Chrysler; The descent continues....

[Richard]

They can't seem to get very much right. Apart from the milk delivery
wagon (PT Cruiser) and the ricer wannabee (Neon SRT-4) they keep
turning
out pure crap. Now, they've announced the latest Hemi-powered
vehicles
for 2004. The Magnum truck (hicks take note) will continue, the 300M
4 door
sedan Intrepid overpriced retread gets the Hemi, a Jeep (for the gay
set)
and some kind of hearse-like station wagon. What the F--- is wrong
with
Chrysler? The company that produced such works of art as the
Barracuda
and the Challenger is turning out frankenstein mobiles while using the
venerable
Hemi to sell them. IF they sell.

The Krauts have certainly made a mess of this firm. The Crossfire is
the latest
abomination. A horribly underpowered sport coupe with headroom for
midgets
is another example of how OUT OF TOUCH they are with the buyers.

They even have the gall to put out an ad on television daring to
compare
a bumbkin's pickup truck with one of their masterpiece muscle cars
from
long ago. Wake up Chrysler. It's time to get rid of the Edsel
reincarnations
and build a couple two-door cars with the Hemi. Make one a sports
car, one
a muscle car. If your goal is niche marketing, and this seems to be
the case,
what better target than the monied and bored baby boomers who remember
you
when you produced cars people liked?

Two things to note;
-A Hemi Cuda sold at auction for $1.3 million.
-Have you seen the car rental ad when there guy gets his keys, trudges
to the
parking lot, dejectedly expecting a mainstay rental vehicle like an
Intrepid only to be confronted by a 1970 Dodge Challenger?? Then he
smiles widely. What does this say to you?
-Rich

 

[Daniel J Stern]

+----------+
| PLEASE |
| DO NOT |
| FEED THE |
| TROLLS |
+----------+
| |
| |
.\|.||/..

 

[Saintor]

It looks to me that Chrysler is playing the VW game. Higher priced cars
with no status.

If Pacifica is any indication (can t believe the new 300!!!), there are
headed toward big troubles.

 

[Lloyd Parker]

They can't seem to get very much right. Apart from the milk delivery
wagon (PT Cruiser) and the ricer wannabee (Neon SRT-4) they keep
turning
out pure crap. Now, they've announced the latest Hemi-powered
vehicles
for 2004. The Magnum truck (hicks take note) will continue, the 300M
4 door
sedan Intrepid overpriced retread gets the Hemi, a Jeep (for the gay
set)
and some kind of hearse-like station wagon. What the F--- is wrong
with
Chrysler? The company that produced such works of art as the
Barracuda
and the Challenger is turning out frankenstein mobiles while using the
venerable
Hemi to sell them. IF they sell.

Yeah, 1970 was such a high point of technology and quality, wasn't it?

The Krauts have certainly made a mess of this firm. The Crossfire is
the latest
abomination. A horribly underpowered sport coupe with headroom for
midgets
is another example of how OUT OF TOUCH they are with the buyers.

Compare it to its competition -- Audi TT, for example, and it's square in the
middle.

They even have the gall to put out an ad on television daring to
compare
a bumbkin's pickup truck with one of their masterpiece muscle cars
from
long ago. Wake up Chrysler. It's time to get rid of the Edsel
reincarnations
and build a couple two-door cars with the Hemi.

Note that most makers have dropped 2-doors above the sub-compact size because
they do not sell. No 2-doors from Buick or Pontiac (save the imported GTO).
None from Ford save the Mustang (and the T-Bird, which is selling so poorly
it's being dropped). Note how the Camaro and Firebird sold? They didn't.

Make one a sports
car, one
a muscle car. If your goal is niche marketing, and this seems to be
the case,
what better target than the monied and bored baby boomers who remember
you
when you produced cars people liked?

Niche markets have their place, but not for a maker's entire line.

Two things to note;
-A Hemi Cuda sold at auction for $1.3 million.

Gee, I've heard of 1970s era computers being sold for a lot too. Should we
bring them back?

And why did muscle cars disappear? Insurance rates. Emissions. Fuel
mileage. Poor handling.

See any Infiniti coupes with V8s? No, just V6s. Honda? Toyota? GM? Nope.

-Have you seen the car rental ad when there guy gets his keys, trudges
to the
parking lot, dejectedly expecting a mainstay rental vehicle like an
Intrepid only to be confronted by a 1970 Dodge Challenger?? Then he
smiles widely. What does this say to you?
-Rich

Do you think it's just possible DC knows the market better than you?

 

[Lloyd Parker]

It looks to me that Chrysler is playing the VW game. Higher priced cars
with no status.

If Pacifica is any indication (can t believe the new 300!!!), there are
headed toward big troubles.

Latest word was Pacifica is outselling its main competition, Lexus RX330 and
Acura MDX.

 

[Saintor]

Do you think it's just possible DC knows the market better than you?

Talking about this, I am not if they really know the market as much as they
should.

Who asked for the Pacifica?
Who asked for an high-price 215HP Coupe?
Who asked for a V8/rear-wheel drive Magnum?
Who asked for a new 300 with Rolls-Royce styling?

Chrysler is headed toward a wall.

 

[Daniel J Stern]

Yeah, 1970 was such a high point of technology and quality, wasn't it?

Well, gosh, Lloyd, why don't you do the maths and tell us? Here are a
couple of formulas to get you started:

[Failure rate transmissions, 1968 to 1972 (A904, TH350,C4)/3]

divided by

[Failure rate transmissions, 1996 to 2000 (41TE, 4T60E, AXOD)/3]

--------------------

[Failure rate of alternators in model year 1968 to 1972 vehicles]

divided by

[Failure rate of alternators in model year 1996 to 2000 vehicles]

--------------------

[Average longevity of head/brake/taillamp bulbs, 1968-1972]

divided by

[Average longevity of head/brake/taillamp bulbs, 1996-2000]

--------------------

Compare it to its competition -- Audi TT, for example, and it's square
in the middle.

....and "square in the middle" is *such* a good place to be...

Note that most makers have dropped 2-doors above the sub-compact size because
they do not sell. No 2-doors from Buick or Pontiac (save the imported GTO).

....which doesn't count?

None from Ford save the Mustang

....which doesn't count? (Psst...the GT40 is coming...)

And last time I checked, the Corvette had only 2 doors.

And why did muscle cars disappear?

They didn't. In fact, new ones are being introduced at an increasing rate.
GTO, GT40.

DS

 

[RPhillips47]

Who asked for the Pacifica?
Who asked for an high-price 215HP Coupe?
Who asked for a V8/rear-wheel drive Magnum?
Who asked for a new 300 with Rolls-Royce styling?

MANY of us, but definitely not YOU!

Our Pacifica AWD is FAR superior to our last three new vehicles ('96 T&C LXi,
'93 LeBaron LX Convertible, '92 T&C) and we are extremely pleased with, and
happy we bought, it.

As for the new 300C and Rolls-Royce styling, you obviously don't have a clue
about former Chrysler concept cars if you think the styling looks like R-R.

As for the Magnum, I am hoping that Chrysler will decide to sell the 300C
version here as well as in Europe.

As for the Crossfire, I am too old and tall to be comfortable in it!

 

[James C. Reeves]

Actually, I think the Pacifica is quite a nice piece of work for a 1st year
production run. I think it has leggs to run for a few years. I hear sales
are quite good. I see them all over the place.

Now, I have to agree with you on the new 300. It's style resembles more of
what you would expect from the Chrysler "Imperial" OR Chrysler "New Yorker"
badges _NOT_ the 300. The 300 has a sporty legacy and the new 300 looks way
too boxy and stuffy..certainly NOT sporty! It will appeal to the 65+
crowd...not sure why Chrysler wants that group...Buick already has that
loyal following sewed up!!!

 

[James C. Reeves]

|
| > Do you think it's just possible DC knows the market better than you?
|
| Talking about this, I am not if they really know the market as much as
they
| should.
|
| Who asked for the Pacifica?
| Who asked for an high-price 215HP Coupe?
| Who asked for a V8/rear-wheel drive Magnum?
| Who asked for a new 300 with Rolls-Royce styling?
|
| Chrysler is headed toward a wall.
|
|

Uhm...many in this and other NGs have been clamoring for those very type
vehicles. Why do you think GM is bringing out new V8 rear wheel drive
vehicles too! The market has been screaming for them! Can you say Pontiac
GTO? We all already know that luxury SUV market is very hot...Chrysler
wasn't even playing in that space before. I understand where you are coming
from...I drive medium front wheel drive sedans (Stratus/Sebring) and don't
personally want a SUV OR a rear wheel drive V8. But many do...

 

[Saintor]

I also read this version elsewhere, but most recent reports say that they
sold only 4800 units on a projected volume of 60000 units a year. They fired
the marketing executive for this project and cancelled the Celine Dion ad.

 

[mark french]

Who asked for the Pacifica?

Who asked for an high-price 215HP Coupe?>Who asked for a V8/rear-wheel drive

Magnum?>Who asked for a new 300 with Rolls-Royce styling?>>>

Here's a better idea, find out who asked GM for the Aztek....and when you do,
put him to death for 1st degree visual pollution....

 

[Ponygurrrl]

Who asked for a new 300 with Rolls-Royce styling?

Saw it in Frankfurt and damn it's a mighty fine car, was quite
overwhelmed !!
Too bad I can't afford to buy one ;'o)

 

[Martin Boer]

Two things to note;
-A Hemi Cuda sold at auction for $1.3 million.
-Have you seen the car rental ad when there guy gets his keys, trudges
to the
parking lot, dejectedly expecting a mainstay rental vehicle like an
Intrepid only to be confronted by a 1970 Dodge Challenger?? Then he
smiles widely. What does this say to you?

That you refuse to live in a 2003 World and stubbornly stay in
a USofA that is quite ignorant ?

Don't get me wrong, if I could I'd buy a '69 F 100 with a 460 big block
for my wife, a '69 Charger RT for myself and a 2000 Cherokee to play
with.
DC is about selling cars and making a profit. Now, Chrysler used to
make a profit once every few years but DC makes profits on a regular
basis.
I agree with you that that is 'unfair' and 'uncool' but their shareholders
expect them to do that.

Get over it.
Martin

P.S. I am European and overhere people think my '98 Stratus 2.5V6 is
a bigass car, I've never even seen a cuda for real. Now -that- is unfair!

 

[MoPar Man]

More Like Bentley styling.

Saw it in Frankfurt and damn it's a mighty fine car, was quite
overwhelmed !!

Apparently it's appearance is pleasing to the German (or European)
eye. That explains it then. Both the Cross-fire and LX-body sedans
are the German's idea of what (will) sell in North America as far as
Chrysler is concerned.

It's a brick. What else would you expect from a platform (LX)
designed to do double-duty as a sedan and cross-over SUV?

Too bad I can't afford to buy one ;'o)

We'll see how many Americans and CDN's will be able to afford the V-8
versions of the Brick-300.

 

[Lurker]

Great news. ANY ad with Celine in is something I WON'T buy!!!1

 

[Bill Putney]

...ANY ad with Celine in is something I WON'T buy!!!

Because...?

Bill Putney
(to reply by e-mail, replace the last letter of the alphabet in my
address with "x")

 

[Matthew S. Whiting]

Because...?

She's uglier than nine miles of dirt road.


Matt

 

[Lloyd Parker]

Talking about this, I am not if they really know the market as much as they
should.

Who asked for the Pacifica?

People who buy Lexus RX330s and Acura MDXs?

Who asked for an high-price 215HP Coupe?

People who buy Audi TTs?

Who asked for a V8/rear-wheel drive Magnum?

People who buy Crown Victorias? People who'd like to buy a Lexus, Mercedes,
BMW, or Jag?

Who asked for a new 300 with Rolls-Royce styling?

Rolls-Royce? What have you been smoking? If anything, the styling is
reminiscent of some older Ramblers and Studebakers.

 

[Lloyd Parker]

Yeah, 1970 was such a high point of technology and quality, wasn't it?

Well, gosh, Lloyd, why don't you do the maths and tell us? Here are a
couple of formulas to get you started:

[Failure rate transmissions, 1968 to 1972 (A904, TH350,C4)/3]

divided by

[Failure rate transmissions, 1996 to 2000 (41TE, 4T60E, AXOD)/3]

--------------------

[Failure rate of alternators in model year 1968 to 1972 vehicles]

divided by

[Failure rate of alternators in model year 1996 to 2000 vehicles]

--------------------

[Average longevity of head/brake/taillamp bulbs, 1968-1972]

divided by

[Average longevity of head/brake/taillamp bulbs, 1996-2000]

Are you seriously saying Chrysler quality was better in the 1970s? Because if
you are, how about a nice used bridge?

....and "square in the middle" is *such* a good place to be...

Most auto makers aim for the middle of a market.

GTO).

....which doesn't count?

It's not made here, and the poster was advocating (it seemed) Chrysler making
a large 2-door here.

....which doesn't count?

Smaller than what the poster was asking for. He wanted something like the old
muscle cars.

(Psst...the GT40 is coming...)

Yeah, that will be a huge seller. Viper performance at Ferrari prices.

And last time I checked, the Corvette had only 2 doors.

And wasn't what the poster asked for.

They didn't. In fact, new ones are being introduced at an increasing rate.
GTO, GT40.

Nice try, but the GT40 is a sports car, not a muscle car. The GTO is a
revival, and we'll see what happens. I guarantee you, if GM didn't have the
Monaro already handy in Australia, they never would have built it here.