Whole bunch of news from Chrysler

I'm reminded of the ramblings of Pinkie & The Brain.

Maybe now Crysler will have cars worth buying. And correct me if I am wrong but wasn't the old Fiat 500 available over here.

Actually, I'm looking forward to the UAW running the Co. Not like it will actually happen, but it'd be great to see if their own labor policies work- look- it'd be great if they did, but I'm not holding my breath. On the other hand, a little pride of ownership might turn that bastard around.

Brust wrote: Actually, I'm looking forward to the UAW running the Co. Not like it will actually happen, but it'd be great to see if their own labor policies work- look- it'd be great if they did, but I'm not holding my breath. On the other hand, a little pride of ownership might turn that bastard around.

I think the whole "pride" thing will play out like:

where the doors are falling off the cars at the end of the assembly line after Keaton gives his big speech about standing behind the cars the plant is building

I'm waiting for a retro-Valiant with a DOHC Slant 6 to put next to the new Challenger.

Bring the Punto over here...in So Cal it'll be known as the Puto minúsculo

96DXCivic wrote: Maybe now Crysler will have cars worth buying. And correct me if I am wrong but wasn't the old Fiat 500 available over here.

Yeah, that Viper ACR('Ring record holder), SRT line, top rated minivans/ new Ram and trail rated Jeep line are just crap, aren't they?

After you finish playing your fifth straight hour of Halo 3, doesn't your Honda need a bigger exhaust tip or something?

mad_machine wrote: there is also the whole "heritage" thing. Fiat has been using the term "500" for How long? I remember a number of years ago that Pontiac tried to sue BMW for the Kidney grill.. saying it was too like the split grills on their cars.. And Pontiac LOST because BMW had been using that adornment as a trademarked part of their cars since before the second war

Ford has only been using it (the 500 moniker) since the early '60s. And Pontiac and BMW were both using split grilles as far back as 1929.

I believe there is precedence in the USA with Ford winning lawsuits over the 500 moniker.

For some reason I was thinking they lost a lawsuit over it, and as a result of said lawsuit they were allowed to use the words "FIVE HUNDRED" but not the number "500". But that's just a very faint (and probably inaccurate) memory, so who knows.

forzav12 wrote: Yeah, that Viper ACR('Ring record holder), SRT line, top rated minivans/ new Ram and trail rated Jeep line are just crap, aren't they? After you finish playing your fifth straight hour of Halo 3, doesn't your Honda need a bigger exhaust tip or something?

"Trail Rated" is simple marketing. Example: The Trail Rated Jeep Patriot. That really says it all, doesn't it?

The Viper is a good product, the minivans seem competitive, and the new Ram is a great achievement as well. Bragging up just about anything at Jeep seems a little silly by comparison.

pres589 wrote: Bragging up just about anything at Jeep seems a little silly by comparison.

Show me any stock vehicle that can compete with this in extreme off roading.

DILYSI Dave wrote:

pres589 wrote: Bragging up just about anything at Jeep seems a little silly by comparison.

Show me any stock vehicle that can compete with this in extreme off roading.

???? Is this stock? just kiddin...

That whoe 'Trail Rated' thing gives me the giggles. You get some 35 yo blonde chick with 3 kids driving a Hemi Commander with QuadraTrac II which goes no further off road than the driveway. And there's a big 'Trail Rated' badge stuck to the front fender. Yeah, right.

I dig younger chicks

Jensenman wrote: That whoe 'Trail Rated' thing gives me the giggles. You get some 35 yo blonde chick with 3 kids driving a Hemi Commander with QuadraTrac II which goes no further off road than the driveway. And there's a big 'Trail Rated' badge stuck to the front fender. Yeah, right.

I agree. The fact that they put that damn badge on anything makes it worthless. It dilutes the prestige of those that are competent off road.

DILYSI Dave wrote:

Jensenman wrote: That whoe 'Trail Rated' thing gives me the giggles. You get some 35 yo blonde chick with 3 kids driving a Hemi Commander with QuadraTrac II which goes no further off road than the driveway. And there's a big 'Trail Rated' badge stuck to the front fender. Yeah, right.

I agree. The fact that they put that damn badge on anything makes it worthless. It dilutes the prestige of those that are competent off road.

That was my whole point, I guess I should have worded it better to avoid the cute little Wrangler.

DILYSI Dave wrote:

Jensenman wrote: That whoe 'Trail Rated' thing gives me the giggles. You get some 35 yo blonde chick with 3 kids driving a Hemi Commander with QuadraTrac II which goes no further off road than the driveway. And there's a big 'Trail Rated' badge stuck to the front fender. Yeah, right.

I agree. The fact that they put that damn badge on anything makes it worthless. It dilutes the prestige of those that are competent off road.

well, the compass and patriot don't get one, and the liberty only gets the badge if you have the cvt and the 8:1 rearend or whatever it is, (quadratrac II?)

Strizzo wrote: well, the compass and patriot don't get one, and the liberty only gets the badge if you have the cvt and the 8:1 rearend or whatever it is, (quadratrac II?)

Oh look;

http://wardsauto.com/ar/trail_rating_patriot/

With the Patriot, they make a big deal out of waterproofing when you get the 4wd version. It gets double door weatherstrips (among other things) which allegedly allow fording in up to 18" of water. That's the only one they make a big noise about as far as waterproofing, though.

well thats a little dissappointing, but at least they don't just give it awd and slap the trail rated badge on it.

I've gotten a few strange looks (how'd HE get way out here in THAT! type looks) in my Commander. Granted, It's no Wrangler and it isn't modded in any way. I know my limitations and I know IT'S limitations. But for a daily driver that hauls two adults and 4 kids (well, three at the moment, #4 is due in a few weeks), sees daily dirt road use (I live a mile from the nearest paved road) and can cruise the local trails or make a trip to the big city (100 mile minimum one way) without switching vehicles. I like it just fine. Yeah, my Commander has a Trail Rated badge....because it is. Does a "racing package" on a small car being driven by some drone that's never seen a race track dilute it's heratige any more than a "Trail Rated" badge stuck on a Jeep that's never been dirty?

Moparman wrote:

carguy123 wrote: Now the UAW owns a car company. Is that funny or is it tragic? Will they now finally get it that you can't just keep pushing costs up without an increase in features and quality or is this just the prelude to round 2 of Chrysler's demise only next time it takes down billions of dollars in taxpayers money?

It will not be run as a for-profit company. It will be run for the benefit of UAW.

So basically the organization is now about as appealing to investors and consumers as testicular cancer.

If you thought the top brass at GM and Chrysler was incompetent before get ready for a whole new level of corporate ineptitude.

JohnGalt wrote:

Moparman wrote:

carguy123 wrote: Now the UAW owns a car company. Is that funny or is it tragic? Will they now finally get it that you can't just keep pushing costs up without an increase in features and quality or is this just the prelude to round 2 of Chrysler's demise only next time it takes down billions of dollars in taxpayers money?

It will not be run as a for-profit company. It will be run for the benefit of UAW.

So basically the organization is now about as appealing to investors and consumers as testicular cancer. If you thought the top brass at GM and Chrysler was incompetent before get ready for a whole new level of corporate ineptitude.

Dude, we are on the same wave length.

JohnGalt wrote: So basically the organization is now about as appealing to investors and consumers as testicular cancer.

Maybe less, you can't win the Tour de France with a Chrysler.