Can Chrysler Turn it Around?
Just FYI.....The PT Cruiser was originally meant to be a Plymouth, but was shifted to the Chrysler nameplate, because the Plymouth Division folded right around the time it was introduced. The Prowler, also originally introduced as a Plymouth, was also (later) shfted to the Chrysler nameplate. Neither were really very good for the Chrysler nameplate, because Chrysler traditionally was an upmarket nameplate, and neither the Prowler nor the PT Cruiser were upmarket products. The Prowler, especially, was an extreme-niche product, appealing to only a small number of Baby-Boomers who had grown up with street-rods in the 1950s. It was not really a premium-vehicle, but its extremely low supply meant BIG dealer mark-ups in spite of the low number of potential buyers.
And that alone was part of the problem. Plymouth, IMHO, never should have been discontinued....its folding made things a lot worse for the Chrysler Division, since Chrysler then got stuck with more cheaper, non-premium products, which damaged its reputation.
And that alone was part of the problem. Plymouth, IMHO, never should have been discontinued....its folding made things a lot worse for the Chrysler Division, since Chrysler then got stuck with more cheaper, non-premium products, which damaged its reputation.
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Well, quality/reliability-wise, you're not entirely wrong about 1990s-vintage Chrysler products, but there were some other vehicles around that era that were even worse. Specifically, among others, the Yugo, the Hyundai Excel/Mitsubishi Precis, Chevy Cavalier/Pontiac Sunbird, and Alfa Romeo.
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Why do they need that? They don’t. Not every company needs an upmarket brand.
Last edited by mmarshall; Mar 24, 2026 at 11:09 AM.
Well, quality/reliability-wise, you're not entirely wrong about 1990s-vintage Chrysler products, but there were some other vehicles around that era that were even worse. Specifically, among others, the Yugo, the Hyundai Excel/Mitsubishi Precis, Chevy Cavalier/Pontiac Sunbird, and Alfa Romeo.
Also, I believe most early Huyndai models were based on Mitsubishis.
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Hyundai models were based on Mitsubishis.
Yes, they were......from what I remember, from the late 1980s through the early/mid-90s. Some were almost-identical rebadges. Then Hyundai started using both their own engines and their own designs.
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That in turn freed up the name to introduce the Wagoneer S, which IS actually a different vehicle--a smaller EV.
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Well, the Wagoneer itself was cancelled for 2026, so perhaps (?) part of the conversation is no longer necessary. The GW, of course, lives on....although it does not seem to be selling under the Jeep nameplate. Even here in the D.C. area, I can count (barely) the number of times I'm actually seen one on the road on the fingers of one hand.
I see Grand Wagoneers all the time. Making it a Chrysler isn’t going to sell any more of them lol. Nobody under the age of 65 cares about Chrysler. I own a Chrysler and couldn’t give two ***** about the brand. Cancel it tomorrow for all I care, I bought the Pacifica in spite of it being a Chrysler.
That part, I don't agree with. Without a good credible upmarket-division like Ford's Lincoln and GM's Buick/GMC/Cadillac, It's hard to see Stellantis as a true competitor to Ford and GM like the former Chrysler Corporation was for many decades.
Last edited by SW17LS; Mar 24, 2026 at 07:40 PM.
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I own a Chrysler and couldn’t give two ***** about the brand. Cancel it tomorrow for all I care, I bought the Pacifica in spite of it being a Chrysler.
If Chrysler folded tomorrow, it probably wouldn't (directly) affect me, either....but I think about more than just my own opinion.
Last edited by mmarshall; Mar 24, 2026 at 08:25 PM.
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There, I have to partially-disagree...it depends on the tester/reviewer. Although definitely not in the same league as your S-Class, the last 300 I sampled, I thought, was as comfortable on the road as the last Town Car and DeVille I sampled. The Town Car, however, had it beat a little in interior space....I don't remember the DeVille interior space-comparison that much....but the DeVille's FWD layout probably gave it at least some advantage,
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Nobody buying a Town Car or Deville was looking at a 300. They were sold to people who wanted baller looks with no budget and didn’t really care about quality….of which it had none. They were straight garbage inside.
The second gen 300 was very decent for the price, first gen was hot garbage. They sold a ton of both generations, but probably with heavy discounts. To be fair, although not a Chrysler, the Dodge Charger is one of the very few American sedans still being sold, and still as American in spirit as can be. So many iconic sedans are gone forever - Crown Vic, Towncar, Taurus, Impala, Caprice, and so many other discontinued models.
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So many iconic sedans are gone forever - Crown Vic, Towncar, Taurus, Impala, Caprice, and so many other discontinued models.
Last edited by mmarshall; Mar 24, 2026 at 09:25 PM.