Sorry; I went off on a major tangent. Let's try the on-message thing again. So… the podcast focused on Newsweek's list of eight vehicles Chrysler should kill. Me, I'm Machiavellian. Cut more deeply than you have to. So I'd terminate everything Chrysler makes except the 300. If you must, keep the Town and Country minivan. But make it the world's fanciest minivan. Move both models WAY upmarket. Why not? Who's representing American luxury? Caddy doesn't get it. Lincoln's dead. Once more into the breach, dear Chrysler! Dodge? If their current passenger car lineup proves anything, it's that Dodge can't build a competitive small or mid-sized car. No way Jose (or the Chinese equivalent). Just drop it. Build pickup trucks. Three sizes: small (remember small?), medium and friggin' gigantic. Done. Jeep? Kill everything except the Wrangler (two sizes) and the Grand Cherokee. Sound risky? Never was anything great achieved without danger. Anyway, who cares about cars, minivans or trucks? Boot'em Bob's first job should be booting them. Why is LaSorda still in situ? Why is Nardelli embarking on a full court press when he hasn't retired the losing team members? In fact, why haven't thousands of Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep white collar workers been fired? It's completely obvious to me– and Nicolo– that the only way to "cure" a diseased corporate culture is to leave it knee deep in blood. If Bob isn't true to his moniker, mark my words, all will be lost, both for Chrysler and Nardelli. As Big Mac said, "it is much more secure to be feared than to be loved."
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RF: Agreed, with one amendment. ‘Tho the current model needs LOTS of work, keep the Sebring convertible. It’s a market leader and, if moved upscale with the 300 and the T&C — maybe a really upscale four door version? — then it would represent true American luxury. (P.S., I think it’s Nicolo.)
Doh!
Dodge? If their current passenger car lineup proves anything, it’s that Dodge can’t build a competitive small or mid-sized car. No way Jose (or the Chinese equivalent). Just drop it. Build pickup trucks. Three sizes: small (remember small?), medium and friggin’ gigantic.
Absolutely! Dump the dumb cars and just make Dodge trucks. And yes, remember small?
John
What’s with the disturbing portrait of the space alien?
I would suggest keeping the Sebring – but it should be made a convertible-only. It is the “go-to” car for the white hair crowd in the market that want a cheap ‘vert that can hold two golf bags with the roof down.
The Sebring convert should stay, but as a Plymouth.
If you sell a Chrysler convertible, it should be big and classy; an ocean liner, not a canoe like the Sebring.
Everyone wants to dump on Dodge but as noted with the Pacifica, I see lots of Dodge’s on the road; Nitros, Magnums, etc. Maybe it’s unique to my home in Philthydelphia, I don’t know.
Knowing that not everyone researches their auto purchases and buys on impulse, social acceptance or price (price being the more obvious factor IMO), how the hell is dodge doing so badly? Yes their cars are crap but they still sell so why should they bother changing?
Perhaps people in Philthydelphia have horrid credit that only Chrysler will finance.