Chrysler

[Head Wreck]

Now a while back when the big three were first looking precarious because people were moving away from the typical "yank tank guzzler" i had a thunk.

ford and GM have introduced some of their European cars over there (the ford focus Mk1, though the MK2 is an American design, the German side of the focus is different, and Opel cars being rebadged as Saturn). and they are by all acounts successful over there.

what does Chrysler have in "European".... nothing.

now that they have declared bankruptcy and Fiat are sniffing about with the promise of protection from its Chrysler's bad debts would we see Fiats and Alfa's, and possibly Lancias being produced by Chrysler plants? and would this turn things around?

its interesting as 10 years or a little more GM took over Fiat but in the end bought their way out of that. i see a little irony there

Edited May 3, 2009 by Head Wreck

[prick]

Now a while back when the big three were first looking precarious because people were moving away from the typical "yank tank guzzler" i had a thunk.

ford and GM have introduced some of their European cars over there (the ford focus Mk1, though the MK2 is an American design, the German side of the focus is different, and Opel cars being rebadged as Saturn). and they are by all acounts successful over there.

what does Chrysler have in "European".... nothing.

now that they have declared bankruptcy and Fiat are sniffing about with the promise of protection from its Chrysler's bad debts would we see Fiats and Alfa's, and possibly Lancias being produced by Chrysler plants? and would this turn things around?

its interesting as 10 years or a little more GM took over Fiat but in the end bought their way out of that. i see a little irony there

I did work for Chrysler for a summer where they build the cars before they go to production to work out kinks. They were trying for European and Asian style cars to sell overseas. I dont know what happened to them because I live in the States and they werent geared for here. Chrysler also used to be the bigest U.S. manufacturer of Tractors for farming in Europe but you never saw a Chrysler Tractor in the states. Ford made tractors for the states. Chrysler also used to have a marine division making outboard motors for boats. I still go fishing with my old 7 hoarse outbord Chrysler. Damn thing runs much better then my newer Mercury outboard.

[Scary Guy]

Why is this in the events section?

[Msterbeau]

Why is this in the events section?

It will be an event if they implode or become successful again.

[Scary Guy]

It will be an event if they implode or become successful again.

They've already imploded in my eyes. I'm just glad my dad didn't work for them or he'd be out of a pension. Also best of luck finding companies that will do business with them now. Anyone they've owed just got shafted.

Also what do you mean no European cars? What about the whole DaimlerChrysler deal then or did no designs switch hands in that. I figured when companies merged their IP and design would as well.

[Head Wreck]

its in the events as i thought i was in the current events

Daimler Chrysler was founded in 1998 until 2007. Daimler Benz lets face it made repmobile, taxi's, and commercial vehicles. aside from their Smart brand there's nothing really for the average person. there's no cheap and reliable compacts or family cars (their A B and C classes are all very prohibitively expensive), so all Chrysler really got out of the deal was access to diesel technology which America had lagged way behind the likes of France and Germany. the most notable thing about Chrysler ownership was resurrection of the Maybach brand. and lets face it. not many people can afford those.

on the theme of tractors.

all i see are ford, john deer, massey-fergesons, JCB, CASE, CAT and a east european. i was unaware chrysler made tracktors or outboards. living in a harbour town i would have thought i'd have seen one

[Head Wreck]

just on the radio i heard fiat were interested in a 20% share....

i have no idea if this is enough.

and yes i do think that shafting their debtors was a bad move

Edited May 4, 2009 by Head Wreck

[prick]

its in the events as i thought i was in the current events

Daimler Chrysler was founded in 1998 until 2007. Daimler Benz lets face it made repmobile, taxi's, and commercial vehicles. aside from their Smart brand there's nothing really for the average person. there's no cheap and reliable compacts or family cars (their A B and C classes are all very prohibitively expensive), so all Chrysler really got out of the deal was access to diesel technology which America had lagged way behind the likes of France and Germany. the most notable thing about Chrysler ownership was resurrection of the Maybach brand. and lets face it. not many people can afford those.

on the theme of tractors.

all i see are ford, john deer, massey-fergesons, JCB, CASE, CAT and a east european. i was unaware chrysler made tracktors or outboards. living in a harbour town i would have thought i'd have seen one

They did away with their marine engines in the late seventies. You still see tons of them in Michigan. A shame really because they were well made. Mine is older then me and Im 38 and its still running like a champ. Only had one tune up in all those years. Mine is a 7 horse but I have seen them as great as 180 horse. They made them right next to the famous Jefferson plant. My Mercury is over 20 year younger and caught on fire last year and almost blew up in my face. As for the tractors I never knew either untill I read it somewhere about ten years ago. I think they were mostly in western Europe but dont quote me. The one think they have made recently that is practical for church groups, big families and contractors is the Sprinter van.

Edited May 4, 2009 by prick

[Der Nister]

IMO Chrysler has always been the worst of the 'big three' and should've been removed 20-30 years ago. I think that would've helped our auto market over time. Even though my grandfather worked for them until he retired and my grandmother is still collecting his pension they've pretty much been a useless auto maker for far too long.

[Gaf The Horse With Tears]

No one that works for Chrysler is going to loose their pension or benefits. The Feds are going to cover the cost of those now (that means us tax payers).

What I wanna know.. is where is the bail out money that Obama gave them? Why when their debtors said they would take .50 on the dollar did Chrysler say no?

[Head Wreck]

also on news today.

Fiat are looking to buy GM's European division. i am wondering what will happen then.

[prick]

IMO Chrysler has always been the worst of the 'big three' and should've been removed 20-30 years ago. I think that would've helped our auto market over time. Even though my grandfather worked for them until he retired and my grandmother is still collecting his pension they've pretty much been a useless auto maker for far too long.

I have to disagree, the Jeep Wrangler I own has left hummers and SUV's and souped up pickups stranded in the mud as I drive right by. The greedy UAW workers and people buying Japanese is what crippled all Three.

[Der Nister]

I have to disagree, the Jeep Wrangler I own has left hummers and SUV's and souped up pickups stranded in the mud as I drive right by. The greedy UAW workers and people buying Japanese is what crippled all Three.

Well the jeep isn't a Chrysler creation, they bought another automotive company just to get the jeep name and design. Besides, one model isn't enough to carry an entire auto company.

Just in 2007 alone, Chrysler had the most "worst cars" on the market. How could they not have taken cues from other auto makers long before 2007 is beyond anyone's guess.

The top worst cars for 2007 are the Chrysler Sebring, the Dodge Nitro, the Jeep Liberty, the Dodge Caliber and the Dodge Magnum. Ouch!

Forbes calls them the "year’s poorest performing" cars, though "dangerous dogs" might be a better label. It based its list on the number of recalls, reliability ratings from "Consumer Reports", depreciation ratings from the Automotive Leasing Guide and safety based on crash-test ratings from the NHTSA and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

[ttogreh]

Oh yes. How dare American auto buyers purchase vehicles that are more reliable, fuel efficient, and durable than the American manufactured models. Those bastards, looking after their own self-interest when the whole country is at stake!

[candyman]

We just had a meeting with the Chrysler Reps. From what they told us it isn't looking good. The NEED Fiat right now because they are 5 years behind in technology...and that is behind GM where the technology sucks. From what they were saying it sounds like they are already dead...there was really nothing positive in the whole meeting besides the lunch break.

[prick]

Well the jeep isn't a Chrysler creation, they bought another automotive company just to get the jeep name and design. Besides, one model isn't enough to carry an entire auto company.

Just in 2007 alone, Chrysler had the most "worst cars" on the market. How could they not have taken cues from other auto makers long before 2007 is beyond anyone's guess.

I realize this, I was just pointing out a positive.

[prick]

Oh yes. How dare American auto buyers purchase vehicles that are more reliable, fuel efficient, and durable than the American manufactured models. Those bastards, looking after their own self-interest when the whole country is at stake!

Yes how dare I point out a certain point of view. Lets forget about anything built in the U.S. and self destruct. Lets blame ex presidents and current poloticians and keep contributing to one of the problems.

[Der Nister]

I realize this, I was just pointing out a positive.

I understood but my point was/is if Chrysler is gonna buy another companies brand auto and it's a good vehicle and the public likes it how could they continue to put out other vehicle's that are clearly junk?

How did they not learn anything for 20-30 years? It's as if they thought one model would carry them through the losses of all they're own junk on the market.

It's obvious to anyone (except those that ran Chrysler) if you have something that works and more things that don't work. Junk the junk and copy the formula that works because from a product/business standpoint it makes more sense to do things that way.

All they had to do was realize what they had been producing wasn't very good (i.e. their own concept cars - not other brand cars) and learn from another companies good idea(s).

That's what Toyota did when they first began, they looked at how other car companies became successful and began there. Chrysler's best idea people were long gone and at some point they were just looking at bank account statements and how they could cut costs to maximize profit.

That only works for so long before the bubble bursts.

Now that time has come.

[prick]

I understood but my point was/is if Chrysler is gonna buy another companies brand auto and it's a good vehicle and the public likes it how could they continue to put out other vehicle's that are clearly junk?

How did they not learn anything for 20-30 years? It's as if they thought one model would carry them through the losses of all they're own junk on the market.

It's obvious to anyone (except those that ran Chrysler) if you have something that works and more things that don't work. Junk the junk and copy the formula that works because from a product/business standpoint it makes more sense to do things that way.

All they had to do was realize what they had been producing wasn't very good (i.e. their own concept cars - not other brand cars) and learn from another companies good idea(s).

That's what Toyota did when they first began, they looked at how other car companies became successful and began there. Chrysler's best idea people were long gone and at some point they were just looking at bank account statements and how they could cut costs to maximize profit.

That only works for so long before the bubble bursts.

Now that time has come.

I agree with this but I still would hate to see another American auto company fall. I would prefer to see some brains get in the board room. Lee where are you when we need you?

[Der Nister]

I agree with this but I still would hate to see another American auto company fall. I would prefer to see some brains get in the board room. Lee where are you when we need you?

I agree but corporate greed/ignorance has run them into the ground. They were run by blind morons for way too long.

I remember (a little off topic here) when coke put out their new coke formula drink and it tanked so hard so fast and within a year that new drink was scrapped. Which just goes to show how a company can realize and correct their mistakes when thay have smart people in charge.

Chrysler has been unable to do this.

[prick]

I agree but corporate greed/ignorance has run them into the ground. They were run by blind morons for way too long.

I remember (a little off topic here) when coke put out their new coke formula drink and it tanked so hard so fast and within a year that new drink was scrapped. Which just goes to show how a company can realize and correct their mistakes when thay have smart people in charge.

Chrysler has been unable to do this.

Chrysler came inches away of going under in the seventies but they changed their leadersd and kicked ass in the eighties with the minivan and other cars

[Msterbeau]

Lee is not the answer. He turned into an idiot after his time there. Chrysler execs in the mid nineties had a vague clue on the product side, but damn their engineering is/was crap. The Dodge minivan I drive now is appalling.

[prick]

Lee is not the answer. He turned into an idiot after his time there. Chrysler execs in the mid nineties had a vague clue on the product side, but damn their engineering is/was crap. The Dodge minivan I drive now is appalling.

The summer I worked for their pilot operations we used to joke about how many engineers does it take to change a light bulb. I would bring up a weld issue and how to correct it. They would shut down production for 24 hours. Ten engineers would examine it all day then they would come to a conclusion which was my solution in the first place.

[ttogreh]

It looks like the Fiat deal is going through, and Fiat may buy GM's Opel line in europe. GM has a good presence in China, as well as South Korea, though I doubt those ventures are major money makers. I do wish Japan would allow market penetration of American brands. Of course, an economy that has been floundering for the last twelve years probably would not make GM or Chrysler all that much money, especially with start-up costs...

[Msterbeau]

The summer I worked for their pilot operations we used to joke about how many engineers does it take to change a light bulb. I would bring up a weld issue and how to correct it. They would shut down production for 24 hours. Ten engineers would examine it all day then they would come to a conclusion which was my solution in the first place.

Come look at the Van of Doom with me some time and I will point out engineering idiocies all day long.