS!!! what pulled the companys through good times and bad alike was customer loyalty..where did the darts and scamps go ..durable motors simple interiors and affordable..thats why my grandfather bought 3 of those cars..when the car needed repair he did it .now the big 3 want you to be forced into taking it to them…they got greedy…i love chrysler but when something gets so lazy it no longer cares what it eats..then its time to kill it!
Rick Martin, no this problem with Chrysler is not simple, you are. But at least you stepped out of the closet recently in People magazine.
If it is so simple to build an inexpensive, reliable and powerful car and/or truck, put down the NAMBLA subscription and go make one. We have all been brainwashed into believing the Feds can bring us utopia, but we never stopped to ask just how much their version of utopia would cost us (let alone the freedoms our American ancestors fought to give us that we would relinquish). Turns out it is frighteningly expensive to live in the Progressive’s version of Valhalla. The American Left now owns our media/entertainment, legal and academic institutions, and regulates us from cradle to grave. Hell, we even just gave them complete power over our own personal health decisions. The feds not only control what’s IN your food, they will determine soon precisely what you CAN eat, and whether you’re worth giving any medical care. And you, Mr La Vida Loca, wonder why America can’t build cars like we used to? Look around, Ricky . . . the American concept of self direction and responsibility died long ago. We are now a pathetic legal mirror image of the Euros, and we will soon be in the same demographic death spiral that they find themselves in today.
So go visit some Detroit-centric museum, and realize that you’re looking at fossils no different than viewing the bones of a T-Rex or Brachiosaur. Those cars and trucks are symbols of a once great republic society. The American Left did this to us, but they couldn’t have achieved this national homocide without our willing compliance. Just remember to stop and enjoy the Utopia all around you while you’re at it.
While Chrysler ever be Fiat free ever again, also how much will it cost to get Chrysler American again?
I bought a 2001 Dodge Ram at Ramey Chrysler in Summersville,W.Va. (they have moved since . One day I went to back up in Richwood ,W.Va. and heard a pop in the steering. As I was close to Mansfield Motors(Chrysler Dealership) I pulled in and ask them to look at it. Their salesman,Steve Coury siad it needed a new steering column(without looking at it) and said I would have to pay for it. I told him like hell,it was under warranty . Plus I had the extra warranty service to take care of it. He said it didn,t matter. They would charge me. I told him he was not gonna charge me. I would contact Chrysler about it and tell them what he said. I went straight to the library and sent Chrysler a e-mail describeing everything what was said. They told me to take it to Northside Lerose and they would take care of my problem . They put in a new steering column with NO hassel and a little while later. Mansfield Motors lost their Chrysler dealership and are now out of business. I had seen them do and try to do customers wrong. Karma paid them back.
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Ford should buy out Chrysler and get rid of every thing but Jeep. Ford and jeep have a history that started in WWII. I think ford could brand Jeep much Better then Chrysler has.
As for GM I don’t understand why they are still build two identical trucks. I thought they where supposed to stream line and cut the fat to become Goverment Motors. And what is up with Buick? Why are they still wasting money building those things?
If Chrysler wnts to build a Roadrunner they don’t need to bring back Plymouth, they can just build it as a Dodge like they did for the Neon, but I don’t think it will save them.
GM and Chrysler will both need to make VERY deep cuts to stay alive although I see very little future for Chrysler, but for Godsake, someone save Jeep!
Yes, Fiat is a terrible car! But nevertheless, I am not sure that this is the end for Chrysler. Surely they have a couple of aces in the hole.