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#31168 of 32000 Re: Buick Encore reviewed in Motor Trend [keystonecarfan] by andres3

Jan 25, 2013 (5:46 pm)

Replying to: keystonecarfan (Jan 25, 2013 9:57 am)
2004 Oldsmobile Bravada
 
wow, a 21st Century Oldsmobile? I'd of guessed they were extinct in 1994, not 2004. When did they stop making those lemons?

#31169 of 32000 Re: Question about Corvair influence [keystonecarfan] by andres3

Jan 25, 2013 (5:52 pm)

Replying to: keystonecarfan (Jan 23, 2013 1:28 pm)
I'll give you that the Caliber was a horrible car. But there's no way you are correct in saying it was WORSE than the Neon made pre-Daimler. The Neon was at LEAST equally as bad, if not worse. The fact that Chrysler wasn't improving one iota over time wouldn't surprise me, as they were still using mid-70's era 3-speed auto transmissions up until the end of the 20th Century.
 
But there is no way you can argue that Daimler sent Chrysler downhill; they were already at the bottom. Read through the 200 reviews on the autos user review sections on msn.com of the 1995-1999 Dodge Neons.

#31170 of 32000 Re: Question about Corvair influence [berri] by andres3

Jan 25, 2013 (6:00 pm)

Replying to: berri (Jan 23, 2013 6:27 pm)
If Daimler could go back in time with 20/20 hindsight, I'd bet a week's wages they wouldn't have bought Chrysler back when they did.
 
Also, if Cerebus could do the same, I don't think they would have bought Chrysler either.
 
They were both idiots for buying a "dying" company in my opinion. I don't think they realized how bad it was.
 
So would Chrysler/Fiat even exist today without those 2 buyouts? I have a feeling they'd of gone bankrupt even earlier and sooner! What say you?

#31171 of 32000 Re: Question about Corvair influence [fintail] by andres3

Jan 25, 2013 (6:04 pm)

Replying to: fintail (Jan 22, 2013 7:07 pm)
It is kind of amusing that both Chrysler and MB had some of their worst products during the partnership.
 
Not only that, but I'm sure there are thousands out there like me, that had been burned by Chrysler, and swore them off for life like me. When Daimler bought them, I could have won a $100 million dollar lottery and bought many new and exotic cars, but a Mercedes would not have been one of them simply because they "touched" Chrysler.

#31172 of 32000 Re: Question about Corvair influence [andres3] by busiris

Jan 25, 2013 (6:19 pm)

Replying to: andres3 (Jan 25, 2013 6:00 pm)
If Daimler could go back in time with 20/20 hindsight, I'd bet a week's wages they wouldn't have bought Chrysler back when they did.
 
 
I dunno... Chrysler did have a wad of cash at the time.
 
From: http://mba.tuck.dartmouth.edu/pdf/2002-1-0071.pdf
 
In the mid-1990s, Chrysler Corporation was the most profitable automotive producer in the world. Buoyed by record light truck, van, and large sedan sales, revenues were at an all-time high. Chrysler had taken a risk in producing vehicles that captured the bold and pioneering American spirit when imports dominated the market – the Dodge Ram, the Jeep Grand Cherokee and the LH Sedan Series. In these vehicles Chrysler found an instant mass appeal, and its U.S. market share climbed to 23% in 1997. As revenues and market share rose, product development costs shrank to 2.8% of revenues - compared with 6% at Ford and 8% at General Motors.
 
Of course, there are 2 ways to interpret the last sentence in the above quote. Were they more efficient, or simply gutting development investment costs?
 
Also, if Cerebus could do the same, I don't think they would have bought Chrysler either.
 
No disagreement there.

#31173 of 32000 Re: Question about Corvair influence [busiris] by andres3

Jan 25, 2013 (6:24 pm)

Replying to: busiris (Jan 25, 2013 6:19 pm)
Of course, there are 2 ways to interpret the last sentence in the above quote. Were they more efficient, or simply gutting development investment costs?
 
My interpretation is pretty obvious.
 
They were selling cars worth 7,500 dollars for 15,000, and cars worth 10K for $20K. They would never step up to stand behind the product out of warranty for most folks.
 
They were selling tons and tons of replacement parts to the suckers that bought all those . It was a business model that was not sustainable, but good while it lasted (unless you bought one of their products).
 
No doubt they made a lot of money! Ill-gotten gains I say.
 
I wonder what Rob Nardelli and Iacocca and other CEO's of Chrysler drove around in and bought with their own money?

#31174 of 32000 Re: Question about Corvair influence [andres3] by busiris

Jan 25, 2013 (6:34 pm)

Replying to: andres3 (Jan 25, 2013 6:24 pm)
They were selling cars worth 7,500 dollars for 15,000, and cars worth 10K for $20K. They would never step up to stand behind the product out of warranty for most folks.
 
Not bad work if you can get it...
 
My personal experience with Chrysler warranty services was great on the vehicles I owned from 1978 - 1995. After that, it went south in a big way on the 2000 Concorde and 2001 T & C minivan I bought. To be fair, though, the T & C had few issues, but then again I only kept it 4 years...

#31175 of 32000 Re: Question about Corvair influence [andres3] by fintail

Jan 25, 2013 (7:56 pm)

Replying to: andres3 (Jan 25, 2013 6:04 pm)
Some people who bought MB then had similar experiences. I know a woman who's parents bought an early (98-99) SLK - absolute lemon, was broken more often than not. Early MLs were also disastrous.

#31176 of 32000 Corvette by circlew

Jan 26, 2013 (5:50 am)

Here is my favorite color:
 

 

 
Regards,
OW

#31177 of 32000 Re: Corvette [circlew] by ateixeira

Jan 26, 2013 (7:00 am)

Replying to: circlew (Jan 26, 2013 5:50 am)
I like it too, but all 3 of our cars are blue! I may go red next time since speed cams have taken over most ticketing.

Messages Page 3118 of 3201

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