AN: 2014 Durango still in the works

b1c said:

While I understand the sentiment, as a "bean counter" and a Mopar enthusiast, I have a slight resentment to that statement .....

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I think we need some (more?) "car guy" bean counters

...fellow bean counter

b1c said:

While I understand the sentiment, as a "bean counter" and a Mopar enthusiast, I have a slight resentment to that statement .....

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I sympathize, however rightly or wrongly, great cars and near misses, happened because of one missing or added ingredient.
Sometimes you spend a bit more and can change the world, sometimes you're just throwing good money after bad. It takes a bean counter who is also a car guy, to know that line and sadly many bean counters are not both.

66coronet said:

I hate bean counters!

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Like em or not, they serve a purpose.

Mike

Mike V. said:

Like em or not, they serve a purpose.

Mike

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Well of course, and ain't that the issue. It becomes a derogatory term, when in reality, like anything else the problem ONLY comes in when there is an obsessive focus. When the bean counters decide their perspective is the only one that matters, and cannot understand the long term effects is when you have issues. As usual, when there is a better shared understanding, that's when they are best. It ensures the engineers put more thought into the cost effectiveness of a program, and keeps the focus so that the company can make money.

The flip side being when bean counters are obsessed with only the $, and don't consider the long term effects, then end up losing money. (I seem to recall Bob talking about the 1st Gen LHs having insufficient air conditioning thanks to bean counters. This ended up costing them in warranty repairs and the like. Or like the ball joints. Or of course overly cheap interiors making cars people didn't want to drive losing sales.

Without the engineers you can't have the bean counters. Without the bean counters you can't have the engineers. Everyone has their place.

It's only derogatory if it offends and life isn't fair. We don't live in a utopian world where everyone is happy and unoffended. Dr Cocteau isn't running the country *yet* so there is no Verbal Morality Statute to fine me one credit. The San Angeles Police aren't coming for me yet.



Mike

UN4GTBL said:

You know, even with the Dart tails look good on there

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I only used them to create realistic lighting. The shape is not even close. I had to cut them into at least 4 pieces to make em fit the shape I wanted. lol

Mike V. said:

Without the engineers you can't have the bean counters. Without the bean counters you can't have the engineers. Everyone has their place.

It's only derogatory if it offends and life isn't fair. We don't live in a utopian world where everyone is happy and unoffended. Dr Cocteau isn't running the country *yet* so there is no Verbal Morality Statute to fine me one credit. The San Angeles Police aren't coming for me yet.



Mike

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I still don't understand the three sea shells!

Erik Latranyi said:

I still don't understand the three sea shells!

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Taco Bell sounds perfect for dinner tonight.

Mike

Mike V. said:

Taco Bell sounds perfect for dinner tonight.

Mike

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MMMM rat burger....

Well.. They do have that cool-ranch-Dorito taco now.. xD

While I do understand the purpose of bean counters, going to the trouble of certifying the diesel for the GC and not the Durango doesn't make a lick of sense to me. While the V-6 pentastar is reputedly a great engine, (I have yet to drive one), a diesel in the Durango would up its appeal by a factor of 10, IMO. Diesel trucks and cars are very popular here in Canada due to their torque and range.

Us Canucks travel great distances in our vehicles and gasoline is much more expensive in Canada than the US, thus diesel's popularity here. While Americans may not like it, sooner or later you're going to see some real tax increases in gasoline, if only to pay for your increasing deficits. I'm not playing politics here, just stating a fact of the future.

Offering diesel or CNG capable engines puts Chrysler Group ahead of the game instead of behind the 8 ball, as they have so often been.

jimboy said:

While I do understand the purpose of bean counters, going to the trouble of certifying the diesel for the GC and not the Durango doesn't make a lick of sense to me. While the V-6 pentastar is reputedly a great engine, (I have yet to drive one), a diesel in the Durango would up its appeal by a factor of 10, IMO. Diesel trucks and cars are very popular here in Canada due to their torque and range.

Us Canucks travel great distances in our vehicles and gasoline is much more expensive in Canada than the US, thus diesel's popularity here. While Americans may not like it, sooner or later you're going to see some real tax increases in gasoline, if only to pay for your increasing deficits. I'm not playing politics here, just stating a fact of the future.

Offering diesel or CNG capable engines puts Chrysler Group ahead of the game instead of behind the 8 ball, as they have so often been.

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That could be. Of course, one can hope that a number of factors could bring down the raw price of gas, and they would use that opportunity to slip in said tax hikes

The "D" seems to be picking up sales without any sales promotion from mother.
Can it be true what they at GM inside news forum says that its a good car that nobody tries to sell?
Are the customers finding it by themselfes....
If so it should be a diesel candidate.. free headlines!

bumonbox said:

That could be. Of course, one can hope that a number of factors could bring down the raw price of gas, and they would use that opportunity to slip in said tax hikes

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If you're speaking of fracking or shale oil, you may be right. But, remember that Canada already sells it's bitumen to the US at a $20 per barrel discount.(West Texas light crude) Right now that works out to about $75 -$77 per barrel.
I don't think America can produce its own fuel that cheaply, then again I may also win the lottery this week! LOL

AC TC said:

The "D" seems to be picking up sales without any sales promotion from mother.
Can it be true what they at GM inside news forum says that its a good car that nobody tries to sell?
Are the customers finding it by themselfes....
If so it should be a diesel candidate.. free headlines!

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My sister commented that she sees TONS of advertising for the Dart. Maybe it's just being advertised in specific markets? I know I've seen a few Dart ads when I'm out to eat, too. Usually the Pastrana one and the registry ad.

suzq044 said:

My sister commented that she sees TONS of advertising for the Dart. Maybe it's just being advertised in specific markets? I know I've seen a few Dart ads when I'm out to eat, too. Usually the Pastrana one and the registry ad.

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Does "D" mean "Dart" or "Durango"?

I thought he was referring to the Durango...

"D"urango

Believe it or not the one thing that I really didn't like about the Durango was its lack of "Flipper" glass on the lift gate that is on the Grand Cherokee. I was hoping the refresh would include it. Otherwise I'm happy with either vehicle. At 10k miles, I find myself inventing reasons to "take my Jeep for a drive".

.. you mean WAS on the Grand. It's no longer available iirc.

Correct. The 2014 Grand Cherokee's no longer have the pop out rear window. Will decrease problems with rattles though, that was the biggest problem area for us with the 2013's, as far as rattles etc goes.

Can't have rattles on your $50,000 Summit models.