GM vs. Toyota over alt. propulsion. Now it's Time vs. Newsweek over crap cars. Not to be outdone by Dan Neil's selection of the 50 Worst Cars of All Time for Time, Newsweek's Keith Naughton got a list of 8 Chryslers That've Outlived their Time. After an excellent article on Chrysler CEO Boot'em Bob Nardelli's speech at the Detroit Athletic Club ("Speaking without cue cards to a room full of automotive reporters, he was heavy on GE-speak, waxing on about his 'vertical learning curve' and 'granularity.'"), Naughton gets out the automotive cyanide. The models Naughton– I mean "industry analysts" would send to the crusher are the TTAC TWAT-winning Chrysler Aspen and Jeep Compass; the Jeep Liberty, Dodge Magnum, Nitro and Dakota; Chrysler Pacifica and Sebring. How many of these will make this year's TWATs? Stay tuned.
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Jeep Liberty, Dodge Magnum
I thought those had decent sales? I must even admit a soft spot for the Magnum….
The liberty just got a redesign, so it’s probably not going anywhere anytime soon, even though it does compete with the Patriot…
Saw my 1st nitro yesterday. It’s laughable. From the outside, it looks big, and quite menacing, in an “Autobot to take over the world” overt-the-top way. But on the inside? My Golf is roomier!
It’s all about the ‘tude. And while that may be OK, it’s quite laughable when you consider it shares its platform with the 1st “girly jeep”, the Liberty.
The sad thing about the Pacifica is that it really was the first new-wave crossover, but it came too, early, too poorly packaged, and with poor marketing and product mix.
Absolutely asinine.
I can see their reasons for dropping the superfluous SUVs (who doesn’t?) but why the Dakota?
It’s the only decent small(er) pickup Detroit makes, ugly looks aside.
If anything, this should be the time Detroit redoubles their efforts in the small pickup segment, not abandons it altogether to allow the Japanese hordes to take it over by default.
Hopefully Chrysler won’t make the same mistake GM and Ford did when they abandoned the minivan segment by throwing in the towel because “experts” deem their current product uncompetitive, be that as it may.
The Dakota is also the biggest of the “small” trucks made. That hurts it more than helps it in a lot of cases.
It’s too close to the Ram in size/pricing, and to be honest, it’s not much of a looker anymore.
The Dakota is also the biggest of the “small” trucks made. That hurts it more than helps it in a lot of cases.
It’s too close to the Ram in size/pricing, and to be honest, it’s not much of a looker anymore.
All things that can be remedied without a total abandonment of the segment, as the article seems to indicate should be the course of action.
Newsweek still exists? Who reads it?
The article says, “The Nitro gives way to the similarly sized and priced Caliber, which sells better. The Patriot stays in the lineup, but perhaps at the expense of the older Jeep Liberty, which is also similarly sized, but pricier.”
I haven’t seen a Nitro in person but I thought it was a lot bigger and more expensive than a Caliber? I though the Jeep Compass and Dodge Caliber were similar and the Nitro and Liberty were comparable?
With the patriot, the liberty is pointless. The nitro is an obvious ax. Seriously, this is journalism? Picking on the ugliest kid on the schoolyard?
Give me a list of the 8 vehicles Toyota should ax.
Give me a list of 8 newsmagazines that could be axed.
86er – that is a good point. They could downsize it and keep it around, which makes more sense in the long run.
86er – that is a good point. They could downsize it and keep it around, which makes more sense in the long run.
This compulsion right now in the auto industry to make every generation bigger and bulkier than the last is ridiculous and is due for a correction.
And it’s not like downsizing is without historical precedent, even in non-crisis years such as 1969, when Pontiac downsized the Grand Prix, and met with outstanding sales success as a result. Also, downsizing doesn’t have to mean less interior space, or less capabilities, especially germane to the discussion of axing the Dakota.
Seriously. The next article I have to read about how X domestic manufacturer ought to exit a segment with its tail between its legs, because its current product is uncompetitive, my head’s gonna explode.
The Dakota was unique when it was introduced. It was the only midsize pick-up available. The S-10 and Ranger were both smaller and Nissan and the other transplants only had small trucks.
The Dakota was a great work truck and didn’t require visits to a chiropractor like the late 80s Rangers did. Unfortunately it had Chyrsler standard reliablity (I’m not flaming, I’ve owned two of them) and everyone else’s offers got larger.
Simplifying the Dakota back to a basic work truck may be a good answer. Also, why are manufacturers making thier midsize pickups look like thier large ones? This is not needed and in many cases just looks silly.
I would miss the Magnum.
Ditch the Dakota and release the Jeep JT.
I agree. The first generation Dakota was unique and good fit for some people, like me. I bought one. At the time Toyota and Nissan had the smaller 4 Hilux sized pickups. And Ford/Chevy has their full sized, or crap smaller S-10 or Ranger.
The next generation started getting dumb, with the Ram style front end, and other “enhancements”. They just couldn’t leave a good thing alone.
I will admit that the Dakota wasn’t the best truck out there. The paint was terrible and all peeled off. The aluminum head cracked. There was irritating wind noise (whistle actually) at 50+ mph. So lound in fact that it was quieter to leave the windows down at freeway speed. But that truck lasted me 15 years of abuse. I think I got my money out of it.
Unfortunately Newsweek stills exists though it now has about as much content as Brittany Spears brain. I think I still have the Newsweek (or was it Time, doesn’t matter, they both suck) issue from 1975 that stated the world was heading into a massive ice age, now it is global warming they say we are are going to die from. As Maxwell Smart would say “Missed it by that much”
How about TTAC do an editorial of the eight magazines that have outlived their time? Mad magazine better not make the list.
Chysler’s line-up has gone completely hay-wire over the last few years. How many “US Mail Jeep” looking vehicles can one company sell?
The Patriot, Liberty, and Compass barely distinguishable between them. What is the point of all three?
newsweek? whats that?
86er- The next article I have to read about how X domestic manufacturer ought to exit a segment with its tail between its legs, because its current product is uncompetitive, my head’s gonna explode.
Yeah, that’s become a “no duh” kind of article, although having just driven the Escape Limited, Ford should forget about that segment. Of course, they’ll badge engineer a Mercury that nobody buys and in two years the winged messenger will be shot into the automotive sun.
I used to drive a Liberty, but I’d take that new Wrnagler over that thing every day and twice on Thursday. I just can’t stop looking at that thing and imagining trail running and rock climbing in the mountains… WITH KIDS IN THE BACK SEAT! How sweet would that be!
I’ve got a Pacifica and other than a few small “fit and finish” issues it’s a lot better vehicle than people imagine.
If Chrysler would have put forth the marketing effort to let people know what it is and how it differs from minivans / SUVs they’d have sold a lot more of them.
But time passes; there’s lots of “crossover” vehicles today. Chrysler can let this one go without losing too many sales.
I just hope someone else picks up on the “navigation in the speedometer” trick. That’s very, very nice.
For GEMorris
Admittedly, a harder list to make, but these are the 8 Toyota/Lexus/Scion that should be nixed:
– Lexus LX suv: it’s an overpriced GM worthy badge engineering job. Just buy a Land Cruiser already.
– Toyota Sequoia: that Toyota is wasting money on this hog every bit as big a mistake as GM pinning its hopes on the new Yukon/Tahoe a couple years ago.
– LS Hybrid: Come back with a “enviro-friendly” luxo barge that doesn’t get worse mpg than both my suv and minivan.
– Solara: 1st Gen was great, the current looks like it was squeezed out of Rosie’s belly button.
– Scion XD: I’m supposed to want to be seen in that?!
– Lexus GX: Like all the above, I’m sure it’s a decent vehicle, built well and well optioned. But this thing is oddly proportioned and every time I (rarely) see one it looks like a stiff breeze will blow it right over.
– Matrix: I really like this car, but I don’t see it’s place in their line-up. Scion makes it redundant.
– Tacoma: Needs to become a small truck again. I drive a mid-size 2000 SUV. When I park next to a Tundra I feel like I’m in a Mini. My dad had a 1982 Datsun King Cab 4×4. That truck was right-sized and indestructible. That size makes much more sense as fuel costs and availability increasingly are an issue, and Toyota used to know how to make small, efficient pickups. In other parts of the globe, they still do, in fact. Tighten the belt.