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Too late for Chrysler?


OHV 16V

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That article says it will be a couple years before Chrysler gets any Fiat products? If it is a couple years there won't be a Chrysler left. How can they not get that Fiat 500 over here ASAP. They must be just as stupid as Chrysler. That model alone would be the life support the company needs to bridge the gap and bring some buyers to the Chrysler dealers until they can figure out what to do going forward.

 

The flipside is Fiat doesn't give 2 shits about Chrysler and all they are is a dealer network for all of their products when they are finally ready to enter the market. Its like invasion of the body snatchers with cars and dealerships.

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:happy feet:

Just let the zombie die!!

 

My personal opinion on Chrysler is the next time they have a problem and need a bailout, it's time to let this company die. I don't want to see all the jobs lost to it, but this is the second bailout that Chrysler has gotten from the US government and they are OK for a few years, but then they run into problems.

 

Chrysler has tried to stay afloat with Daimler and others and now they will try with Fiat. I just don't see them doing well. I see them on life support and at some point the plug has to be pulled.

 

Just my opinion.

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I would say Chrysler is a "Walking Dead" company right now and has been for last couple years. For an auto company the size of Chrysler to survive today you have to have a strong mid sized car entry that does well. It took Ford almost five years with Fusion to establish a strong footprint in that segment. Without that segment, Chrysler can't survive long term. It has the pickup, but needs the strong mid sized entry. Chrylser doesn't have five years to get established in that segment. With Daimler, Chrysler put its eggs in the wrong basket and now doesn't have the time or money to get it correct this time. At best, Chrysler could become a niche company like Subaru or Kia, but that is it IMO. Downsize to a very small company that caters to pickup crowd, B and C vehicles with Fiat, and minivan crowd and call it a day. I hope Chrysler survives that way, because IMO that is the only way it will survive. If Chrysler tries to maintain its D3 status, it will fail.

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That model alone would be the life support the company needs

Nah. Not really. Mini selling at 4k, have to figure the 500 wouldn't hit that, and that's less 3 cars per dealer, and cars with dang near no profit margin for the dealers, and not much for Fiasco either, especially if they were importing them from Europe.

Edited by RichardJensen
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How can they not get that Fiat 500 over here ASAP. They must be just as stupid as Chrysler. That model alone would be the life support the company needs to bridge the gap and bring some buyers to the Chrysler dealers until they can figure out what to do going forward.

 

I don't think people realize how small the 500 is. How about 7" shorter than the standard Mini. We're talking B-class car (actually a bit smaller). I just don't think Americans will ever pay serious attention to any vehicle that small.

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I'm confident that the redesigned 300C and Charger will carry this company to a rosy profitable future for decades to come.

 

Is that sarcasm?

 

I don't think people realize how small the 500 is. How about 7" shorter than the standard Mini. We're talking B-class car (actually a bit smaller). I just don't think Americans will ever pay serious attention to any vehicle that small.

 

I agree, I don't feel it will do that well....it'll have it's market certainly, but not a big one IMO.

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I don't think people realize how small the 500 is. How about 7" shorter than the standard Mini. We're talking B-class car (actually a bit smaller). I just don't think Americans will ever pay serious attention to any vehicle that small.

 

How does it stack up size-wise to the Fiesta?

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Many keep saying, "we want to see new cars now". But, how can this be done? Do these experts have secrets to Federalize and retool for cars/engines in a month's time?

 

I don't know if anyone is saying we "want" product now, but rather that Chrysler needs product now.

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I don't know if anyone is saying we "want" product now, but rather that Chrysler needs product now.

 

With 7% of the market, Chrysler needs to get rid of a lot of product NOW, not redesign the interiors and hope they sell this time. The speculation was that they were going to end production of much of their lineup that wasn't selling, but instead they are going to keep on, redesign the interiors, and shove them back to dealers with I suppose huge incentives of over $5,000/vehicle. Not going to work IMO. Chrysler has the products of a 14% market share company, and plans on staying the same product wise, and then add more products later! That is very bizarre plan in my mind. I must be missing something here.

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With 7% of the market, Chrysler needs to get rid of a lot of product NOW, not redesign the interiors and hope they sell this time. The speculation was that they were going to end production of much of their lineup that wasn't selling, but instead they are going to keep on, redesign the interiors, and shove them back to dealers with I suppose huge incentives of over $5,000/vehicle. Not going to work IMO. Chrysler has the products of a 14% market share company, and plans on staying the same product wise, and then add more products later! That is very bizarre plan in my mind. I must be missing something here.

 

I haven't said too much about the next new Chrysler turnaround plan, as I wanted to really dig into it and understand it first. I've been through all the different presentations, studied them, and I have to say that I'm completely uninspired, and sometimes downright confused, by the new plan.

 

Dodge

New Charger coming, seemingly based off a 1999 concept car Championed by Bob Lutz. The profile line actually looks interesting, and I'm going to reserve judgment until I see the whole thing. I'm worried, thought, that they did the most work on what is probably the 4th most important product in the Dodge line. The Caliber, Avenger, and Journey all should have been given IMMEDIATE attention, as they all play in much higher volume segments. Also, investment into the Charger / 300 will take money, which will probably be reflected in the transaction price. Current customers of the 300/Charger likely got a great deal on their current rides, what's the incentive to stick with the new car if it's just as expensive as the competitor?

 

 

RAM

A cheesy ad campaign and the far-off death of the underperforming Dakota? THIS is why you decided to make the new brand? Awe inspiring.

 

Chrysler

Again, no real near-term improvements here. Special editions of the PT, 300, Sebring (!), and T&C are their answer to steady sales in the next 2 years. Really? And the Sebring is going to be "improved" before the replacement is ready in 2012-14? How do you MCE a car that needs just about every aspect of reworked, without ballooning the price?

 

Jeep

The little FWD crap boxes will be merged into another FWD crap box. Wrangler will stay the "core" of the brand, while FWD crossovers are used for volume. Are we sure this is the NEW plan?

 

Conclusion

Working in a major market newsroom, I get to see what the "big" stories of the day are. There were exactly FOUR stories moved by the AP wire yesterday about this MAJOR announcement by a MAJOR automaker. FOUR. For comparison, there were 6 stories moved about Ohio State's planned throwback uniforms for the Michigan game (great lakes regional AP service), and 9 "Balloon Boy" updates (national AP feed).

 

Chrysler needed to come out and say: We're damaged, but I guarantee you everything coming out of Auburn Hills (Italy?) from now on will be world class, and here's how...

 

Instead, they did a power point with marketing mumbo jumbo and pie-in-the-sky numbers, and talked about their ALL NEW 2014 lineup.

 

Bravo, boys. Don't forget to turn out the lights when you leave.

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I agree, I think Chryslers days are numbered. My only local Dodge dealer has a complete compliment of Challengers sitting on the lot (at least 7) and no traffic. That to me is their most exciting product. I was shocked to see that volume sitting there. I saw this from the road, there could've been more.

 

Prognosis to me isn't good.

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