Anthony

Unfortunately, many people do not see past their own bias. I'm hoping all domestics make it through these tough times. I know this is a Ford board, but having discussions that always result in "Ford rules, everyone else sucks no matter what the truth is" doesn't do much for the people who actually want to debate true merits and foibles of any manufacturer. I'll be in the market for a new car in about a year and a half. Whoever gives me the best value and quality for the money gets my business. If its Ford with the redesigned Fusion (which judging by many of the preliminary reports is at the top of my list), so be it. But you can bet I'll be checking out the Malibu, the Accord and whatever comparible cars in that class are at the time. Manufacturers have to earn my business with good, quality cars that I actually want. I will not walk into any dealership because I am a blind loyal follower of a brand. I did that for the first 15 years of my driving life, not anymore. However, I can say more then any other manufacturer... Ford is well on their way to getting me back behind the wheel (GM a close second).

I'm impressed they laid out the bad with the good. I didn't even know that about the Wrangler Unlimited and it was on my radar.

Nancy Rae, Senior Vice President, Human Resources and Corporate Communications, shares an email that she sent to employees today, entitled "Keeping Track of the Facts on Chrysler LLC". Keeping Track of the Facts on Chrysler LLC By Nancy Rae Senior Vice President, Human Resources and Corporate Communications As the industry goes through a period of great change and a slowing economy, we all face difficult questions about the status of the industry and our company. Following are a number of the leading subjects that come up in the media and in our daily conversations, as well as information you need to know and share: The State of the U.S. Auto Industry in 2008 • Our full year plan for the market in 2008 has been aggressively conservative, allowing us to be better positioned for the current slowdown. We are clearly in a challenging environment, but continue to be focused on building a profitable enterprise for the long term. • We are committed to good business practices despite the market slowdown such as reducing fleet sales (volume down more than 20% YTD) and dealer inventory (volume is down 67,000 units from a year ago). The State of Chrysler • As a private company, we are like a $60 billion startup with a real owner-operator mentality. • Despite the challenges, we are meeting or exceeding our financial targets. • According to Bob Nardelli (in The Wall Street Journal), "Cerberus nor its backers are second-guessing the deal. They are not looking back." • According to Tim Price, Cerberus spokesman, "We are comfortable. We are long-term investors. Chrysler is ahead of its cash flow forecast by $1 billion." • We currently have our top 300 leaders going through a comprehensive leadership development program consisting of five segments focusing on strategic thinking, operating excellence and leadership. • We are developing project-specific alliances to help bring the world's best technology to our customers, as soon as possible. Examples range from working with Nissan on a new small car for global markets to partnering with GM, Daimler and BMW on hybrid technology. • We enacted a 5 percent cost reduction on certain non-production materials and services as a part of ongoing efforts to reduce our cost footprint in a highly competitive marketplace. Chrysler's Sales in 2008 • Worldwide sales are down 14% YTD, which includes YTD increases in Canada, Mexico and International Markets. Fleet sales in the U.S. were down 40% in May and 23% for the year. • Sales are rising for new products, such as Dodge Journey (2nd best selling mid-size crossover in May), Dodge Avenger (+15% YTD), Dodge Caliber (+9% YTD), Chrysler Sebring Sedan/Convertible (+11% YTD), and Jeep Patriot/Compass (+65% YTD). • Our long-wheelbase minivans' U.S. retail sales are up 30% YTD, and retail share is up. • In Canada, Chrysler is the #2 best selling manufacturer in the country, and up 5.5% YTD. • In Mexico, Chrysler's sales are up 5.1% YTD. • Outside North America, Chrysler's international sales are up 8% YTD, with markets like China and Russia becoming a larger part of our business. • Dealers have embraced Project Genesis, and we are making progress in transforming the U.S. dealer network. Through May, 58% of our dealers are tri-branded, compared to 50% a year ago. In the U.S., we now have 3,488 dealers, down from a year ago 3,684. Chrysler's Alignment with Marketplace • Chrysler is better aligned than previously for the shift towards smaller, more fuel efficient vehicles. We also believe there is a strong and viable pickup truck market going forward. • Through May, our U.S. sales were 41% pickup trucks and traditional SUVs, and 59% cars, car-based crossovers, compact vehicles and minivans. (Industry is at 33%/67% ratio) • Chrysler has six vehicles that achieve 28 MPG on the highway: Dodge Caliber, Dodge Avenger, Chrysler Sebring, Chrysler Sebring Convertible, Jeep Patriot and Jeep Compass. Chrysler's Launch Lineup for 2008 These new vehicles have competitive advantages and are well-suited for today's marketplace: • Dodge Journey - A crossover with class–leading (25 mpg) with a 4-cylinder engine. • Chrysler Aspen/Dodge Durango Hybrids – Full-size SUVs offering up to 40% improved fuel economy in the city at a price thousands of dollars less than the competition. • 2009 Dodge Ram – There is no better way to fight truck buyer malaise than with our best truck lineup ever boasting breakthrough new features. The new Dodge Ram lineup will also soon add optional light duty diesel and hybrid powertrain options. • Dodge Challenger – This modern muscle car will come with a fuel-efficient V6 option at an aggressive entry-level price of $21,995. Harbour Report for Manufacturing Productivity • This year, Chrysler tied Toyota for #1 in manufacturing productivity (avg assembly hours). • Chrysler has the #1 assembly plant (innovative Toledo Supplier Park) and #1 engine plant (GEMA joint venture with Hyundai and Mitsubishi). • The combination of lower hours-per-vehicle production and a more competitive wage rate helps us compete with the transplants. Quality • In the latest J.D. Power IQS, the company improved six points, and Chrysler and Dodge brands showed improvement. Unfortunately, the Jeep brand was last in the survey due to concerns about the Wrangler Unlimited. We can do better and we know it. • Dodge Durango and Dodge Dakota were tops in segments for least problems per hundred. Chrysler PT Cruiser took second place in the "Compact Multi-Activity Vehicle Segment". • We have a corporate wide focus on the customer. As part of this, we have put in place the industry's first Chief Customer Office, Doug Betts, and the Customer Advisory Board. • Chrysler LLC has approved more than 400 improvements in areas such as better materials, fit and finish and quieter operation. Commodity Prices • In the wake of mounting pressure from ever-increasing steel and other commodity prices, Chrysler is managing its costs and revenues to partially offset spiraling commodity costs. • Chrysler will continue its overall commitment to deliver the best values in the business through increasing standard equipment with our New Day packages to creative incentives, such as the $2.99 Gas Guarantee and our industry-leading lifetime powertrain warranty. • At the beginning of the model year, Chrysler added, on average, $1,200 of new content to the vehicles in its lineup. Investing in our Future with Advanced Technology • Chrysler is in the midst of a $3 billion investment in advanced powertrains to develop new fuel efficient engines, axles and transmissions. • ENVI is Chrysler's in-house organization charged with establishing Chrysler leadership in electric-drive vehicles and related advanced-propulsion technologies. • Chrysler's UConnect® is a Bluetooth® enabled voice-activated, in-vehicle, hands-free communications system that recognizes more than 100,000 words and is capable of learning new words. Voice commands can input addresses to the navigation system, select satellite radio stations and access voice mail. New for 2009, the hands-free system automatically downloads up to 1,000 phone book entries per phone. • Examples of new advanced technologies available on 2009 models include: • In-vehicle wireless Internet connectivity: coming from Mopar® by year end 2008. • Rear Cross Path: Chrysler-exclusive system warns drivers of approaching traffic in the parking lot aisle during back-up maneuvers. • Blind Spot Monitoring: exclusive to Chrysler and Dodge in minivan segment. We are committed to continuing to share information with you. As an ambassador for this company, we hope you will communicate this information in your conversations about Chrysler. Nancy

Chrysler has reduced their fleet sales in case nobody actually reads the news. As a matter of fact, they seem to be about even with Ford now. Now that you ask....I wonder how many of those Explorers are fleet? As we all know fleet also includes gov't and contractor vehicles. Such as Panther/Charger and F-150/Ram.

Umm, the 600 more units it sold after being America's best selling SUV for over a decade really does seem devasting, don't you think? Also, I did not know the Explorer was the entire midsize SUV market. Man, that's even worse then I was making it out to be.

Ummm...it sold 5,000 more units then the Ford Taurus X did last month. 7,500 units ain't too shabby (which is almost as much as Mercury and Lincoln's combined SUV sales for the month). It outsold the once almighty Murano, Rogue, Santa Fe, Tuscon, CX-7, CX-9, Tribute, Outback, Forester, Grand Vitara/ XL7, Mariner, MKX, Enclave, Equinox, Acadia, Torrent, Outlook, Outlander, Element......(that's all I could think of that is remotely cross-shoppable and since its kind of a tweener between a couple size classes) Ford Edge, Escape, Toyota Highlander, RAV4 and Honda Pilot (though did come close), CRV are the only things I can think of off the top of my head outselling it that is comparable....and that's only being on the market for one quarter. Its obviously destroying the traditional midsize SUV market (that could possibly be in any comparison as well).

Mind you it is only a concept from almost two years ago, but the basic styling should be there... I think its a slick little ride.

.........at least for another few weeks.

I'm honestly surprised they didn't. I've seen smaller interfaces that had it integrated. A lot of people don't like HVAC integrated, but I'm one who actually does. That being said as long as the screen does not take away from anything else (which it doesn't look like it does), the bigger the better. My next car buying time is coming up in about a year or two. If I can get a totally loaded 4 cyl Fusion with a SYNC setup on a screen like that, I'd be very apt to check it out. I'm way more into simple designs that look smart then overly complex designs (that are complex for the sake of being complex).

I've used two different dealers. Both were A+. Not saying all dealers are, but they definitely exceeded my expectations. I've only purchased domestics prior to this so that's the only comparison I have to go on (Ford, Lincoln, Chevy, Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep). I've not read up much on the Genesis because it does not really interest me. But, the V8 model (which I'm not sure will even be the assumed majority seller) MSRP for $37,250. There is only one option (the Technology package) which adds $4K. So, the car tops out at $42K with every option including destination. No, I would not buy it, but I'm sure there many that would. I am also under the agreement that it should not be sold under the same roof as the lesser cars. But frankly, it costs quite a bit of money to get a new brand off the ground...I can understand the rationale, I just wonder if it will bite them in the butt in the end. BTW, that technology package is interesting: Technology Package Includes 528-watt 17 speaker lexicon Logic 7 discrete audio system with HD radio, 1-year subscription to XM satellite radio and NavTraffic, navigation system, driver information system with large 8-inch display, 40G hard-drive, rear back-up camera, joystick type control, AM/FM stereo, 6-disc DVD changer, Bluetooth, text-to-speech feature, HID auto-leveling headlights, adaptive front lighting system with auto-leveling, front and rear parking assistance sensors and cooled driver seat. Again, not my cup of tea. But, I'm not a tea drinker.

I brought my Sonata in for service at the local Hyundai service center. Believe it or not, they (at least the one I used) did have all of the above. Last year, during a trip in for an oil change/balance/rotation, I asked for the drive belt to be replaced since the car had hit 60K (preventative maintenance) even though the car was only a few years old (I travel a great deal and put miles on a vehicle very quickly). The service advisor called me back very shortly after I dropped off the car and advised that they would replace the belt if I wanted them to, but it did not need it as it looked great. THAT was excellent service. Instead of doing a five minute job (yes, that's all it takes as I just replaced the belt myself last weekend at 72K) and making an easy buck, they let me know it was not necessary to spend the extra money. They even put in writing on the receipt that they advised the belt did not need replacing. I also had an excellent buying experience at the dealership as well. No pressure, no lame tactics that other dealers have tried on me in the past (brands that we are very familiar with here on BON). They knew their product and were very soft handed with their approach. I guess (judging by previous posts regarding supposed Hyundai clients) I should also note I am not a crack addict, I do not have any illegitimate children, my FICO is over 800, I earn an excellent salary and own my home free and clear.

Not too crazy about the color, but looks good!

Well after reading the three on-topic posts and the pictures of the Toyota, I can say say its not as horrid as you guys are making it out to be. With exception to its "H.R. Giger" grille, its not bad looking at all. If I was shopping the Edge or Flex, I'd give it a look as well (heaven forbid).

Actually, I believe that is the one they are building.

That wasn't a bad review at all.

Totally unrelated, but love your avatar...been a fan since the early 80's. Still am.

I would not consider anything that involves substantial structural changes to the greenhouse and A-pillars a "minor" refresh (if this is in fact based off the 5).

Finally! It usually only takes a few posts to get that statement in just about every thread about Chrysler.

Wait for it.....wait for it...................

What? Unless you have X-ray vision you cannot tell 90% of what that car will look like. All I can tell from that thing is that it has windows and tires.

So Maserati has Kia taillights too?

Have you checked out the Equinox? Same as a Torrent, but may be cheaper (I have not checked pricing, so I could not say)

Concept pics released.....reminiscent of the newer Lincoln (whatever letter combo it is, I can never remember), but better IMHO. A more cohesive package .

Good luck with your purchase, I'm sure it'll serve you fine. Just hit 70K on our Sonata...no visits to the dealer as of yet. Completely trouble free (though its on its fourth year, so I guess that means I throw it out next year... ).

I'm not sure how this thread is considered bashing though. Someone started a thread in the Ford forum about new Ford rebates in a non-belligerent tone. How is that bashing? If someone is using this site as research (heaven forbid) when buying a car, this may help them out in actually buying a Ford.