Chrysler Clings to the Past

i agree that the cars are to big. but the gascard is a good idea and all car companies should try this out.

Will that $2.99 apply to RAM Diesels? If it does I am ready to sign up.

Considering the New Dodge Journey crossover has the best in class gas mileage, and also has a 5 star front and side crash test rating, I'll dare to say Chrysler does have VERY competitive vehicles! Also No other company has a Lifetime Vehicle Power-train warranty! You can't go wrong with a Chrysler, Dodge, Or Jeep Vehicle!

If gas prices rise significantlt this move could potentially bankrupt Chrysler. Chrysler is taking a big gamble here. But I suppose that its the only way they can survive in the short term. If gas prices double, they can always say that they wouldn't have survived anyway. Of course if they go under or even just file for bankruptcy those subsidy cards will be worthless. Something to consider before shelling out for that gas hog.

I'm one of those dumb consumers who cross-shopped the Sebring, Accord, Camry, and other cars and bought the Sebring because of its mileage, quality, fuel economy and much lower price.

If more people come into Chrysler showrooms and cross-shop, they'll likely be pleasantly surprised as well.

I know that's an unpopular notion in the "Detroit stinks, the other automakers can do no wrong" school of thought that's so popular, but many of us cannot afford (or don't want to pay) an extra $6,000 for a Toyota or Honda that offers nothing extra other than a different nameplate.

Hmm, Chrysler must think the run up in oil futures is a bubble getting close to popping. How smart will a consumer feel after making her worst deal on that gas guzzling Cherokee only to see gas prices settle to 298.9. Time will tell.

I agree with Antonio, Chrysler/Dodge/Jeep makes great products. My 2007 Sebring averages over 30mpg, and my 05 Pacifica gets decent mpg on the highway. My parents have a 98 Dodge Caravan with 108,000 miles strong and a 01 Intrepid with 110,000 miles and still going. They have great style, good vehicles.

GM did try this two years ago in Florida and California. It didn't work very well.

Jt, yes the program applies to Diesel at $2.99!

JT:

It DOES apply to Ram diesels!

Antonio, very well respected comment, obviously the person that wrote this is not a fan of Chrysler that's fine. But has the writer compared any of the said vehicles to a Sebring or Avenger on mileage? I doubt it, or they would see they are better in some instances.

JT, yes it applies to Ram Diesels.

What gets me is how they did not think this day would come. Most of these executives should have seen higher gas prices coming, since they probably assisted Mr Bush in his bid for the White House. Chrysler products consistently the worst reviewed for reliability.

David Welch here. I am BusinessWeek's Detroit bureau chief and author of the item in question. I must address a few comments. Some readers say that the Chrysler cars get better fuel economy. According to what source? I went to www.fueleconomy.gov and compared family cars. The Chrysler Sebring and Dodge Avenger rank behind all of the cars I named, not to mention the Saturn Aura, Kia Optima and Hyundai Sonata. I compared four-cylinder cars with automatic transmissions.

When I say they're not competitive with some other cars in the segment, I'm looking at quality rankings, residual values and reviews from some of the top driving critics. Chrysler's passenger cars offer few, if any, advantages over competing models. The company's own engineers and executives have already identified hundreds of changes they need to make to their current cars. They readily admit it.

Sorry to pile on but....With the new management team in place I think this company is going to do well. I think they are just now getting their feet planted and are coming up with great ideas like this. Will it work, maybe, hopefully, but you have to admit the story has legs!

The anti-Detroit bias is so obvious by the media that is also "stuck in the 90's". So expand your your research above government web sites (you really trust them!? geez I'm shocked you admit that as a primary source!) and go talk to the men and women in Detroit that actually design and build these vehicles for this market.

This plan is all hogwash. It won't work and those who are sucker enough buy anymore SUV's from any of the Big 3 will find themselves with automotive white elephants or very large decorative planters for their lush suburban front lawns.

Here are two solutions at these websites to take the punch out of the pain at the pump:

http://www.vespausa.com/index.cfm

and

http://www.theaircar.com/acf/

Deal with reality before reality deals with you!

Looks and function are really what I buy cars for. I loved Chrysler's more rounded cars, 02-06 RAM, Chrysler 300M/LHS. Now it's all flat surfaces inside and out. Why? Flat surfaces comunicate cheapness and poor quality, so why do they keep plastering their products inside and out with it?

REsidual values are not accurate depictions of retained value. Consumer reports bases those assesments on MSRP. Chrysler always has a rebate of some sort on EVERY vehicle (except Wrangler and High dollar sports cars) so if that is taken into consideration Chrysler is right in line. Also the midsize car market is only one segment and not a fair snapshot of a company.

Author David Welch here again. One reader posted that government fuel economy ratings aren't trustworthy. Well, those tests are done with participation from the companies and the numbers are posted on the window sticker. They are legit.

That's true, Antonio311 and Charris911. With the Journey, they're off to a great start. Now all that remains is to get customers to understand that.

I Love this Car!!!