This is an interesting email!! They want me to choose a weapon...

[6670charger]

I don't think Zesch had bad goals or vision for the Company.  Most of the recently released Chrysler products are much better vehicles than the cars they replaced from a quality standpoint.  We have a Pacifica, and we love it.  It rides great, has lots of great features, is comfortable, and was still a good buy.  We looked at a number of European cars, as we wanted a wagon instead of a van, and the Pacifica won out over cars like Volvo and VW.  The 300 has been a hit in the marketplace also, and seems to be a very well built car for a reasonable price compared to similar cars in this day and age.

His problem is that he has allowed the company to become too "Mercedes" in execution.  All of the latest Chrysler cars are American style takes on European/Mercedes designs.  Look at the Crossfire.  The excuse given for not building a proper Charger was lack of market for two door cars.  How much of a market is there for two door, two seat cars?  Not much of one.  Sales of the car reflect this.  The rest of the new Chrysler designs are very European also.  All sport sedans and crossover vehicles.  Even the sedans carry European features, such as the location of the door lock knobs on the back doors of the 300 and Charger.  Ever notice they're located at the back part of the door instead of the front part?  Mercedes and BMW sedans are like that.

I'm not saying that Chrysler vehicles didn't need a shot in the arm from a build quality perspective, because they did.  Many of the 2003 and older cars were nice designs.  They were better quality cars than the 1992 and older cars they replaced.  Ever notice, though, that many of our members who have a 2003 or older Mopar keep refering to them as, "my POS (insert model name)?"  They still needed some attention to quality, though.  The latest crop of Chrysler vehicles are much better built, feel much more substantial, and seem to be retaining their value better.  They just need to stop trying to replicate their Mercedes cars with Chrysler skin, and instead, focus on building Chrysler cars as Chrysler cars; just better than they were.

[Ghoste]

Oddly enought though, Chrysler sales are up and Mercedes are currently down.

[Paul G]

As for the failure of the Crossfire goes, go drive one. They are underpowered and overpriced. That is why they don't sell. If the Charger was a two door 4 or 5 passenger with a healthy engine you wouldn't find one on the dealer lot. For instance Mustang GT. My buddy has been waiting since March for his to come in. It's a two door car. But wait, there is no market for them. Ford must be sitting on there hands on the production line instead of building cars. It amazes me how DCX cant or refuses to see this, or maybe thats why whats-his-name is out. You think?

[Ghoste]

I think it's an excuse.  They only build a four door because that is all the money they were willing to allocate to the platform.  To make a two door in the LX series would require a lot of money that they have chosen not to spend.  Develop the best selling variant and don't worry about the rest.  If anyone cries about it, just tell them there is no market for it.  It isn't exactly a lie but you can win a baseball game by getting a whole bunch of singles just as easily as trying to make every time at bat a homer.

[69bananabeast]

A couple weeks ago I stopped by a Dodge Dealer on the other side of town where my friends live , both of them work at dealerships one is prep and the other one just got promoted form prep to something else. Anyway I got there and started taking a look aroung of the new magnum sedan and a salesman came up and we started talking about where they went wrong etc. and I also saw one of those daytona trucks, I dont even eant to get started on those.  I Later talked to him about applying for a job there in the future and he just went on about if I did that I should park my charger out front for publicity and to help with sales.    Theres no way in hell if I work there that im going to help the sales for that new piece. 

[41husk]

With Iaccoca coming back maybe we can have a Kacharger.  I think the omni body had Charger badges and even Shellby Charger tags under big lee.

[Ghoste]

 

[RT DAVE]

Oddly enought though, Chrysler sales are up and Mercedes are currently down.

Along the same lines, Chrysler build quality is alleged to be up and Mercedes is heading into the crapper. 


In regards to the "choose your weapon" deal, I thought that was an open invitation to take a shot at the designer of the new charger.  Just kidding.   

[TheGhost]

If the Charger was a two door 4 or 5 passenger with a healthy engine you wouldn't find one on the dealer lot.

Like the new GTO? :geez:


I've said it before, and will most likely say it again.  The Mustang is riding on it's immense fanbase.  Most people who buy a Mustang, buy it JUST BECAUSE it's a Mustang.  Not for price/performance, but, for image.  Same with the Corvette.  The Mustang has been in almost continuous production, since 1964.  Hell, even the early 80s Fox body Mustangs sold well, and they were ugly as hell.  There is no car out there that has the fanbase that the Mustang does.  THAT is why it sells so well.

[Paul G]

If the Charger was a two door 4 or 5 passenger with a healthy engine you wouldn't find one on the dealer lot.

Like the new GTO? :geez:


I've said it before, and will most likely say it again. The Mustang is riding on it's immense fanbase. Most people who buy a Mustang, buy it JUST BECAUSE it's a Mustang. Not for price/performance, but, for image. Same with the Corvette. The Mustang has been in almost continuous production, since 1964. Hell, even the early 80s Fox body Mustangs sold well, and they were ugly as hell. There is no car out there that has the fanbase that the Mustang does. THAT is why it sells so well.

I have to disagree with that. The Mustang is just a cool car period. It is a sporty car, just the rite size and has always had great looks even during the dog days of the eighty's if compared to it's competetors. It came in econo box form as well as peformance versions. It sells well because people like it. If it was not a desireable car it would die off. I like it and I'm not a Ford man. 

[Ghoste]

I think they are also getting a lot of conversion fans to the new Rustang.  As to the early 80's one being ugly, almost all the early 80's cars were ugly.  I don't like the Foxstang but compared to the Escort and EX2 or whatever it was, it was no worse than the rest of the Ford line.
The Mirada was about the only good looking car then. 

[Andrew]

help sales of what?

real chargers?

[ChargerRob]

 

[1974dodgecharger]

The new 2013s dont look so bad, but its still a DODGE INTEREPID by heart when you think about it they just slapped the name 'charger' on it and let americans rely on the charger name for it sales.....whats sounds better 'intrepid' or 'charger' of course the charger has more history and sounds cooler. Plus they couldnt make it a two door it be competing with its own line up the 'challenger'

[myk]

Holy dead-thread resurrection, Batman!

[Drache]

Holy dead-thread resurrection, Batman!

I seen the title of the thread and it showed that I had posted in it. I was like "I don't remember posting in this thread..." and when I opened it I realized why I didn't remember! 2005! 

[resq302]

Holy dead-thread resurrection, Batman!

how sad is that when 7 years go by without a post?  can we officially say that this topic has been exhumed for another autopsy?   

[HDCharger]

Holy smokes!  This was like when I first got on here. Actually I was on the old board, does anyone remember that?

[Charger4404spd]

I can remember when the 2 door Charger concept came out. Everyone was pretty excited about it..... then look what they spit out...dont think anyone was happy over that one. The Chrysler Prez got A LOT of mail over that one

[Indygenerallee]

Yes I remember the 1999 Concept Charger I loved it and was ready to buy one the minute I heard about it (I worked at a Dodge dealership as a tech at that time) I love the new Challengers but they would have made a ton more money if they had offered a Cuda' variant, actually the new Dodge Challenger has more 70-74 Cuda' in it than Challenger with the way the bodylines are if you compare a original Challenger vs. Barracuda.

[472 R/T SE]

I can remember when the 2 door Charger concept came out. Everyone was pretty excited about it..... then look what they spit out...dont think anyone was happy over that one. The Chrysler Prez got A LOT of mail over that one

So the fact this new Charger is a 4 door**kept everyone from buying one?

[Indygenerallee]

Nope we have a 2006 we have had since 2008. Great car!

[c00nhunterjoe]

I have an 07 RT and like it. At 1st I hated them like everyone else. But then I drove one...... if you look past the 4 door issue it actually shares a lot of lines and curves of the 2nd gen.  It suits my needs very well:

4 doors (got a wife and 2 kids)
Hemi powered (plus a few extra modifications)
Handles like a dream, hugs corners, no body roll, STRONG acceleration.
Economical, the multiple displacement gets me around 28-29 mpg on road trips and I average 22 daily.

[myk]

Where's the "beating a dead horse" smiley.  Anyway the '99 Charger concept was a 4 door guys, but it still looked hot; it also ran on CNG.  And again, I think the latest version of the Charger looks closer than ever to a 2nd gen (one of the most beautiful, powerful and timeless body styles in all of creation) but with modernized styling cues and daily-driver reliability which makes it a total winner in my book.  Have you guys seen the R/T trim in that orange?  I'd tap that a** all day long...

[Charger4404spd]

I can remember when the 2 door Charger concept came out. Everyone was pretty excited about it..... then look what they spit out...dont think anyone was happy over that one. The Chrysler Prez got A LOT of mail over that one

So the fact this new Charger is a 4 door**kept everyone from buying one?

Re-read my post. Did I say that?