Article Comments - Chrysler Does Some Pruning

31 messages, Last post on Aug 28, 2008 at 5:38 PM

You are in the Inside Line Article Comments Forum. Your Hosts are steve_ & claires

What is this discussion about? Chrysler, Automotive News

Chrysler Does Some Pruning, But Where Are the New Seedlings? - Chrysler announced last week that it is dropping from its product portfolio four slow-selling models. Going away in 2008 will be the Dodge Magnum and the Chrysler Crossfire, Pacifica and PT Cruiser convertible. These are the obvious models to clear away from among the overlapping models in Chrysler's line. (more)

Outline

Messages Page 3 of 4: 1; 2; 3; 4; Prev; Next; Last

#15 of 31 I don't think Chrysler's going to prune by iluvmysephia1 Dec 01, 2007 (2:33 pm)
off the Hornet just yet. Chery Motors of China recently announced that it will take a while for them to adapt to stringent U.S.emissions and safety requirements and that they are in no hurry to rush that process. Probably a good plan, eh? We do tend to like our cars to pass Fed.emissions requirements(as if we had any say in the matter)and crashworthiness is getting more and more important for American buyers. Chery is eager to break in to the American car sales market but it will take time. I don't think that means that Chrysler is going to 86 the whole Hornet program at this time, though. The Caliber is too big and heavy and is not getting rave reviews from everybody. The small car gap is still there for Chrysler and the Hornet has received a good response from potential buyers so far. From looking at a concept on the net, anyway. Replies to this message: albook (Dec 01, 2007 9:41 pm)
#16 of 31 Re: I don't think Chrysler's going to prune [iluvmysephia1] by albook Dec 01, 2007 (9:41 pm)
Replying to: iluvmysephia1 (Dec 01, 2007 2:33 pm) Oh- I forgot Chrysler makes the Hornet over in Europe. But I hope they don't bring it over here. IT's better than what they've got, but Dodge need s to change its image. It needs to ditch the tough look and get more refined like Honda, which they can do if Chrysler goes upscale. Leave tough to the Jeeps. Only keep the Charger and Challenger.
#17 of 31 The Challenger looks good by iluvmysephia1 Dec 02, 2007 (10:58 am)
to me. It will be interesting to see how much the lower end Challenger's will cost. The Dodge Hornet will be built in China by Chery Motors and Chrysler. At least when the initial shock from Chery regarding how much work will be required to bring in to American regulations passes and they move on to actually building it. Tha Challenger looks great in pictures. I buy 4-door SUV's/crossovers/sedans exclusively(one vehicle for my wife and I at a time, though, of course) so I would probably not be interested in buying a Challenger but the Hornet I would consider test-driving at least to look in to how well it drives and handles. I like the design and it does not replicate that Chrysler Ram-tough front end that the Caliber does. The Caliber doesn't have the worst design in the world but not really my cup of tea, either. The Hornet has a smaller, sportier design all it's own.
#18 of 31 Chrysler Design by albook Dec 04, 2007 (4:11 pm)
Dodge needs to get rid of the tough look> i like it but it doesn"t appeal to every body> look at avenger> i think it looks okay best sellers like the civic and accord are neutral in styling> that is what people like>
#19 of 31 Chrysler Market Direction by rsuther2 Dec 28, 2007 (11:15 pm)
Chrysler has gone through so many re-inventions over the last 20 years, that folks can't keep up with their identity. Now, just when they were begining to have an identity they are going to revamp the whole thing again. I just hope they can hang in there until the new identity takes hold. I think Press is the right man for the job, look where Toyota is aand where they came from. What I hear from Press is very exciting and healthy for the company. Chrysler is obviously in for some difficult years ahead, but they will be stronger for it in the future. Replies to this message: ottomagnum (Aug 18, 2008 4:57 am)
#20 of 31 Employee Choice Price by arewhyinoh Dec 29, 2007 (8:49 pm)
Wife is expecting our 3rd next week! Need to get a vehicle with 3 rows of seats. Anyone have an employee choice burning a hole in their pocket yet for 2007. Going in to lease a Chrysler on Monday and would love to use it!
#21 of 31 BWALK by budw Feb 19, 2008 (10:04 am)
ANYONE KNOW HOW OR WHERE TO CHECK YOUR CAR FOR RECALLS? Replies to this message: qbrozen (Feb 19, 2008 10:06 am)
#22 of 31 Re: BWALK [budw] by qbrozen Feb 19, 2008 (10:06 am)
Replying to: budw (Feb 19, 2008 10:04 am) YES! RIGHT HERE ON EDMUNDS! WHY ARE WE YELLING?
#23 of 31 Re: Chrysler Market Direction [rsuther2] by ottomagnum Aug 18, 2008 (4:57 am)
Replying to: rsuther2 (Dec 28, 2007 11:15 pm) I agree in many ways with what you have said. Their identity has suffered with all the changes over the past few years. To some degree they rush things to production without seeing what the impact will have on their cohesiveness/identity. Fuel mileage as a manufacture has caused them to try to introduce non-jeep vehicles into their line-up to improve the jeep co. mileage. Chrysler has taken bread and butter cars and tried to turn them into luxury vehicles to keep down costs as well as improve mileage. They tried the Eagle name..they had all kinda partnerships with strange bed-fellows.. they dropped the plymouth name..i could go on and on. My idea is simple Chysler be the only "manufacture" so that the fuel efficiency of an entry level vehicle can off set a jeep or chrysler poor mileage. As for the identity problem directly take three respected names that chrysler has/had and spend the cash to make them competitive sedans/coupe. Dodge be chryslers name for tough trucks and fast cars(viper/ram). Bring back the Eagle name as part of chrysler"manufacture" for their entry level bread and butter cars and cross overs (patriot,compass) and any luxurious vehicle that was a chysler(i.e. the 300 would become Eagle Diplomat) and finally leave jeep a "jeep thing" and stop trying to domesticate it! Jeep was the real SUV and if its not urban enough for you STAY ON THE PORCH. This is the attitude Americans want to see whether they want a Jeep or a Chryler or Dodge or Eagle..Chrysler will be tougher. Dodge will be more "efficiency" and Eagle will be a real bargin...Jeep will be a Jeep! Engineering wise keep things simple (I.E. modular engine 1.4 liter 3cylinder become a 1.9 liter 4cylinder and a 2.8 liter 6cylinder that uses "MDS" to make it run like a 3cylinder when idiling and coasting)..just like Cadilac has the "northstar" chysler needs its own engine maybe 4.4 liter V8 that is also able to come with a 3.3 liter V6 in a 4+4 BMW M3 rival category. Jeep could use Dodges frame and engine (maybe a large/medium bio-diesel engine)from their truck but everything else be Jeep. Lastly Eagle was the first real crossover and it should come back to town and also provide us with state of the art efficient cars that are timeless like the V.W. Beatle/V.W. Mini Bus/Van on one platform like the "k" car.
#24 of 31 Re: That's news to me that the new [iluvmysephia1] by writer Aug 20, 2008 (9:29 pm)
Replying to: iluvmysephia1 (Nov 09, 2007 10:14 am) "I don't like the PT Cruiser" I like the PT Cruiser, but again, they have nothing to replace it. Ignoring the style (which I like, but agree needs to be changed by now), the PT Cruiser was a very good functional product. It fit roughly in the slot with the Toyota Matrix in terms of carrying capacity and flexibility. I suppose they thought that the Calibre was going to fill that gap, but the Calibre is a failure. As for new products, they should have made an agreement with Mitsubishi long ago, to build a low end Lancer in North America. Where is the Calibre being built? Mexico? The Lancer is supposed to be the same "platform" as the Calibre. I do not know how much is actually swappable -- maybe just the wheels. But in theory, a plant that builds Calibres should be able to be adapted to build something based on a Lancer. Now what could they possibly call such a car? How about a "Dodge Colt"? Or maybe a "Chrysler Arrow". It probably would sound better if you called it a "Plymouth Arrow", but I guess we cannot do that anymore. In fact, to get things started they should just buy a bunch of Lancers from Mitsubishi and start selling them in the Chrysler/Dodge showrooms. At least you would get some traffic, so the dealers would not go out of business. The idea of shutting down dealers is pretty stupid too at this point too. What dealers? You know you do need dealers if you want sell cars. You can sell a handful on eBay, but then they still have to be supported. Even Dell found out that you cannot grow a computer company past a certain point without a local physical presence (ie stores). I have NO local Chrysler dealers where I live. The last one that was reasonably close to me closed last year, well before the Cerebus buyout. Replies to this message: dtownfb (Aug 22, 2008 6:13 am) writer (Aug 22, 2008 7:45 pm) writer (Aug 25, 2008 2:15 pm) and 3 more...