GM + Chrysler?

Just heard this on TV: GM and Chrysler are in talks. Found this online: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/11/business/11auto.html?hp

Discuss.

Now that would be toooo weird.

A Corviper would be .. . . well am not sure what.

So which V-8 engine family goes away? The small-block Chevy or the Hemi?

Jerry From LA wrote: So which V-8 engine family goes away? The small-block Chevy or the Hemi?

The small block Chevy died almost a decade ago.

So, what does Chrysler have to offer?

You mean, besides everything they have that is in direct competition with GM, or will be Real Soon Now?

I don't know how many Tahoes are sold as police cruisers, but I see many more Chargers with party lights than I do GM trucks. Fuel trends would seem to reinforce this for the future.

Jeep name, for whatever that will be worth in the future.

Are Chrysler minivans still considered the best in the market? (I honestly don't know) GM seems to sell more minivan-based crossovers than actual minivans, which either means they have abandoned the market, or found a better way of selling to it.

Dodge trucks are far better than GM offerings, at least for people who use trucks as trucks and not fashion accessories. Duramax gets laughed at, while Cummins draws respect. Again, maybe not so important for the future... or is it? Higher fuel costs will, hopefully, cut down on the "Cowboy Cadillacs" while people who need trucks will still need them. GM won't be able to sell crappy trucks to hausfraus anymore...

Jerry From LA wrote: So which V-8 engine family goes away? The small-block Chevy or the Hemi?

Isn't the current 'Hemi' engine not even a proper Hemi?

what part of the duramax gets lauged at? the more power than the cummins? maybe the more torque than the cummins? could it be the better fuel economy? yeah right. and the new chevy was the truck of the year. man those auto magazines sure are dumb huh. maybe thats why the dodge came in last in that comparison.

to be fair though that was the old gen ram, and the new one is the one to compare with the chev, but still, come on.

I trust an auto journalist to know how to judge a truck about as much as I expect... I dunno. I just don't. They drive Porsches and high end BMWs all day long, they think that the measure of a good vehicle is how full they can make their latte before they spill it on their drive to the parking garage.

(Present hosts excepted, of course... GRM guys don't have the ivory-tower syndrome and I hope they never do!)

Take two large corporations, both bloated with too many divisions, competing and over lapping models, dealerships, employees and costs. Both are losing billions. Putting them together is good for what?

Last night I watched Wall Street (the movie) for the first time. Since we don't know who initiated talks about a possible merger, or why, we can only speculate as to why 2 companies that serve nearly the same market (no Chrysler equiv. of a Cadillac nor a Cobalt/G5 type car, for instance). It does look like Cerberus is merely picking this moment to FINALLY get out of the vehicle building business....I mean, were they REALLY in it for the long haul? I suppose it's possible that this is the price for "unloading" it's share of GMAC? Whatever the reasons, this looks like, as I've said several times, a repeat of what happened to the British car industry. That is, no large car corporations left in the market that are "home grown". One huge conglomerate is the last step before the "home team" is forced to the dugout.

Cerebus is going to trade ALL of Chrysler to GM for the remaining 49% of failing GMAC. This isn't a merger, it's a takeover. GM would likely retain Jeep and dump/sell/close the rest.

Luke wrote:

Jerry From LA wrote: So which V-8 engine family goes away? The small-block Chevy or the Hemi?

Isn't the current 'Hemi' engine not even a proper Hemi?

YUP, sad aint it? Oh trust me, I know how to use a truck The Cummins and Challenger is Dodge's ONLY hope and the Camaro for GM. The G8 ain't that bad though basically an American Australian car. The V8 died in 73!

MitchellC wrote: So, what does Chrysler have to offer?

Not much. The only exception would be the 'LX' platform (300, Challenger etc) which is actually a Mercedes design.

Jeep is pretty strong still.

If a merger takes place we could possibly see trucks with ugly front ends. Oh wait...

So what happens to everyones lifetime warranty?

It's like with Sears and KM: If you take two drunks and strap them together, that doesn't mean they are going to walk a straight line.

Jensenman wrote:

MitchellC wrote: So, what does Chrysler have to offer?

Not much. The only exception would be the 'LX' platform (300, Challenger etc) which is actually a Mercedes design.

Ehhhhh...

The LX was being designed before zee Germans arrived. It's more an American design using German components (suspension and non-engine drivetrain).

daytonaer wrote: So what happens to everyones lifetime warranty?

They were good for the life of the company. If you can find a better deal than that, buy it

i am reminded of the movie Twins, wherein Ahnold gets all the good characteristics and DeVito gets the dregs. only in this merger, i see no Ahnold. lemme try another analogy: you know how some hot chix have E36 M3ty personalities, and some ugly / fat chix have great personalities? i see GMChrysler as an ugly chick who's a berkeleying bitch.

but i could be wrong.

I am curious. If you're on a sinking ship, does tying yourself to another sinking ship help you or hurt you? It would be cool to see a Hemi V-10 Vette in 2012.

It would be interesting, wouldn't it? And it wouldn't be the first time Chrysler has merged with someone in this decade either. Anyone remember Diamler-Chrylser? Yeah.

I would hope they wouldn't kill the Viper. It's one of the few cars that we have left that say, "Hey, European sports car manufacturers! Berkeley you!"

NickF40 wrote: The V8 died in 73!

What do you mean?

ncjay wrote: I am curious. If you're on a sinking ship, does tying yourself to another sinking ship help you or hurt you?

Yes. Yes it does.