Posted on 07/09/2010 2:39:17 PM PDT by Responsibility2nd
DETROIT — A decade ago, the PT Cruiser roared onto the road with trendsetting looks and Al Capone swagger. In a sea of bland Honda Civics and Toyota Camrys, it was a retro hit. Chrysler could barely keep up with demand.
On Friday morning, the last Cruiser rolled off the assembly line in Mexico, finally killed off after years of declining popularity. Chrysler sold just 18,000 last year, compared with nearly 145,000 in 2001.
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The Japanese listened to the wisdom of this prescient man, while American industry kept on whistling past the graveyard.
I lived in Italy from 2000-03, we had a Lancia and a Fiat Tipo. The Lancia was a 2.0L sports sedan which was OK, I preferred the Tipo, it was a little 1.4L four door that was much more fun to drive than the Lancia. It was used and we had very little maintenance issues.
I am sure they as well the thousands of Bond holders tried legal recourse.
$500+ is a loot to give away without demanding redress of grievance, reparation and to made whole.
Not near 70 either and that is what most our family drives. We gotten over 200K on every one we retired and our 08 is awesome and even gets over 30 mpg with me driving. Wife has yet to mellow.
I get about 21 mpg on the highway and can carry refrigerators, dirt, bricks, etc... I LOVE my truck!!!
Not to mention the junk yards are full of them and I can rebuild this engine several times! I'm looking for one million miles on this truck, if we can still buy gas in 10 years!!!
I always kind of liked them, but then I have a soft spot for old panel wagons.
And thought it was just enough of a coincidence with your post to mention.
That was “Deming”.
“The Japanese listened to the wisdom of this prescient man, while American industry kept on whistling past the graveyard.”
You are so right!
The only American Car Company to hire Denning was Ford, and I believe that he told them they had to work through a reading list first before he would start work..... I believe it took them 2 years before he would agree to a consulting job...... His influence shows in the 2010 Ford Motor Company.......(though I think that there was a short time in the 90’s when they strayed from the path)
Goverment Motors = Chevrolet = Cracked Heads Every Valve Rattles Oil Leaks Every Time..... (ducking)
That was “Deming”
Opps.... you are so right! Slinks away red faced.....
If you insist on a retro-mobile, the Chevy HHR is a much better choice.
Deming was the father of “quality control”. U.S. industry didn’t listen to him. Their loss.
It’s a fantastic vehicle, but they do often tend to be treated as toys. If you keep your eye on ebay and craigslist often an older one in good condition can be had for under 3K, believe it or not.
I love driving my Town & Country, love the seats, love the comfort, love the stow & go - just wish they would get their engine and brake issues resolved.
I love driving my Town & Country, love the seats, love the comfort, love the stow & go - just wish they would get their engine and brake issues resolved.
I have a 2003 s well. In three or four years I’ll buy another one. (used, of course)
We bought it for $4000 and put $3000 into it immediately. It runs, looks and smells like new.
It is my dream car. I hope they produce another car with that kind of style.
I've rented Chrysler cars on a couple of occasions and I have been shocked at the cheap materials, the shoddy workmanship, and the poor performance. I've also rented Fords and my impression of them is exactly the opposite of the Chryslers.
Unions may build the damn things but they don't design the cars or decide the materials they are to be constructed of. I wouldn't take a Chrysler product if they were giving them away. I would consider buying a Ford.
There is a part called a “Clockspring” that is a thin film with electrical circuits traced on it. It goes under the steering wheel and allows all the electrical controls in the steering wheel to work even as the wheel turns.
This part is notorious for tearing, causing intermittent open circuits and dead short circuits. Chrysler has known about this for years but refuses to do anything about it. It is a design flaw, not just a component failure and it has failed on thousands of vehicles.
It would only be a “nuisance class” problem except for the fact that it also controls the trigger circuit to the driver airbag.
Not good.
With the moon roof, sunroof and all the sliding window down it's like a convertible.
I think Toyota had the quality control at the factory turned all the way up to get over the bad rap from the 70's.
Even all the little things manufacturers skimp nickels and dimes on that eventually drive people nuts and back to the lot to buy a new piece of crap are still working.
This thing just goes and goes.
My auto budget is pennies on the dollar amortized out compared to most folks.
Oh yeah, I remember those Toyota vans. We had a neighbor with one. You’re right about the little details — all the electronic doodads in my Celica still work, 100%. All the window motors, the little sprayers, the cruise control, the dash lights, all are good. Toyota built some really solid cars back in the 80s.
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