Chrysler: Development and Technology News
03-12-2007, 02:25 PM
#121
Senior Moderator
I agree. My biggest complaint of the 3 Chryslers I've driven in my family is the interiors. Not so much the layout, but the materials used. It's all horrible hard plastic. My dad's 2004 Sebring is even worse than my mom's 1998 Cirrus. The Sebring is el cheapo to the max, and it's even the Platinum Edition, which is on the higher end of the line and should be nicer.
03-12-2007, 02:27 PM
#122
whut
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Lousy interiors are not the only problem, and they're dooming themselves from the start with this mind-set:
I suppose a holistic strategy is beyond their capabilities. 
...and that will mean cuts elsewhere in vehicle development.
03-12-2007, 02:52 PM
#124
The sizzle in the Steak
It's about time they figured this out.
BOTH the interior designs and materials are
GM has started to improve their interiors dramatically....maybe Chrysler can do the same.
BOTH the interior designs and materials are
GM has started to improve their interiors dramatically....maybe Chrysler can do the same.
03-12-2007, 05:51 PM
#127
Senior Moderator
Its about time. The interiors on some of the ones i sat in at the auto show were the worst i saw. The Jeep dash was one solid piece of hard plastic. 
(ford isnt far behind)
(ford isnt far behind)
03-12-2007, 06:00 PM
#128
Changin bulbs since '73
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Originally Posted by fsttyms1
Its about time. The interiors on some of the ones i sat in at the auto show were the worst i saw. The Jeep dash was one solid piece of hard plastic. (ford isnt far behind)
(ford isnt far behind)The jeep was awful....but it is a jeep.
The mustang was pretty bad
dodge in general had the most lackluster and hollow interiors.
Ford was tricky...they looked good but were "hollow to touch"
GM was much better ... not as good as honda and toyota...but much better then Ford and Chrysler.
Caddy was more solid feeling/sounding than the rest of GM.
03-12-2007, 07:18 PM
#129
The upgrades won't affect their vehicles until 2011. My wifes 99 CRV has a better interior, than anything they're putting now.
03-12-2007, 07:38 PM
#130
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In the SRT8 I have, the plastics could definitely use improvement. Thankfully, most of the touch points are leather.
Actually the interior build quality is fine, its just the material use and in some cases design of Chrysler product interiors that need improvement.
I'm not a dash stroker, so the interior doesn't bother me. But I could see it bothering someone else.
Actually the interior build quality is fine, its just the material use and in some cases design of Chrysler product interiors that need improvement.
I'm not a dash stroker, so the interior doesn't bother me. But I could see it bothering someone else.
03-14-2007, 09:08 AM
#132
11-01-2007, 02:01 PM
#133
The sizzle in the Steak
Chrysler kills 4 cars from production
NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- It wasn't just jobs that Chrysler LLC cut on Thursday. The automaker knocked out some cars as well.
Chrysler announced that it will stop production of four Dodge and Chrysler models: the Dodge Magnum, Chrysler Pacifica, the Chrysler Crossfire and the PT Cruiser Convertible.
The moves come as the troubled automaker, recently acquired by a private equity firm, is embarking on a major reorganization. Chrysler also said Thursday that it would eliminate some shifts from five of its North American assembly plants and cut 8,500 to 10,000 hourly jobs by 2009.
The cancellation of the four models is the first major product move by Chrysler since James Press, formerly Toyota's top American executive, joined the company in September. Press is now in charge of Chrysler's North American product strategy.
Chrysler to eliminate 12,000 jobs
The Dodge Magnum, introduced in 2004, is an aggressively styled station wagon available with the company's powerful Hemi V8 engines. It shares its basic engineering with the Dodge Charger and Chrysler 300 sedans.
The Magnum has been, by far, the slowest-selling of those models. Chrysler will be introducing another model, the Dodge Challenger coupe, on that platform beginning next summer.
In September, Chrysler sold more than 9,000 each of the Dodge Charger and Chrysler 300, but only about 3,600 Magnums.
The Chrysler Pacifica is a crossover SUV with 3 rows of seats and combines elements of SUV and minivan styling. The Pacifica was one of the first crossovers on the market but has struggled to find buyers in an increasingly competitive market.
Through September, Pacifica sales were down 30 percent compared to the first nine months of 2006. Meanwhile, the segment is hot: Sales of midsized crossover vehicles from all manufacturers rose 73 percent, according to the Power Information Network.
The Pacifica's place in Chrysler's product lineup may be filled by the Dodge Journey, a new three-row crossover the company plans to introduce early next year.
Introduced in 2003, the Crossfire, a two-door sports car built in Germany, is based on the engineering platform of the previous-generation Mercedes-Benz SLK. It was seen as an example of synergy when Chrysler was part of DaimlerChrysler Corp.
In August, Daimler, sold off Chrysler to the private equity group Cerberus Capital Management.
By the end of the 2006 model year, so many Crossfires remained on U.S. dealer lots that Chrysler didn't even import any 2007 Crossfires.
Sales numbers aside, the expense of manufacturing the Crossfire in Europe and shipping it the United States was a major factor in deciding to stop production.
The Crossfire was likely only marginally profitable for Chrysler, said Power Information Network analyst Tom Libby.
While canceling the PT Cruiser Convertible, Chrysler bucked earlier media reports that it would stop PT Cruiser production altogether. The company will still make the PT Cruiser hardtop.
Introduced in 2001, the retro-styled PT Cruiser wagon is classified as a crossover. It sales have dropped significantly in recent years, especially as it has faced competition from the very similar Chevrolet HHR introduced in 2006.
Although it is still the fifth-most popular compact crossover in America, just behind the Chevrolet HHR, its sales are down 27 percent so far this year, according to the Power Information Network.
Still, the PT Cruiser remains popular enough, with 2007 sales expected to top 100,000, that it made sense for the company to keep producing it, said Chrysler spokesman Rick Deneau.
The convertible version, which Chrysler is dropping, costs about $4,000 more and represents just 7 percent of PT Cruiser's sales, according to the Power Information Network.
"That thing was just not moving as well as we would have liked," Deneau said of the convertible.
In addition to the Dodge Challenger and Journey, Chrysler will also introduce hybrid versions of its Dodge Durango and Chrysler Aspen large SUVs next year.
Chrysler announced that it will stop production of four Dodge and Chrysler models: the Dodge Magnum, Chrysler Pacifica, the Chrysler Crossfire and the PT Cruiser Convertible.
The moves come as the troubled automaker, recently acquired by a private equity firm, is embarking on a major reorganization. Chrysler also said Thursday that it would eliminate some shifts from five of its North American assembly plants and cut 8,500 to 10,000 hourly jobs by 2009.
The cancellation of the four models is the first major product move by Chrysler since James Press, formerly Toyota's top American executive, joined the company in September. Press is now in charge of Chrysler's North American product strategy.
Chrysler to eliminate 12,000 jobs
The Dodge Magnum, introduced in 2004, is an aggressively styled station wagon available with the company's powerful Hemi V8 engines. It shares its basic engineering with the Dodge Charger and Chrysler 300 sedans.
The Magnum has been, by far, the slowest-selling of those models. Chrysler will be introducing another model, the Dodge Challenger coupe, on that platform beginning next summer.
In September, Chrysler sold more than 9,000 each of the Dodge Charger and Chrysler 300, but only about 3,600 Magnums.
The Chrysler Pacifica is a crossover SUV with 3 rows of seats and combines elements of SUV and minivan styling. The Pacifica was one of the first crossovers on the market but has struggled to find buyers in an increasingly competitive market.
Through September, Pacifica sales were down 30 percent compared to the first nine months of 2006. Meanwhile, the segment is hot: Sales of midsized crossover vehicles from all manufacturers rose 73 percent, according to the Power Information Network.
The Pacifica's place in Chrysler's product lineup may be filled by the Dodge Journey, a new three-row crossover the company plans to introduce early next year.
Introduced in 2003, the Crossfire, a two-door sports car built in Germany, is based on the engineering platform of the previous-generation Mercedes-Benz SLK. It was seen as an example of synergy when Chrysler was part of DaimlerChrysler Corp.
In August, Daimler, sold off Chrysler to the private equity group Cerberus Capital Management.
By the end of the 2006 model year, so many Crossfires remained on U.S. dealer lots that Chrysler didn't even import any 2007 Crossfires.
Sales numbers aside, the expense of manufacturing the Crossfire in Europe and shipping it the United States was a major factor in deciding to stop production.
The Crossfire was likely only marginally profitable for Chrysler, said Power Information Network analyst Tom Libby.
While canceling the PT Cruiser Convertible, Chrysler bucked earlier media reports that it would stop PT Cruiser production altogether. The company will still make the PT Cruiser hardtop.
Introduced in 2001, the retro-styled PT Cruiser wagon is classified as a crossover. It sales have dropped significantly in recent years, especially as it has faced competition from the very similar Chevrolet HHR introduced in 2006.
Although it is still the fifth-most popular compact crossover in America, just behind the Chevrolet HHR, its sales are down 27 percent so far this year, according to the Power Information Network.
Still, the PT Cruiser remains popular enough, with 2007 sales expected to top 100,000, that it made sense for the company to keep producing it, said Chrysler spokesman Rick Deneau.
The convertible version, which Chrysler is dropping, costs about $4,000 more and represents just 7 percent of PT Cruiser's sales, according to the Power Information Network.
"That thing was just not moving as well as we would have liked," Deneau said of the convertible.
In addition to the Dodge Challenger and Journey, Chrysler will also introduce hybrid versions of its Dodge Durango and Chrysler Aspen large SUVs next year.
11-01-2007, 02:11 PM
#135
The sizzle in the Steak
Good moves by Chrysler IMHO.
11-01-2007, 03:54 PM
#139
The sizzle in the Steak
Originally Posted by Siddig
The magnum was great. thats very sad....also makes me a little skeptical about being so die hard about buying a challenger next year...so conflicted.
11-01-2007, 04:40 PM
#140
Originally Posted by Bdog
The Pacifica is one of the nicer minivan style vehicles that's out there too.
11-01-2007, 04:52 PM
#142
Burning Brakes
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Shame about the Magnum, the only non SRT vehicle in the lineup that I actually liked. When I look at the Chrysler/Dodge/Jeeplineup it is by far the weakest of the big three. Hopefully they can turn things around.
11-01-2007, 08:41 PM
#144
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Originally Posted by Bdog
The Pacifica is one of the nicer minivan style vehicles that's out there too.
I had a Pacifica, it was great. They didn't market it right, there is nothing wrong with the car itself. Aholes.
11-01-2007, 09:04 PM
#145
Senior Moderator
it will start here and eventually lead to the doors closing.
11-01-2007, 09:08 PM
#146
Senior Moderator
Originally Posted by Ruski
I had a Pacifica, it was great. They didn't market it right, there is nothing wrong with the car itself. Aholes.
That said, it would appear that Chrysler is transitioning the Pacifica's segment into that of the Journey crossover SUV. (To some degree, not unlike Ford's abandonment of the Freestar and introduction of the Edge though, the Pacifica is MUCH more popular than the Freestar was.)
The Crossfire NEVER had any appeal to me personally and would NEVER have considered one over a 350Z...SRT6 or not. ...and good riddance to the PT Cruiser vert and Magnum.
...and unless Chrysler sends the Caliber to Honda finishing school (to work on the ergonomics) then, that should also get the axe.
11-02-2007, 07:47 AM
#149
Go Big Blue!
Amazing how fast you can move when you don't have shareholders to answer too. It's going to be real interesting to see how well an investment company can run a car company.
11-02-2007, 11:48 AM
#150
Race Director
Originally Posted by SpicyMikey
Amazing how fast you can move when you don't have shareholders to answer too. It's going to be real interesting to see how well an investment company can run a car company.
11-02-2007, 12:03 PM
#151
99 TL, 06 E350
Originally Posted by SpicyMikey
Amazing how fast you can move when you don't have shareholders to answer too. It's going to be real interesting to see how well an investment company can run a car company.
11-02-2007, 07:12 PM
#152
Punk Rocker
Chrysler needs to dump everything they are making right now and come up with some decent styling stat! Every car they make is a disaster in sheet metal. I can't think of one Chrysler product I would ever want to own (save the Viper).....
11-02-2007, 07:16 PM
#153
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Originally Posted by subinf
I thought that the Pacifica was a pretty solid car. Not one that I would buy, but I liked it.
Cruising at 90mph from Fort Lauderdale to Orlando and back, with wife and kids, full of luggage was effortless.
Lots of bells and whistles too, including an in-dash navigation system, DVD changer, separate CD player, etc.
11-02-2007, 09:14 PM
#155
Senior Moderator
Originally Posted by Moog-Type-S
Good moves by Chrysler IMHO.
I think I've seen all of 2 Crossfires around here since they came out. The Pacifica is probably the one I see most often, but that isn't saying much, either. Hopefully they start coming out with some better cars soon.
11-04-2007, 06:53 AM
#157
Go Giants
Good thing I never became a mod of the pacifica forum......
11-04-2007, 09:22 AM
#158
Senior Moderator
The 4 Chryslers mentioned ... I never liked any of them and it's a good thing head office chopped those cars. Nardelli is cutting products that don't make money. (Hey, if the Viper lost money, it would be kept since it's there as a 'flagship' model... different story.)
Since I live in a blue collar town and the main employer is Chrysler (Windsor makes the Minivan, along with St Louis), I see tons of their products -- Magnum, Pacifica (it was made on the same line as the Minivan), Crossfires, you name it. I never liked any of those designs. I'm not sure how much Daimler had on design input but they did have limited say on what goes into them. (ie Crossfire uses the old SLK chassis).
Hope Cerberus can fix this company or else this place will be a ghost town!
Since I live in a blue collar town and the main employer is Chrysler (Windsor makes the Minivan, along with St Louis), I see tons of their products -- Magnum, Pacifica (it was made on the same line as the Minivan), Crossfires, you name it. I never liked any of those designs. I'm not sure how much Daimler had on design input but they did have limited say on what goes into them. (ie Crossfire uses the old SLK chassis).
Hope Cerberus can fix this company or else this place will be a ghost town!
