Comments on: Optimism in Auburn Hills http://www.allpar.com/weblogs/2008/07/28/optimism-in-auburn-hills/ Chrysler, car, and other discussions by Allpar contributors Thu, 08 Jan 2009 00:16:39 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc hourly 1 By: TSP Ram http://www.allpar.com/weblogs/2008/07/28/optimism-in-auburn-hills/comment-page-1/#comment-76490 TSP Ram Thu, 31 Jul 2008 21:15:54 +0000 http://www.allpar.com/weblogs/?p=333#comment-76490 Yes, the DS is the beautiful new Ram and the RM is the new VW Van. After riding in and driving some of the PM/MK/JC vehicles, I'm not sure we could do better than Yugo, let alone VW. It wasn't that long ago we had the best management staff in the business (Stalkamp, Pawley, etc.) directing one of the most exciting car companies in the world. Now? Based on our current vehicles, and the blood letting in Auburn Hills, I don't know if we've got the brainpower left to put out a new platform. If we start from a clean sheet (can you say Project "D"), we're 3 years away from something new. Chrysler needs to get in bed with a Fiat or Peugot, someone with no presence in the USA. They are small car experts in Europe, and both parties could stand to profit nicely from some sharing of Platforms. I hear that Fiat is looking to build cars in the US at one of their New Holland/CASE IH plants. I wouldn't mind seeing some dual badved Fiat and Dodge cars rolling out of Newark Assy with stampings from my plant, it sure beats seeing Newark closed. Has anyone seen the Alfa Romeo MiTo? Sure looks good next to a Caliber! Yes, the DS is the beautiful new Ram and the RM is the new VW Van. After riding in and driving some of the PM/MK/JC vehicles, I’m not sure we could do better than Yugo, let alone VW. It wasn’t that long ago we had the best management staff in the business (Stalkamp, Pawley, etc.) directing one of the most exciting car companies in the world. Now? Based on our current vehicles, and the blood letting in Auburn Hills, I don’t know if we’ve got the brainpower left to put out a new platform. If we start from a clean sheet (can you say Project “D”), we’re 3 years away from something new. Chrysler needs to get in bed with a Fiat or Peugot, someone with no presence in the USA. They are small car experts in Europe, and both parties could stand to profit nicely from some sharing of Platforms. I hear that Fiat is looking to build cars in the US at one of their New Holland/CASE IH plants. I wouldn’t mind seeing some dual badved Fiat and Dodge cars rolling out of Newark Assy with stampings from my plant, it sure beats seeing Newark closed. Has anyone seen the Alfa Romeo MiTo? Sure looks good next to a Caliber!

]]> By: Dave http://www.allpar.com/weblogs/2008/07/28/optimism-in-auburn-hills/comment-page-1/#comment-76484 Dave Thu, 31 Jul 2008 12:05:58 +0000 http://www.allpar.com/weblogs/?p=333#comment-76484 I think you're missing the point... Chrysler CAN do BETTER than Volkswagen. Admittedly not in diesels. I think you’re missing the point… Chrysler CAN do BETTER than Volkswagen. Admittedly not in diesels.

]]> By: mprbrce http://www.allpar.com/weblogs/2008/07/28/optimism-in-auburn-hills/comment-page-1/#comment-76477 mprbrce Thu, 31 Jul 2008 03:45:05 +0000 http://www.allpar.com/weblogs/?p=333#comment-76477 Isn't the DS platform the 2009 Ram? and the RM platform for the 2009 Volkswagen Routan? I think that Chrysler could further collaborate with Volkswagen. Rework the Volkswagen Fox or Polo in to a modern day Dodge Dart. Rework the GEMA engines to work smoother. Put the reworked GEMA engine into the "Dart", also offer the Volkswagen diesel in it. This should get about 40+mpg. Isn’t the DS platform the 2009 Ram? and the RM platform for the 2009 Volkswagen Routan?

I think that Chrysler could further collaborate with Volkswagen. Rework the Volkswagen Fox or Polo in to a modern day Dodge Dart. Rework the GEMA engines to work smoother. Put the reworked GEMA engine into the “Dart”, also offer the Volkswagen diesel in it. This should get about 40+mpg.

]]> By: TSP Ram http://www.allpar.com/weblogs/2008/07/28/optimism-in-auburn-hills/comment-page-1/#comment-76476 TSP Ram Wed, 30 Jul 2008 21:29:53 +0000 http://www.allpar.com/weblogs/?p=333#comment-76476 Ah yes, our German Friends. I just wish I could meet Robert J Eaton and personally thank him for selling us down the river. Piles of cash, hot cars, decent quality and 10 years later no cash, ugly cars, chinese water pistol plasticky interiors...and still average quality. I cannot believe the honchos in Auburn Hills haven't gone to Fiat or Peugot and begged to buy the platforms of a couple of small cars. Let us "top hat" them and put in our new engines and transmissions (definitely NOT that horrid CVT - leave that for the ATV's...) and let's start building some small cars dammit. Bring back the Neon, with headers on the doors, a new dash, new engine, and 6sp auto and it will get 34mpg! Saw a real nice Plymouth Neon this past weekend, white with the optional alloy wheels..very nice. Ah yes, our German Friends. I just wish I could meet Robert J Eaton and personally thank him for selling us down the river. Piles of cash, hot cars, decent quality and 10 years later no cash, ugly cars, chinese water pistol plasticky interiors…and still average quality. I cannot believe the honchos in Auburn Hills haven’t gone to Fiat or Peugot and begged to buy the platforms of a couple of small cars. Let us “top hat” them and put in our new engines and transmissions (definitely NOT that horrid CVT - leave that for the ATV’s…) and let’s start building some small cars dammit. Bring back the Neon, with headers on the doors, a new dash, new engine, and 6sp auto and it will get 34mpg! Saw a real nice Plymouth Neon this past weekend, white with the optional alloy wheels..very nice.

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