June 18th, 2009 • by Rich
I’m afraid I have to say I’m suffering from New Chrysler fatigue. Part of it is because we just did this, with that ‘Get ready for the next 100 years’ nonsense. That, and the 9 nears of being the ugly stepchild with equally ugly vehicle interiors, coupled with them telling a local business that my family has supported for almost 30 years to take a hike has really put a damper on my enthusiasm.
To be completely honest I’m still trying to figure out how much I care.
This is a very weird place for me to be, as all I’ve driven is Chrysler products. But the company that designed them was three Chryslers ago (the PT was engineered by the independent Chrysler, then produced by the DCX version, the Cerberus version, now by the many cooks in the kitchen version). Despite some hits along the way, the company has by and large been going the wrong way since Eaton sold it down the river. I hope the current incarnation can pull itself out of the Vortex of Death, but after having bought into the Ceberus version hook line and sinker I’m having trouble doing it again a year later.
Am I alone? Frankly I hope so, because if there are a lot of me out there it doesn’t bode well. Pete DeLorenzo said this about GM, but I think it applies to Chrysler too…before going after conquest sales they have to get the loyalists back in the camp.
Prove to me you’re worth getting emotionally invested in. Again.
November 25th, 2008 • by Rich
The pathetic performance by the CEOs (Moe, Larry, and Shemp) was almost enough to make me change my mind about supporting aid for the automakers. They were that bad. Did their PR departments have any clue how to prepare them, or did they all just go off the reservation on their own?
Did Wagoner actually object to executive removal because anyone brought in wouldn’t know what they were doing? As opposed to what? An inbred suit that saw the stock go from $90 to under $3?
Could anyone do worse?
Did Mulally actually have the nerve to answer the pay-forfeiture question with ‘I think I’m okay where I am’? Oh really? Ford closed at $1.37, and you’re okay where you are? Seriously?
An entire industry is on the brink and this is what you fools bring to the table? Are you flippin’ kidding me?
Nardelli, at least, offered up his salary. Of course, he can afford to since even with the tanking market there’s probably enough of his Home Depot golden parachute left to live on. Still, he must be given credit for doing what Larry and Shemp wouldn’t, and from what I read they didn’t even have to beat it out of him.
Regarding the private jets….one word: Netjets. Fractional ownership in executive jets; all the convenience and a very small percentage of the cost. They should (ahem) consider it.
Down here in the muck a bunch of us are being asked to make sacrifices in order to save our jobs (buh bye raises and bonuses). It’s only fitting that those in the ivory towers join in the fun.
