Chrysler's new motto: four doors on everything!

[bull]

http://www.autoweek.com/apps/pbcs.dll/gallery?Avis=CW&Dato=20060123&Kategori=PHOTOS02&Lopenr=124001&Ref=PH

Yea, a four door Wrangler.

[TheGhost]

It's been done before.


Aftermarket conversion, but still.

[KMPX2]

Thats right there was a meeting at my plant with a VP he told us all but the very high ends cars would soon be 4drs only. He stated no one wants low/mid range priced cars with 2drs anymore.

[TK73]

Thats right there was a meeting at my plant with a VP he told us all but the very high ends cars would soon be 4drs only. He stated no one wants low/mid range priced cars with 2drs anymore.

I would suppose they are getting thier data somewhere... certainly not from Mustangs sales...

[Orange_Crush]

Bull,

the proposed four-door wrangler goes all the way back to the early to mid nineties and, at that time, there was even a concept show for it (called the "Dakar").

As far as hardcore offroad vehicles with four doors are concerned, there's always been a market for them that Chrysler (and AMC before them) has missed out on.

Look at the sales success of the old Land Rover 110,  the Land Cruiser FJ60, The Mercedes Gelandewagen (sold here as the G500). 

In addition, DCX needed something to fill the void left by the old Cherokee that was discontinued.  I'm thinking it will sell very well.  Even the Jeep community (a bunch of guys who are more afraid of change than Charger fans) is embracing this one.  You get all the versatility of a Wrangler with the added bonus of two more doors and more cargo room.

[Orange_Crush]

I was wrong about the Dakar....It was a concept in 1997.

Here is an info page about it:

http://www.allpar.com/model/jeep/dakar-icon.html

[PocketThunder]

I'll buy one!  now there is room for the kids car seat in the back.  God i miss my jeep....

[Orange_Crush]

I'll buy one!  now there is room for the kids car seat in the back.  God i miss my jeep....

ANd this, in a nutshell, is the point of a four-door wrangler.  I miss the hell out of MY Jeep and four doors would definitely allow me to justify the purchase of a new one. 

Besides, the four-door jeep will apparently have a removable top.

[Shakey]

I'll buy one!  now there is room for the kids car seat in the back.

I'll bet the folks at DCX figured a lot of people would be saying that when they built the 4dr Charger. 

[PocketThunder]

http://www.backcountryjournal.com/4fourdoorjeepwrangler.htm

here it is.  i wanted to do this but it was too expensive for me at the time.

[Todd Wilson]

I wish they would build a 4 door Viper!



Todd

[253862656971]

*slaps Todd upside the head*

[Khyron]

*slaps Todd upside the head*

X2

[TruckDriver]

Well, there goes the 2 door Challenger concept out the window. 

[Charger1970]

Well, there goes the 2 door Challenger concept out the window

He stated no one wants low/mid range priced cars with 2drs anymore

There goes the affordable 2-door Challenger concept out the window. 

[6670charger]

Well, you didn't really think they were going to build a two door Challenger, did you?  The Challenger is the replacement for the outgoing Stratus Sedan, only it will be a five-door hatchback, and be as ugly as the Chevy Malibu Maxx.

[twilt]

 
how about a few of these for good measure. 

[Telvis]

 

[bull]

 

[Orange_Crush]

You DO know that the wrangler is going to come in both 2 AND 4 door configurations, don't you?

http://www.allpar.com/model/jeep/wrangler.html

[bull]

You DO know that the wrangler is going to come in both 2 AND 4 door configurations, don't you?

http://www.allpar.com/model/jeep/wrangler.html

I didn't know it but I did assume it. I'm not that opposed to a four door Wrangler really (because I'm not a Jeep purist) I just thought it was somewhat telling in regards to DCX assumptions about the blanket marketability of four door autos. I don't doubt it's true that four doors sell well, I just think that there are certain instances where the door count matters more than others. As I've said before I doubt a four door Camaro, Challenger, Mustang or Corvette would go over any better than the four door "Charger" did in the minds of the old school fanantics, in other words, there are times when they need to "do the right thing" and stick with tradition for the sake of brand loyalty, which in essence equates to free advertising. Seriously, look at the Viper. Despite the sales numbers for that car (I have no idea if they are good or bad) its main purpose IMO is to be a rolling billboard for Dodge performance. The 2nd gen. Charger is one of the most popular cars Chrysler has ever made and IMO the company seriously damaged its legacy in '75 and totally obliterated it in '06. With this Jeep I continue to find it interesting that the company is so hellbent on introducing four door versions of autos that "traditionally" came with two doors since the dawn of internal combustion.

[Ghoste]

You're right, DCX aren't looking at the Mustang, well, maybe a little, but mostly, the entire industry in the North American market is looking at the Camry and Civic.   Toyota and Honda can't build enough of the blandly styled little vanilla flavored sedans.  Obviously, that is what the majority of consumers want in this market.
The Charger fails not because of the four doors but because of poor marketing.  They try to pass it off as a performance car and hope the wahsed masses will buy it.  The performance fans mainly stay away because they see the heresy of it and the non performance buyer stays away because he doesn't realize it's just the family car for him.

[Brock Samson]

 The Camery -  Solara, Accord, Civic, Mazda 6 (among others) on the lower end and a whole slew of BMWs, Mercedes, Audis on the high
end are not only two doors, but hardtops as well,.. seem to sell pretty good too, by looking at any parking lot.
 

[TK73]

Toyota and Honda can't build enough of the blandly styled little vanilla flavored sedans.  Obviously, that is what the majority of consumers want in this market.

Could this be more of a "quality" issue than just the 4-door thing?  Honda and Toyota still make inexpensive cars far superior to the "American" brands.  And before anybody starts jumping in with "my 300,000 mile Neon never had a problem", just look at the data compiled by leading consumer groups.

I have been a "muscle" car, "hot rod", "pony" car fan for decades.  I'll buy a Honda or Toyota daily driver over any newer American car because they are built so well in comparison.  Simple common sense  and good value for your money...

[Todd Wilson]

Toyota and Honda can't build enough of the blandly styled little vanilla flavored sedans.  Obviously, that is what the majority of consumers want in this market.

Could this be more of a "quality" issue than just the 4-door thing?  Honda and Toyota still make inexpensive cars far superior to the "American" brands.  And before anybody starts jumping in with "my 300,000 mile Neon never had a problem", just look at the data compiled by leading consumer groups.

Maybe 15+ years ago. I think there are several american cars out there that will go the distance with the Toyota's and Honda's.  Thing is those Camrys and Civics arent inexpensive cars anymore.


Todd