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Chrysler Maybe Not Canceling Wrangler So Much
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Schm, enjoying his first desert winter. .
05/06/09

In reply to Chrysler Maybe Not Canceling Wrangler So Much
Whoever thought of that idea should be brought around back and flogged. Yes, the idea is to trim models and brands, but (I'm stating the obvious) you can't just destroy unique niche players that actually sell.

Dumbass move.
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area_educator
05/06/09

@Baron Schm Von Shamwoüzen has swine flu: Good grief. They post "Sorry-- it was a mistake. It appears no one has had the idea of killing the Wrangler" and we still get That's the dumbest idea ever!!
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Schm, enjoying his first desert winter. .
05/06/09

@area_educator: I just saw this post again. I was actually referring to Edmunds, perhaps I wasn't being clear enough.
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DoctorNine
05/06/09

In reply to Chrysler Maybe Not Canceling Wrangler So Much
I agree with the sentiment that a straight 6 would be nice to see. I don't agree that it couldn't meet emissions, simply looking at BMW shows it can be done. The only question is what they want to do with the few moves they still have in the game before it all becomes moot. With Fiat coming on board, I suspect that a new leaner lineup will be forthcoming. A modern variation of the 1992 Jeep Cherokee Sport would be nice.
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Mobius
05/06/09

In reply to Chrysler Maybe Not Canceling Wrangler So Much
Chrysler needs to make sure they don't just cut model ranges like this:

Th!nk.
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.357
05/06/09

In reply to Chrysler Maybe Not Canceling Wrangler So Much
Wrangler=Jeep. Thank god they didn't get rid of it. It is such an iconic model.
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Mobius
05/06/09

In reply to Chrysler Maybe Not Canceling Wrangler So Much
When a man in strife sells his soul to the Devil, he'll never recover what he lost for what meager little he gained.

When a car maker in strife discontinues its products with soul left for the sake of costcutting to the point they show in the cars, it'll never recover what it has just lost for what meager little it gained.

So much in common.
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Mad_Science
05/06/09

In reply to Chrysler Maybe Not Canceling Wrangler So Much
Without the revised photochop, this quasi-retraction is nothing.

It's the extra effort to revise the 'chop to something entertaining, rather than just put a big X or FAIL over it that really sets you guys apart.
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discontinuuity has left the Jalop until further notice
05/06/09

In reply to Chrysler Maybe Not Canceling Wrangler So Much
Jalopnik, quit playing with my emotions. Next you're going to tell me that Pontiac is dead.
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ndhapple
05/06/09

In reply to Chrysler Maybe Not Canceling Wrangler So Much
Well in Jalopnik's defense they did trash can the Cherokee and its 4L I6, probably the durable engine ever to come out of Detroit this side of the Chevy smallblock, and replaced it with the shit-tastic Liberty.
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kingedwin
05/06/09

@ndhapple: The I6 had reached a point where it couldn't meet emissions, and they just wanted to have one 6-cylinder for everything. If they survive, it would probably be replaced by the Phoenix engine they've had in development for a while.

However, the diesel in the military version would be much, much better.
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Mad_Science
05/06/09

@kingedwin: Funny thing is, they used the minivan 3.8L V6 for the Wrangler and a different 3.7L v6 for the Liberty.

So much for standardizing engines.

Besides, with another redesign of the heads and ECU, they could've kept the AMC 6 around for another generation.
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Plecostomus [Tyrrell]
05/06/09

In reply to Chrysler Maybe Not Canceling Wrangler So Much
I would consider the world to have officially ended for Jeep to consider discontinuing their fucking SYMBOL and bread and butter, the Wrangler.

Thank the cargods this isn't true.
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Graverobber
05/06/09

In reply to Chrysler Maybe Not Canceling Wrangler So Much
Well, maybe they'll actually discontinue the Compass, because that turd deserves to die.

On second thought- replace discontinue with immolate, rip the head off of, and piss down the neck of- and then I think it'd be right.
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Electro Gyrocator
05/06/09

@Graverobber: How about that Commander, Patriot, Liberty and the upcoming car-based Grand Cherokee too? Bring back the real Cherokee, Comanche, and maybe a Wagoneer, and then we'll have some real Jeeps.
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Maymar
05/06/09

@LamerX - Reverse donuts on your lawn!: Wasn't the Commander just a really lame attempt at a Wagoneer? I mean, it was mostly a Grand Grand Cherokee, wearing the clothes of a proper (re. XJ) Cherokee. If they had wood-panelled sides and were distributed as standard issue throughout New England, we'd have something.
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RoboRed loves his virtual G8 GXP
05/06/09

In reply to Chrysler Maybe Not Canceling Wrangler So Much
Yeah...the Chrysler execs may be dumb, but they can't possibly be THAT dumb.
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DoctorNine
05/06/09

@RoboRed is sipping a cup of tea while watching the world bu...: My principle is that you will never go broke betting on stupidity within the ranks of major CEO's, especially in the auto industry.
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allenparkpete
05/01/09

In reply to Ten Cars That Crashed Chrysler Into Bankruptcy
As an engineer who worked on the Grand Cherokee, Compass-Caliber, the still-born MK74 program and Mini-van programs I have to take exception to singling out the Grand Cherokee as a vehicle that caused Chrysler's demise. the Compass...yes. I used to have my fingers in my throat when I walked in the Studio. A lousy program directed by lousy leadership. And it was an Auburn Hills Jeep not a Plymouth Road Jeep. A big difference right there.

Chrysler's true demise started the day Maximum Bob was no longer President of Chrysler. Things would've been far different if that self-centered wop named Iacocca put his ego aside and gave Lutz control.
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Ben Wojdyla
05/01/09

@allenparkpete: Sorry Pete, I feel your pain, but the sales numbers don't lie. It might not have be the fault of engineering, or the bean-counters, but the precipitous drop in take-rate says it all.
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TechnoDestructo
04/30/09

In reply to Ten Cars That Crashed Chrysler Into Bankruptcy
These cars are mostly the symptom of Chrysler's death spiral, not the cause.

The Caravan/Voyager/Town & Country were the cause. They put more suicidal transmissions into more owners' hands than any car in history. Their reputation was irreparably tarnished by the vehicle that "saved" them in the 80s.
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If FromaBuick6 has to watch one more Chevy commercial, he's going to punch Howie Long in the face
05/01/09

@TechnoDestructo: There's some truth to that. But, really, Chrysler's quality was always lacking. Even back in the '50s, when the first Forward Look cars came out and were a big hit, once the quality gremlins showed up, sales dropped again. They were always good at coming up with stylish or innovative products that got people into the showrooms, but they were also good at selling lemons that kept a lot of people from ever coming back.

It used to be, if you bought a Mopar you had a 50/50 chance of getting an absolutely bulletproof car or the biggest piece of shit ever. Nowadays, it's a 100% chance of getting the ugliest, cheapest piece of shit ever.
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MushyHeirloom
04/30/09

In reply to Ten Cars That Crashed Chrysler Into Bankruptcy
The Dakota is ugly until you compare it to a Durango, Ram, Sebring...
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baldy_pm
04/30/09

In reply to Ten Cars That Crashed Chrysler Into Bankruptcy
What this article should have been is "The FIVE cars that didn't sink Chrysler"
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baldy_pm
04/30/09

@baldy_pm:

I actually don't think they have ever made 5 good cars.
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Armand
04/30/09

@baldy_pm: You're wrong!

1) Jeep Cherokee (grandfathered in from AMC): Capable off-road, livable on-road, arguably the first modern SUV.

2) '67-69 Dart: Legendarily tough engines, clean, pleasant styling, and simple, relatively reliable components. A favorite of old ladies in the late '60s and hipsters and hot-rodders today.

3) Hillman Hunter (grandfathered in from the Rootes Group-- a sentimental favorite for this Sunbeam owner): Chrysler's biggest international competition success was the Hunter's win in the '68 London-Sydney Marathon, where the little sedan proved tougher than the Lotus Cortinas and faster than the BMC Landcrabs. After this monumental achievement, Chrysler UK shut down its competitions department.

4) Dodge Viper: Bob Lutz's V10-powered toy brought performance and badass swagger back to Mopar after the depressing, if profitable, K-car era. Too bad it was too much of a niche product to make money for the company or share technology with other corporate platforms.

5) Number 5... hmm, number 5...

Fuck, you were right.
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Jesda
04/30/09

@Armand: The brakes from the Viper went into the Intrepid, and thats only one example.
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Mad_Science
04/30/09

@Jesda: How could we forget the Ram SRT-10?
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Armand
04/30/09

@Jesda, Mad_Science: Okay, fair enough. Let's make that "too much of a niche product to spread much of the platform's development costs over the corporate line through the sharing of parts, except for the V10 and brakes."

And in case you were wondering, yes, I am still pissed off that Chrysler shut down Chrysler UK/Rootes's competitions department.
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Six Flags Over Tomsk
05/01/09

@Mad_Science: Yes! Someday those things will be revered and appreciated for the beautifully demented machines they are.
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