Chrysler: Unlike Daimler, less culture clash with Fiat

[Rocket 88]

Considering this is still the honeymoon period, you can't really know how the marriage is going to end up... but its nice there are some encouraging signs. Its certainly seems like there is a lot for both partners to gain out of it.

Personally, I'm just glad Chrysler didn't go the way of the Dodo and I hope brighter days are ahead.

[BrickTamland]

Originally Posted by t-rex

I may be a minority voice, but I see this merger as a win-win situation for both parties, and for car buyers the world over.

I doubt you are in the minority opinion. Fiat is Chrysler's savior and Chrysler is Fiat's foothold to re-enter the North American market. The Fiat of old is gone and the Chrysler of old sure as hell will not return, lest they desire a certain and speedy death.

[staspeterson]

Originally Posted by wescoent

Yeah... too bad all that 'superior German engineering' needed a bailout, courtesy of Ram, Caravan, Durango, and 300C profits to keep sales from collapsing when their quality went to hell and they had no development money to fix it in time.

In turn, leaving Chrysler with NO development budget, forcing them to foist trash ala Avenger and Sebring onto the market.

Wisdom and Truth from wescoent! Chrsyler's capital went into rescuing an ill-received Mercedes generation.

[sigma]

There generally tends to be less of a culture clash when there isn't a culture or employees left to clash with. Auburn Hills is a smoking hulk of what it once was. Fiat is just touring the damage.

[Stovebolt]

On a more basic level (and I don't know if this is just my experiences of living there coloring my opinion or not) but it seems to me that the Italians are just a much better cultural match man to man to us Americans than Germans. Kind of like the (subcontinental) Indians.

[dracleath]

I for one after reading first hand accounts of Daimler chrysler will never buy a Mercedes product.

Not because I have any love for Chrysler but because it's simply unfathomable that the incompetent, driveling morons at Daimler could adequately build a golf cart, much less a $100,000+ luxury car.

Sure business acumen might not have much to do with car making, but putting on your clothes doesn't have much to do with surgery, however I wouldn't let a heart surgeon with his pants on backwards and inside out and his shoes on the wrong feet operate on me.

GM managed to slowly slide from a profitable company with huge market share in the 50s to a bankrupt company in the 00's over half a century. Daimler managed to turn Chrysler from a profitable company with huge market share to essentially a bankrupt company in what, 2 or 3 years?


Also the fact that my neighbor's 3 year old E-class regularly has crap fall off of it that costs $600+ to replace doesn't exactly inspire confidence either.

[KingElvis]

Yes. I think BMW is the biggest threat. Nobody would pass up a free Merc, but BMW is the 'must have' and they make a mint on eveything they sell.

[AMERICA 123]

It also helps that that there is no equivalent to the German Auto Union 'presence' and nobody could possibly misrepresent Chrysler's 'positions' and 'value'.

[dracleath]

Originally Posted by KingElvis

Yes. I think BMW is the biggest threat. Nobody would pass up a free Merc, but BMW is the 'must have' and they make a mint on eveything they sell.

This is my experience. People up on the latest thing who want a luxury car get a BMW or Infiniti, people who are a bit out of touch and think its 10 years ago get a Mercedes or Lexus.

Cadillac is a mix of early adopters with late model CTS's for the look and old timers with DTS's or the occasional CTS.

Buick and Lincoln are "What the hell is that?", except for Enclave's in which case it's usually "Couldn't afford an Escalade so got the next best thing"

[84Cressida]

Daimler never recognized that Chrysler had anything world class worth adopting.

Good thing someone notices.

[Tre-Tre]

I have no confidence in this working but for the workers, I'm hoping for a miracle!!

[iluvcamaros]

Originally Posted by dracleath

This is my experience. People up on the latest thing who want a luxury car get a BMW or Infiniti, people who are a bit out of touch and think its 10 years ago get a Mercedes or Lexus.

Cadillac is a mix of early adopters with late model CTS's for the look and old timers with DTS's or the occasional CTS.

Buick and Lincoln are "What the hell is that?", except for Enclave's in which case it's usually "Couldn't afford an Escalade so got the next best thing"

Actually, I think I might would get the Enclave on purpose even if I could afford an Escalade.