chrysler

[FenwickHockey65]

Originally Posted by kevin2323

its a low volume car so it really doesnt matter....that isnt what is hurting chrysler. less than 30k challengers are made per year. that is low compared to the other 2.

Again, Chrysler doesn't need a low-volume car. They need a competent lineup. The Sebring and Avenger are jokes compared to the Malibu and Fusion. The money Chrysler burned developing the Challenger should've gone towards building a midsize sedan or compact, both of which would've generated much higher sales than a low-volume halo car. Chrysler also needs something to go up against the Equinox and Terrain, something to go up against the Lambdas, a full size SUV...the list goes on and on.

If Chrysler doesn't get their act together soon, GM and Ford will continue to eat up their market share until Chrysler is reduced to nothingness.

[Xanthos]

Originally Posted by FenwickHockey65

Again, Chrysler doesn't need a low-volume car. They need a competent lineup. The Sebring and Avenger are jokes compared to the Malibu and Fusion. The money Chrysler burned developing the Challenger should've gone towards building a midsize sedan or compact, both of which would've generated much higher sales than a low-volume halo car. Chrysler also needs something to go up against the Equinox and Terrain, something to go up against the Lambdas, a full size SUV...the list goes on and on.

If Chrysler doesn't get their act together soon, GM and Ford will continue to eat up their market share until Chrysler is reduced to nothingness.

Yep - they're already doing 60% off msrp here in my area. I seriously thought about going and getting a dirt cheap caliber - but then I remember that it would be just that... cheap.
- X

[kevin2323]

Originally Posted by FenwickHockey65

Again, Chrysler doesn't need a low-volume car. They need a competent lineup. The Sebring and Avenger are jokes compared to the Malibu and Fusion. The money Chrysler burned developing the Challenger should've gone towards building a midsize sedan or compact, both of which would've generated much higher sales than a low-volume halo car. Chrysler also needs something to go up against the Equinox and Terrain, something to go up against the Lambdas, a full size SUV...the list goes on and on.

If Chrysler doesn't get their act together soon, GM and Ford will continue to eat up their market share until Chrysler is reduced to nothingness.

i could say the same thing about the development of the camaro, i understand your point on why they dont need the challenger....but they also dont need it shelved since its a low volume car, it doesnt affect them in a major way.

[tones2SS]

Originally Posted by MrIcky

Well I can't say for sure, but their chart shows the 5.7 continuing to 2014 and it shows a truck refresh in there. The 6.1 continues to show up on the chart and it looks like they've spun Ram off to take care of it.

It looks like they want to take care of the Jeep core too (Wranglers and Grand Cherokees).

Looks like some of the cars may be where you see a lot of machete's.

As far as transmission problems, I've had a Dodge truck in my driveway of one sort or another since the mid-90s. They've been pretty bulletproof including transmissions. The cars though, I've seen some bad stuff. Except the Charger siblings with the mercedes transmission- I haven't heard too much bad stuff about them.

I tend to like Chevy cars and Dodge trucks I guess

Yeah, I read today that they are talking about axing the DAKOTA truck line and replacing it with another truck. Hope its what the Americans want!! I thought the Dakota was a good selling truck?!?
I'm with ya on the Dodge trucks and Chevy cars thing!!

[Brokinarrow]

Originally Posted by FenwickHockey65

Would not consider 3,000 units a month as "selling great."

Chrysler doesn't need a low-volume car, they need a new Sebring, a new Caliber, a completely revamped lineup...

ugh, get rid of the ugly Caliber and bring back a refreshed Neon or something.

[Brokinarrow]

Dodge could also use a refreshed Stratus, that could be their Fusion/Malibu competitor if they do it right. A new neon would compete against the Cobalt/Cruze/Focus. Give the Charger some cosmetic upgrades (thinking interior needs some help here) and a more efficient/powerful engine and it'll be good to go.

[onequickshift]

Originally Posted by meanmike

Some of you are probably going to hang me for this. I think it would be cool if Ford and/or GM bought the jeep name and the right's too the Chally and Viper. However I would only want this if the company was too go under.

Well I like the way the Challys look, its just...they seem so plain jane inside, compared to how pretty camaro interiors are. My family for instance my dad has all 3 new top end offerings from the big 3, I have a new mustang too. I dont really like the challengers drive, handling, etc. It feels...like a land boat? The mustang and camaro are the best buys, on top of what they offer, they look good. The challenger looks good...but...to me? Just to bulky.

The Camaro wins over all imo and likes. Its gorgeous off the dealer lot. And if I could've afforded to buy a brand spanking new new one instead of building an insurance auctioned cammer that was a claim. Then I would've. And just left it dandy alone.

Sadly I do not like where things may go, it will be sad if the chally goes bye bye like the GTO, in fact I loved Ponti, solstice was a cute deformed little roadster. G8 was a solid contender. I am ganna buy off my friend who was just recalled to afgan his g8. He doesn't intend to come back fully, afterwards he wants to move to the UK, so the G8 will be mine for good. Bargain imo.

But I still dont like what happened to ponti. And though I dont prefer mopars, I still find them nice to look at. 300c and charger are great LEO vehicles. And I think the G8 would've been a great alternative to those too. :\ I just hope in the future better things can come of such companies or they sell of their trade vehicles to let them survive even in the face of the company as a wholes demise.

They are just so iconic. Really makes me sad. Makes me want to re-arrange my priorities and try to get samples of certain cars before they become over priced and hard to find. (aha!) I really do like the vipers though, so we'll see.

And the Jeeps are nice too, I was looking to build another one for mud duty. :(

[FenwickHockey65]

Originally Posted by kevin2323

i could say the same thing about the development of the camaro, i understand your point on why they dont need the challenger....but they also dont need it shelved since its a low volume car, it doesnt affect them in a major way.

No, you really can't say the same thing about the Camaro, because when the Camaro was introduced, GM had a more or less competitive lineup or had vehicles in the very near future that were competitive. Chrysler doesn't have either.

[DGthe3]

Originally Posted by kevin2323

i could say the same thing about the development of the camaro, i understand your point on why they dont need the challenger....but they also dont need it shelved since its a low volume car, it doesnt affect them in a major way.

True it doesn't hurt them, but it doesn't help them much either. The Camaro is on track to out-sell the Challenger 4:1. On its own, the Camaro is doing a lot to help GM's bottom line, the Challenger isn't doing the same for Chrysler ... and they need all the help they can get.

[kevin2323]

Originally Posted by DGthe3

True it doesn't hurt them, but it doesn't help them much either. The Camaro is on track to out-sell the Challenger 4:1. On its own, the Camaro is doing a lot to help GM's bottom line, the Challenger isn't doing the same for Chrysler ... and they need all the help they can get.

i agree, just saying it shouldnt go away....the challenger means a whole lot to us mopar fans than many of you guys really know. the help chrysler needs comes from there mass volume cars like the charger 300 etc....now with fiat replacing the compass and caliber which were terribly designed cars, it should get back on track.

[kevin2323]

Originally Posted by FenwickHockey65

No, you really can't say the same thing about the Camaro, because when the Camaro was introduced, GM had a more or less competitive lineup or had vehicles in the very near future that were competitive. Chrysler doesn't have either.

lol

[MrIcky]

Originally Posted by DGthe3

True it doesn't hurt them, but it doesn't help them much either. The Camaro is on track to out-sell the Challenger 4:1. On its own, the Camaro is doing a lot to help GM's bottom line, the Challenger isn't doing the same for Chrysler ... and they need all the help they can get.

We keep repopulating information that is only partially correct here. It is clearly likely that Camaro would be outselling Challenger if Challenger had optimized production. However here are some facts:

In July of 2009 only 886 Challengers were produced, down from over 2600 in 7/08. The Brampton plant is seriously effected by a number of things including pending litigation with Mercedes. Challenger production is slowly coming back up but it is still significantly down from 2008. Challenger sales being 1/4th of Camaro simply isn't apples to apples. In September 2009, Dodge sold 1778 Challengers, which was up 57% from August (note that 57% fewer challengers is pretty much the production numbers for July). Although Dodge's total sales were down, Chargers and Challengers were up. There's more knowledgeable people than me on the subject

Interestingly, the Charger also has some plant interruptions, but it was considered a more key car to Chrysler (both made at Brampton): They sold 7507 in September compared to 7961 for Camaro.

So I'm trying to make 2 points: 1) is that comparing sales of Camaro vs Challenger wouldn't be nearly as illuminating as comparing the snuffed G8+Camaro vs Challenger+Charger. However they don't make the G8 anymore so Chevy has no contender with the Charger. 2) comparing Challenger vs Camaro won't be meaningful until Camaros have been out for a year and Challenger production isn't compromised. My understanding is that Dodge never wanted to make more than 36k Challengers a year because they considered the Charger to be the bread and butter of their full size car line.

[shank0668]

I love the ram.

[DGthe3]

Originally Posted by MrIcky

We keep repopulating information that is only partially correct here. It is clearly likely that Camaro would be outselling Challenger if Challenger had optimized production. However here are some facts:

In July of 2009 only 886 Challengers were produced, down from over 2600 in 7/08. The Brampton plant is seriously effected by a number of things including pending litigation with Mercedes. Challenger production is slowly coming back up but it is still significantly down from 2008. Challenger sales being 1/4th of Camaro simply isn't apples to apples. In September 2009, Dodge sold 1778 Challengers, which was up 57% from August (note that 57% fewer challengers is pretty much the production numbers for July). Although Dodge's total sales were down, Chargers and Challengers were up. There's more knowledgeable people than me on the subject

Interestingly, the Charger also has some plant interruptions, but it was considered a more key car to Chrysler (both made at Brampton): They sold 7507 in September compared to 7961 for Camaro.

So I'm trying to make 2 points: 1) is that comparing sales of Camaro vs Challenger wouldn't be nearly as illuminating as comparing the snuffed G8+Camaro vs Challenger+Charger. However they don't make the G8 anymore so Chevy has no contender with the Charger. 2) comparing Challenger vs Camaro won't be meaningful until Camaros have been out for a year and Challenger production isn't compromised. My understanding is that Dodge never wanted to make more than 36k Challengers a year because they considered the Charger to be the bread and butter of their full size car line.

I thought I heard that the Challenger was supposed to be at around 50k per year, and GM estimated between 80k and 100k for the Camaro. In all likelihood the Camaro will exceed those expectations (given their current pace) while the Challenger will fall well short of even the 36k you mentioned.