Dodge Trazo C1.8 unveiled....

[shiryu0]

http://www.leftlanenews.com/dodge-trazo-c18.html

yep........

[alonsorules8]

It's just the sedan version of the Versa with a built by Dodge logo on the back. The only modification Dodge did was make the MR18DE engine run on flex fuel, other than that it is just a re badged Versa SL.

[Nismo V]

Guess when your company is almost dead in sales like Chrysler is they need any help they can get... they should have kept making those Neons to be competative in todays marketplace..

[BBISHOPPCM]

...Problem is, the Neons developed such a poor reputation for build quality, they had no chance of reviving it for another go 'round. something about a 40,000 mile head gasket, no rear power windows, rear brakes that appeared too small for a PowerWheels Jeep, suspension components that look like they were made from Tinkertoys, reliability problems overall... You reap what you sow. It really is unfortunate, as Chrysler had the smarts and resources to win over the US car buyers who chose foreign over domestic; but with mistake after mistake, those few who jumped on the Chrysler bandwagon were quickly burned, and never to return again. The PT Cruiser (bad head gaskets, oil consumption, lack of power), the LX-based cars (transmissions, oil sludging, steering rack failures, electrical problems), and even their midsized cars were all very stylish and sold well, but when the mechanical problems started popping up, many of the owners bailed and bought foreign (or other American vehicles). Chrysler has done this at least twice before (Remember the Horizon/Omni? Shadow? K-Cars?). Alright, the K-Cars were not THAT bad, but the engine fires in the Omni/Horizon and engine problems in their Shadow and Spirit models left a bad impression. I completely forgot to mention their legacy of bad transmissions across all car lines. WAKE UP CHRYSLER!!!

Ford and GM tend to have very specific problems with certain vehicles, but they often correct their mistakes. One thing is certain; avoid ALL Ford mid-line cars; they always seem to have problems with those, and the Focus had some minor issues (fires, etc).

All I can say is this; I've owned one American car, the 1997 Mazda 626, and the only problem I didn't have a problem with was the engine itself (the only part built by Mazda). Everything else was garbage.

All my Nissans have been relatively trouble-free.

End of rant.

[Ginsu]

This is a pretty interesting piece written last week:

http://www.reuters.com/article...nel=0

[MinisterofDOOM]

...Problem is, the Neons developed such a poor reputation for build quality, they had no chance of reviving it for another go 'round.

Definitely right. There's more to the Neon's demise than that, though. The Neon was WAY too cheap. And when you're too cheap for a budget segment, there's something wrong. The Neon made Cavaliers look classy. A cousin of mine had an early Neon for her first car, and I remember being amazed at how CHEAP the thing was. I can't envision anyone actually spending money on one.The later model Neons weren't as cheap, but were still definitely bottom of the barrel. The compact market has changed so much since the Neon design philosophy was established that the car is simply no longer relevant. We're not the point like some middle eastern and west Asian countries where compacts are a luxury segment, but people are accepting them as more than just cost-cutters these days and they expect a livable car. The Neon did not provide that.But the cheapness certainly did extend into the realm of build quality and reliability as well, which compounded the lack of appeal.

[#1Tango]

it would be sad if they started bringing aftermarket for that and not originally with the versas hahaha

[Knightro2]

Hmm, I must have not been reading correctly a few months back. I thought Nissan was going in with Ford to build small cars for them and Ford building trucks for Nissan. I guess it makes sense since Ford and Mazda are together.

[my_new_v]

I actaully heard Chevy bought out Dodge last week. Not 100% sure its true, its just what Ive heard and its getting around quick. And the Dodge Trazo is also coming out in the HB form as well.

[Nismo V]

Interesting article Nissan doesn't need the Chrysler issues way to much baggage in failed car lines.. Point's taken on the Neon as well, don't forget about the faulty paint and bad fuel pumps and let's not talk about the crash test rating's.. How's this for a new t-shirt.. "I Hate Your Trazo"

[Shad0wXCalibur]

I also own a 96 Neon. It has had it's share of replaced parts and certainly isn't the most refined with it's oddball noises it has while driving it but it is peppy and still running fine with 200,000+ miles on it.

[Vahagn23]

cant Nissan sue them for making an exact copy of the Versa with a different badge?

[Ginsu]

Nissan builds them. They're selling them to Dodge. (sort of...)

[1_Sleek_Versa]

Any release date for the Trazo SRT4 ???? lol

By the way this has to be the lamest re-badging in the history of the automobile industry. They just stuck the Trazo badge with 2 way tape.

Hopefully they won't get our top notch hatchbacks, Dodge can keep the sedans.

[djoxide]

wow, its a sad day in nissan townhopefuly they get their $ and run, then again mergers with toyota & chevy have proved to be good in the past as well.

[superskunk]

Any release date for the Trazo SRT4 ???? lol

By the way this has to be the lamest re-badging in the history of the automobile industry. They just stuck the Trazo badge with 2 way tape.

Hopefully they won't get our top notch hatchbacks, Dodge can keep the sedans.

WOW! am i sure glad that i dont have a sedan! lol... for the hatch!

[blindsnyper]

^^^^^^^^^^^your sig is fubared

[superskunk]

simmer down you... you dont like my knight rider theme?

[Rand0m0sityxX]

cant Nissan sue them for making an exact copy of the Versa with a different badge?

Since they didn't just 'steal' it they can't.

And there's talk of Nissan buying Chrysler instead of Chrysler buying GM.. I haven't been updated on this since Sunday, but thats what I knew last.

[MinisterofDOOM]

Uh...Chrysler was never going to buy GM. Other way around.

Nissan has expressed interest in Chrysler subsidiaries, but not Chrysler itself.

cant Nissan sue them for making an exact copy of the Versa with a different badge?

What? This was partly Nissans idea. Nissan is still manufacturing these even. They're just being SOLD by Dodge.

[Rand0m0sityxX]

Uh...Chrysler was never going to buy GM. Other way around.

Nissan has expressed interest in Chrysler subsidiaries, but not Chrysler itself.

What? This was partly Nissans idea. Nissan is still manufacturing these even. They're just being SOLD by Dodge.

i did flip that, i remember now after looking around on my Cav forum.. .

heres the article i had for nissan..

Renault-Nissan to Buy Chrysler Stake?Written by: Autocar staff http://www.autocar.co.uk10/23/2008 - 07:40 AMDetroit, Mich.

Chrysler may abandon its GM merger plans and sell a stake to Renault-Nissan, according to reports.

The Detroit News reports that Cerberus Capital Management, which owns 80 percent of Chrysler, has received the proposal from the French-Japanese partnership for a 20 percent share of the company, but is thought to still favor a deal with GM.

A Renault-Nissan stake in Chrysler was first proposed in 2006, when Kirk Kerkorian was Chrysler's largest shareholder.

Having a non-U.S. car maker as a Chrysler shareholder would make sense for the U.S. government, as it would allow the “big three” to continue competing without huge dealership cutbacks.

Chrysler has recently canceled development of its Phoenix V6 engine, a key element of any future model plans, suggesting that Cerberus has decided to go ahead with some kind of rationalization.

The current global lack of credit has slowed progress on the GM deal, though one possible, cashless transaction involved GM handing Cerberus its GMAC financialservices division in exchange for the private equity group's Chrysler shares. Cerberus has said that it still has access to a further $12b of funding.

If Chrysler ended up owned by GM, the largest car maker in the U.S., it would lead to tens of thousands of job losses in the car industry at a very politically sensitive time.

Thanks to SpeedTv.com for the article.

[anthony870]

I hate to bring up such an old topic. but I just saw this trazo on an ebay listing for versa headlights and really like that grille. anyone know what ever happened with the trazo and if we can get the grille. searched on the web and only found stuff bout nissan giving rights to dodge and them starting production in 2009 but nothing else about it.