You guys are off the topic. Since when has Dodge (or other Chrysler divisions) been a follower. They were the first to offer a 5-speed auto in the 1500 models. They were the first to offer a Multi-Displacement system. The were among the first to offer an autostick system in a car that the average person could afford. They were the first to offer a truck with actually good styling that took the market away from GM and Ford. Some manufactures beat other manufactures at offering technology that really pulls them ahead in the market all the time. I remember when Hybrids were first being made that Dodge had came up with the ESX which was supposed to get around 80 mpg and it was never made nor was able to come close to that number. I have serious doubts and I think Hybrids are going to die out, but I'd love to see Toyota get what they have coming to them.

 

Ummm if Dodge has stolen the market away from GM and Ford when it comes to the trucks, why was Ford yet again the #1 seller in trucks last year? The Ram is by far the best looking truck built, and has the ***** to back it up. That said, it doesnt mean squat in an industry that cares about 2 things and only 2 things.....number of sales and the almighty dollar.

Dodge was the LAST of any of the big car companies to actually offer a high powered performance coupe under 40k. Chrysler's styling for the previous 10-15 years prior to Daimler buying them was a joke. They looked even worse then Honda does now. Also, MDS was not first offered by Chrysler.

The concept was originally called Variable Displacement and developed by Cadillac and was used in the L-62 V8-6-4 motor. It was a pain and was shortly discontinued. Mercedes was the next to bring it back to life in the mid 90's. After the merger, Chrysler gained access to it and it was then put back into mainstream production. Both GM and Honda also have this in use on a couple of vehicles.

Look, Dodge/Chrysler tend to wait until everyone else does something, then they come out with something uglier/nicer and much better in performance. Their problem has always been that they wait too long for the customer base...and they end up going and buying something else......and that sir....is a fact.

 

Going from around 7% to around 21% of the market share during the 90s is what I'd call stealing the market away from GM and Ford, I never said took over the market. GM and Ford had almost no competition because the older Dodge's didn't sell hardly any in comparsion to GM's and Ford's sales.

I knew Cadillac had that failed engine line but that was in the 80s, and that system is different than the system currently used in the 5.7L V8. I know it was first Mercedes's design, I was refering to the domestic car market and besides. They were the first to mass produce it. It is used in SUVs, trucks, and cars. GM is just getting started, and the Cadillac engine and Mercedes engine were limited production engines. Honda only uses it so far optional in the Odessey and some Hybrids.

Chrysler created new segments such as the minivan and brought back popularity of rear-wheel drive domestic cars. You are going to find dull and successful periods in any companies history. The earily 90s is when Chrysler vehicles styling really began to take off. They were the first to offer a TURBO Diesel, and a Turbo Diesel with 4 valves per cylinder. They made a new niche within the wagon/hatchbacks based on classic styling called the PTCruiser. How about the Grand Cherokee? It was the first SUV to really have any performance focus (1998 5.9L limited model). They were the first for years to offer a small Diesel in a SUV. They were the first to offer a V10 in a 2500/3500 truck (and they didn't hold on to it). They were the first to offer four-sliding on their minivans. They are the first to offer dual-rows of folding flat seats in their minivans. The Chrysler LeBaron convertible was one of the first convertibles made in years when it was introduced.

Yeah they didn't offer a high-performance coupe for years under the $40,000 mark, so what. GM offered many cars such as the Camaro/Firebird (discountinued), the GTO (which is rumored to be discontinued), etc. Ford offered one if you consider the Mustang to be a high-performance car. GM failed at this and this one car isn't saving Ford.

You can't expect a manufacture to be first at everything. It just doesn't happen. Some ideas really take off, like the minivan. Others fail, such as the GM EV1, which was a purely electric-driven car. They claimed it would take over the market, and recently GM recalled all of them and gave the customer's their money back. This idea might fail and it might succeed. Being first offers an advantage, but it doesn't always guarantee victory.

 

Because these guys in the south are diehard Ford guys and they don't realize it's not the better truck. "I got my ol' Ford, yep Tobby tells me, my Ford is built Ford tough and it's king of the mountain, yeeeppp yeee haw!!!"

They had their bad times...

What does it matter anyway? DCX was the FIRST to do it and be SUCCESFUL with it...

It doesn't ALWAYS happen. That's a bit exaggerated.

 

Actually, Mercedes was the first to truly be successful with it. It's not Chrysler's technology. It's Daimler's....so its still not a FIRST by this company.

They have gotten better since Daimler bought them, but even you have to admit it happens quite often. It doesnt happen with the Dodge trucks and mini-vans, but anything to do with the cars and they tend to be a couple years behind. Granted, when they do make changes, its usually some really great ones. It's just usually a little late and they lose business.

 

Hey DevilsReject why do you even bother coming to this forum? I mean 90% of your posts are anti-Chrysler Corp in general... Why dont you go buy a Chevy and go over to the Chevy Forum or something, I just dont understand your negativity towards the product but yet your still here? I am pretty sure they would appreciate your comments more than we do, its like you are trying to pick an arguement over every little thing... I dont get it, am I missing something here, is your vehicle a lemon and your just taking it out on it thru here or what?

 

For starters, why do you bother coming to this forum either? All you do is try and belittle people and twist peoples words. If you have a problem with me or my posts, please take it up with the Administration. Otherwise take it PM or keep it to yourself.

As for my negativity towards Chrysler? I dont have to like the crap they produce now to be a MOPAR fan or a customer. Just because I like a Camaro or happen to prefer a Corvette over a Viper doesnt make me anti Chrysler. Hell, the car I drive isnt even a Dodge product despite the badging on the car. It's a Mitsu.

 

Exactly how am I "twisting your words" as you say? Or for that matter belittling you... I just read what you say and put 2 and 2 together. You say that your a MOPAR fan and a customer but then you proclaim that it doesnt matter because your car is a Mitsu. Well Damn thats profound now isnt it, considering that half of the cars your nagging on are also Mitsu, but is that any worse than the German influenced ones that are out now. I mean really, both of those countries invloved were enemies of us just 60 years ago, so whats the difference. For that matter it was Mitsu that built the Zero's that bombed Pearl Harbor, but does this really matter, NO... I ask you a simple question and you get defensive over it and yet you still didnt answer me. What exactly is rubbing you the wrong way with the current chrysler corp?

Because they are now building new innovative autos that are more realiable that they were in the past, more powerful, better styling. And they are not laying off 20,000+ workers and/or shutting down 6+ plants(Ford) or almost in bankruptcy(Chevy)... looks to me that Chrysler is on the way up, not down as you suggest.

 

First of all, my car is a Mitsu product.....even though Dodge placed their badging on it. That didnt stop me from buying it now did it? I liked the car and its fun to drive. I bought it despite that. I could have very well gone and bought an Eclipse but I liked the one that was badged Dodge. That enough clarification for you?

What exactly did that have to do with this conversation? Or for that matter, why did you even type it?

Everything they are building is huge, boxy, and either SUV or sedan. The designs for Chrysler are nice and cool looking, yet the ones for Dodge/Jeep all look like something horrid. My problem is designs, not performance or safety. Ever since the debut of the SRT lineups, DC has been at the forefront of performance. The safety of their vehicles is also pretty top notch as well, excluding the typical recalls that most companies have.

Every company has their ups and downs. Chrysler did away with Plymouth and was also bought by one of the BEST performance/quality car makers in the world in Mercedes Benz. The same guy who fixed Chrysler's problem is now in charge over at GM. Yes, they're going to have problems and they have to lay off people, but when you are the largest auto manufacturer in the world, what else were they going to do? They're bloated and overloaded. It had to happen. As for Ford, well.....if they'd even build a car that people wanted to buy outside of a truck they might not have so many problems.

Chrysler may be on its way up.....but its catching the other big 2 companies in a down turn....so is that really moving up? Or is it just the natural ebb and flow of business?

 

Absolutely nothing, and that was my point

Thats what I was looking for... well jeep is and always has been boxy, but boxy is what is selling right now in the SUV world, so just by chance this is their time to monopolize it. As far as Chrysler and Dodge and their styling goes, they are thinking "outside the box"(even if it looks a little like a box) and thats what is currently setting them apart from all the other brands out there. Yeh they are a bit late with the Challenger but they hit it right with the 300C, the Charger and the Magnum in a time when the other domestics were in the process of killing off(or already having done so) rear-wheel drive full-size. Dont mention the Crown Vic's those things are so weak(and dangerous), even my cop friends were still fighting over who would get to drive the left over beat-up Caprices before they finally pulled them from the fleets.

And would you call that luck of the down-turn for Chrysler vs. Ford and GM's misfortune, or is that strategy? Both Ford and GM have been over-extending themselves for years. I mean if Dodge started building a $42,000 SUV and then sold them for $26,000 they would be on top of the sales heap too, but then they would be in the same spot as GM wouldnt they. Whats really more important here... a car company that has its **** together and is making a profit although not being #1 in sales, or selling more cars and trucks than anyone else but loosing their *** on the financial end.