But Phil, it wouldn't make sense for Daimler to diminish or
kill off the Chrysler heritage - that's one of the reasons
they bought the company!
Plymouth has been in trouble for a long time - since the
Reliant days at least. Chrysler has pumped tons of money
into trying to rejuvenate the marque with little or no
success in the marketplace. The last ditch effort was the
Prowler - used to create showroom traffic rather than
Prowler sales and that didn't work either.
The reason the minivans all looked alike was cost plain and
simple as it is the reason with every other car company.
When folks looked at a Dodge brand vs a Plymouth brand using
the same platform in recent years, the dollar difference
just didn't make sense to buy the Plymouth considering the
resale loss. This didn't affect the Chrysler brand as much
though because of the price differential there.
As to Dodges, hey if they don't sell then I wouldn't expect
them to last long. These are cars remember, not members of
your family! Chrysler isn't the only one with "old" brand
name problems. Ford has a Mercury brand they're trying to
resuscitate and have already dropped the Marks because of
sales problems. GM has a few too like Cadillac that has
consistently been losing market share and Buick which has
already dropped the Riviera. Oldsmobile is dumping big
buckets of money into Oldsmobile Division to try and save
it.
Look back at the other fine makes that have bit the dust -
Studebaker, Packard, Nash and we all know the others. It has
been a lack of sales plain and simple - no mysterious plots,
no destruction campaigns, no sabotage, and in this instance,
no purposeful diminishing of the Chrysler name.
Profits rule in Detroit, not emotion.
From a positive sense, look at what DaimlerChrysler is
planning for the future - a new V8 front engine rear drive
300, a new Charger, a new breed of small minivans, an
evolutionary development of the terrific LH sedans, new
market leading Jeeps etc. I don't think we will be reading
of Chrysler's demise anytime soon!
Brian
57 D500s
Philip Patterson wrote:
>
> I've thought about this, Brian. I bought my Breeze new in 96, I expect
> to buy my next new car in 2001. I don't feel it is unusual to get or
> expect 5 years of service out of a new car with normal maintenence. As
> far as Plymouth being on the chopping block, the only reason I can think
> of for a brand name that had the sucess that Plymouth did to lose sales
> is incompetance and indifference. Plymouth was a sales leader for
> Chrysler for many years. But then Chrysler Corp. started reducing the
> number of Plymouth models available, until it's now down to the final 2,
> Neon and Prowler. Does that sound like a plan for business success to
> you? I probably could have bought another new Plymouth sooner, but I
> don't believe in the mindset that can get rid of a car well before it is
> worn out. That is the main reason I bought a Plymouth, it has the
> legendary Mopar durability. I don't just change cars like some folks
> change their socks. That is for people who either have money rolling out
> of their pockets or don't mind being in debt and paying interest for the
> rest of their lives. The destruction of the Plymouth brand has been an
> act of, if not utter incompetance, then the most subtle act of sabotage
> I have ever seen. It's almost like they destroyed Plymouth on purpose. I
> see you have a couple of Dodge D-500's, if you are a Dodge fan then the
> loss of Plymouth probably doesn't matter much to you. There has always
> been a little rivalry between the Dodge and Plymouth factions anyway. If
> it was Dodge, instead of Plymouth that was getting the short end of the
> stick I would be just as upset. They are setting the stage to diminish
> the Chrysler name. Once Plymouth is gone, it won't be that much harder
> for them to pare down Chrysler some more. Dodge will be most likely the
> next one on the agenda if it happens, Will you be in a "blue funk" then?
> I've thought about this very much, and to be honest, I don't think it
> gives very good tidings for Chrysler's future. And if the possibilites
> don't at least make you think about things a little bit, then maybe you
> aren't the Mopar fan you thought you were. Just remember, if they kill
> another brand name, they will do Dodge before Chrysler, that I am sure
> of. And the diminishing of the Chrysler name , or any of it's parts, is
> something a true Mopar fan would never take lightly. Daimler-Benz paid
> all those bucks for their own purposes, not Chrysler's. I have thought
> about it, I think it sucks. Pardon my english. Phil
> Patterson
>
> brians wrote:
>
> > Before everyone tearfully goes into a blue funk as they wax
> > poetic about DM causing Plymouth's end, consider this:
> > Chrysler had Plymouth on the chopping block way before the
> > Daimler deal. Car making is a profit making business, not a
> > museum or art gallery and if the product doesn't sell to
> > expectations then it must go. The 60s and 70s are over and
> > along with them went the Plymouth sales.
> >
> > As far as Dodge going, do you think Daimler paid all those
> > big bucks to eliminate the very products they need here in
> > the USA? M-B cars, their sport UTEs and all the variants
> > will not carry the day for DM here, they need the Chrysler
> > products, dealers and markets.
> >
> > In Europe, most of the vehicles that the "old" Chrysler sold
> > there were badged as Chryslers and that is the name that the
> > minivans and cars are known by over there. That isn't going
> > to change. There is also little chance that you will see an
> > M-B body or platform used here with a Dodge or Chrysler
> > nameplate since that isn't part of the plan. DM actually
> > wants to keep the individuality that we all are moaning
> > about being gone!
> >
> > If you want to secure the future of Dodge or Chrysler
> > nameplates - buy one! It's like voting, don't complain about
> > the incumbent if you didn't vote!
> >
> > How many of us have purchased a Plymouth of any kind in the
> > last 2 years?
> >
> > Brian
> > 57 D500s
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