Are they goners? Pictures of car brands on life support

Discussion in 'General Motoring' started by WoodBee, May 21, 2006.

  1. WoodBee

    WoodBee Guest

  2. WoodBee

    Box134 Guest

    Box134, May 24, 2006
    #2
  3. WoodBee

    SnoMan Guest


    Only two things helped Dodge survive the 90's, The purchase of the
    sucessful Jeep line in 89 and the use of the Cummins in their HD
    pickups. Without them, Chysler would have likely faded away.
     
    SnoMan, May 25, 2006
    #3
  4. WoodBee

    Bob Shuman Guest

    The loan from the US government allowed them to keep things going. Then the
    K-car and the first 7 year/70K mile warranty are what allowed Chrysler to
    generate the cash to design the Minivan and then purchase Jeep.

    Bob
     
    Bob Shuman, May 25, 2006
    #4
  5. WoodBee

    SnoMan Guest


    THis is true but without the Jeep purchase and the CTD, they would
    have faded back away in 90's and likely would be worse of today if
    they had not been bought out too.
     
    SnoMan, May 25, 2006
    #5
  6. WoodBee

    Roy Guest

    I vote minivan sales.

    I think they came out with the first and probably best in initial quality.
    Afterall that's what keeps a car company alive, the people that come in and
    buy a new car every two years not people like me that find a car they like
    and drive it until it dies or no longer meets their needs.
    Anyone that holds onto a Caravan past 100,000km (think transmission here
    people) probably won't be real impressed unless they baby it and keep up on
    the maintenance.
     
    Roy, May 27, 2006
    #6
  7. WoodBee

    SnoMan Guest


    I do agree that minivan sales did help too but it was not enough to
    carry them alone and mini vans have been dying slowly since mid 90's
    as the SUV craze took over. Kinda said because they are more fuel
    efficent than SUV today and likely safer overall too.
     
    SnoMan, May 27, 2006
    #7
  8. WoodBee

    Bob Shuman Guest

    This is all related since the original Chrysler Minivan (1984 model year I
    think) was based on the K-car's frame and power train (2.5L transverse
    mounted 4 cylinder and 3 speed transaxle).

    Bob

     
    Bob Shuman, May 28, 2006
    #8
  9. WoodBee

    Roy Guest

    Yes, I think the K-car was a turning point and it definitely revived the
    company but if they hadn't decided to expand the Omni/Horizon into a van I
    think they would have lost a lot of momentum by the end of the 80's.
     
    Roy, May 30, 2006
    #9
  10. WoodBee

    Roy Guest

    Side note, The Omni with 2.2L engine was one of my favorite small cars. I
    also had a 1977 Oldsmobile Delta 88 coupe with a 350 just after the Omni.
    Bit of a difference in fuel economy but about the same acceleration.
     
    Roy, May 30, 2006
    #10
  11. WoodBee

    Bob Shuman Guest

    You must have had the 2.2L turbo ... possibly a rare Omni GLH? I had a 1987
    Lebaron GTS with the 2.2L turbo as well. A slight hesitation off a dead
    start, but once the turbo kicked in it took off ... and had great steering
    and brakes too.
     
    Bob Shuman, May 30, 2006
    #11
  12. WoodBee

    Roy Guest

    No turbo, I figured 2.2 was fairly common since my friend had one too (mine
    was auto, his manual) He (well his parents) also had an 84 Caravan with the
    same 2.2L and let me tell you it wasn't much of a performer in the van.
    A few years later I bought an Omni (84 I think) with the 1.6L Peugeot
    engine, just not the same :-(
     
    Roy, Jun 2, 2006
    #12
  13. WoodBee

    NapalmHeart Guest

    There wasn't a loan from the US government to Chrysler. There were loan
    guarantees, IOW the US Gov. cosigned for loans.

    Ken
     
    NapalmHeart, Jun 8, 2006
    #13
  14. WoodBee

    Bob Shuman Guest

    Ken,

    Yes, you are correct in that the government was the guaranteeor and not the
    originator of the loan. Although more accurate, it is not relevant to the
    points I made regarding the success of the K-car and the Minivan providing
    the basis for Chrysler's purchase of Jeep.

    Bob
     
    Bob Shuman, Jun 8, 2006
    #14
  15. WoodBee

    NapalmHeart Guest

    Bob,

    I agree with what you said here. The relevance is that saying that Chrysler
    received a loan from the US Gov furthers an inaccurate belief that many have
    held for the last 20-odd years.

    Best Wishes,

    Ken
     
    NapalmHeart, Jun 9, 2006
    #15
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