It looks like Chrysler is going to give car shoppers a holiday gift as incentive to signing on the dotted line. After a rough year that saw the automaker break away from its Daimler overlords, Chrysler wants to end 2007 on a high note. To that end it will be offering rebates on virtually every vehicle in the lineup during December. Though there's no word on specific amounts, according to The Wall Street Journal the campaign will begin with a series of ads on Nov. 20 and cover Jeep, Dodge and Chrysler vehicles. The biggest discounts will likely be offered on the four models about to be discontinued: the Chrysler Pacifica, PT Cruiser convertible, Crossfire, and the Dodge Magnum. If any of those has been on your short list, it looks like a great time to get one.[Source: Automotive News, sub. req.]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
raz @ Nov 9th 2007 1:45PM
Great, people can buy cas that will have ZERO resale value, shortage of parts, plus everybody laughing and pointing fingers
Pete @ Nov 9th 2007 1:51PM
Pure Intellectual^^
Hank @ Nov 9th 2007 1:54PM
great opportunity for those that keep cars longer than 5 years, terrible money waster for those 'oh look at me and my new car' types.
Toledo Guy @ Nov 9th 2007 5:49PM
Not necessarily.... You should expect lease residuals to be inflated as well, just to make lease prices low, so they'll get off the lot. I've always liked the Pacifica, maybe now it would make sense to lease for 24 months.
Dan Parmelee @ Nov 9th 2007 1:59PM
Shortage of parts? The law requires the car companies to keep making parts for at least 10 years past the date it goes out of production. Most companies make stuff longer, not to mention that thanks to shared platforms there are plenty of interchangeable parts.
Way to fear-monger.
Chris @ Nov 9th 2007 2:04PM
I have to agree. I wouldn't mind picking up a 2007 magnum r/t with some nice rebates. I get an employee discount so this sounds like great news to me.
raz @ Nov 9th 2007 2:02PM
Yeah, parts will be there, but will they be as cheap and as easy to get if you'd buy a car that is not being killed off?
Rboyett @ Nov 9th 2007 4:32PM
The whole parts argument is pretty stupid. You can still find new parts for cars built in the 1960s. Even after the OEM stops making them (years from now) there is another tier of manufacturers that keep making them.
However the resale argument is very valid. IMO you don't buy any of these cars if you're going to get rid of them before they are paid off....
Chris @ Nov 9th 2007 2:06PM
I'd be willing to bet if you get a magnum they will be. Probably not for the Pacifica and PT Cruiser
dan @ Nov 9th 2007 2:26PM
You could pick up a Charger RT around here for 25K + TTL during the glut last summer - and despite that they didn't seem to be going off the lots very quickly.
I almost bought one, but the water leaking inside the door and burning smell in the AC scared me off.
Xcountryflyer @ Nov 9th 2007 2:27PM
Blue light special!
raz @ Nov 9th 2007 2:27PM
This is really a shame, I think Magnum was a horrible car…horrible, I rode in it many times. But the concept was there, they just had to IMPROVE the car, not kill it off. This car had a potential to be a huge seller, if they only improved on it.
Menice @ Nov 9th 2007 2:30PM
i dont care what anyone says, i always liked the Crossfire, and the Pacifica was a cuv ahead of its time.. now it just looks like a minivan.
still hate dumb dodge.
Shane @ Nov 9th 2007 2:45PM
It seems too many people on here are worried about parts. If you are buying a Chrysler brand new your are going have a lifetime warranty on the powertrain...So whats to worrie about. Also, the PT is not going to be killed off, only the Convertible model...so again nothing to worrie about there. Last, pretty much any part that would fail would be mechanical and mechanical parts are not unquie to any car...unless of course it cost $100,00 plus maybe then, yes.
tanooki2003 @ Nov 9th 2007 3:21PM
The only cars that were released by Chrysler that i liked were the 1996-1999 Dodge Avenger and the 2003-2005 Dodge Stratus 2dr Coupe. The rest of their lineup was either unappealing, boring, or complete garbage.
Also for some older farts getting ready to state your winded old fart speeches about Chrysler making the world's first minivan, chance taking designs...blah blah.blah yada yada yada please save it.
If Chrysler wants to be back in the game then they need to really seriously shape the hell up. Heck their current lineup only appeals to 13-20% of the population and slowly declining. I'm talking about the people, for example, who actually in their right ecstasy intoxicated mind think that the new 07 Avenger and Sebring are the coolest cars ever released by this company.
Mike @ Nov 9th 2007 7:04PM
If the Stealth was on the list, it would be the biggest Mitsubishi fanboy post without actually using the word Mitsubishi in the history of this site.
Brad @ Nov 9th 2007 4:38PM
There is no such law, that I'm aware of, that requires or forces auto makers to provide parts up to 10 years. I was in the automobile business for over 20 years, several of those in the parts department. We would run into several things like interior trim pieces and such that would be discontinued after 6 or 7 years. We also ran into some mechanical parts from other manufacturers that were discontinued after the same time frame.
Auto makers discontinue models all the time. Everybody seems to be singling out Chrysler for making a good decision in dropping these models.
Dan Parmelee @ Nov 9th 2007 5:53PM
Chrysler is also falling into the "rental car trap" -- many of their vehicles are being associated with rental agencies. Isn't it like more than half of the Sebrings made go to rental companies? Ouch.
Chryslers use to be fantastic looking cars a few years ago, but lately they really aren't doing anything except making mediocre vehicles.
Mazda, on the other hand, has done the exact opposite -- gone from mediocrity to big-name. Their cars are very appealing and reliable, and are generally a good value.
Azrael4h @ Nov 9th 2007 10:32PM
My first car's engine was in it's last year when built, and I was able to pick up anything I wanted or needed for it at Autozone.
The Magnum was built on the same line, at the same time, as the Charger, 300, and soon-to-be Challenger. Parts will be around for a LONG time.
PT Cruiser was built off the old Neon platform, which was in production for a decade as a Neon, not counting the millions of PT Cruisers. Parts will be around a LONG time.
Pacifica was built of the older-generation Minivan platform. Which was around a while as well, though minivans aren't my thing exactly. Parts will be around just as long as parts for the original 1st gen minivans were. And you can buy parts for those anywhere as well.
You're either on too much crack, or not enough, if you think that people won't be able to provide parts for these vehicles. Even if Chrysler goes under, there are scores of aftermarket companies which will keep these cars running for the next couple of decades.
If I was in better shape financially, I'd trade in on a Magnum R/T. I like those over anything else Chrysler has. I still think they need to offer the Euro 300 Touring (which is a Magnum with a 300's interior and nose) here in it's stead.
ronin @ Nov 10th 2007 6:32AM
What are the discounts? Manufacturers are offering all kinds of incentives on models now (just got an email today on 2500 off 07 G6).
What is so attention-getting on this one?