End of the Viper, PT Cruiser

[tricky lugnuts]

Anybody been reading about the end of the Viper and PT Cruiser? Hadn't heard anything about it until today.

I was reading the Mopar Muscle or Mopar Action or whatever it is and there's an article about several end of production special Vipers that they're building. Look awesome, but awfully expensive for me.

http://www.speedlux.com/last-iconic-chrysler-pt-cruiser-rolls-assembly-line/

[ChgrSteve67]

Yep

I think it was last month they stopped making the PT Cruiser.

I belive they think the Fiat 500 will be the new PT.

[dkn1997]

Anybody been reading about the end of the Viper and PT Cruiser? Hadn't heard anything about it until today.

I was reading the Mopar Muscle or Mopar Action or whatever it is and there's an article about several end of production special Vipers that they're building. Look awesome, but awfully expensive for me.

http://www.speedlux.com/last-iconic-chrysler-pt-cruiser-rolls-assembly-line/

That's why I could care less that they ever even made the first one.  Good riddance.

[bull]

Last I heard the Viper isn't going anywhere.

[Brock Samson]

http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php/topic,71858.0.html

[WHITE AND RED 69]

Losing the viper is a shame, I could care less about the PT cruiser.

[Mike DC]

IMHO it's stupid to kill the Viper. 

I'm sure the program is a money-loser in any direct measurement, but these things always are.  People's perception of the brand is the vital benefit of it.  That effect can't very easily be measured.

[bull]

Chrysler's inconsistancy makes me ill. Despite all the ups and downs in the auto industry, Chevy can produce the Corvette for 57 years straight, Ford can produce the Mustang for 46 years straight... The only thing Chrysler seems to be able to do with any consistancy is, time and again, pull the plug on its own heritage.

[TruckDriver]

Knew about it, but never liked either car.

[bakerhillpins]

Chrysler's inconsistancy makes me ill. Despite all the ups and downs in the auto industry, Chevy can produce the Corvette for 57 years straight, Ford can produce the Mustang for 46 years straight... The only thing Chrysler seems to be able to do with any consistancy is time and again, pull the plug on its own heritage.

Well at least they are consistent with something. I suppose it could be worse. 

[bull]

Chrysler's inconsistancy makes me ill. Despite all the ups and downs in the auto industry, Chevy can produce the Corvette for 57 years straight, Ford can produce the Mustang for 46 years straight... The only thing Chrysler seems to be able to do with any consistancy is time and again, pull the plug on its own heritage.

Well at least they are consistent with something. I suppose it could be worse. 

I'm sure we all know the guy who has too many ideas and starts a bunch of different businesses and/or projects and never really completes any of them with much success. And when he does do something successful he seems to always undermine it somehow and run it into the ground. This has been Chrysler's M.O. since the Carter administration with everything but Jeep and Dodge trucks. I can think of no Chrysler/Dodge/Plymouth sports-type car models that have had an uninterrupted run for more than 20 years. Maybe the Coronet, which isn't exactly a sports model. But no "flagship" sports car like the Mustang or Corvette. I've got a new slogan for it: "Chysler, the a rent-a-company." Too many chiefs with too many different ideas, a revolving door of designers and bean counters; just too many fingers in the pie.

[tricky lugnuts]

"I'm sure we all know the guy who has too many ideas and starts a bunch of different businesses and/or projects and never really completes any of them with much success. And when he does do something successful he seems to always undermine it somehow and run it into the ground."

Yep - I used to work for that guy!!!

Agreed, it is a shame that Chrysler has not been able to maintain any sort of "flagship" performance car like the Corvette or Mustang over the years. I kind of liked the little Neon SRTs - sort of an affordable little race car for the working man - but they decided to get rid of those, too. 

[SRT-440]

Chrysler's inconsistancy makes me ill. Despite all the ups and downs in the auto industry, Chevy can produce the Corvette for 57 years straight, Ford can produce the Mustang for 46 years straight... The only thing Chrysler seems to be able to do with any consistancy is time and again, pull the plug on its own heritage.

Well at least they are consistent with something. I suppose it could be worse. 

I'm sure we all know the guy who has too many ideas and starts a bunch of different businesses and/or projects and never really completes any of them with much success. And when he does do something successful he seems to always undermine it somehow and run it into the ground. This has been Chrysler's M.O. since the Carter administration with everything but Jeep and Dodge trucks. I can think of no Chrysler/Dodge/Plymouth sports-type car models that have had an uninterrupted run for more than 20 years. Maybe the Coronet, which isn't exactly a sports model. But no "flagship" sports car like the Mustang or Corvette. I've got a new slogan for it: "Chysler, the a rent-a-company." Too many chiefs with too many different ideas, a revolving door of designers and bean counters; just too many fingers in the pie.

That's why u see a million mustangs and camaros and zero (most of the time) mopars...I like driving something different and out of the norm...with Chryslers crappy business management it might make our cars more collectable as time passes. Just look at how many new camaros have been made compared to new challengers....years from now the challengers will be hard to find and sought after.. while the camaro will still be on every used car lot. ~ I know this is bs but it makes me feel better. LOL 

[bull]

I agree, but that doesn't seem to dissuade the Chevy and Ford guys from their hobby. It just means they have more parts availability and support from their company. And that their company will make more money and therefore be more consistant and stable. Let's face it, if Chevy had made the Charger we'd probably be Chevy guys right now. I know I would be. Mopars are rare but not rare enough in my book to be so unique you never see them, like a Tucker or something. The only reason they're as rare as they are is due to the fact that Chrysler's head is always just above water. It kind of sucks that Chrysler's good run between the years of 66-74 has caused us so much suffering ever since.

[Highbanked Hauler]

Chrysler's inconsistancy makes me ill. Despite all the ups and downs in the auto industry, Chevy can produce the Corvette for 57 years straight, Ford can produce the Mustang for 46 years straight... The only thing Chrysler seems to be able to do with any consistancy is, time and again, pull the plug on its own heritage.

   Ain't it the case, it seems Chrysler shoots themselves in the foot every so many years.

[nh_mopar_fan]

The PT set the record for the longest production run of a model without any major design change.

It's basically the same car that rolled out in 2000.

It had it's run.

[Brock Samson]

The Viper will be back in two years with a redesign,.. probably using a new Tech V-8 and possibly Alfa or Ferrari bits.

the PT is still around as the Chevy XXXX the same designer, brian nesbit, designed a variety of "retro" cars one for ford was the last two seater T-bird that was stale by the time it came to market.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bryan_Nesbitt

Both the Viper (compared upon it's intro to the Original Ford 427 Cobra) and the PT (originally designed for Plymouth on Neon mechanicals) gave a boost to Chrysler in '99 when the company need a CAFE boost, it was classified as a truck remember?..

And the Viper hangs (or hung) on many a school-boys wall alongside or in place of the Lambos of the '80s and '90s.   Called a "Halo" car it has a gloryious race history and I'm suprised you guys are so freaking unappreciative.
Chryslers' history has always been rocky climbing from the gutter to market "Hail Marys" that sell like hotcakes...
(if Dodge cancelled the Charger when the '67s sold so poorly i guess that would've been OK huh?..)  
 Why all the hate?..  

 P>S> Edit...
 Further curiosity about the 11th Gen. T-Bird design led me to research and discover the actual 2002 T-Bird designer
     http://www.globalmotors.net/ford-lets-go-of-ford-gt-designer-camilo-pardo/
To wit:  "Camilo Pardo. He spent 24 years with the Dearborn, Michigan based automaker and is considered to be one of the most eccentric. His best known design was the production Ford GT supercar as well as the GT Concept and the GT90 Concept. Pardo, now 45, began his career at Ford. He can be credited for the Ford Thunderbird, Lincoln LS among others.* We wonder who'll pick him up next." \
 
Somewhat related is the fact that both the Viper and the the PT Cruiser as well as the 11th Gen. T-bird, GT40, new- VW Beatle, Mini Cooper and several other recent and current Cars are all baised originally on a "Retro design theme".
   
In a completely unrelated side note:
Pardos' GT90 is a favorite of mine being anything but "Retro" and a decidedly modern design for the 21st century...
Ford chose once again to go Retro with the FORDGT which Pardo also designed.
but I digress...90 pics here.. http://www.netcarshow.com/ford/1995-gt90_concept/
 
 
 

[moparstuart]

The Viper will be back in two years with a redesign,.. probably using a new Tech V-8 and possibly Alfa or Ferrari bits.

the PT is still around as the Chevy XXXX the same designer, brian nesbit, designed a variety of "retro" cars one for ford was the last two seater T-bird that was stale by the time it came to market.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bryan_Nesbitt

Both the Viper and the PT (originally designed for Plymouth on Neon mechanicals) gave a boost to Chrysler in '99 when the company need a CAFE boost, it was classified as a truck remember?..

And the Viper hangs (or hung) on many a school-boys wall alongside or in place of the Lambos of the '80s and '90s.   Called a "Halo" car it has a gloryious race history and I'm suprised you guys are so freaking unappreciative.
Chryslers' history has always been rocky climbing from the gutter to market "Hail Marys" that sell like hotcakes...
(if Dodge cancelled the Charger when the '67s sold so poorly i guess that would've been OK huh?..) 
  Why all the hate?.. 
   

I live them both  , but i bleed mopar 

[TexasStroker]

The Viper is a world beater and should be back.  If you've been in one you'll understand the price-tag.  I agree they could lower the price and move more units, but the lightweight components and engineering make the difference and don't come cheap.  The last run of Vipers are amazing cars and truly look better in person than over the net.  For every 50 vettes you see, you might see 1 Viper. vettes do nothing for me, nor do mustangs or camaros.  They have their following, they have their market shares, and they have their place at every stop light across town.  The Viper is truly a unique car in what amounts to a very low production volume for the run it has had.  Each generation saw an improvement in performance and styling...when was the last time you could say that?  If the car is going out-of-production I would imagine it is for a re-tooling and comprehensive redesign that should set the bar even higher.  It would truly be a shame to loose such a legendary vehicle.  I don't despise the car for having a steep price tag, it just makes me know if I want one I've really got to work hard to get it. 

While not a huge fan of the pt cruiser, particularly with the brand-x copies, it and the minivan have their place.  They sell to a segment and provide revenue for the development of other cars and side projects which folks like us care more about.  The PT is a Mopar and has quite an avid fan base.  These people put tons of time and money into their cars and have a lot of fun with them.  I don't see anything wrong with that.

[bull]

The Viper will be back in two years with a redesign,.. probably using a new Tech V-8 and possibly Alfa or Ferrari bits.

the PT is still around as the Chevy XXXX the same designer, brian nesbit, designed a variety of "retro" cars one for ford was the last two seater T-bird that was stale by the time it came to market.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bryan_Nesbitt

Both the Viper and the PT (originally designed for Plymouth on Neon mechanicals) gave a boost to Chrysler in '99 when the company need a CAFE boost, it was classified as a truck remember?..

And the Viper hangs (or hung) on many a school-boys wall alongside or in place of the Lambos of the '80s and '90s.   Called a "Halo" car it has a gloryious race history and I'm suprised you guys are so freaking unappreciative.
Chryslers' history has always been rocky climbing from the gutter to market "Hail Marys" that sell like hotcakes...
(if Dodge cancelled the Charger when the '67s sold so poorly i guess that would've been OK huh?..)  

 Why all the hate?..  

To what "hate" are you referring? I can't tell by reading who you are talking to because I didn't see too many people happy about the Viper's departure.

[Brock Samson]

quote TruckDriver  > l Knew about it, but never liked either car.

quote dkn1997   > That's why I could care less that they ever even made the first one.  Good riddance.


                                         

[Ghoste]

As someone who gets to drive a bunch of cars quite regularly that he will probably never actually own an example of any of them, let me just say that the Viper is one of my favorites for a bunch of reasons and one of the biggest is it's bang for the buck factor.  Agreed, it ain't on the beer menu but it's a long way down from the top of the overpriced wine list yet still provides an incredible mindblowing kick.

[THE STIG]

So in 20-30 years will Viper owners be getting the shaft from Chrylsler like Charger, Roadrunner, Coronet, and Challenger owners are now?

[Ghoste]

If Chrysler is still around.  Since Fiat plans to turn them into a maker of little cars (and didn't Saturn work out great for GM?) I would guess that the most exciting thing coming from them in the future will be a limited edition Nancy Pelosi Signature Electroturd.  It will be a 4X4... four doors and four square feet of interior room.

[ACUDANUT]

 I'd rather own a 2007 Ford GT....Not a mustang either.