So, we know Ford’s Alan Mullaly is driving from Detroit to DC in an Escape Hybrid, and GM’s Rick Wagoner is pushing a Malibu Hybrid from Motown and exchanging it for a Cruze/Volt mule to drive (carefully!) the final two miles to the capitol. We even know that UAW Boss Ron Gettelfinger will be *gasp* flying to the hearings, thanks to the fine reporting at Jalopnik. Then again, Gettelfinger had concession-scrounging duty today while the executives and their symbolic vehicles are frantically prepped for their big day at the Capitol. Only Chrysler’s Bob Nardelli has yet to publicize his vehicle of choice, and I’m wondering what the hell he’s gonna show up in. As Fox points out, if he takes the easy route and rolls up in a Hybrid Durango or Aspen, he’ll be “riding a dead horse to Washington.” Chrysler canceled its only hybrids a short week after launching them this October, and will be shutting down the factory that made them this month. Then there’s the famous EV vaporware that Chrysler pulled out of nowhere, but the risk of national humiliation is a big load for these unproven vehicles to carry. So what, a Sebring and a prayer? If I were him I’d be tempted to say “NSFW it” and show up in a black Challenger R/T. Preferrably modified in such a way that violates as many emissions and noise regulations as possible. That would show them who’s begging. So what’s your guess?
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He flys.
He flys, and then when the other execs point out that they drove hybrids to DC, he just claims that he didn’t get the memo.
Regardless what anyone’s opinion is…the Challenger BORES ME. I’d perfer to drive a SRT-8 Chrysler 300 to the Bailout hearing.
Its a good thing I’m not that CEO cause I’d have the balls to show up in a Helicopter…or, if I was really planning to make news…a Harrier jumpet.
I could see the news media now:
“Chrysler Exec Ditches Corporate Jet for Military Warship”
Nissan Versa with Chrysler logos – fuel efficient and cheap (less than $10K) transportation for the American people. If Chrysler fails how will people be able to get this car (shhh, Congress might fall for it)?
Actually, Congress might be smarter than we think:
http://blogs.wsj.com/deals/2008/12/03/senators-kyl-corker-warm-to-detroit-bankruptcy-plan/
By the way, for all the apologists and special interest group members that think auto bailout opposition only exists on the “coasts”, Senate Minority Whip Jon Kyl is from Arizona and Senator Bob Corker is from Tennessee. Do not be fooled, there is no ocean front property in Arizona (or Tennessee).
The General Lee with his butt buddy Jim Press riding shotgun
Maybe he should go by boat? But if he wanted to impress me, he’d go by handcar.
most likely….jeep blutec diesel.
2nd most….Aspain hybrid.
Off the wall choice….Some never before seen hybrid/EV concept. Out do the other guys by showing up in a never before seen never before heard of hybrid. That would be cheeky fun.
I’d say a Kaiser-Frazer.
He could pile himself and 6 of his brass in a Grand Caravan and claim 126 passenger-miles per gallon. I mean, come on – it’s got Swivel-and-Go!
How about a Cozy Coupe. It’s US made, inexpensive, gets better mileage than a Volt, bigger and better built than a Tata Nano (although they do share the same platform), and it’s the most reliable US car made.
Viper ACR
Mulally’s LS.
Dodge Challenger SRT-10 Concept
He could always rent a Dodge Caliber…….
1995 Neon.
Plymouth Cricket.
They have this subsidiary (showing up in one of these would at least add levity to this horror show):
http://www.gemcar.com/
And they have this required big-3 vaporware (my guess would be one of these three things, probably not the Lotus):
https://www.chryslerllc.com/en/innovation/envi/overview/
Lord Vader’s Tie Fighter
A Spinter with armed guards to carry the loot back home in!
In point of fact, I believe Bob “The Builder” Nardelli is driving a soon-to-be-deceased Chrysler Aspen Hybrid.
It’s worth noting that, between an Escape hybrid, a Malibu hybrid, and a Challenger, Nardelli would be the only one to roll up in a car Americans might actually want to buy.
Thanks for the tip Ray. Dead horse it is, I guess.
When Bob and I had lunch today (the caviar was delish by the way) he said he was torn between taking an AMC Gremlin or maybe an old Road Runner .. sort of a throwback nod to back in the day when men were men and cars were meant to be V8, carbon-spewing, gas-guzzling, tire-smokin’ … I’m running out of cliches here …. vehicles.
….I’ll let you know what he decides.
— Jim press
Fully loaded Challenger, complete with V-8.
“Mr. Nardelli, your choice of vehicle is audacious, to say the least. That thing guzzles gas.”
“Exactly, Senator. Look at how out of touch Chrysler actually is. We need that bailout money to get in better touch with our consumer base.”
I’m suspecting a signed check even if he shows up in a 1960s Imperial barely getting double digit mpg nmbers.
He should show up in Obama’s old 300C and say “If it was good enough for the President, it’s good enough for you.”
He’ll drive a Chrysler 300 to demonstrate the necessity of Congress to release funds for Chrysler’s hybrid development needs. The fact that the other 2 are arriving in the hybrids all of America is clamoring to buy will help to underscore his plight.
At least that’s how I would play my hand. But of course I obviously lack the skills to be the CEO of a major company such as Home Depot Chrysler.
how about a product of the last Chrysler bailout, a Dodge Aries K. I wonder if he could find one that could make the drive. He would surely need a case of oil in the trunk, one quart per fill up.
Wow, what a bunch of great comments, kudos! My opinion would be to make the trek in a mega-cab cummins diesel dually. Behind this Ram truck, have a gooseneck, three car trailer hitched up toting the toyta, ford, and chevy fullsize 4×4 trucks like as the goat’s little bitches.
If he wanted to be classy, he could adhere the oversized calvin sticker against the rear glass that depicts the cartoon charater urinating on either a bowtie or blue oval, and a magnectic sticker on the side of the dodge with the message **”I’d rather be cummin, than strokin”
**cummins vs powerstroke, for those reading this with a pipe in their mouth, aimlessly hunting for threads on volvo’s safety ratings.
The Challenger’s not a bad idea, but it needs to be Orange or White (in deference to “Vanishing Point”, which in this case applies to the company’s cash reserves – they’re vanishing or they will be up in flames at the end of this movie).
Town & Country EV
A truly courageous, enlightened and intelligent CEO would tell the congressmen and senators that he or she flew in the corporate jet and, in no uncertain terms, why it would have been stupid not to.
Okay, so I used to drive a Citation. Cessna, not Chevy.
The Chrysler Imperial Concept car from 2006, it’s every bit as ludicrous as Chrysler’s claim that they’re still a viable business.
Two guesses in no particular order:
1) a sleek John Deere lawn tractor that he bought with an “employee discount” from a previous employer or
2) some piece of shit that Chrysler manufactures
pnnyj :
December 3rd, 2008 at 9:40 pm
The Chrysler Imperial Concept car from 2006, it’s every bit as ludicrous as Chrysler’s claim that they’re still a viable business.
As a Chrysler 300 owner, you’ve really hurt my feelings.
It’ll be one electric Town and Country. Or Wrangler. Or Lotus Europa. They don’t specify.
How do I know?
It’s mentioned in their Grand Master Plan(R)
We plan on launching additional small, fuel-efficient vehicles. ENVI is our breakthrough family of all-electric … and range – extended electric vehicles – similar to the one parked outside. Chrysler’s product plan includes the introduction of the Ram Hybrid and our first electric-drive vehicle in 2010 with three additional models by 2013.
TAAAAAAAAAAAA DAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!
(I found this on Motortrend
“Gasp”! FALSE NOISE pointed out a pertinent news fact? That is news in itself! If he does drive it, I wonder if anyone in Congress will be smart enough to notice and point it out?
Probably a Jeep of some sort.
Then talk about how Chrysler needs the bailout dollars to keep this “piece of American history” alive. That anyone who would deny the money would be guilty of killing the vehicle that won WWII.
His mother in laws plymouth horizon, of course. 45 mpg, dont cha know.
This clearly shows Chryco has nothing going for it right now doesn’t it?
I was going to suggest K-car, but then again it does send a mixed message in too many ways (and, someone beat me to it).
I would like the Challenger/Viper option, but politicians (in general) are not going to appreciate that kind of hybris. They rather see the big men humiliate themselves in some hybrid and the consequently still get fooled into thinking that hybrid is in fact eco-friendly.
With that in mind I wouldn’t say it’s a bad idea for Nardelli to drive (the last 3 miles) in one of those Tesla-esque Lotus Europas driven by batteries and propelled by a Dodge sticker on the side of them.
The politicians won’t know it’s a Lotus anyway, and thus will all be mad impressed by the added lightness and added batteries…
I think he should just walk; complete with a hobo stick over his shoulder. He can tell the committee that Chrysler is so broke they couldn’t spare a car or the gas to put in it.
As a private equity firm employee, I’d say he’s just as out of touch as ever. He’ll still take a private jet.
I’d drive a Hennessey Venom 1000 Twin-Turbo Viper SRT-10. Even if global warming existed, the hot air from Congress would outweigh that of any gas inhaling turbo Viper.