:blah::wow::dead_horse::BLAM::itchy-scratchy::itchy-scratchy:uke:ehhhh.....lol....man today sucked.

 

I am heartsick. I really am.

I can't stand GM and I own one. If this goes through, the effects won't be seen for quite a while; but you could say goodbye to:
-The entire Dodge truck line - except sprinter.
-Most of the cars, except for maybe the 300 and Charger.
-They'd kill the Challenger (can't have an equal or better to the Camaro)
-Aside from the Wrangler - bye bye Jeep. They would steal the best parts (4X4 system) and then boast about having a trail rated Equinox.

Sorry for ranting, but I was raised on Mopar, and this going to kill a lot of guys like me.

 

I have changed my mind and feel pretty disheartened by this as well. It will be very sad to see Chrysler get sold to GM. It's also worrisome what they will do with Jeep. I know they're supposedly going to keep the brand but will it really be Jeep anymore or just some GM/Jeep abomination?

In spite of Chrysler getting a bad wrap ever since Daimler took over, I've always had good luck with the Chryslers and Dodges I've owned over the years. I suppose the merger is better than Chrysler going bankrupt which would leave us all high and dry. Too bad Iacocca couldn't step in and save them one more time. Tough times.

NP

 

Well, if GMs history dictates correctly, it might not change TOO much. I mean, they have a lot of inter-competitive vehicles under the GM flag. The sub-companies of GM continue to build unique vehicles, like Saab and Hummer and such.

However, what you will see is shared designed like the Solstice/Sky, Redline/SS/G5 GT etc.

So there might be a Jeep Patriot still, but it will have a Saturn and Pontiac counterpart with the same design, different name, or something.

 

What really sours me on this is that GM is seeking Government assistance with the buyout. If the Government is going to "help" anyone I'd rather seem them inject more cash into Chrysler to help them survive the economic storm and rebound. But I guess Cerberus isn't probably even interested in that since they want out.

Even though GM is bleeding heavily right now they are still the 2nd largest auto maker (just recently passed by Toyota). I personally think the industry and consumers would benefit most by retaining the Big Three until the economy improves enough to support them all. And hopefully by then, American auto makers will have gotten the message and start making more fuel efficient vehicles that people want to buy.

 

Well, the thing is that GM owns all these companies, like Pontiac, Saturn, Saab, Hummer, Cadillac, and such. However, they don't have full control over all of them, they're just an umbrella. Saab doesn't share much of its cars designs with the other big ones. Pontiac, Chevy and Saturn are in bed with each other, and if one wants a vehicle that another one of the companies already have, they use their design and build their own version of it. Thats why one comes out, then the next, then another.

This strategy sometimes works, because some people may not like Chevy, but might like Pontiac. They put their own flavour into the car. You can by a Cobalt with a 2.2 or 2.0 Super (Turbo now, I believe), but the Pontiac comes with the 2.4, which is better than either of the Cobalt engines. Cadillac has their own version of the Corvette, too. Less powerful, but luxurious.

This is why GM is even surviving, is because of loyalty and cross-breeding their cars. Most Dealerships don't deal with ALL of GM products, either. Saab usually has their own Dealerships. I know we have two 'GM' Dealerships within driving distance here, and one is Pontiac, Buick, GMC. One is Chev, Cadillac. Then there is a Saturn dealer, and a Saab dealer.

Ask the average person if they know all of the companies that belong to the GM Umbrella, and most don't even know how many brands GM actually has.

This is my non-referencing attempt (I know I'll miss one.)
Chevrolet
GMC
Cadillac
Saab
Hummer
Pontiac
Buick
Saturn
Opel
Holden
Vauxhall
Geo (under?)
Daewoo (under?)

Yeah, they own a lot. I must've missed one or two of their brands.

 

This will be interesting indeed. If GM continues with it's constant ridiculousness (is that a word?), of having multiple vehicles that are nearly identical except for the badge, where will the Chrysler vehicles go? This is and has always been my biggest annoyance with GM (and to some extent Ford/Mazda). They have no distinction between brands. A GM driving down the road looks identical to the Chevy...add more plastic exterior parts and you have a Pontiac...add more chrome and there's your Buick or Cadillac.

My prediction would be that for several years, things will look the same, with the slow phase-out of the Chrysler brand. Really, the world can do without the PT Cruiser. I think Dodge will become the sporty brand (with the phase out of many of it's cars) and Jeep will remain, however I can see the Commander leaving the market along with the Compass. Perhaps the Hummer with a Jeep logo?

The Wrangler and the Jeep logo are too valuable to loose and I'm sure GM knows this. I think Jeep would survive while they cut other GM brands like Saturn and Pontiac.

....perhaps there will be a future where Jeep will be owned by Toyota?? Just imagine that. Jeep off-road capabilities, coupled to the durability and reliability of Toyota! ...mmmm....

 

A GM driving down the road looks identical to the Chevy...add more plastic exterior parts and you have a Pontiac...add more chrome and there's your Buick or Cadillac.

GM = Generic Machines

Also, GM is close to Suzuki. Something the US doesn't have is the Chevrolet Optra. I owned one. It was a Canadian only vehicle. However, in the states the identical vehicle is the Suzuki Forenza. Europe? It was called the Daewoo Lacetti. So, who knows. No one can really predict what might happen, we can only speculate. Unless someone here is a Market Analyst in the Automotive Industry

 

das ist schlect.

 

comeon guys jeep has been a combination job most of its life. I suspect GM ownership would mean little to Jeep. get a nice ECOtech 4cyl for the patriots. gm already sells direct injection gas engines, folks they aint all that(similar to what the fan boys at chrysler bragging about phoenix engines) gm has some nice v-6's would be good for the liberty. I suspect Buick and Pontiac will be gone. They dont need the chrysler brand. dodge may stick around for the trucks, challenger and charger. I heard rumor that gm was going to make toyota tundras(silverados) man that i sgoing to interesting. Gm making chevy silverados-toyota tundra and Dodge Ram/nissan titan.

 

now, I am kinda of upset. looks like my lifetime warranty is useless. it was the main reason I wanted a new chrysler vehicle, the patriot was the only one acceptable to me. I shouldve just bought a scion xd instead or and HHR

 

Well that's what I've been worrying about and I also bought the Lifetime Maxcare warranty. But it seems to me if GM buys out Chrysler then they buy out all of their liabilities and contracts as well and have to honor them. But I'm not 100% certain on that.

 

My biggest concern is what would happen to my local service department. Surely many dealers would close down.

I am sure the warranty will be honored all we would all be talking about our class action lawsuit on a daily basis.

I really like my service department, the people there, and the work done right the first time ethic they have. Not to mention that the next Jeep dealer is an hour or two away. There is a sometype of GM dealer right across the street, that at least might be able to do warranty work, but their facitlities are not as nice or exhaustive, maybe they would be combined.

Who knows but getting practical service is my biggest concern vs. whether they are honoring their warranty on paper.

 

Excellent point. I'm not too worried about my dealership I guess though because they are one of the largest in the area and are most likley to survive.

Here's an article I ran across that pretty much sums up what I was thinking about the warranty issue. If GM, buys out Chrysler, we're all still okay as far as warranty work is concerned.

http://blogs.cars.com/kickingtires/2008/10/merger-rumors-p.html

NP

 

I swore I'd never own a new Jeep after Chrysler bought them. I guess it will just take another 22 years for me to get used to the GM version of Jeep.

 

I dont think we would have to worry about jeep dealer ships, Jeep will always be around and needs to be sold somewhere,

 

Well I for one think this is good news. I have always been a GM guy, my patriot is my first (and i guess last) chrysler product. As bad as some may think GM is, the fit and finish of their new vehicles is far ahead of what chrysler is producing now.

GM has always wanted Jeep. Hummer was a second choice, and they are dumping that. The Wrangler will never go away no matter who owns Jeep. The Chrysler already announced that the next generation Cherokee is moving to a unibody platform. So yes the next generation Cherokee will probably share a platform with another GM vehicle. However there is nothing in the GM lineup that is in the same league as the Patriot/Compass/Caliber platform. The belvedere plant is also brand new. I suspect that the belvedere trio will be around for a while longer.

 

The Chrysler already announced that the next generation Cherokee is moving to a unibody platform.

The Cherokee has been unibody since it's debut in 84.

 

Guess we'll all have to believe it if/when we see it.

 

One article on http://www.allpar.com/ said, Even though they are taking the government money so GM can "make the deal" the reality is that Chrysler is buying GM. Wouldn't that be interesting.

 

ya its an interesting idea, but IMO that is more another idea, that would be better, but it owuld still see a demise in most things Chrysler...

 

It might not be too bad. Although I don't think Saab ownership served Saab drivers very well. Saab now uses the generic Ecotec engine, and GM's bean counters were all over the 9-3, cutting out features year after year, making it more like any other GM car. It depends whether you think car homogenization is good or not.

 

maybe then we'll start seeing more aftermarket parts finally

 

I had never planned on buying a "Big 3" vehicle but just loved the Patriot, it was exactly what I was looking for. What bugs me the most is the possibility of a great brand (Jeep) being 'watered-down' under GM ownership. It's hard to feel bad for the U.S. auto manufactures who have done this to themselves. Ridiculous business models, obscene pay & benefits for both executives and workers, and poor products.

 

I think there are too many car companies, sub companies, model lines, etc. There needs to be a shakeout and this is it. Just hope I don't loose my warranty (I just bought a week ago) but that's a worrying possibility.

 

In American car manufacturing each brand originally had one body style with a stripper, medium and high end trim level. We could easily return to fewer vehicles, better quality, and unique styling for the brand.

 

I heard (On Neil Cavuto's show on Fox , no link sorry) that the merger would have Chrysler making the vehicles and GM being the finance part,the "Bank" if you will. Just thought I would throw that out.

 

I wouldn't be at all surprised if Jeep didn't get badging honors for the Ram truck line.
Although GMC/Chevy truck lines are pretty well filled out, they just cannot ignore the fact that most of the serious haulers (farm, ranch, hot shotters) still like the Dodge/Cummins combo.

 

I just heard on the news this morning that the Bush administration turned down funding for the merger. I really don't want to see this go through. I favor an independent Chrysler and Jeep.

 

This Nightmare merger seems to be on hold right now:

http://www.reuters.com/article/innovationNews/idUSN2735477920081031

 

From what I read GM wants the 11 billion that Chrysler suposedly has in the bank. GM is having trouble getting loans from banks. The government was going to help make the merger go through. If it does happen I believe we won't see any major changes to chrysler for a long time. It seems to me its about money more than Gm wanting to make major changes to chrysler.