Daimler-Chrysler Profit down 30% World-Wide

Mercedes loss cuts Daimler's profit

HERE'S MY TAKE ON ALL THIS. There are a lot of car companies in this
world, all making similar quality products at competetive prices. When D-C
is just another apple in the barrel, they have no market advantage.

Chrysler used to advertise themselves as engineering being their
strongpoint. But today, a Kia is just as good as a 300M or even a
Mercedes. Soon, a Song will be their biggest competitor. Who doesn't want
a new quality car for $7,500 instead of $75,000?

To recapture the market, Chrysler has to offer something different than the
other folks. Like in different I mean no more electric fuel pump in the
tank where it goes bad and you are stuck. How about a direct
engine-driven, all metal pump? As long as the engine runs, the pump runs.
As long as the pump runs, the engine runs. Get the picture? How about
making it a double impeller pump, with two fuel lines and two filters and
check valves to make it a double pump system? If one system quits working
for any reason, a check warning light goes on to signal the driver for
service. In the meantime, the engine still chugs along like nothing
happened. Use this kind of design philosophy to all the car's critical
systems and D-C will have something unique to sell: a car you can depend
upon.

Engines shouldn't rev over 3600 rpm, tops. Anything faster is asking for
fast wear out, thrown rods, melted bearings, or broken cranks. The fuel
injection system should be all mechanical with electronic control override
for smog control. If the electonics fail, the system defaults to
mechanical and the driver gets the light, but still chugs along.

No timing belt, no through holes in the head gasket (except bores and
bolts), etc. etc. etc. If necessary, fire all the engineers and tell them
to go back to work for American Standard. Hire some out of work Russian
aerospace guys who can make a car reliable enough so the old lady doesn't
say about your 20 year old Chrysler, "Will that car make it to San Diego?"

In the old days, people dumped their cars after 3 years of service. A 3
year old was already an old car. Times have changed. If United Airlines
can use 20 year old jets every day of the week for fare paying public
transportation, I see no reason why I can't use a 20 year old jalopy to go
coast to coast without worrying the fucking CV joints might seize and snap
off because D-C didn't install Alamite grease fittings to renew the grease
every oil change. By the way, how many of you out there do an annual
teardown and regrease of your u-joints? Not one in a thousand. Your
joints are just like mine, 200,000 miles between grease jobs (and
catastrophic, explosive dissembly).

As long as D-C think you should always carry a cell phone with you to call
for help when your Mercedes quits because a little wire came loose
somewhere, they're doomed; they've got to build in 200% dependability in
each and every one of their premium priced products. In the meantime, I
can't hardly wait until the Song hits the showrooms.

 

Nomen Nescio wrote:

The reason we now have tank-located fuel pumps is because under-hood
temperatures got too high and things are too compacted. Vapor lock is a
reality. Last car I had with a mechanical engine-driven fuel pump was
an '80 Citation. Would vapor lock in the summer. Of course it didn't
help that they designed the front manifold pipe to do a 4" radius 180°
turn with the fuel pump located at the exact center of the radius.

But earlier you were desiring a $7500 car. You can't have both.

But from whence do you get power to pass safely. Right now, it comes
from downshifting and high engine revs (torque x speed => horsepower).
The only other way is thru displacement or forced induction which
contrdicts your other goals.

The fuel

I go along with that one. It is do-able. If they could develop the
CV-joint to be feasible for the consumer market, they can put a little
development money into a reasonable initial cost, absolute zero
maintenance gear-driven overhead cam.

Bill Putney
(To reply by e-mail, replace the last letter of the alphabet in my
adddress with the letter 'x')

 

Some moronic crap.

I said months ago that this guy was nothing but a Troll who likes to read
his own typing.

Nomen, get a JOB. Get a LIFE. Honestly.