Oh man Mike,
I beg to differ.. I think Chrysler has put out some amazing cars. Remember the new Dodge Daytona when Shelby came into the scene? whewww.. Loved that one. Digital 'avionics', talking warning system, raked look with ground effects complete with skirts.. (I had 2 of them back then, one turbo laser, one souped up Daytona.. oops, and a third in rough condition that was the best second car... That Laser was fierce!).
Then, that little Mercedes came out, the Chrysler Crossfire with its cool popup rear fin and wild rear end styling. And let us not forget the Viper and Neon as well as the infamous Dodge Ram truck that sort of rechanged the Truck industry. (All pickups started to look like the Ram for a while).
I think Chrysler still has some life in them...
But then, I like Murano's too, lol... (I see them and I see a big Renault Racoon prototype sports SUV, as like that wild prototype Renault made long ago, then made a CG movie on it. We are living in the future... ).
Bill
Yeah, I remember the Daytonas very well. A not so bad looker, but they were just as bad as the G-body GMs for wearing out door hinge pins...and the doors weren't that big or heavy! My opinion of it is just another rattling little rust-prone modified K-car that didn't really get anything decent under the hood until Shelby stuck a decent turbo system on the little Mitsu motor.
Not quite a Daytona but close...An ex-GF of mine had a sweet little Rampage that had a StageII 2.5L under the hood. What a lousy body but yeah it would scoot!
I pulled out lots of hair working on those (and Cadillac's) early flourescent gauges too.
Now, once Daimler got into the picture then things were looking up for ChryCo. The Crossfire was nice albeit overpriced.
The Viper was initally supposed to be a low-priced Corvette beater but the V10's engineering problems queered that deal. I still wish they'd have released the twin-turbo magnum V8 version that did the auto show circuit one year as an entry-level model though.
The 94-up Ram...after 20 years, the Dodge trucks really were in sore need of restyling to keep up with the market. But body/drivetrain quality still stunk and compared to the other domestic trucks the power and economy was terrible except for the Cummins diesels. To this day, even ChryCo's "modern" OHC 5.7L (it's
not a Hemi) is a fuel pig compared to the cammers from Ford & GM and the new boys on the block Toyota & Nissan.
But on the other hand...they have had some winners too.
The first gen Intrepids with the 3.3L are darn near indestructible. That engine can almost be considered their modern 318...it'll run forever even if you ride it hard.
The new Challenger (a me-too retro car like the 'stang and the new Camaro concept) is a very nicely done machine. You can get a low-priced entry-level V6 or go all the way up to an SRT that can work it's magic on a 'vette if needed. Nice styling...more Barracuda than Challenger...still nicely done though.
I still hold out hope that Chrysler can keep their head above water, but in the meantime my new Fords & Nissan sit next to my vintage MoPars.
(Not a Murano though...I haven't entered the soccer-dad years yet :d )
I'm sorry Bill. I'll stop venting now....even though I didn't get into that whole 4-dr Charger thing again. :faint:
been there, done that.. just to find out that it was the light switch.