Problems of old Chrysler linger at 'new' Chrysler

[misslexi]

A few nuggets of humor included.

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/htm...wchrysler.html

[dagwood55]

Perhaps there will be a rapid and thorough housecleaning?


See Speed Interviewing Section

[DaV8or]

I see GM suffering the same problem to a degree. Everyone seems to think that just because the company has been stripped of debt, whittled down to a fraction of it's former size and has new management, that suddenly the show rooms will be filled with new, exciting product and sales will be off the hook. It's one thing to have the President and pundits in the media pound their hands a say "Chrysler needs small, fuel efficient cars!" and it's another to actually deliver on that. Further still, the president can try to mandate small cars from Chrysler, but he can't mandate (yet) that anybody buy them. Bottom line, Americans don't really like small cars and only buy them out of desperation. Look at the Mini, every generation and new model is a bit bigger. This wouldn't happen if people were completely satisfied with mini size.

If the New Chrysler is pinning it's short term survival on the introduction of the 500 to America, they are doomed. The 500 is a neat car, but who is going to pay over $20k for a car that is smaller than a Mini? And then there is the issue of pedigree. Everybody knows that the Mini is made by BMW and the 500 by Fiat. Which one would you pick? Right now, they shouldn't be spending any money or time bringing the 500 here. Fiat does have cars in it's inventory that could help Chrysler like the Punto and the Alfa 159, this where they should focus. Leave the 500 for when Chrysler is on it's feet and can support a niche car again.

[zzyzzx]

Look at the Mini, every generation and new model is a bit bigger. This wouldn't happen if people were completely satisfied with mini size.

It's not just the Mini that seems to get bigger of time.

[zzyzzx]

The 500 is a neat car, but who is going to pay over $20k for a car that is smaller than a Mini?

Exactly where are you getting this >= $20K price tag from?

[DaV8or]

Exactly where are you getting this >= $20K price tag from?

Well from their website. However the cost varies from country to country. In Italy, the very cheapest stripped down one starts at just under $16,000. However, in England the same car is just $13,600. It is unlikely this stripped model will come to the states. More likely is the 100hp 1.4 liter version and that one is $21,000 in Italy. So they will no doubt pick a price just south of $20,000 for the base, but we will have to wait and see.

[omnimoeish]

This is what I was saying in the other thread I started. I don't think Fiat is going to sell jack squat here in the US.

There is pretty much no way Fiat cars will be able to compete price and quality wise with Asian or American car makers. The deal with Fiat to get access to their fuel efficient cars was just a desperate attempt to grab government funds and a GSB if you ask me.

Chrysler and Fiat will be the Tweedle Dumb and Tweedle Dumber of the auto industry in the US.

Just for kicks and giggles. Let's see what competition the Fiat 500 will be up against.

http://www.nissanusa.com/versa/

Nissa Versa starting at $9,990 MSRP, and that's a 4 door car! And you don't even see that many around, I would guess they might have sold 40,000 in the US in 2008?

The Chevy Aveo, Hyundai Accent etc. are priced right behind it and none are selling all that well.

They have some nice looking Alpha cars to be sure, but last I checked, 2 door sports cars weren't selling all that well either (hence my example of the sub 20,000 sales of the Pontiac Solstice and Saturn Sky for 2008)

[DaV8or]

Just for kicks and giggles. Let's see what competition the Fiat 500 will be up against.

http://www.nissanusa.com/versa/

Nissa Versa starting at $9,990 MSRP, and that's a 4 door car! And you don't even see that many around, I would guess they might have sold 40,000 in the US in 2008?

Actually, I don't think the Versa will be the 500s competition at all. Think more Mini and VW Bug. People are not going to cross shop the 500 and the Versa, Yaris, Aveo, Rio, Accent, etc. The 500 has something those other cars lack sorely, emotional appeal. However, due to it's small size, the 500 will be in a class of it's own and a tough sell to the American public. In the case of the Mini, people can tell themselves they are really buying a BMW and a Bug is really just a Golf, but a 500 is well... a Fiat, with all the baggage that comes with that. The 500 will sell, but in small quantities and by no means will save Chrysler.

Enough about the 500 though, what does Fiat have that will help Chrysler? How about:

The Panda, this is the car that can go head to head with the Versa.


And for Jeep, there is a 4x4 version that they could just restyle to make it more Jeep familiar. This could be huge like the Suzuki Samurai was back in the day.


To replace the uber lame Caliber they have the much better Punto. Needs a new name badly though IMO.


The lack luster Avenger could be based on the Linea:


Continued next post below.

[DaV8or]

And of course the Chrysler brand could be really spiced up by the Alfa and Maserati brands. New Sebring and 300?



What the Crossfire could have been:
[IMG]http://blog.fooyung.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/06
/spider.jpg[/IMG]

Replacement for the Sprinter Van now that Mercedes is gone:


IMO, All these models would have to be restyled to make them uniquely Dodge and Chrysler products and not just rebadges. They should also include American content like the V8 Hemi and the new DI V6. However, I can see how there is material to work with from Fiat. The big questions are, how soon, how good and will America buy Fiat again?