Re: Automobile Magazine on future Dodge trucks

From: Tom Byrne (kerib@ptd.net)
Date: Sun Jul 06 2008 - 01:44:10 EDT


No argument there.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Terrible Tom" <silvereightynine@aol.com>
To: <dakota-truck-moderator@bent.twistedbits.net>
Sent: Sunday, July 06, 2008 1:15 AM
Subject: Re: DML: Automobile Magazine on future Dodge trucks

>
> Tom Byrne wrote:
>
>> Bob Eaton should rot, not for selling Chrysler to Daimler, but for
>> squandering profits Chrysler was making since the LH cars came on line.
>> During the early years of the LH, Neon, Gen II Dak and Ram, Chrysler was
>> profitable and was the most efficient manufacturer bringing a vehicle
>> from drawing board to showroom. However, Chrysler took the profits, gave
>> management raises and agreed (along with GM and Ford) agreed to crazy
>> generous UAW contracts. By the 1998, Chrysler needed a cash infusion as
>> it had no R&D bucks left in the kitty.
>>
>> Pressure from mega shareholder Kirk Kerkorian caused Chrysler management
>> to make a deal with Daimler. It was a deal with the Devil, bit it was
>> Eaton and his pals who ran Chrysler onto the rocks.
>>
>> Jurgen Schrempf finished the job. He tried to make Chrysler European. He
>> had visions of $35,000, leather-appointed Caravans. Dieter Zetsche
>> actually did a good job of righting the ship, but the damage had been
>> done.
>>
>> I had a ringside seat to the financial side of this. Chrysler would have
>> filed for Ch XI by 2000 or 2001 if not for a partner. Daimler was a bad
>> choice, but the only one who would put forth the cash at the time. Kirk
>> eventually sued DCX / Schrempf for misrepresenting the "merger of
>> equals".
>>
>> If Chrysler would have stayed the course of being the U.S. small car
>> leader, it would have been in good shape for today's fuel prices, but it
>> git truck and SUV fever. It will be a miracle if Chrysler remains
>> independent. Look for Nissan / Renault to by Chrysler within a year, keep
>> Jeep and, possibly, Dodge trucks and that is it. New small cars are
>> already using Nissan-designed engines, which are actuall inferior to the
>> 2.0 / 2.4 used in Neons.
>>
>
> Well I knew it was Eaton who shafted the company...putting Chrysler in
> that bad position. I suppose looking at it from a perspective of "sell to
> Daimler now or go bankrupt soon" - it was the only choice... but Bob Lutz
> should have gotten the CEO slot after Iaccoca stepped down.. Lutz would
> still be at the helm and we might not have this mess we have now. Lutz has
> been doing pretty good over at GM.
>
>
> Oh well...
>
> --
> ------------------------------------------------------------
> TerribleTom! New and improved for 2008! Twice As TERRIBLE!
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>
>
>



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