CNNMoney says Challenger a "Must-Win"

[Ragamuffin]

Originally Posted by RRHemi

You would think that Chrysler(refusing to use the DCX term) would have put a lot of effort into the Avenger. It should be there Accord killer. I looked at one, it's not bad but then again it's not all that.

Well, yeah. I also kind of like the appearance of the Dodge Nitro, but after reading of quite a bit of bugs/problems on NitroForums as well as reading the latest Consumer Reports , I'm beginning to wonder about DCX. I do wonder though if the U.S. labor rates vs. all others is a contributing reason for the cheapish and/or unreliability rates [ and the companies' bottom line wants] .

[RRHemi]

The Honda plant in Marysville Ohio uses U.S. labor. I don't think they have unions there though. I looked at the Nitro also, I actually liked this one. If they can't get rid of the bugs they will not stay in business. I have an early Pacifica and it had several "bugs." Now that they are worked out it seems to be ok, about 80,000 miles on it now. The debugging period really sucked I must say. The wife was ready to get rid of it.

[crispiegee]

I disagree with CNN Money.

Yes, the Challenger needs to be successful. The Mustang's success, though, is the fact that there are numerous variants that can be had affordably and mods are easy and cheap. For $35 grand, you can built a fire-breathing Mustang!

But the real issue for Chrysler is building cars that most consumers want. Face it, guys: The few Challengers we buy are not going to make up for the fact that most of Chryslers new cars are ugly, mediocre quality, and usually get poor fuel economy.

If a friend of mine comes to me and says, "Chris, I'm considering a mid-sized sedan, what should I buy?" I gudgingly say, "Camry or Accord." I hate to do it, but that's what will be reliable, economical and maintain resale value. I look at the new Avenger sedan and it's just butt ugly. Plus, even a medium-sized person like me (5'9, 175 pounds) does not fit in the front seat without the side bolsters digging into to my thighs. Who designed this??

When gas is $4 or $5 a gallon, and Toyota is selling all the hybrids it can build, Chrysler is going to have acres of 5.7 liter Chargers and 3.5 liter Avengers sitting on lots with no buyers. You and I may be willing to swallow hard and feed a piggish Challenger, but we're enthusiasts. Most people will go simply buy the car that gives them the best combination of quality, economy and practicality.

So for long-term survivability, Chrysler needs to develop more exciting, better quality, better looking small cars that will convert buyers of foreign brands. For a Civic or Coralla buyer, what does Chrysler have that is fun and appealing? Not a damn thing. And twenty- or thirty-thousand Challengers is not going to keep that company afloat.

[MentallyChallenged]

What Chrysler needs to succeed is the BILLIONS of dollars it had when the American executives SOLD out the company to the Germans so they could use that money to finance some of their other ventures.

At this point 50% of the guys reading this are thinking "What? Chrysler is owned by the Germans?"