So Chrysler actually intvented the AG system-it's all clear now!

[blackwiggle]

If you can understand this......:eek

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pbVY5teBzlg&feature=PlayList&p=577700D2080236AA&index=10

[KIGO1987]

I need some audio on my computer to properly view that vid, ill have a look on another computer soon.

[AG-wolf]

the only things Chrysler invented are cars with crappy gas mileage and electrical systems... Which is disappointing because the current 300 and the Crossfire are the only decent designs they made in years....aaaaand the Crossfire has been discontinued.

[KIGO1987]

Just saw that vid then, ****. If Chrysler just made intelligent built cars then they wouldnt be in the **** today. Retarded transaxel gearboxes ****ing hell. That 300C is the only thing that is making that car manufacture an interesting buy to the public. The Dodge brand cars look good too, and they have some smart additions inside the interior, like the fridge glovebox. But when you look at how there engines compared to the European, the Japanese and even the Korean built cars. There at least a decade behind in there tech. Joint partnership with Chrysler is the only thing that might keep it out of the shits. A merge with Fiat might work, but do Americans really want to buy 1.3liter engine vehicles?

[RJ O'Connell]

I'm torn about Chrysler's possible demise. They make my favourite sports/super car, the Dodge Viper. And the new Challenger looks really awesome even if it weighs too damn much for a high-performance 2-seater/2+2.

All their other cars, on the other hand, are just crap in a basket.

If FIAT partners up with them, I'd still be indifferent.

[SaturnReturn]

Hahaha. Funny video :D It sounds like an entry from The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.

[AG-wolf]

None of Dodge's vehicles have ever appealed to me, outside of that weird-ass orange concept car back in the mid-90's.

Kigo; not all americans want lumbering boats with +4.0liter engines that get ten miles to a gallon. My personal preference for a vehicle is small, lightweight, efficient, practical, and something <i>I</i> find visually appealing. The only thing that really fits that category for my taste right now are:

Honda Fit (Jazz)
Chevy Cobalt/Pontiac G5 2-door
Saturn (Opel) Astra 5-door
Mazda 3 hatchback (1st generation)

But the quality, reliability, and gas-mileage of GM's vehicles still falls way behind Japanese car manufacturers... even Korean cars at this point. I bought a Honda Fit because it was in my budget, I love Honda, and I know I'll never have to worry about t he thing. I would like my next car to be an American vehicle, but no american car manufacturer can produce anything as reliable as Honda, Toyota, etc. And by the time my Fit dies, I don't know if a US auto maker will have gotten its act together yet or not.

[KIGO1987]

That orange concept Chrysler/Dodge from the mid/late 90s did actually featured in Gran Turismo 1. Had to win it in a tournament. Looked good for a car considering some of the hidious car shapes in the late 90s (Like the Buick Le Sabre, and the Ford AU Falcon). That would of sold if it went into production, it was original ill give them credit for that, what engine it would of had in it im lost. I think it would of gone under the roadster catag.



Honda Fit (Jazz)
Chevy Cobalt/Pontiac G5 2-door
Saturn (Opel) Astra 5-door
Mazda 3 hatchback (1st generation)


You drive a Honda Jazz (Fit), christ i feel sorry for you. I understand it was in your budget, but a Honda City would of been the better choice for a guy to drive around in without loosing his self esteem. Same price. Same engine as the Jazz (Fit) too. I even drove a new one a few months ago (along with a Civic too), something i like about them, its got some retro in it. Rides nice for a manual especially in stop go traffic. But Honda new budget costing unfortunately involves ditching the independent suspension all round in exchange for that crappy torsion beam, which break a hell nasty ride quality on poor quality roads. But Honda do have some real damn fine engines out in the car line, built well, and drive well that give good performance as well as great economy.

American car manufactures have got it right in the large car market, with Chrysler as well as GM both incorporating multi-cylinder shut down technology in there V8 engines, which are keeping that market still viable in these times. Its just the small car market they are completely hopeless in. Look at the small/medium car market that Chrysler offers, the Sebring (which is the smallest car on its production line) thing looks ugly and the engines are completely out of the league of the Japanese and the Europeans. By the Mazda 6 series and the BMW 3class and the Merc C-Class. The only thing that is preventing all **** from breaking loose early is the high tariffs taxes countries have on importing foreign cars. If Fiat is merged right, and marketed well, i think it will sell quite well in the US market, given the fact that the cars are priced intelligently for the buyers to become interested in them. Having a 'cult' car the Fiat 500 under its belt should do well, once avalible for sale, looks like a funky car to drive around in and the engines are quite reasonable good in them too. If the Fiat 500 Abarath verson is to be introduced in the US market as well that would be a hot seller as well.

[AG-wolf]

wtf are you smoking? The Fit rocks, man, I love it :P The City is too basic and uninspired, besides it isn't available in the states, either. I unbolted the rear seats to save on gas, plus it gives me more room when hauling large/awkward items. The other thing I like about the Fit is it's my first car, and it's practically the exact same thing as my Ma's first car 20 years ago :P She had a Civic wagon... loved that thing...

Also don't know what you're getting at for the large-car market here in america; they're doing it totally wrong if you ask me. They don't need obnoxious V8s that have cylinder shut down- if they would put more effort into R&D they could develop 6-cylinder engines that produce more power with better fuel economy. THe american populace needs to get rid of this notion that a V8 engine in a two-ton sedan is NOT the way to go at this point in time. Cars can still be big and sturdy, but they need to be lighter weight and more efficient. There's really no need for vehicles like this anyway, honestly... say there's a mother, father, and two kids. A Ford Crown Victoria would be a waste of money, gasoline, and resources compared to a smaller and more practical Focus or Fusion.. and if they really needed something bigger, they should get a minivan. But oh wait, minivans aren't "cool" anymore so we need a ****ing Explorer or Excursion because nobody is satisfied with the Escape. The problem with most car buyers in this country is they don't shop based on what they actually need, they shop according to what the media tells them they want. I'm not saying they don't have the right to do this, but it's poor decision making. If US automakers would stop focusing so much on image advertising and actually pour more money into making better vehicles and trimming down their line-ups, maybe things would change a bit.


I dunno, everyone has a different philosophy on cars. Nobody will ever be completely satisfied, and no car manufacturer will ever get things totally "right." :/

[KIGO1987]

Everyone has different tastes i guess, the Jazz (Fit), Mazda2, new Fiesta, Yaris, all just look that round shape i hate. Plus if i happen to permanently to own a car of this size ill find myself redlining/cutoff it in the rev range to get it moving. Honda's removal of the rear seats feature, also like in the Civic too is a great feature, free up some unwanted space. But those Honda Civic's/CR-Xs of the 80s where awesome cars, had the cool shape and they could handle a good thrashing without giving up like todays cars, plus cars then didnt have that irritating *ding ding* seatbelt irritating noise. Plus with those cars, you didnt need to slow down over speed bumps in them, you can just can it cain it over them, lol. The current Civic hatchback is an awesome looking car, a choice ill choose over the Jazz any day, great 2.0Liter engine in it too. But that is in a different price bracket compared to the Jazz. Plus I cant stand the suspension seatup they've used in the current Civic hatchback, hate it. The sedan is better (multi-link rear independent over fix torsion beam setup). Shame the City isnt avaliable in the US, just came on the AUS market this year, good looking car, and as ive said before ive driving one and they are quite good. Here's an US link;
http://city.honda.com.au/?WT.srch=1

There are still buyers in the large car market, that is why cars of that mass are still produced. Plus the wealthy are the only people that really want to purchase cars in these economic times over an average to lower income person/family. I thought the Ford Crown Victoria isnt avaliable to the american public anymore, only the fleets like taxis and police vehicles. The Crown Vic doesnt have a 6cylinder option doesnt it? That sucks if it doesnt. You have that FWD Fusion thing instead dont you? That must suck. Ford Aus, might be exporting the Ford Falcon to the US, if the Crown Vic is completely scraped off the production lines. And that is a great 6cylinder (as well as 8) "RWD" car to drive around in. The engines in the 6cylinder Ford Falcons have always been slightly ahead of the GM equivalent here (Holden Commodore, also know as the Pontiac GTO and G8 to you guys) they get millage to on 10liter per 100km, which is great for a car of that size, the transmissions in those cars are ahead of the competition also, they happen to use the ZF6speed Auto gearbox that is happen to be used in some Aston Martins also. That car would solve a part of the 6cylinder market problem that you suggest of.
http://www.ford.com.au/servlet/ContentServer?pagename=DFY/AU
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Falcon_(Australia)
Interesting thing is with the Ford Falcons, in the performance range, the 6cylinder is now quicker as well as more fuel effective than its V8 option.

The Ford Escape sell **** here, and the Explorer hasnt been in sale for quite a few years now since it got scraped a few years back now. Instead in Aus we have the Ford Territory;
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Territory
Which uses the same 4.0liter inline6 cylinders of the Ford Falcon. This car could sell well in the US as well if it was ever to considered to be exported as well.


I dunno, everyone has a different philosophy on cars. Nobody will ever be completely satisfied, and no car manufacturer will ever get things totally "right." :/

Thats THE economic problem there. No such thing as a perfect real equilibrium. Always on either side of the spectrum. You only can attempt, that is what the intelligent car manufactures are doing.