Chrysler could eliminate five vehicles by 10/31/2007

Diggerfreek · **Posted:** Wed Oct 17, 2007 7:13 pm

From Leftlanenews.com

Chrysler could cut as many as five nameplates within the next month, a new report finds. A person familiar with the situation said that it is "highly likely" that Chrysler's top executives will approve a plan to reduce the number of models offered by the automaker by month's end. In all, five vehicles are being considered for elimination.

In recent UAW negotiations, Chrysler was unable to give its workers any kind of future products guarantee — unlike the General Motors-UAW agreement — giving credence that several vehicles could be getting the ax. "Virtually no Chrysler plant received commitment beyond the scope of their current product," said Bill Parker, president of Local 1700 and chairman of the union's Chrysler bargaining committee.

"We have models that overlap, where we have two or three vehicles that serve the same market segment and maybe the same customer and actually compete with each other to some extent," Chrysler President and Vice Chairman Jim Press told the Detroit Free Press. "We also have markets where we have insufficient coverage. Where we don't have enough product."

Although Chrysler officials failed to mention which vehicles were up for consideration, industry analysis say the leading candidates for elimination include the Chrysler Pacifica, Dodge Dakota, Jeep Commander and Compass, Chrysler Sebring and Dodge Durango. The Dodge Durango seems to be the most likely for elimination, as its sales are down 30% and its Newark, Delaware assembly plant is slated to be closed in 2009.

tjkj2002 · **Posted:** Wed Oct 17, 2007 7:23 pm

Well it's been known that the Commander was on it's way out for over a year ,slated to go by '09.

DarbyWalters · **Posted:** Wed Oct 17, 2007 7:38 pm

The Commander, Compass and even the Patriot (probably will make the cut tho for mpg reasons) are on the block as well as the Nitro and PT Cruiser.

Leave us the Wrangler, Grand Cherokee, Liberty, Patriot and bring back a "Truck".

Albert · **Posted:** Wed Oct 17, 2007 8:18 pm

DarbyWalters wrote:

Leave us the Wrangler, Grand Cherokee, Liberty, Patriot and bring back a "Truck".

Ditto................and make the truck "The Gladiator"........

Guest · **Posted:** Wed Oct 17, 2007 8:22 pm

DarbyWalters wrote:

The Commander, Compass and even the Patriot (probably will make the cut tho for mpg reasons) are on the block as well as the Nitro and PT Cruiser.

Leave us the Wrangler, Grand Cherokee, Liberty, Patriot and bring back a "Truck".

PT's replacement is here isn't it? I know I'd consider the Dodge Caliber a replacement for the PT Snoozer, especially the SRT4 version. I know the PT was going to get redesigned for '09

KJ4ME · **Posted:** Wed Oct 17, 2007 9:50 pm

im not sure what thread, but i was telling someone that intercompetition isnt good in a company... clearly chrysler has realized this

KJ4ME · **Posted:** Wed Oct 17, 2007 9:52 pm

ThunderbirdJunkie wrote:

DarbyWalters wrote:

The Commander, Compass and even the Patriot (probably will make the cut tho for mpg reasons) are on the block as well as the Nitro and PT Cruiser.

Leave us the Wrangler, Grand Cherokee, Liberty, Patriot and bring back a "Truck".

PT's replacement is here isn't it? I know I'd consider the Dodge Caliber a replacement for the PT Snoozer, especially the SRT4 version. I know the PT was going to get redesigned for '09

i remember chrysler saying that they couldnt advance the pt cruisers design, so they were going tostart fresh... the spy drawings showed something that looked A LOT like the dodge journey!!!

sleeve84028 · **Posted:** Wed Oct 17, 2007 10:04 pm

Man, they can't get rid of the Sebring.. Mid sized cars and small cars are going to be where it's at in the future.

I agree with the other products though... They can all be clipped from the product plan.

JJsTJ · **Posted:** Wed Oct 17, 2007 10:12 pm

Good news! Lose the fat and make a stronger company. The vehicles on the chopping block sound like good ones to lose in my HO.
A Jeep truck would be sweet but I would be real surprised if it happens.

KJ4ME · **Posted:** Wed Oct 17, 2007 10:13 pm

the sebring is a very nice car, so is the avenger. the sebring is butt ugly though, it looks like they didnt know what they wanted it to be...

Diggerfreek · **Posted:** Wed Oct 17, 2007 10:21 pm

kinda like the pontaic aztek

KJ4ME · **Posted:** Wed Oct 17, 2007 10:30 pm

exactly, if they came out with the pontiac torrent as the aztek back they, they would have made a killing. but instead they made an suv, on a MINIVAN platform, with a MINIVAN drivetrain, and said "young people will love it!" well old people ended up going gaga over it and they sold like 10 of them... all bought by GM employees, lmao

Rush345 · **Posted:** Wed Oct 17, 2007 11:41 pm

KJ4ME wrote:

exactly, if they came out with the pontiac torrent as the aztek back they, they would have made a killing. but instead they made an suv, on a MINIVAN platform, with a MINIVAN drivetrain, and said "young people will love it!" well old people ended up going gaga over it and they sold like 10 of them... all bought by GM employees, lmao

The Aztech was an abomination the was rammed down our throat by Pontiac. By the way have you seen a Pontiac Dealer lately??? As far as the Sebring the only thing I ever saw was when the offered the Convertable they finally had a nice car. In fact my late father when he decided he could no longer drive his Shriner Gold Wing, Second place in national Shriner motor competion. He Moved on to the Shriner Convertable Club, He had looked into a Trike but mom vetoed it since Dad's health deteriated a short time later. But he had a good life and enjoyed life while he could at it's fullest.

Pablo · **Joined:** Thu Feb 02, 2006 10:06 pm **Posts:** 1201

5?

That is a good start, but I think that is closer to how many they should keep making rather than how many they should cut. Almost everything in their line needs to go away or be redesigned. Lets see what is worth keeping as is?

Jeep JK and 4 door JK
Dodge Sprinter
Dodge Cummins in all flavors, but could still use new body/interior.
The new minivan.

And I will be very happy when the Jeep crap4ss dies. I will not miss the Patriot Act either...

Now bring us Gladiators... Challengers... diesel and hybrid hemi v6 mid size sedans, an Imperial CTS slayer, And why not build a real economy car? I still don't know why they replaced the Neon with the bloated craplastic Caliber right when gas prices spiked. They have no small cars at all.

Threeweight · **Joined:** Mon May 14, 2007 5:57 pm **Posts:** 679

They need to take a page from Nissan's book and reinvent themselves.

Make build quality job #1, and for the next few years focus on expanding market share with proven products with good loyalty (Ram pickups, Jeep Wranglers, Sprinters, minivans). Cut the fat and dump slow-selling cars that look like crap. And accept the reality that no matter what kind of cylinder shut-off tech you install on a hemi-passenger car, no one wants a 20 mpg car of dubious build quality when gas is $3 bucks a gallon.

Mid-term, set the wheels in motion to offer every vehicle in their truck/truck based-SUV line up with a diesel option (tuned for decent MPG, not just gigantic towing power). Join Cummins and embrace B20 under warranty, make bio-diesel their environmental brand (like Toyota w/ hybrids).

Drop or re-design slow selling models (I'd drop the Durango, Aspen, Nitro, and start work ASAP on a restyle for the bland Dakota and Grand Cherokee.)

Longer term, get their butts in gear and design a new, attractive compact car that looks sporty, and get to work on a mid-size that doesn't look like Al Capone should be driving it.

Nissan turned themselves around a series of new or revised products in 2000-2002 (Altima, Frontier, XTerra), in large part by building stylish cars with decent build quality and materials. Nothing all that fancy. Nissan sure isn't the market leader, but they are a much healthier company in the US than they were.

The smartest things Nissan did was hire some bright young designers from California to handle the style thing and fire their old ad firm in favor of a new one. That would be a start for Chrysler.

jeepgirl0385 · **Posted:** Thu Oct 18, 2007 11:06 am

I would be thrilled to see the Compass cut from production. I hate that thing. It is a Jeep car. The only good thing is the fuel economy, but it so isn't a Jeep. I bet it would last 2 seconds on the trail.

I don't see the purpose of the Commander. It really isn't much bigger than the Grand Cherokee. I think Jeep should stick with the Wrangler, Liberty, and the Grand Cherokee. They should produce the Gladiator. That would make a good lineup.

As far as Chrysler. The PT Cruiser should go rather than the Pacifica. That thing is ugly. The Sebring should stay, it looks like a nice car. The Town and Country should stay, as that is a proven minivan. They should get rid of the Aspen too, all that is is a luxury Durango. They need to come out with a smaller car, similar to the Caliber, but a sedan.

I can't believe they would get rid of the Dakota. They should redesign it and take it back to being a small pickup that is more affordable than the full size Rams. Currently the Dakota is barely smaller, and is pretty expensive. The Durango should go. It is oversized and bloated. The Caliber should be redesigned as a sedan, it was supposed to replace the Neon, but it is huge compared.

I think a big part of Chrysler's problem is that all their vehicles completely suck when it comes to fuel economy. There is no reason for it. They need to take some inspiration from Chevy, and the Asian makes when it comes to engine efficiency (not so much body work...I don't like riding in a tin can, my Jeep feels substantial, like it will hold up in an accident).

They really need to sit back and reevaluate their product lines and where they stand compared to the other major players.

As a side note: Where are the compact/subcompact cars? No one seems to make them anymore, the only thing out there is the Toyota Yaris! I am talking Geo Metro sized vehicles, like the upcoming Smart Car. And where are the diesels in passenger cars/SUVs? And hybrids?

Why can't cars be made simple again. Without all these darn computers and systems? Seriously, Geo Metros should be the model. Those little junkboxes stay together, run well, and get amazing fuel economy (almost 50mpg). They last. My bf has two, both have had the daylights beat out of them for years! But yet they turn on without a hassle, and are extremely reliable. Cars should be built like that. It seems all cars these days fall apart and always seem like they are in the shop. For example, a $50,000 2006 Mercedes occaisionally has issues starting, and was completely disabled by a mouse...it took a special adapter to even tow the thing. It's ridiculous. It's like companies build the cars to break, and then charge you an arm and a leg to repair it!

hooperswish · **Posted:** Thu Oct 18, 2007 1:26 pm

I have a soft spot for old retro boxy 4x4's. I love the original bronco, scouts, and cj's. I still kinda think that the commander will have that same appeal in 20 years...

sleeve84028 · **Posted:** Thu Oct 18, 2007 1:29 pm

If the Commander was executed to replace to originial Cherokee it would have been more successful. But when you try to cram 7 people into a vehcile that small and overprice it, well bad things happen. Like they don't sell!

I still say the lines are bloated and some cars over priced... let the axe fall.

indianrefining · **Posted:** Thu Oct 18, 2007 2:14 pm

Diggerfreek wrote:

kinda like the pontaic aztek

Oh, good Lord. Don't compare anything to the Aztek. The only vehicle which came even close to being as butt-ugly as the Aztek was the late-'50s/early-'60s Citroen. :lol:

jerbacher · **Posted:** Thu Oct 18, 2007 2:18 pm

indianrefining wrote:

Diggerfreek wrote:

kinda like the pontaic aztek

Oh, good Lord. Don't compare anything to the Aztek. The only vehicle which came even close to being as butt-ugly as the Aztek was the late-'50s/early-'60s Citroen. :lol:

except a turd maybe?

Chrysler could eliminate five vehicles by 10/31/2007

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