This is the second Chrysler product we bought and our last.
      We had a Caravan with nothing but problems
      and now Robin's PT Cruiser is starting. The starter
      just went out. The shift lever has stiffened up.
      She bought it on looks :)

       Chrysler should have been left to go bankrupt but instead
      we spent billions bailing them out.

      Paul Lamar

      Chrysler has had quality control problem issues periodically over
      the years.
      Things get bad, consumers go elsewhere and they go on a QC program.
      Cycle
      repeats  over and over. This has been a long stretch of bad. I
    think  they have  gotten into the "more new model releases" thought
    pattern and have not  realized the problem. Look at Toyota and
    Honda; some of the best  selling cars  globally. They do not
    introduce many new models. Just update and  refine the  existing
    products. I worked at the local Chrysler dealer for a while  and
    they  have nothing to interest me. Look at Consumer Reports and
Car and      Driver. They      both have magazines out right now
with ratings. The ONLY Chrysler      product they      recommend is
the Ram 1500 pickup. They are pretty good but I have
 reservations      there as well. For pickups, the new Ford
Ranger/Mazda BT50 seem to      be very      good. Truck Trends did a
test on the Ranger and describe it as a      great truck      with
one problem, they are not bringing it to North America. In
 Russia the      BT50 four door loaded is $35762CAD. 2.5 diesel gets
29 MPG US      highway. The      Ford is the same. Size and look is
more like the discontinued Ford      Explorer      Sport Trac.
 Might be good idea to take Robin to look at the new Mazda 3
 Skyactiv. 2.0L      with 155HP is advertized to get 40 MPG US.
These are rated very    good  with 4.5  stars out of 5. Typical
Japanese quality.

      Dale Davies

      When it comes to piston engine IMHO it is hard to beat Honda.
      I love the 2004 Odyssey we have. Once I took out 300 pounds
      of rear seats that 3.5 L V6  MOVES!!!!

      Paul Lamar

    Paul,
    Pat Bedard, Don Sherman and I all worked for Chrysler.  Take
that for    what it's worth.   And we all left for the Dark Side.

    Didn't the PT Snoozer come out around the time Daimler quality
was    part of the equation?  No worries, now you've got Fiat.
 Count your    blessings.    jd

    BTW John are they marketing the new Fiat 600 Abarth in the
states?    I am looking for one to test drive. It would be fun &
cheap car to drive    back and fourth to the airport. Poor man's
Ferrari :)

    Paul Lamar

    All the "car guys" bailed out of Chrysler when Diamler took over
and the corp  took a powder shortly after. The poop in the dealers
is that the big guys are  excited about Fiat. Wait and see. Talk of
a new Viper with Ferrari power train  and under pinings. Only time
will tell.

  Dale Davies

   Hi, remember, Ferrari is the Cadillac of Fiats

Murry I Rozansky


Yup;
That is the one. Still got their noses in the air. Learned from Enzo. You can
not take a factory tour unless you already own a Ferrari. Lamborghini welcomes
you with open arms. If I ever get to the point of being able to buy a car like
that, Lambo it will be.

Dale Davies