Pruning Chrysler

The blogs are buzzing over a Wall Street Journal report that Fiat has finalized plans for restructuring Chrysler’s model lines. The official announcement comes November 4th.

The reported restructuring would cut a number of models from the team including the PT Cruiser, Sebring, as well as the Caliber and Caliber-based Jeeps. Dodge would be left with just the Challenger and Charger. The Town and Country would be the only minivan.

New models from the parent company would be added including the Fiat 500 and several Alfa Romeos.

My Take

The out-going cars probably won’t be missed as they are mostly either aging platforms and/or poor selling models. But replacing them with cars from Fiat’s stable is risky. The 500 will probably resonate among buyers, it’s cute, economical and priced right. Alfa Romeos could be a different story. Enthusiasts are drooling over the prospect of seeing them in show rooms here, but the average buyer, and especially the average Chrysler customer, could be a tough sell.

One thing for sure: Chrysler would be a very different company selling very different cars than it does today. There would be a strong emphasis on performance. That could be just the thing to fire up buyers. Keep your eye on this one.

--M.D.

Labels: alfa romeo, chrysler, fiat

Hello Zazians,
Forget about the national statistics, how are auto sales going in your area - where you live?

Also, we would love to hear about insights and opinions about the Cars for Clunkers program.

• Was it worth the cost to the tax payers?
• Should the the feds do it again?
• If so what changes, if any, should be made to the program?
• What manufacturers prospered the most from the program?
• Anything else on this subject?

Your comments are greatly valued.

Thanks
Joel
Don't Keep ZazHub a Secret!

Hello Zazians,
So I am on my way to homecoming at Northern Illinois University from which I graduated so many years ago. My daughter and I are looking forward to a great day together when all of a sudden the van dies in the ATM drive-through lane - crap! Well, we end up getting towed (AAA is the best), missed the entire homecoming day and end up at Stevens Auto in Geneva where I find out the fuel pump is shot - double crap!

So Dave Stevens works his magic and replaces the fuel pump for a very reasonable price, relatively speaking, and gets me back on the road again. While at the shop, I ask Dave why the FP fails and how to prevent it in the future? Dave explained that the most common cause of premature FP failure is constantly running very low on gas so I am going to do my best to not do that anymore. The other common contributor is other electrical system problems feeding back into the FP. BTW - most modern vehicle have the FP inside the fuel tank. Not an easy fix.

Well this was an expensive experience and not one I would want to repeat and I don't wish on anyone. So be aware of your fuel levels and try to fill up before you go below 1/4 tank and if you ever have any electrical system problems be sure to get them looked at ASAP. I hope this helps you get more from your car.

Thanks
Joel
Don't keep ZazHub a secret!

In case you haven't heard by now, Ford announced today that it is recalling 4.5 million more vehicles due to the threat of potential fires, which could be caused be leaking cruise-control switches.

The newest recall affects about 1.1 million 1995-2003 Ford Windstar minivans, according to the Associated Press, and another 3.4 million Ford vehicles could be affected, according to Automotive News.

The problem is caused by cruise-control switches that leak internally, leading to a potential fire. Owners will be asked to bring their vehicles to dealerships for repairs. Letters to owners of vehicles that may be affected will be sent out between October 26 and November 11.

[Source: Automotive News]

As noted earlier on this blog, I've been asked by Joel to join Zazhub.com and post car reviews, news, and thoughts on the industry. I'll have more posted on this blog by next week, but for now, I just want to introduce myself.

I'll keep this quick and simple, since no one wants to hear another blogger going on about his or her background. What I will say is that I began my automotive career working in the service department of several auto dealerships in Chicago's western suburbs, before moving to Consumer Guide Automotive, where I worked as an associate editor. Since leaving Consumer Guide, I've been working as a freelance auto writer for Examiner.com and High Gear Media.

A few more tidbits about me: I have a Master's in Journalism from DePaul University, I enjoy running on Chicago's lakefront, and I spend way too much time paying attention to Chicago sports.

I look forward to interacting further with the Zazhub.com community going forward.