The Detroit News got its hands on a transcript of a Q&A session held between Chrysler execs and employees of the company in which management admits the company misjudged the market when developing vehicles like the new Chrysler Sebring and Dodge Nitro. The transcript was confirmed to be legitimate by Chrysler spokesman Rick Deneau, who admitted it was never meant for the public to see. Nevertheless, the Q&A session shows that that there are many at Chrysler who are "quite upset" about how some vehicles turned out, which is illustrated most pointedly by the harsh criticism the Sebring and Nitro received from Consumer Reports.
In response, Chrysler says it is moving fast to fix its own internal development process so that it can better project what customers want and expect from their vehicles a few years down the road. It seems the current system is good at matching what competitors are offering now, but produces vehicles that arrive on the market behind the curve in terms of design, quality and interiors.
We've certainly panned the Sebring for its design, both exterior and interior, as well as its uncompetitive engine lineup, and we've read the comments slamming the Nitro that Dodge has provided for our Sweepstakes, which, by the way, you can click here to enter (hey, it's free!). We're perplexed as to how the Jeep Compass and Dodge Avenger were never mentioned in this litany of Chrysler misses, though one also has to recognize the company's current successes, including the new Jeep Wrangler that's selling like crazy right now.It's unfortunate for Chrysler that the company couldn't have addressed all these problems quickly and quietly, as the leaked transcript will surely not help the rate at which Chrysler dealers are moving these vehicles of their lots.
[Source: The Detroit News]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
bmoredlj @ Jun 8th 2007 12:39PM
A very odd post, considering the sweepstakes button at the top of the page. "Enter to Win....a Miss!"
Miss or not, a free car's a free car.
John Neff @ Jun 8th 2007 12:55PM
News is news, and a free car is a free car. BTW, did you enter the sweepstakes yet today? :)
FThorn @ Jun 8th 2007 12:41PM
I'd love to see the kind of car that armchair QBs on the web would design/build.
danms6 @ Jun 8th 2007 1:00PM
A Homermobile of epic proportions.
Honestly, it's not my job to design the car I would like to drive. My job is to earn money so that I can purchase what I believe to be the best car offered in my chosen class and price range. Which unfortunately does not include Chrysler right now.
Avinash machado @ Jun 8th 2007 12:47PM
I agree that the Jeep Compass is pathetic.
bmoredlj @ Jun 8th 2007 12:47PM
There's a lot of fog obscuring Chrysler's future products. What will replace the 300, which is already on an old E-Class platform(They can't sell it unchanged forever)? When will Dodge get a compact sedan like the Neon back? (Will it be a Chery?) When will Jeep stick to Jeeps? Will the ultra-conservative new minivans pan out, or be another misstep? All good questions in my view. We'll just have to see.
atu @ Jun 8th 2007 12:53PM
may the compass escaped criticism because it had "medical issues" :)
Mike D @ Jun 8th 2007 12:55PM
I am very surprised that they feel the Nitro and Sebring are misses. I see a bunch on the road each day. I wonder if they have been unsuccessful at high volume fleet sales, which they might have figured on securing. I don't really know, but I feel they are great for what they are, especially the Sebring with all it's great features. Neither are enthusiast cars, but for the average customer - they have a lot to offer.
I guess another factor is the stereotype that Toyota and Honda build the most reliable bulletproof cars on the market. I had a friend forgo an excellent offer on a fully optioned '07 Hyundai Elantra to get an optionless Toyota Corolla. I've personally sat in both, and the new Elantra had so much more if offered, in terms of interior, options, warranty, etc etc... The Corolla looked like a throwback from 1998 in it's interior, and I was fairly miffed by the lack of features and the 90's looking interior. He also paid out the ass for it, a bit more than he would've paid for the Hyundai.
.
Noidor @ Jun 8th 2007 12:58PM
Sebring - when a car company concentrates its advertising on cup holders which warm/cool your drink, it just screams of a subpar product which doesn't particularly excel in any given area.
Ben H. @ Jun 8th 2007 12:59PM
I'd be embarrassed to win these fugly cars...and I don't get embarrassed at all!
Ben H. @ Jun 8th 2007 1:01PM
BTW, they should have just let Chrysler die.
kevin werry @ Jun 8th 2007 2:36PM
And take ford and gm with them
Gooch @ Jun 8th 2007 1:05PM
Chrysler is a schizophrenic company. They bring out one car that's an absolute hit (300/Magnum line), then follow it with dud after dud. They can't possibly screw up the Wrangler, which sells on its history and current goodness (the Unlimited was a great idea). But with a bread-and-butter car like the Sebring, I don't understand what they were thinking. It's not a "bad"-looking car, but it has no excitement at all. It has interesting features, but let's face it, people don't really get beyond its styling, and if they do, they're put off by the car's interior quality. They need to apply these simple rules when they develop a car:
Would I (the engineer, designer, bean counter) buy this car?
Would I (the executive) allow my wife and children to ride in this car?
Will the buying public vote with their wallets and go elsewhere if we put this car on the road?
Does this car have enough performance and equipment to stay fresh for its life cycle?
Will the styling hold up for its life cycle?
If the answer to any of these questions is no, then they should work on the car until all the answers are "yes."
drolds1 @ Jun 8th 2007 1:12PM
atu- ROFL
BurningRubber @ Jun 8th 2007 1:15PM
The Sebring and Avenger are behind the competition in many ways. One of the only reasons it's selling is that it is cheaper than a domestic or foreign sedan. Aside from that, not many reasons to buy a Sebring or an Avenger when you can get the 300 or a Charger for only a couple more thousand dollars.
serge.alexander @ Jun 8th 2007 1:28PM
Thats funny, considering Sweepstakes car is a Nitro..
you know it @ Jun 8th 2007 1:31PM
"...one also has to recognize the company's current successes, including the new Jeep Wrangler that's selling like crazy right now."
They didn't do anything! the unlimited with four doors...wow that must have taken a lot of brain power. It's like the Guiness ads where there are two guys and one guys always suggests already thought of ideas and inventions and the other replies "ingenious"...what is going on over there?
no5 @ Jun 8th 2007 3:35PM
you mean to say "brilliant!"
MikeW @ Jun 8th 2007 1:46PM
Admitting that they have a problem is a good step on the road to recovery.
The 62TE is junky. The 3.5V6 is behind the 'curve'. Ony a smidge more power/torque than GM's 3.5 pushrod.
From
http://www.autoweek.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070530/FREE/70529006/1532/FREE
"My biggest disappointment was with the engine and transmission. While the engine offers enough power, it’s a raspy unit. Worse is the transmission, which is geared weirdly and is constantly hunting"
The mileage is poor in the Nitro-too heavy & it is a brick. At least they have a 6 speed stick, but that only comes with the so-so 3.7.
Kumar @ Jun 8th 2007 1:51PM
Reskin those puppies pronto!!!
At least the sebring stands a chance at a nose and tail refresh. Nitro just needs a new face, since that one is too vintage 80's boom boxish.
Underlying all of Chryslers problems is the archaic 4 speed autos in half their junk. They'd better work fast to get 5 speed autos (or more) and 6 speed manuals in everything, as well as bring diesels over.
They might be in a better position to contract with VW for diesels now too, since admittedly DC would never have given them the smaller diesels we'll want soon enough. We just got that giant bluetec one.