Carpocalypse Now - Jalopnik

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jeepster4.0
11/04/09

In reply to The New New Chrysler Is The Old Jeep

i think this is a good move, mostly because i have a TJ, and i have only ever had a TJ and i love it. it is an all american vehicle made out of steel and iron. (i am, of course, not counting the new JK's because, in my mind, they aren't wranglers...) i think that if they made a small truck off the jeep tj rubicon platform, that it would be a highly desirable and competitive vehicle. the company American Expedition Vehicles already sells a successful conversion called the Brute. i think that if jeep sold this, sales would increase especially in the northeast where trails are often narrow and jeeps have already proven themselves. it would also suit south america as well. if the based it off the TJ and kept the amazing I6, it would be a success.

i also think they need to get rid of the JK's. they have power windows and a V-6 that is all about fuel economy and efficiency. Jeep guys and gals don't know the meaning of fuel economy and power windows. u might as well say that it runs off of witchcraft. bring back the steel instead of plastic and bring back the I6 and make it into a truck as well. thats how you save chrysler. #chrysler
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Alfisted promoted this comment jeepster4.0 was starred jeepster4.0 was unstarred

Alfisted
11/04/09

@jeepster4.0: If my experience with the Cherokee is any indication, Jeep's definition of power windows is "replace guts regularly". I'm totally with you on the I6, BTW. It is the ideal Jeep powerplant.#chrysler
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Edited by Alfisted at 11/04/09 12:47 PM Alfisted was starred Alfisted was unstarred

MushyHeirloom
11/04/09

@Alfisted: But if the I6 is really dead, a small turbodiesel with a standard manual gearbox would also work well. #chrysler
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Sloop_John_B
11/04/09

In reply to The New New Chrysler Is The Old Jeep

Simple. Add this, make it cheap, and I will buy. I would absolutely purchase an offroad capable, barebones Jeep Truck. #chrysler
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FrankGrimes
11/04/09

@Sloop_John_B: I concur X eleventybillion #chrysler
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GasGuzzler
11/04/09

In reply to The New New Chrysler Is The Old Jeep
There's a lot of upside to the Fiat marriage. Granted, I am the eternal optimist as I'm a Mopar man at heart, but I truly do believe that Fiat's market position allowed them to have a lot better understanding than Daimler (and even more so, Cerberus) ever could.

The Wrangler and Grand Cherokee are the best at what they do (especially the sexy new '11 GC, good work Ralph). Those two vehicles, the new Dodge Ram lineup (of which the new HD should be able to make some solid sales before the '11 SD and GMT900 are released, and even after thanks to the Cummins), and the revised LX platform are enough to make Chrysler's contribution to the alliance worthwhile.

Marry those solid, well built, well designed American vehciles with some of the new Fiat small cars and I think it'll work. I always thought Fiat's were garbage until I was in Europe last year and I found them to be impressive little buggers. A bit ugly, yes. But Chrysler stylists have always been some of the best in the biz and I think Marchionne knows that and will turn them loose to add some "American flavor" to the Italian cars.

Good luck Chrysler, I'm rootin' for ya. #chrysler
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pauljones promoted this comment GasGuzzler was starred GasGuzzler was unstarred

MushyHeirloom
11/04/09

@GasGuzzler: Based on the Grande Punto 1.4 I encountered in Scotland, their interior materials are even comparable, so it won't take much adaptation in that regard.

You're right - they seem to be ditching most of Chrysler's useless junk, but maintaining the vehicles that are still at all desirable. A good thing. #chrysler
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GasGuzzler
11/04/09

@MushyHeirloom: That's the thing that should be interesting. I'll be the first to admit, as the owner of many recent Chrysler products, their interiors, while being well assembled, lacked the "soft touch" materials that the auto press clamors for. Some of Fiat's long in the tooth models are evident of the same ideology, hard plastics, maybe not the most attractive. I find it funny that the auto press lambasts cars here and endlessly compares us to european cars when in all seriousness, European cars are full of plenty of hard plastics themselves.

I know the S-max Focus I drove around for a week wasn't high on my list of interior luxuries.

This press conference is showing some good thinking on the product side. Much better than Cerberus' or Daimler's "plans" ever were. #chrysler
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FTGDWolverineEdition'09
11/04/09

In reply to The New New Chrysler Is The Old Jeep
BTW if anyone wants to listen to the plans of an Italian-Canadian trying to save an Italian-American company you can do so via the Chrysler webcast.

Link: [investor.shareholder.com]
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Edited by FTGDWolverineEdition'09 at 11/04/09 10:38 AM

brandegee
11/04/09

In reply to The New New Chrysler Is The Old Jeep
Jeep is not a killer. It's a piggy bank. It's a life support device. It's comfortable, simple, profitable, and easy to market. For a company floundering with automotive product, it's the "well, thank goodness Cherokee sales are still strong" division. And eventually, even Jeep cannot prevent the inevitable.

Sure, the product needs a relaunch, but Jeep the brand is basically free money for FIAT. #chrysler
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TheSwagger
11/04/09

In reply to The New New Chrysler Is The Old Jeep
How to fix Jeep: 1. Bring back the 4.0L I-6. 2. Make it affordable and offroad capable. 3. ???? 4. Profit! #chrysler
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brandegee promoted this comment TheSwagger was starred TheSwagger was unstarred

brandegee
11/04/09

@TheSwagger: Don't hold your breath. Chrysler was fortunate not to get into more trouble over the motor's poor emissions performance. One of the all-time great engines, but its time is probably done. #chrysler
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GasGuzzler
11/04/09

@brandegee: It already is done - the venerable AMC I-6 has made it's trip out to the "cursed Earth" and it' ain't comin' back. #chrysler
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Timtoolman, going ASH
11/04/09

@GasGuzzler: AMC's was a 4.2. I think the 4.0 was all Chryco. #chrysler
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BraappBraapp is losing faith in the commentariat
11/04/09

@Timtoolman, going ASH: Nope, AMC first. I know this cause it was made at the old american motors plant 25 miles from my house in kenosha.
[www.allpar.com] #chrysler
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MushyHeirloom promoted this comment

brandegee
11/05/09

@BraappBraapp is losing faith in the commentariat: Interesting read. I always thought the NOx emissions killed the long-stroke, but it turns out the tooling was also so old that it would been immensely expensive to replace. #chrysler
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Timtoolman, going ASH
11/04/09

In reply to The New New Chrysler Is The Old Jeep
I think the majority of us would LIKE to root for the underdog, but I'm getting more and more disillusioned with the path of all of these jokers. First, Daimler dumped them, presumably after 1. taking all the cash they had, and 2. not putting any new money in. Second, Cerberus, who realized what a disaster Daimler had, only after the fact, and put no money into the company...as one guy said, "we're going to save our way into prosperity". Now Fiat "buys" 20% of the company for NO MONEY and promises to put NO MONEY into the company.

Yeah, I'm optimistic this is going to work out well for the future of what is left of Chrysler. #chrysler
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pauljones promoted this comment

Alfisted
11/04/09

In reply to The New New Chrysler Is The Old Jeep

Coming soon... the export only Fiat-based Jeep Jolly. #chrysler
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Ehrich Blackhound
11/04/09

@Alfisted: Haha, who built that...The Professor? #chrysler
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beercheck promoted this comment Ehrich Blackhound was starred

beercheck
11/04/09

@Ehrich Blackhound: How long have you been waiting to play that card? #chrysler
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weatherman
11/04/09

In reply to The New New Chrysler Is The Old Jeep
I've always been suprised at what little presence Jeep has in Central and South America. Seems like when I go down there it's all Mitsubishi and Toyota. I'm sure there's a great market for the Cherokee (as the Liberty is known SOTB), the Wrangler and especially the Unlimited. And dare I hope, the Comanche...? #chrysler
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nightsky
11/04/09

In reply to The New New Chrysler Is The Old Jeep
We have a 48 Willys that we drive everywhere in the mountains. A lot of people began using 4 wheelers because Jeeps got to expensive to justify bashing them on the trails. Now, I see a lot of the 4 seat 4wd utility vehicles on the trails, because people, I think, want the old, inexpensive, basic Jeep type vehicle. Why pay 30k+ for a vehicle to take to the mountains, when you can get a quad seat 4wd utility vehicle for 12k? If they brought back an inexpensive base model Jeep for 15k they might sell the blazes out of em. #chrysler
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MushyHeirloom promoted this comment nightsky was starred nightsky was unstarred

Flathead Smith
11/04/09

In reply to The New New Chrysler Is The Old Jeep
A "Jeeps based on Fiat technology" doesn’t sound like a good plan. #chrysler
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drewdrawshashtags
11/04/09

@Flathead Smith: I think that a Fiat Panda 4x4 makes a better Jeep than the Compass. That said, I don't think it should be a Jeep. #chrysler
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drewdrawshashtags was starred

TurboBrick [LIGIER]
11/04/09

In reply to The New New Chrysler Is The Old Jeep
Jeep brand does carry prestige outside of the US. CRD powered Patriot for example was a rather popular choice for SUV shoppers in Helsinki, but lack of Chrysler dealer network meant that there were none to be seen further north and outside of the large cities. #chrysler
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MushyHeirloom promoted this comment

leavethegun-takethecannoli
11/04/09

In reply to The New New Chrysler Is The Old Jeep
Jeep will save Chrysler.

It's a great product with a loyal following. It offers off-road ability, and if you so choose,...luxury. #chrysler
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drewdrawshashtags
11/04/09

@leavethegun-takethecannoli: It should be, as I keep yelling into the abyss, a poor(ish) man's Land Rover. 4 models at most, but with lots of options for each, all competent off-road, but the higher end gets a luxurious interior to boot.

Undercut LR/RR by 10G but give them the style and off-road capability and it's all win. #chrysler
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drewdrawshashtags was starred

leavethegun-takethecannoli
11/04/09

@drewdrawshashtags: I agree. I've had Land rovers and Jeeps. I like the Land Rover's styling, but I prefer the less-intensive maintenance of the Jeep, and I deem the Jeep more reliable. #chrysler
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FTGDWolverineEdition'09
11/04/09

In reply to The New New Chrysler Is The Old Jeep
I tried typing in Carpocalypticly to help me pronounce it but Google only came up with this:

#

Results for: Carpocalypticly

Your search - Carpocalypticly - did not match any documents.

Suggestions:

* Make sure all words are spelled correctly.
* Try different keywords.
* Try more general keywords. #chrysler
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allenparkpete
11/04/09

In reply to The New New Chrysler Is The Old Jeep
for all intents, Fiat got Jeep with no money down. the rest will one day morph into Fiat/Alfa. that is if there is a ...one day. #chrysler
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FormerlyPreferredCustomer
11/04/09

@allenparkpete: The problem is that Fiat bought the equivalent of a $500 1991 BMW 750iL. Yeah, they paid nothing for it, but trying to keep it on the road is going to bankrupt them. Sometimes, even free is too expensive. #chrysler
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Van Sarockin, rogue trebuchet promoted this comment

allenparkpete
11/04/09

@FormerlyPreferredCustomer: they bought something but payed nothing for it? I ought to try that sometime. #chrysler
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allenparkpete was starred allenparkpete was unstarred

FormerlyPreferredCustomer
11/04/09

@allenparkpete: Not for Chrysler you shouldn't. It ain't worth it. #chrysler
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