Looks like we have a "new" American owned auto manufacturer.
The news is reporting the Germans finally dumped Chrysler. They were tired of constantly loosing money.

Chrysler's had one foot in the grave for a long time. I just hope the Challenger comes out before they put the other one in.

When the DB guys took over, Chrysler had billions of cash on hand. What happened? Chrysler has always had severe ups and downs, and that will probably never change unless they go under totally.

Legacy costs happened, happen. Too many people making too many cars. Too many retirees drawing on a shrinking pool of funds, currently funded by too few workers. ( i.e,. Social Security out ten years) .

Isnt over yet guys. " Big Three " will become " Big Two ", and possibly " Big One"... what data is used to contruct this inference you ask? ... OK well lets start with the fact that Cerebrus's first move will be to combine GMAC ( whom they bought a while back) and Chrysler Credit Corp. With those two ops combined, it becomes much easier to run a " common spreadsheet" with two units in the mix, i.e., pricing , promotions and other "sensitive" corporate data to determine incentives and financing rates.

Somehow I feel Cerebrus will be the middle man or "enabler" of a bigger merger down the line.

If you own F or GM as a shareholder, be advised you're holdings lots in a declining business. Trade it, dont marry it.

Speaking of TRAITORS, I feel like one ( raised in a GM Union family ) since my purchase of an MBz diesel car ( which gets flippin' 32 around town!) caused my wife to jump into a foreign brand, another MBZ , an AWD wagon. Yeah, two MBzs in the family. My union buds are not likin' me right about now.

Neighbors must think we're loaded! Ha! Two "new" cars for less than 20K all in! ( her wagon was the big one, cherry, 70K, out of Cincinnatti).

Gunna be loaded putting those " GMAC" lease payments IN Da BANK!

Yeah, short car manufacturers, go long oil.

Detroit is going to be " one big happy ( but much smaller) family", in the not-too-long.

And I'm buying funky-arse toolls like 14mm allen sockets.

I believe Daimler also needed to generate some cash as MB has been losing money for a while too, worse than Chrysler.

427L88 has hit it on the head -- most of the industry has too much capacity for their sales volume and more players are getting into the business, not fewer.

Chrysler's had one foot in the grave for a long time. I just hope the Challenger comes out before they put the other one in.


http://jalopnik.com/cars/news/challenger-pre+production-body-shots-make-their-way-to-web-256378.php

Too many people making too many cars.
Your prediction on the number of job losses?

Just sitting here waiting for the 2500 dollar Tata to get here from China. Probably will be sold in the automotive section at Wal-Mart and that means I get a 10% discount too!:thumbsup: :D

Yeah, there you go, really cheap rides. more competition.... PK, havent a clue. Some plants are running at what they nned to be. Tonwanda Engine being one of them. Lean and mean after a host of retimrement incentives. A plant like Tonawanda has to be in a position to supply enignes to multiple munfacturing facilities, and the plant should be maketing " their engines" as a brand. Thta's why we have Visteon, Delphi, etc., quasi stand alones who could supply even to a competitor of their old parent.

The job losses as the industry rationalizes itself are likely measurable. The UAW slows the time effect of the process, in effect, putting the brakes on the inevitable loss of manufacturing jobs as over capacity is reckoned with.

But still, in the grand scheme, its like trying to fight the ocean. You may be able to hold it off, but the oucome is inevitable... a still smaller auto industry, and no more easy money. You'll have to bust your nads for that 70-90K per year. If those types of salary ranges are even probable in the future. Hear too many anecdotes about guys making really easy money working at the plants. Sometimes under the influence. Is it any wonder I dont value union labor in my car? still , going forward, by the needs of remaining competitive, the "schlockness" of US cars should wane, and quality should improve.

BTW, new hires at Delphi/Harrison are earning around $12/hr approx. A far cry from the old starting wage.

I remember the " Quality is Job One" slogan, kripes every Ford more than five years old is rusting away up here. WHAT QUALITY, THEY'RE DISPOSABLE!

Which is a long way of saying, [part of the isue at hand is that the US auto industry, first being isolated from, and now having to compete head to head with foreign makers/designers, is still not up to snuff across the board. Part of the problem has been the hourly/salary bilateral structure of the firms.

From day one, I NEVER understood why Benz bought Chrysler. Didn't make sense then, and now it is confirmed!!!!!!! DUH!

No, I'm NOT down on Mopars. It's just that I have never found a Mopar product that I could get excited about-----------------------EXCEPT, A REAL HEMI CAR-----------------------but that is a totally different animal!

Whereas, GM (and Ford also) over the years has produced something of lasting value. Where do you want to start? How about 32 or 40 Fords. Tried to buy one lately? How about a 55 Chevy? Priced a nice one lately.
And then, how about a 39 or 55 Plymouth or Dodge? Who wants one! See the difference.
OK, some of you don't like that comparrison. Let's go to the 60s. Would you rather have a 68 SS396 Chevelle, 68 442, 68 GTO, or would you rather have a 68 Road Runner (or Super Bee)? Sure, a NICE Road Runner or Super Bee will bring good money, BUT NOT LIKE A NICE SS396 Chevelle, nor do thay have the same level of desireability!!!!!

And, other than 32 and 40 Fords, I haven't touched on Fords. Well, when was the last time anyone here went to a Street Rod Natl event? The cars are STILL PREDOMINANTLY Fords! Don't see an abundance of Plymouths, Studebakers, Nashes, Hudsons or DeSotos.

AND, one last final observation. When was the LAST time you saw a Mopar event as big as Chevellabration, or a Classic Chevy event or a Corvette event??????? Probably never!

The Chryslers At Carlisle is a pretty big event, Carlisle is a big place.

Tom while I am a Chevy guy I'll have to disagree with your analogies on pricing. MOPARs are typically more expensive to purchase than most other 60's era Muscle cars even without Hemis. Have you priced a 440 six-pack GTX or even a 383 Roadrunner? They are not cheaper than most of the comparable ss396 Chevelles. Heck even a decent 340 Duster can cost as much as a SS Chevelle. Lastly other than the over-done show cars the tri-5 Chevy prices are leveling off if not actually starting to slightly decline.


Maybe it is a regional thing but there are quite a few hotrod Plymouths out there that I have seen. Yeah sure the Ford and Chevy are more prevalent but the Chrysler/Plymouth products are out there.

Finally, MOPAR car guys have their own big events too. MOPAR nationals has been around a long time. Do a google on MOPAR car shows and there are pages and pages of show similar to what you have been to.

From day one, I NEVER understood why Benz bought Chrysler. Didn't make sense then, and now it is confirmed!!!!!!! DUH!

No, I'm NOT down on Mopars. It's just that I have never found a Mopar product that I could get excited about-----------------------EXCEPT, A REAL HEMI CAR-----------------------but that is a totally different animal!

Whereas, GM (and Ford also) over the years has produced something of lasting value. Where do you want to start? How about 32 or 40 Fords. Tried to buy one lately? How about a 55 Chevy? Priced a nice one lately.
And then, how about a 39 or 55 Plymouth or Dodge? Who wants one! See the difference.
OK, some of you don't like that comparrison. Let's go to the 60s. Would you rather have a 68 SS396 Chevelle, 68 442, 68 GTO, or would you rather have a 68 Road Runner (or Super Bee)? Sure, a NICE Road Runner or Super Bee will bring good money, BUT NOT LIKE A NICE SS396 Chevelle, nor do thay have the same level of desireability!!!!!

And, other than 32 and 40 Fords, I haven't touched on Fords. Well, when was the last time anyone here went to a Street Rod Natl event? The cars are STILL PREDOMINANTLY Fords! Don't see an abundance of Plymouths, Studebakers, Nashes, Hudsons or DeSotos.

AND, one last final observation. When was the LAST time you saw a Mopar event as big as Chevellabration, or a Classic Chevy event or a Corvette event??????? Probably never!

Your joking right? :sad:

First car I had was a Chevy Z-28 and the second was a '70 Cuda. This was back in the late 70's and I was the youngest of the boys in the family that grew up in the muscle car era. I have been a both a Chevy fan and also a Mopar guy. Your comparisons are way off the mark. There is a very strong desire for early Mopar muscle and prices reflect that. As for shows, Chrysler's at Carlyle and Mopar Nats are just two that would blow you away, but trust me there are many.

And, other than 32 and 40 Fords, I haven't touched on Fords. Well, when was the last time anyone here went to a Street Rod Natl event? The cars are STILL PREDOMINANTLY Fords! Don't see an abundance of Plymouths, Studebakers, Nashes, Hudsons or DeSotos.

I attend street rod shows all the time, personally Id rather attend a rod show then a muscle car show.
As for the fords taking over the shows, true! But thats because their fiberglass.

I'm prejudice, can't you tell! :D

I'm prejudice, can't you tell! :D

That's cool ;) Hard not to be biased.

I keep the Chevy in one garage and my Mopars in the other, they need to be able to learn to get along before they can share the same room :D