Automotive News, Media & Press - What does the future hold?

http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/070803/chrysler_cerberus.html?.v=20


What can we expect from them once they get setteled in? The Cerberus is a pretty wicked machine.

It's kind of funny how most automotive enthusiast knew that the Daimler merger would not benefit either company. Something that Daimler or Chrysler didn't understand. If they would have left it as marketing or distribution arrangement it may have been workable.
We can only hope that Cerberus can give Chrysler some direction. They have the styling done, now they just need to work on reliability.

They have the styling done, now they just need to work on reliability.

The reliability of Chrysler models is considerably better than it was 7-10 years ago. They did make some crappy automatic transmissions and the fit and finish left something to be desired. But as of right now, I personally believe it is light years beyond where it was.

I think Chrysler's biggest issue is dependence on truck sales. They depend on it more than GM and Ford. That's why we constantly see these $5,000 rebates on their half-tons and lifetime powertrain warranties.

Plus, they don't offer a bunch of models to compete across a segment. The bread and butter of Toyota, Nissan and Honda is not the sale of big SUV's and trucks. Its the grocery-getters and cars that average 40 mpg.

We, as enthusiasts don't excited over a Toyota Yaris or a Honda Element. But we are in the minority. I think Chrysler will be fine as long as it offers a little bit of everything to everyone. A 40 mpg commuter, a powerful line of trucks, and performance models to help with marketing and exclusivity.

I am so happy that Cerberus is really passionate about turning Chrysler around, they already declared that lifetime warranty on powertrain, started making more fuel efficient vehicles (if you would have told me a 07 ram with hemi would get 14/18 mpg 3 years ago I would have laughed and told you to take a cold shower), and have started a great new platform (LY) for the new challenger, charger, magnum, and 300. plus Diamler still has enough interest in the company to keep them on the right track now that Cerberus has the $$$ for some changes

It's kind of funny how most automotive enthusiast knew that the Daimler merger would not benefit either company.



I think it DID benefit Chrysler. The Mercedes based vehicles, 300 and crossfire etc. are much better than anything chrysler could have managed on their own. They were in need of a serious infusion of engineering talent.

I think it DID benefit Chrysler. The Mercedes based vehicles, 300 and crossfire etc. are much better than anything chrysler could have managed on their own. They were in need of a serious infusion of engineering talent.

What did Mercedes do in regards to the 300 to make it good? I think the Crossfire sucks (performance and handling and doesn't sell well), so I left it out.

I think the Crossfire sucks (performance and handling and doesn't sell well), so I left it out.
Well the Crossfire was 95% a CLK, i do believe, so but you have to admit that without Benz, they'd be in the same place they were before the merge, hopefully they can take what they learned while under MB and use it with all the money Cerberus is throwing at them. Should be interesting. I just hope the Chrysler brand starts seeing aprofit in a year or 2 cause from the sounds of it there is a ton on money being dumped in to them so they can focus on building a better product, if the public doesnt buy into their 08-09 line up's i can see Cerberus cutting back on all the money they are throwning at them.
Only time will tell, and lets hope it works. Would be a shame to lose one of the big 3 preminently.

I'm still pissed off at what Daimler did while in control...

Getting rid of the close ties with Mitsubishi and Hyundai were not smart decisions, expecially in retrospective... Chrysler could use some of the interior design skills that Hyundai has apparantly picked up out of nowhere, and of course, Mitsu has always been a good buisness partner with Chrysler...who knows, maybe they'll end up buying Mitsu back?

Well the Crossfire was 95% a CLK, i do believe, so but you have to admit that without Benz, they'd be in the same place they were before the merge, hopefully they can take what they learned while under MB and use it with all the money Cerberus is throwing at them. Should be interesting. I just hope the Chrysler brand starts seeing aprofit in a year or 2 cause from the sounds of it there is a ton on money being dumped in to them so they can focus on building a better product, if the public doesnt buy into their 08-09 line up's i can see Cerberus cutting back on all the money they are throwning at them.
Only time will tell, and lets hope it works. Would be a shame to lose one of the big 3 preminently.

While I agree the CLK and Crossfire share some technology, it never really caught on with the buying public (handling wasn't too great, power was average, styling was either love it or hate it).

Chrysler will be profitable in 2008 (as stated by its press release today), but is cutting plants and jobs to ensure profitability in the future.

I think the 2008 and 2009 lineups will be very competitive for Chrysler. The 5.7 Hemi is getting an increase in displacement, horsepower and torque (supposedly class leading), a 6 speed auto, diesels in the half ton trucks and some SUV's, and the Challenger is set to debut. I'm not saying they are going to overtake Ford and GM in sales, but I don't think that is there goal.

Chrysler is completely happy playing a 3rd or 4th role, being consistently profitable, and doing just enough to stay on the leading edge of styling and performance. And its that reason that I'm a Mopar guy at heart.

I'm not knocking any GM or Ford fans on here, but let's face it, you guys are all over the place. Its quite common to see Mustangs, F150's, F250's, Camaros, Corvettes, Colorados, and Silverados no matter where you drive. Turn on TV, and you'll see Ford and Chevy plastered all over Nascar. Watch a car show, and chances are, its a Ford or Chevy being featured.

On the other hand, Dodge tends to be more of a redheaded stepchild, the outsider looking in. I like that. I went to a car show recently, and it featured classic muscle cars. There were endless rows of Mustangs, Novas, Chevelles, and Camaros. But what caught my attention was the secluded (and considerably smaller) Mopar Corner. There were Charger 440 SixPacks, a Challenger Hemi, Darts, etc. It was cool hanging out in the "bastard" section of the classic muscle car show lol.

Its that feeling that gives me an affinity towards Mopar. Being different.

While I agree the CLK and Crossfire share some technology, it never really caught on with the buying public (handling wasn't too great, power was average, styling was either love it or hate it).

Chrysler will be profitable in 2008 (as stated by its press release today), but is cutting plants and jobs to ensure profitability in the future.

I think the 2008 and 2009 lineups will be very competitive for Chrysler. The 5.7 Hemi is getting an increase in displacement, horsepower and torque (supposedly class leading), a 6 speed auto, diesels in the half ton trucks and some SUV's, and the Challenger is set to debut. I'm not saying they are going to overtake Ford and GM in sales, but I don't think that is there goal.

Chrysler is completely happy playing a 3rd or 4th role, being consistently profitable, and doing just enough to stay on the leading edge of styling and performance. And its that reason that I'm a Mopar guy at heart.

I'm not knocking any GM or Ford fans on here, but let's face it, you guys are all over the place. Its quite common to see Mustangs, F150's, F250's, Camaros, Corvettes, Colorados, and Silverados no matter where you drive. Turn on TV, and you'll see Ford and Chevy plastered all over Nascar. Watch a car show, and chances are, its a Ford or Chevy being featured.

On the other hand, Dodge tends to be more of a redheaded stepchild, the outsider looking in. I like that. I went to a car show recently, and it featured classic muscle cars. There were endless rows of Mustangs, Novas, Chevelles, and Camaros. But what caught my attention was the secluded (and considerably smaller) Mopar Corner. There were Charger 440 SixPacks, a Challenger Hemi, Darts, etc. It was cool hanging out in the "bastard" section of the classic muscle car show lol.

Its that feeling that gives me an affinity towards Mopar. Being different.


I agree 100% I think that is why the challenger will do well... because its NOT a ford mustang or a GM counterpart. Mopars have that appeal to people, hence why they bring the most money as far as muscle car era cars go and are the head turners at the shows.

I agree 100% I think that is why the challenger will do well... because its NOT a ford mustang or a GM counterpart. Mopars have that appeal to people, hence why they bring the most money as far as muscle car era cars go and are the head turners at the shows.

You are exactly right, and I agree 100%. But I will give you GM guys this, I share your hatred of Ford hehehehe.

hopefully mopar will commit to bringing the challenger out...that way they atleast cover that part of the lineup...they really havent had a v8 sports car for a while...vipers being more up the line and the dakota rt's being more geared toward the lightnings...it would be cool if they came up with a new version of the dart...ive wanted a 68 dart for a while...but too expensive

The Challengers are definitely on the way. There are pictures on the net floating around showing them testing the assembly line at Brampton with Challenger frames and bodies.

I think it DID benefit Chrysler. The Mercedes based vehicles, 300 and crossfire etc. are much better than anything chrysler could have managed on their own. They were in need of a serious infusion of engineering talent.
I can't speak for Chrysler but I was an Engineer at GM and Nissan in the 90's and the engineering talent definately goes to GM when compared to Nissan. As far as applying that knowledge, it's a crap shoot! If I was working on a project at GM and had a good idea or fix for an issue I would have to push it through a design review committee before it could make it on a vehicle. At Nissan, I could call up my manager and if I could sell it to him it could be on the vehicle in months. The down side is, if you have a poor manager he could be ruining a vehicle with poor decisions.

Not sure if it's true or not but I heard at Chrysler the suppliers do the majority of the development work?

As far as Mercedes and the Germans go, I think they have made their products to complicated and too expensive for their own good. When I was doing competive tear downs the German cars always had some over engineered parts and I don't mean that in a good way. They would have some complicated mechanism where something simple would have made much more sense. Probably why we beat them in WWII. An over engineered Tiger tank had one complicated expensive part that knocked it out of commision while the Detroit build Sherman had the simplicity of a first generation Camaro.

As far as Mercedes and the Germans go, I think they have made their products to complicated and too expensive for their own good. When I was doing competive tear downs the German cars always had some over engineered parts and I don't mean that in a good way. They would have some complicated mechanism where something simple would have made much more sense. Probably why we beat them in WWII. An over engineered Tiger tank had one complicated expensive part that knocked it out of commision while the Detroit build Sherman had the simplicity of a first generation Camaro.

That is exactly what I meant to say, but thank you for putting it the way you did. That is what hampered Chrysler during the merger - Daimler's insistence on over-engineering and making things "too complicated." Just because some a-hole in Europe loves an over-engineered transmission or light switch, doesn't mean its practical, efficient, or a good design.

I think it DID benefit Chrysler. The Mercedes based vehicles, 300 and crossfire etc. are much better than anything chrysler could have managed on their own. They were in need of a serious infusion of engineering talent.


they did benefit and got some great programs... like displacement on demand (and if there was one thing they needed it was better fuel efficiency), LX platform is based off the E class if I remember correctly... and like you guys mentioned if they can stay away from the over complicated/engineered systems and bring some of their simplicity back they can hit a home run using the good stuff that Daimler gave them, and I am sure chrysler can still call up some AMG assistance when needed since they still own 10% of them

Daimler's insistence on over-engineering and making things "too complicated." Just because some a-hole in Europe loves an over-engineered transmission or light switch, doesn't mean its practical, efficient, or a good design.

If the Germans worked on making their cars not so overly complicated they would be a force to be to be reckoned with. Until then, just don't buy one out of warrantee.
Let's just wish Chrysler the best now they have been reclaimed :usa: .

Let's just wish Chrysler the best now they have been reclaimed :usa: .


YES! NOW that they are U.S. owned again, I would even consider a new Challenger, as long as it is not a fat pig (weight)! :usa: