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Would someone at Chryslerberus please tell their new jeffe that the ungainly four-door Jeep Commander is almost as much of a goner as his precious Prowler? Boot'em Bob Nardelli doesn't seem to realize it was a dud right out of the chute, and sales are even worse this year– down 15.5 percent. Oblivious to the facts, Nardelli said "the Jeep Commander is doing a great job" while talking to reporters at the Prowler 10th anniversary PR-orgy celebration last week. Detroit News Autos Insider suggests maybe he read the monthly sales chart upside down. It's more likely an indicator of just how little he really knows about the auto industry. Don't say we didn't tell you.
17 Comments on “OK… So No One Said “Boot’em” Bob Nardelli’s an “SUV Guy”...”
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That is such a spectacularly ugly car.
(And btw – with the distance between front and rear wheels it’s designed to be hung up on rocks, apparently … )
The first lesson in crisis management is to be honest. If you don’t know the answer to a reporter’s question, don’t try to BS your way through it.
People — even journalists — aren’t as stupid as they look.
Stein X Leikanger:
(And btw – with the distance between front and rear wheels it’s designed to be hung up on rocks, apparently … )
Rocks? What rocks? The only rocks most of these things will see are the ones coming off of gravel trucks they’re tailgating on the interstate.
I see plenty of those on my parking lot…the fact that the CEO owns one probably helps to explain ;-)
The Commander doesn’t even deserve to be in the photo with those other Jeeps. For crying out loud, just bring back the Cherokee.
Red flag raised!
Wow. Unless he knows something we don’t about its performance in the marketplace, which he doesn’t, this just looks spectacularly stupid.
Bravo, Frank Williams! And while tailgating the truck, they’ll have that BlackBerry (whatever) going and working on the computer while trying to feed little Connor (or is it “er”–don’t want to offend the whine and cheese crowd) in the back seat. Driving is the farthest thing from (her) mind.
The Commander’s 109.5″ wheelbase is the same as the Grand Cherokee’s. As such, the vehicles have nearly identical approach, breakover, and departure angles. The Commander’s additional interior room is a result of the longer rear overhang (44.9″ vs. 43.5″), which allows for some semblance of a third row of seats.
Getting back to the point of this news item, however, it’s more than a little disconcerting that Nardelli apparently has little understanding of Chrysler’s current position in the market.
the Jeep Commander is doing a great job
W T F?!
You sure he didn’t say the Commander is doing “a heckuva job”?
Where do they find these guys?
Actually … small voice … I kinda like the Commander. In a … wouldn’t mind owning one in 8 years with low miles. But then, I got an old Grand Wagoneer for beater car/4×4 duties, so I’m biased.
I love the Commander and I see a ton of them around me. Sales are down for a lot of cars.
Most of the complaints on forums are either from CJ only Jeep nuts or every car should be a 2 door turbo coupe wackos.
Getting back to the point of this news item, however, it’s more than a little disconcerting that Nardelli apparently has little understanding of Chrysler’s current position in the market.
I, for one, would be happy to pile on the condemnations for Robert “Let’s See If I Can Screw Up Another Company the Way That I Screwed Up Home Depot” Nardelli, but I wouldn’t say that this provides a good opportunity to do that.
The guy is the CEO of the company. He’s supposed to rally the troops and to provide a fair bit of happy talk, and to make the nastier observations only when planned and appropriate.
Would everyone prefer that he had said, “Boy, this POS sure is sucking wind, I pity the fools who bought them, and the workers who keep thinking that they’re gonna keep their jobs slapping these profit killers together”? That’s the kind of candor that’s best left for private meetings, not for PR events.
I would judge the guy by what he does, not what he says at a press conference. If you see no improvements to the product line and service during his tenure, that’s when you’ll know whether or not he isn’t worthy of his compensation package or his job.
Isn’t it beyond rude to make sweeping character-judgments based solely on a person’s mode-of-transport?
Do you guys lord your friend’s automobile choices over them in the same way as you have in the *two* Nardelli’s car pieces?
Do you have any friends left if you do?
The occupation just ended– let the man do a job before you’re ready to throw him to the sharks.
I can state with complete sincerity that I have seen more Gallardos or F430s in Toronto than I have Jeep Commanders. No joke.
Frank – I think your idea is brilliant and would serve to remove a small piece of real ugly from the roads.
Here goes: Dear Mr. Nardelli – The Jeep Commander is almost as much of a goner as [your] precious [and equally dumb] Prowler.
I feel better already…
NickR- There are 3 Commanders just on my street. I see at least 20 per day.
davey49, you need glasses :p