Is Dodge/DCX making another mistake with the 2008 dodge Avenger ?

[Ragamuffin]

Well, as far as I'm concerned Dodge/DCX is making another mistake with production of the all New 2008 Dodge Avenger ! I may be going into early senility but to me, history seems to be repeating itself: only in a real bad way. I mean here we or 'They' go again...butchering a previously coupe model by making it a 4-door. A 4-door model that does not appear to be much different looking than a Dodge Charger; even though these days most 4-doors look almost all alike...of course front and backs are tweaked to protect the guilty !!!!!!!! Listen, the original Avenger was never brought to its full potential : another fault of Dodge/Chrysler.It could have been one the hottest things going in its era [ since at that time most muscle cars were either rusting, catching rays or being broiled back into the open hearth ! Really ? Yes, as a lot of you know the Avenger had its rear plastic valence/bumper cut-out to accommodate dual exhausts,but to my knowledge Dodge forgot to impliment duals as well as offer performance additions, turbo, headers etc !! Now l k what they're about to do. ..Doc Zeeeeeeeeee where are you ? I mean if it weren't for the Challenger

[Yankee]

I gotta say I'm not terribly impressed with the new Avenger either - looks like someone left a Charger in the dryer too long...

[DubleDex]

They need to replace the "cloud" cars. This is the direction their styling is going. "Stratus" is a name without any balls at all.

So, as opposed to coming up with a new name, they're just pulling from the old files and putting a good name on the newest car. This isn't meant to be a balls out performer like the Challenger. It's a midsize, affordable family car with some "tough" styling.

In my opinion, it's not a mistake. It's marketing making the best of the situation. Yes, the original Avenger never lived up to its potential, but it wasn't a bad car. Go ahead and stick the name on a new breed of cars and see what happens.

Still looks a heckuva lot better than a Malibu.

I do think they're a little too stuck in the mold with their currently styling. I know all the cars should look like they belong to the same family... but I'm not sure it's really working across all the vehicles. But I also think this provides a good springboard when the 2nd gen of all these vehicles comes around. They've given themselves a bold new look to build on, and it'll just go from there.

I'd so much rather them do this - go bold and different - than be as bland as ever GM, Ford, Honda and Toyota on the road. (some exceptions exist, but overall, very boring cars).

[Mr.DJ]

Originally Posted by Yankee

I gotta say I'm not terribly impressed with the new Avenger either - looks like someone left a Charger in the dryer too long...

...heh...heh.

[Challenger_Nut]

Get rid of those damned Germans. They ruined the Dakota and Durango screwed up the chance they had with the Charger. Now this UGLY thing! They may Know enginering but they don't know style. Bring back Gayle and Lutz and reverse the current trend of Ugly vehicles!

[Honda2Mopar]

They are on pace to sell over 100,000 chargers this year alone. The cailber will sell just as much .... those are not just success stories but a raving success. Just cause you or I do not like the chargers does not mean that they are not a successful car....

[Ragamuffin]

Well, yes but I'm wondering where the extra room will be in the showrooms then [ since there's already an abundance of sedans] ? My main point is that taking a coupe model and turning it into a sedan instead of just 'thinking' of either a new name or at least a name which had both coupes and 4-door models like the 1967 Chrysler Newport or Dodge Monaco or Plymouth Fury !

[Legion681]

Originally Posted by Challenger_Nut

Get rid of those damned Germans. They ruined the Dakota and Durango screwed up the chance they had with the Charger. Now this UGLY thing! They may Know enginering but they don't know style. Bring back Gayle and Lutz and reverse the current trend of Ugly vehicles!

Audi R8...Audi RS4...BMW M (all their models)...BMW 6 series...Mercedes SLK...Mercedes SLR...Porsche 911, Cayman and Boxster...
All ugly cars, right ?

[Honda2Mopar]

no they are not ugly -- but when that true german quality shows through and things quit working or fall apart at less than 1500 miles on the OD then you might wonder why everybody believes the german cars are better. They look nice have a lot of tech features but are expensive to repair and have below average reliablity.

I would rank the best countries that make cars as japan, usa, and germany .... most people would but germany first, but for me when the quality does not live up to the technology that makes for an ugly car......

[Ragamuffin]

Well, let's see here; try to clear a few things up. Ummm ! I'm wondering how The Germans came into this fiasco ? Oh Yahhh ,Daimler !!! I don't think many if any Germans are in the American design studios [ I'll need some back up on that stat ] ! Yes, at least in the Audi a5's ,yes the odometers are notorious for going kerplunk: mine included [ a 1985 ,which has well over 300,000 on the engine and potentially still purrs for many more] ....but at least according to Consumer Reports mag, most if not all American vehicles get the worst marks for reliability ! I've always leaned toward Dodge vehiculars for styling ,but still nothing [cept Viper] has really impressed me since the 1970-71 Dodge Challengers/ B-A-R-R-A-C-U-D-A-s ! Also I believe one of the bottom lines is our, the American " way " of life ; being based on Capitalism and the doggy -eat -doggy mentality that gets in the way i.e cheap materials and rush-rush pressure to get out a product before its thoroughly tested . There are other factors [ which I won't go into/take up way too much time & space/appropri] one which I'll gravitate to ; by way of the Japanese. I believe a basis for their vehicles being [for the most part] so reliable and designed pretty good has to do with their society..like their souls/minds and/or personal beliefs..let's see what am I trying to say ? they take it personally if a mistake is made they might even stop the line until something is fixed [ well ?]. Here, I'll explain it like this, which is fact...I have not been to Japan but am told it is very clean unlike many,many places I can attest to in America ! The Japanese do not even throw cigarette butts on the ground, and even Japanese in our country adhere to their principles : i.e. the few Japanese Professional Golfers I've caddied for that smoked, either put the butts in a pop can, a trash recepticle and even in their own pants pockets or the pockets of the smock I was wearing in the tournament ! I realize this may seem trivial or ridiculous to some but it illustrates the basis for what part of this [ and others ] thread has " migrated " into ! { P.S. - I/we can only wonder what the Chrysler Corporation would be/look like if the ' Germans ' / Diamler - Benz had not marched into this picture !!!!!!!!!!!! }