[Dave Z]

The revised Plan hopefully, reflects some flexibility and dawning reality on Marchionne's part

Yes, and that is why I have a lot of respect for him.

Remember when Daimler was running things? If "German engineering" ads caused Chrysler to drop and VW to rise, well, they were happy to ... run another, more expensive German Engineering ad campaign.

If the "chunky look" failed to sell, well, we'll make chunkier looking cars.

If gizmos and gadgets do not sell the cars, we don't have enough gizmos and gadgets.

 

[Dave Z]

Dang, Larry, you are right.

 

[Dave Z]

I suspect Cherokee will do very well given how robust its segment is, and the powertrain is a LOT more attractive than Dart's. -- the new 3.2 and nine speed... dang.

It will get attention on launch just from having one more speed than any other mass production transmission.

I suspect it will have the most sophisticated transmission of any car near its price class -- the next best would be Charger.

 

[Dave Z]

A huge +1.

As a side note, I believe my Valiant and Rabbit had similar volume trunks. Any day of the week, though, the Rabbit was more useful. I can think of very few times the Valiant configuration would be more useful than the Rabbit (carrying big signs, I guess. Maybe my folding tent, I never had one when I had a Rabbit.) It was just a stunning example of that maxim... the Valiant is wide, long, and flat. You can fit a small cardboard box in most of the spots but there are also intruding hinges and of course the gas pipe...

When I had a Camaro and carried newspapers, I had to get very creative. I found a Camaro can carry 10,000 newspapers if you drive VERY slowly, and do not carry a spare, or your rear seats, or your passenger seat.

Side note: the Rabbit was made in Pennsylvania by union labor. and I bought it with 101,000 miles on the clock, from my father, who could not get it to pass inspection. After much examination by a "foreign car specialist" (who cleaned the injectors for the first time, remember, this is before detergent gasoline, and the injectors dribbled badly), I finally fixed it myself by replacing a length of vacuum pipe ($32!). Great car really, no sound insulation at all, but it was quick 0-50 (easily beat my 305-powered Camaro) and never got less than 30 mpg. The downside was it was teeny inside and did I mention had no sound insulation at all? and was absolutely not designed to ever be serviced or repaired. Probably the best made car I ever had until our Neon.