|
97 3.5 Intrepid -> RE: Chrysler won't sell twins anymore (4/28/2008 1:33:46 PM)
|
quote:
ORIGINAL: Midnight
The twins of Chrysler LLC.
Liberty/Nitro (Nitro said to be dead)
Durango/Aspen (Aspen might go, Durango to be based off of next gen GC)
Avenger/Sebring (heard new designs are coming to both)
Charger/300/Magnum (already dead)/Challenger (shortened LX, will not go, obviously)
Caliber/Compass/Patriot (compass is said to be gone)
Caravan/Town & Country (neither will go according to Joe here at DF)
Grand Cherokee/Commander (Commander already dying, GC to take styling cues)
Thanks to SHAPman for this insider info: http://www.dodgeforum.com/fb.asp?m=1266310
anymore?
I think we all know which ones should be cut. But here's my thinking, I do not think either the 300 or Charger should be cut. I think both should stay.
I don't think the vehicles sharing platforms that REALLY differ are gonna go, but I'm glad they are doing this.
Agreed, the 300 and Charger appeal to a different audience. There are some people who obsolutely hate the Charger and would never consider one, but will consider the 300's less bold, more luxurious look. Then there are people like me that find the 300 to be too dull and overpriced (reasons of interior as opposed to the LHS/300M interior) and wouldn't consider a 300, but love the Charger for its bold looks. You can't satisfy both crowds with one car.
Both of the minivans need to stay as well. Getting rid of the Caravan would be a big mistake as the term minivan generally brings up this popular nameplate and last time I checked it was the more popular one of the two. The T&C appeals to the more luxury focused market who think the Dodge nameplate is below them; however, plenty of people who don't want to (and won't if it comes to that) pay extra for the Chrysler nameplate and sightly different interior (such as my parents who have owned Caravans since 1991).
The Commander was a mistake, the fact of the matter is they should have just made a 7 passenger version of the GC instead of making two of basically the same nameplates. The Compass was a big mistake (wagons were for Eagle, not for Jeep). Though I think making a twin of the Patriot for Dodge might not be a bad idea as long as they stay away from the box on wheels styling found on the Nitro. I still think that they should give the Aspen more time as it earned one of the highest customer satisfcation ratings from CR. They might want to keep it as a lower production model and adjust the pricing accordingly. The Durango on the GC platform sounds like an idea I had in the back of my mind before the original Durango came out. The Sebring and Avenger look very different inside and out (thank goodness) unlike the Sebing/Stratus, the only thing that gives away that they are basically the same car is the engine and transmission offerings. The Sebring badly needs to be redone inside and out, and they both need a different powertrain line up. They need to retire the 4-speeds and use the 6-speeds only. They need to offer at least 255hp if not better on their top of the line versions to keep up with their competition because 235hp is leaving them in the dust. They need to find a replacement for the 2.7L for the practical V6 option (unless they could use much taller gearing on the 235hp 3.5L to get similar mileage and drop in a 300M Special spec 3.5L H.O. or SEMA StromTrooper spec 4.0L V6 for the top of the line models). The Liberty needs the 4.0L engine option as the 3.7L just isn't competitive with the current competition's offerings.
The Cobalt and G5 represent what is still wrong with GM, their economy cars get awful fuel mileage that is uncompetitive with their competition and until recently was being beaten in fuel economy by their own mid-sized cars which is just rediculous, the interior is still way too cheap, the exterior is so similar to other models it takes a several seconds to make sure what model it is, the Chevrolet offering has a performance version and the Pontiac doesn't (which is really backwards), etc.
|
|
|
|
