Is Chrysler's success slowing down?
A recent Detroit News piece questions if Chrysler’s past
success over the last two years is coming to an end. The evidence cited is the rising number of vehicles languishing
unsold across Chrysler’s dealer network. Last month, for instance, Chrysler required about 82 days to sell a
vehicle, much longer than the industry average of 58 days according to the article. Plus there’s that whole
incentive thing that’s reared its ugly head again in 2006. Chrysler is now offering more money per vehicle to
buyers than any other automaker, even offering $1,000 on the 300 in some markets.The resolution to this growing concern of excess inventory appears to be cutting production, which Joe Eberhardt, the Chrysler Group’s executive VP of marketing, admitted was a possibly on Wednesday at the Chicago Auto Show. Don’t fret for Chrysler, however, as 2006 will see 10 new models launched, which should pull a few extra people into the showroom.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Boston Dave 7:42AM (2/10/2006)
Chrysler is far and away the best American-made vehicle. Their success was bound to slow down at some point, but they shouldn't fret. I know plenty of perspective car-buyers who love Chryslers, and are always talking about how much they LOVE the 300; as well as the Charger.
Chevy is also doing a little better which may be partially to blame for Chrysler's slowdown.
I think we'll probably see a rise in the sales of Hondas in the coming months due to all of the recent accolades, but Chrysler will most certainly bounce back.
I absolutely cherish my PT Cruiser, by the way.
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ramsport47@yahoo.com 7:45AM (2/10/2006)
I love my Neon and Ram, and will be looking VERY seriously at the Caliber in a month or so when my delaer gets them. I've had nothing but flawless ownership from all of my Chrysler vehicles, and that includes a TC3, and the supposedly troubled first gen Concorde...MAINTAINANCE is the key
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Source1 7:58AM (2/10/2006)
Chrysler is no more an American made car now, since selling to Daimler, than Honda, Toyota, Hyundai, Nissan, Mitsu...all who build cars here and send profits home.
By the way, rented a charger in Tampa last weekend and I was not impressed. The interior of this car, in many respects was a disaster. Driver visibility(low roof and sight line), ergonomics and controls use was beyond mindless and the interior of the car just doesn't match the exterior styling. It looks like two manufacturers worked on the interior and exterior and then met the day before production. Exterior styling was impressive and we rec'd 'look after look'.
My biggest gripe was the complexity of use for many controls. The cruise control was indecipherable and this was not good traveling at 70mph. Trust me, I have rented a billion cars and never have I had such trouble. The stereo system was also ridiculous. At one point I hit a button to change the equalizer and the whole system shut down. It would not reset before I pulled over and shut off car...we tried everything!!!! Anyway, I would never, ever buy this car and my first exposure to a Daimler product, since Dieter, Inc. took the wheel, is not favorable.
Oh by the way, we rented a Sirrus in Miami and this four-banger with simple controls and straight-forward technology was much easier to live with. I actually enjoyed this car, if it is possible to enjoy a Sirrus, more than the charger.
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Source1 8:07AM (2/10/2006)
Maintenance is the Key?
I recently owned a Nissan Maxima and the dealer never touched my car. I changed oil, brake pads and changed fluids at the garage down the street. Drove it 110,000 miles before trading it in. It's not maintenance that is the key, but the engineering and design process which will determine durability and reliablity.
Feel free to go and spend all your money on maintenance, like my buddy who is repairing his T&C at 54k at $700 a pop, but I'll stay with the more durable Asian cars who engineer their cars to last. This has been my experience.
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steven.stlaurent@usmc.mil 9:50AM (2/10/2006)
Seeing the amount of 2005 TSB and safety recalls for your Nissan line, I highly doubt I would purchase one, let alone the number four Toyota and number five Honda for recalls.
Even my Astro is a great vehiclewith 245,000 (with my wife driving, you could double those miles-lol) miles on it is a far cry better any Nissan that I had own in the past and it is GM product.
Now, getting to the real truthnow matter the media ploy you read today, sales figures have increased dramatically (LX line) by 61-percent. I highly doubt it has stalled. However, I could say the same for my area 6K dollar knock off for a 06 Tundra and 4k off for a Tacoma. Hmm
The LX line (300-Magnum-Charger) is still selling well. Yes, there is bloated inventory but that comes from three-shift team producing cars at Brampton, which is good for the consumer. LOL
Like Jerry Flint, who can never seem to either get his facts straight or just adds his own opinions vice the reality.
Hey Jerry...did you get the notice? Your fired!!!
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steven.stlaurent@usmc.mil 9:56AM (2/10/2006)
Quality is the key beside maintenance - secondary to that...
Seeing the amount of 2005 TSB and safety recalls for your Nissan line, I highly doubt I would purchase one, let alone the number four Toyota and number five Honda for recalls.
Even my Astro is a great vehiclewith 245,000 (with my wife driving, you could double those miles-lol) miles on it is a far cry better any Nissan that I had own in the past and it is GM product.
Now, getting to the real truthnow matter the media ploy you read today, sales figures have increased dramatically (LX line) by 61-percent. I highly doubt it has stalled. However, I could say the same for my area 6K dollar knock off for a 06 Tundra and 4k off for a Tacoma. Hmm
The LX line (300-Magnum-Charger) is still selling well. Yes, there is bloated inventory but that comes from three-shift team producing cars at Brampton, which is good for the consumer. LOL
Like Jerry Flint, who can never seem to either get his facts straight or just adds his own opinions vice the reality.
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Andrew 11:45AM (2/10/2006)
I don't necessarily think this is indicative of a slow down... There have been a number of high profile auto shows in the last month or so, and the various Chrysler brands have shown a number of upcoming models. Perhaps people are just waiting for a new Caliber or Nitro, etc... Plus, we just finished the holidays and aren't far from the end of the first quarter, savvy shoppers may just be saving/waiting to buy. I think it's an interesting time given a lot of the new introductions/tweaks to the available cars... Perhaps people are just waiting out some of the new models.
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Ryan 12:20PM (2/10/2006)
MOPAR has always been the underdog, the fact they are German owned should be proof of that.
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ramsport47@yahoo.com 12:27PM (2/10/2006)
I never put less than 100,000 miles on any of my Chrysler cars, and they always return trouble free service. Not having to take the car back to the dealer is a nice thing, gimme a DCX any time over the 2 Toyotas I've had
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Gunnar Heinrich 12:40PM (2/10/2006)
The key question here for buyers is that aside from aesthetic points, why purchase a new Chrysler that benefits from Mercedes-Benz know-how, instead of buying a used Starmark Mercedes-Benz C, CLK, SLK or even E-Class ?
Starmark Benzes are warrantied to 100,000 miles and in many cases fall in the same price points as many of the Chrysler models.
On these fiscal and engineering terms, there is no benefit to purchase a $30K Chrysler over a $30K Benz.
http://www.automobilesdeluxe.blogspot.com
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Ryan 12:50PM (2/10/2006)
#9
"I never put less than 100,000 miles on any of my Chrysler cars, and they always return trouble free service"
- I think this is a sign of the Apocalypse :-)
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what success? 1:15PM (2/10/2006)
What success? Hence, what slowdown?
I never understood this. Chrysler had one breakout platform (300, Magnum, Charger) and on that platform, the sales are dominated by one car mostly. And much of that breakoutness came from wise marketing of a big-ass motor, an item that doesn't sell quite as well to the masses as it did before gas prices went up.
Saying Chrysler was having big success is like saying GM was on a roll because they could sell GMC Envoys and Chevy Suburbans.
Chrysler's big "comeback" was way overblown, so when people actually size up the situation, they think it somehow has subsequently fizzled.
Still, Chrysler is obviously doing somewhat better than in the early DC years, and I expect that growth will continue.
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CMS 1:28PM (2/10/2006)
No and no. 4 yr 50K miles and no MB worthy of owning costs less than $35K.
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Indy Mark 3:32PM (2/10/2006)
Most people don't know that DaimlerChrysler closed our USA foundry here in Indianapolis on September 30,2005. They outsourced the manufacture of it's 3.3/3.8L engines to Germany . The 3.7L and 4.7L engines to TUPY foundry in Brazil. The engine blocks from Brazil are unproven in the marketplace for durability. We noticed that they did away with the 7-70 powertrain warranty just before they made the swith to foreign blocks. By now all the new 2006 vehicles being made probably have the foreign iron engine blocks. A 2006 vehicle with the 3.7L made before Nov 1,2005 probably still has the USA Magnum engine block- that's what I would look for.
Indy Mark
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Dodge Caliber 7:13PM (2/10/2006)
I see DCX making a very strong showing this year and the next at the very least. The Caliber, despite having its detractors I think will sell briskly, and the SRT-4 variant will probably outsell the original.
The 300C will remain strong as will the Charger and once the Challenger hits the streets sales on that will be better then anticipated as well.
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Glenn Laycock 11:39PM (2/10/2006)
110,000 miles on a Nissan with basic maintanence is normal .. that is about the time the repairs usually pick up on most vehicles (just after the 100K warranty expires).
Chrysler should be still considered American because of the infrasture of it is American and totally different then the foreign brands. That is one reason Daimlier bought it. Also in the future it could flip back to American ownership.
Engineering does not equate to quality or durability. You can have a wonderfully engineered product that no one can build correctly (GM was famous for doing this). I would say their is more an corrolation between old simple technology and quality -- in fact this is one of Toyota's tenents; to use the tried and proven technologies and never go into anything new or complex.
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marisa 6:23AM (2/11/2006)
My family has owned both Mercedes and Chrysler cars before they mergered. My last car was a 95 Caravan with 180,000 miles and still going. And we have just purchased a Grand Caravan last year and a new PT Cruiser(which I am loving). Chrysler has proved itself to our family for the last 25 years.
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RamSport47 7:40AM (2/11/2006)
#12...with 10 new products coming out in 2006, you can bet the momentum will continue. I'm not saying that everything they release will be a sellout, but with the confidence that they have built up, they have a much better chance. all of the products coming, whjile not necessarily everyones styling cup of tea, look to be very competitive in their respective segments
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Ben 9:58AM (2/11/2006)
Chrysler 300C was a groundbreaking car, and a deserved success. (In Canadian dollars) 340 hp, 390 lb-ft of torque, rear or all wheel drive and stupendous looks... all for just over 43 grand? Am I missing something? Is this really the top of the line model with leather interior and So you can get a similarly equipped Avalon that looks like a crayfish and lumbers down the road with the eloquence of an elephant? So your V6 pumps 268 hp... but my HEMI V8 will smoke you with an astounding 340! People will forget Toyotas... but nobody will be forgetting the 300C for a long time. Even if you should spent more time with your Chrysler in the garage, at least what time you spend driving will make up for it! Thanks. Ben.
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Tony Carangelo 7:38PM (2/12/2006)
I have had a dodge in my garage for over 20 years my last two were after the german take over and i am sorry but they donot compare to my old 383 engine or my slant 6 or my 318. I just bought my L A S T Dodge.
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