Report: Dodge to build just 5,000 Challengers in first year

[68RT/71GTX]

It is amazing how things can change so quickly in this new world of globalization. I was at the open house at the Brampton plant last month and everything was optimistic and all were having a good time. I have a grandson and a girlfriend who work on the line. One may be safe and the other is now going. The unfortunate thing is that the newer hires are younger and would make better long term investments, but the ones with longer seniority will end up staying at least for the short term. I also work for a company that was bought by an investment group and ever since the focus has been on profit, not company and product pride. Everything is second to bottom line profit. Sorry for the vent. I have not yet cancelled my deposit on the Challenger.

[RRHemi]

In theory I think the Aspen and Durango are a good idea. The Aspen does look very Tahoeish and the Durango/Dakota imo are butt ugly.

I think the Nitro is pretty cool looking. Building vehicles that recieve black circles from CR is simply unacceptable. If this is the best they can do they might as well close the doors now. Everyone that I know that has insisted on buying American made cars have changed their minds. American manufacturers have had enough time to turn their quality issues around. People aren't buying it anymore. Especially when most of the Jap cars are built here now.

I thought Brampton capacity was maxed out? How can they be laying off? How will they contend with building Challengers on top of current production? Dumping the Magnum for capactiy sake is dumb.

[nextchall]

I also think that it is a BIG MISTAKE to kill the MAGNUM. I am at peace with pulling the plug on the 3 other cars. It is also a good decision to keep the non vert PT Cruiser.

Killing the MAGNUM was a decision based on short term views and I think that at least 2 of the 3 heads will later regret that shortsight!

[JonW]

I'm a Magnum fan as well, although I don't like the sissy front end they put on the '08s. I own a Charger and had hoped to buy a Magnum for a road car in a few years, but I guess I won't be doing that now. Bad dog, bad, bad dog!

[ctbruce]

I think 340cuda had posted the sheet with the production numbers. The magnum sales had slowed way down. I never really cared for the PT Cruiser. It seens reasonable to drop a line of cars if they're not selling.

And as for not buying American cars, I don't see how a real American could buy anything else! The reason why most Japanese cars are made over here is that it saves them money. If I'm going to buy a new car it's going to be one of the big three. We have young men and women fighting and dying for our great country every day and the least we can do is buy American made products!

With your kind of thinking it's no wonder we have to lay American workers off!

GOD BLESS AMERICA.... and no place else!

[DubleDex]

In the Consumer Reports article about the Nitro, under the headine "Pros" it honestly said "none." That's bad. That's REALLY bad.

Dodge has swung into this, "All our vehicles should look like tough trucks and be SUV-like in some way. Oh, except for the Viper. Otherwise, big, tough and square." But, unlike the coolness of the 300 when it came out, they've bombed the squareness. For a while, Chrysler/Dodge had one of the best looking all-round line-ups in the industry. Everything had character and looked pretty good. They weren't making completely boring turds like Accords and Camrys (fine vehicles, but boring).

All of the sudden, everyone else is making decent looking cars and Chrysler jumped the shark. I don't know what's going on. It makes me sad.

Time will tell if they can pull it together.

[68RT/71GTX]

I thought Brampton capacity was maxed out? How can they be laying off? How will they contend with building Challengers on top of current production? Dumping the Magnum for capactiy sake is dumb.
It seems that the new ownership is going to use a different approach to their
business. Daimler had them build as many cars as possible to get the burden absorption and efficiencies up. However the cars sat on on dealer lots or in compounds like Downsview airport. The dealers were unhappy because they had to take cars that they did not want in order to get cars they could sell. Now if a car is not selling, it won't be built. This means that they can make more cars than they can sell, so they will stop building by cutting shifts. It is the same at McDonald's. If they are not busy, some employees are sent home.

[Rallye72]

My 2 cents is that: the company hasn't built ANYTHING decent looking or worth buying for some time (decades). The Magnum, Charger, etc are all, imo, ugly cars. Not at all surprised Magnum sales are declining.

Had it not been for the pending Challenger, they would never have gotten another nickel out of me - and I'm a long time MOPAR guy. I was on the verge of buying a Mustang or Eclipse when the Challenger was announced. I've since postponed any buy until I see the car and the pricing strategy. This is, at least for me, their last chance. Blow this one by keeping supply tight coupled with high prices and I'm afraid I'll just have to go to the competition, there'll be no choice which is too bad for all concerned.

[RRHemi]

Originally Posted by ctbruce

I think 340cuda had posted the sheet with the production numbers. The magnum sales had slowed way down. I never really cared for the PT Cruiser. It seens reasonable to drop a line of cars if they're not selling.

And as for not buying American cars, I don't see how a real American could buy anything else! The reason why most Japanese cars are made over here is that it saves them money. If I'm going to buy a new car it's going to be one of the big three. We have young men and women fighting and dying for our great country every day and the least we can do is buy American made products!

With your kind of thinking it's no wonder we have to lay American workers off!

GOD BLESS AMERICA.... and no place else!

My driveway has three American cars on it and two American motorcycles in the garage. The simple fact is that I have had more problems with these cars than my neighbors with their rice burners. I prefer American cars (obviously) but the trips to the garage for all the stupid broken things are very annoying at least. The noises, tranmissions that don't shift correctly, CV joints, and the leaks.

Add the stupid responses from the service dept. Here is an example: After three trips to the dealer to get my Ram's back up lights to work I immediatly went out to check before I paid. Guess what they still didn't work! The service advisor tells me they will have to replace the valve body at $700! Oh and the $1500 they want to replace the evaporator coil for the A/C that leaks down. This truck is a 2001 with 104,00 miles on it and it has been babied. I cannot justify or afford spending 30k plus on something that is not reliable.

If they can't make cars as reliable as the Japs, Koreans, and Germans then I have no sympathy for them. American car manufacturers need more than a blessing.

btw, the Chevy has been good so far!

[DazzlinDeb]

Hey Everybody,

My name is Deb. I'm from San Diego. Just wanted to stop by and say hello to everyone. If you guys ever have any questions about the latest news with Chrysler, feel free to contact me. I generally get the news before the media because I'm in fleet. Look forward to chatting with all of you.