Chrysler files for Chapter 11.

[Red Devil]

http://jalopnik.com/5233632/ch...orrow

Is anyone honestly surprised? Think of the last time you saw a new Chrysler/Dodge product you really wanted(except the Viper and concept cars). Not to mention I haven't seen that many new Dodges, 2007 and up, on the road. I haven't even seen anyone driving their updated Ram or minivans and those are their biggest sellers.

Here's hoping Fiat does come down and buy a majority stake. Once I pay the V off I could use a 500 Abarth.

[MinisterofDOOM]

The new Ram is actually a really good truck. But it's about the only really good thing they make anymore. I haven't seen many of them driving around...I imagine impending corporate DOOM is making it hard to sell even genuinely good products.The new Caravan is crap and in many ways actually a downgrade from the previous model. The interior is unbelievably cheap. Really really horribly bad. Ironically VW sells the same van with an even uglier nose and their ads tout it's luxurious German interior and German engineered suspension. Heh.

I think Chrysler is eventually going to become nothing more than a carcass to be picked clean of tasty bits by the survivors. Sadly for those survivors, there don't appear to be that many tasty bits to choose from.

[Reed19x]

The Abarth is definitely a sweet little ride. I wouldn't mind having Fiat in the states at all. They're saying now that they may bring 2 models to the U.S. I just wonder if the whole "ugly little city car" thing will catch on in America. It worked for the Mini and so far it's working for the Yaris. So who knows, perhaps America is becoming more and more influenced by Europe/Japan. As long as they don't take away my SUV!

[Knightro2]

Yea, the interiors are horrible. I've had a rental Nitro numerous times while traveling on business. It just feels like cheap plastic everywhere. Everything is hard...nothing is comfortable.

[Onyxblue]

2009 Fiat 500 AbarthVEHICLE TYPE: front-engine, front-wheel-drive, 4-passenger, 3-door hatchback

BASE PRICE: $23,000

ENGINE: turbocharged DOHC 16-valve 1.4-liter inline-4, aluminum block and head, port fuel injection

Displacement: 83 cu in, 1368ccPower: 135 bhp @ 5500 rpmTorque: 152 lb-ft @ 3000 rpm

TRANSMISSION: 5-speed manual

DIMENSIONS:Wheelbase: 90.6 in Length: 139.8 in Width: 65.0 in Height: 58.2 in Curb weight: 2282 lb

PERFORMANCE (MFR’S EST): Zero to 62 mph: 7.9 sec

FUEL ECONOMY (MFR’S EST): European combined cycle: 44 mpg

[robj80]

2009 Fiat 500 AbarthVEHICLE TYPE: front-engine, front-wheel-drive, 4-passenger, 3-door hatchback

BASE PRICE: $23,000

ENGINE: turbocharged DOHC 16-valve 1.4-liter inline-4, aluminum block and head, port fuel injection

Displacement: 83 cu in, 1368ccPower: 135 bhp @ 5500 rpmTorque: 152 lb-ft @ 3000 rpm

TRANSMISSION: 5-speed manual

DIMENSIONS:Wheelbase: 90.6 in Length: 139.8 in Width: 65.0 in Height: 58.2 in Curb weight: 2282 lb

PERFORMANCE (MFR’S EST): Zero to 62 mph: 7.9 sec

FUEL ECONOMY (MFR’S EST): European combined cycle: 44 mpg

Stat's seem pretty good except for that price tag. No one will pay that price for such a small car. If it's just the mpgs your buying for then no one will still buy it because you can get a prius or insight for that price and they get better MPG's.

Not to mention the weight will go up after all the US mandatory crash protection stuff goes in. More wieght equeals slower and less mpgs.

[Red Devil]

http://jalopnik.com/5234014/wh...-like

Eww..........

http://jalopnik.com/5234344/te...uptcy

Actually have to agree with all of their choices.

[Rand0m0sityxX]

They'd put the Chrysler name on it, which wouldn't help. And Fiat used to suck, im not sure how well they've improved. They tried to be sold here years ago but they didn't do so well cuz they couldnt make them good.

And I wouldnt be too sure.

They had a deal with GM in 2000 ish and it fell through, costing GM a lot of money.

[grogman]

so where is uaw with all this? if fiat buys chrysler i am pretty sure they won't want uaw workers in their plants........just my guess.
Modified by grogman at 2:23 PM 5/6/2009

[MinisterofDOOM]

so where is uaw with all this? if fiat buys chrysler i am pretty sure they won't want uaw workers in their plants........just my guess.

You are spot-on. In fact, despite the other negatives, this chapter 11 declaration could be positive in that it can sever Chrysler's ties with the UAW. Free of the UAW, they'll likely be able to do more with less and be much more competitive with the Japanese brands (who have factories here but aren't UAW).

[grogman]

You are spot-on. In fact, despite the other negatives, this chapter 11 declaration could be positive in that it can sever Chrysler's ties with the UAW. Free of the UAW, they'll likely be able to do more with less and be much more competitive with the Japanese brands (who have factories here but aren't UAW).

so what happens when the uaw loses the labor contracts after the chapter 11s from gm and chrysler.......do they renegotiate to a similar wage that foreign automakers in the states offer? i feel that we are going to see alot of punching and kicking between the automakers and autoworkers this year..........i am not a union worker so i don't take their side...this time i am on the automaker's side....maybe they can put more money into developing good affordable cars instead of putting excessive money into the autoworkers pockets.........the autoworkers wages around lower michigan have helped escalate home prices to their affordability level......now when the workers make 30-50% less that will probably cause alot of foreclosures and budget adjustment on homes. so the industry basically screwed up detroit and surrounding areas really bad.