Chrysler announces which models cut

chefdab · **Posted:** Thu Nov 01, 2007 12:49 pm

Quote:

The company announced it will eliminate four auto models through 2008, including the Dodge Magnum wagon, the convertible version of the Chrysler PT Cruiser, the Chrysler Pacifica crossover and the Chrysler Crossfire sports car.

This is a quote from a CNN article about Chrysler cutting a bunch of jobs from several manufacturing plants. http://money.cnn.com/2007/11/01/news/companies/bc.chrysler.jobcuts.ap/index.htm

Also :

Quote:

In the same time frame, Chrysler plans to add the Dodge Journey crossover and Dodge Challenger sports car, along with two new hybrid models, the Chrysler Aspen and Dodge Durango.

hyedipin · **Joined:** Thu May 11, 2006 10:20 am **Posts:** 1667

No crossfire?

bugnout · **Posted:** Thu Nov 01, 2007 1:20 pm

Locally, Chrysler just announced layoff of about 800 White Collar workers associated with the third shift, at the Belividere plant. They make the Caliber, Compass and Patriot.

ryno · **Posted:** Thu Nov 01, 2007 1:41 pm

I think all of those are smart cuts to make. The Crossfire was cool, but I've seen about three of them on the road...

It looks like Chrysler LLC is on the right track! Now kill the Commander and the Compass, release one of the Jeep truck concepts, and bring on the diesels!

dgeist · **Posted:** Thu Nov 01, 2007 2:02 pm

hyedipin wrote:

No crossfire?

I agree that the crossfire is one of the better engineered and attractive vehicles in the Chrysler stable, but considering it's essentially a re-bodied and re-badged version of the PREVIOUS generation mercedes platform, it doesn't make sense longer term. That means they'll be collecters items.

Also, what's up with the magnum wagon being cut? It might be different in other parts of the country, but around here's that's become the new family-friendly "bling-mobile" (no stereotypes implied, just how it looks on my commute). I guess the crossover market is a better seller, which is sad, because most people really just need a bigger trunk for all the crap, not a higher ride height. I miss the days before minivans and SUVs where all the soccer-moms drove olds cutlass wagons

sleeve84028 · **Posted:** Thu Nov 01, 2007 3:43 pm

dgeist wrote:

Also, what's up with the magnum wagon being cut?

The coffin like interior is what did it in. I almost bought one until I got inside one on a gloomy day.

The cuts were needed...

KJ4ME · **Posted:** Thu Nov 01, 2007 6:06 pm

what im interested in seeing is the 2009 volkswagen minivan that will be based on the 2008 dodge caravan/chrysler town and country!

http://www.automobilemag.com/future_car ... index.html

Guest · **Posted:** Thu Nov 01, 2007 6:48 pm

I thought the Crossfire's last year was '06? weird.

Sweet looking cars, fun to drive...but it won't be missed.

I don't get why Chrysler WOULD axe cars that just came out (compass/patriot, caliber)...why would they do that? doesn't make financial sense. Granted, the Caliber looks like a Magnum with downs syndrome, but they just brought out the SRT4 Caliber. why cut it?

Tokyojoe · **Posted:** Thu Nov 01, 2007 8:46 pm

The Crossfire will be worth a bundle in 25+ years. Buy one and put it storage with no miles. Look at it as an investment. Not a lot of model years. It'll be a rare find.

Guest · **Posted:** Thu Nov 01, 2007 9:07 pm

I'd rather wait 5 more years to buy said Crossfire...good ol' depreciation

sleeve84028 · **Posted:** Thu Nov 01, 2007 9:09 pm

ThunderbirdJunkie wrote:

I thought the Crossfire's last year was '06? weird.

Sweet looking cars, fun to drive...but it won't be missed.

The 2006 MY Crossfire was actually left over 2005 Stock (of unsold Crossfire's) Problems with the crossfire:

1) Anyone over 6'2" can't fit in one
2) Where do you put the golf clubs?
3) Not as inpressive performance wise for the $$

In the end, it was Chryslers lame attempt to try and move the brand up market...

Or at least that's how I see the demise of that car.

KJ4ME · **Posted:** Thu Nov 01, 2007 10:47 pm

the interiors of those things were so plasticy and ugly. it felt like a 2 passenger sebring on the inside, not a good thing for a $30k+ vehicle

Guest · **Posted:** Thu Nov 01, 2007 10:59 pm

Actually, IMO, it has the nicest interior of any ChryCo product ever. Granted, it's a Benz, and Euro car interiors don't seem to wear very well (to me, at least). but they're super nice when new

TheJawsOfDeath · **Joined:** Sun Nov 05, 2006 3:56 am **Posts:** 305

sleeve84028 wrote:

dgeist wrote:

Also, what's up with the magnum wagon being cut?

The coffin like interior is what did it in. I almost bought one until I got inside one on a gloomy day.

The cuts were needed...

All of the LX platform cars (Chrysler 300, Dodge Magnum, Dodge Charger) have coffin-like interiors. High beltline and low roof. I've been in all 3 and it's the same in each.

It's being cut because it's the lowest selling of the three LX cars, and to make room for the Challenger. The Challenger rides the new LY platform, which is essentially what the next-generation of 300 and Charger will be built on.

ThunderbirdJunkie wrote:

Actually, IMO, it has the nicest interior of any ChryCo product ever. Granted, it's a Benz, and Euro car interiors don't seem to wear very well (to me, at least). but they're super nice when new

The center stack (with radio and HVAC controls) in the Crossfire was just a big flat piece of silver painted plastic. The entire thing was just painted plastic. No real metal at all. Just looking at the materials used and what they were trying to pull off in terms of design and appearance, the KJ's interior (especially the dashboard, controls, ect) works much better as far as I'm concerned.

Guest · **Posted:** Fri Nov 02, 2007 12:24 am

TheJawsOfDeath wrote:

The center stack (with radio and HVAC controls) in the Crossfire was just a big flat piece of silver painted plastic. The entire thing was just painted plastic. No real metal at all. Just looking at the materials used and what they were trying to pull off in terms of design and appearance, the KJ's interior (especially the dashboard, controls, ect) works much better as far as I'm concerned.

I'm talking purely aesthetics. I think the ergonomics are awful, and with 2 or 3 years of daily use, it'll look like crap, just like every other Deutsche car I know of. I don't care if it's real metal or not, I just want an interior that won't look like it came out of an original 1975 Buick after a couple years.

TheJawsOfDeath · **Joined:** Sun Nov 05, 2006 3:56 am **Posts:** 305

ThunderbirdJunkie wrote:

TheJawsOfDeath wrote:

The center stack (with radio and HVAC controls) in the Crossfire was just a big flat piece of silver painted plastic. The entire thing was just painted plastic. No real metal at all. Just looking at the materials used and what they were trying to pull off in terms of design and appearance, the KJ's interior (especially the dashboard, controls, ect) works much better as far as I'm concerned.

I'm talking purely aesthetics. I think the ergonomics are awful, and with 2 or 3 years of daily use, it'll look like crap, just like every other Deutsche car I know of. I don't care if it's real metal or not, I just want an interior that won't look like it came out of an original 1975 Buick after a couple years.

Im not saying the general design didnt look alright. I felt that what really let it down was how it felt when you used the various controls, the tactile aspect was pretty bad.

And for the record my dad's 2001 Audi A8 (6 yrs old now..) has a great interior that looks factory fresh. So did my 01 VW GTI when I sold it 2 years ago. Personally I've had very good experiences with German cars and their interiors. The one exception was my mom's Mercedes ML430, that was kinda sub-par inside especially considering how much they cost.

Her ML was a lease, and my parents replaced it with an '05 CRD which my mom drives now, they like it a lot better in fact

InCommando · **Posted:** Fri Nov 02, 2007 12:44 am

Around here Crossfires are being sold new for about $22k. When you have to discount a car by 25-30% to move it......

I wonder if the Magnum wasn't axed to free up production space for the Challenger? Like was posted above, it uses an updated & shortened LX platform.

Also, being made out of the previous generation of SLK, I'll bet the severing of the Benz ties played a role, too.

Did you guys see that the 6.1 Hemi will be offered in the trucks?

Guest · **Posted:** Fri Nov 02, 2007 12:45 am

Actually...my grampa's got an '01 TT with almost 100k on it...and the interior looks a lot more worn than my '02 KJ's with almost 100k on it.

Granted...my KJ's interior is almost all black, but it could do with a good scrubdown:P
Most of the European cars (Volvos and Saabs included, not just German cars) I've seen have kinda seemed excessively prone to looking worn out on the inside before most American and Asian cars (yeah, even Hyundais). Definitely not a slam against German cars in general, since I'm a fairly big fan of Audis, VWs, and BMWs.

the 6.1L Hemi in the trucks isn't the 425 hp SRT version is it??

TheJawsOfDeath · **Joined:** Sun Nov 05, 2006 3:56 am **Posts:** 305

I hadnt heard about the 6.1 going in the trucks at all. I'm pretty sure it requires premium gas, which would be a big downside to that application. That'd be pretty nice to have in a new Dakota R/T though :twisted:

too bad the new Dakotas dont look as nice as the 1997-2003 (?) generation.

Sir Sam · **Posted:** Fri Nov 02, 2007 2:15 pm

ya ya ya, big gasoline engine in a truck, whoopde do.

How about a 3L turbo diesel in a 4 door midsize truck with bed rail tie-downs?

Chrysler announces which models cut

Who is online