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"The idea that you would enter into a financing relationship like this without any parameters is more evidence of the complete insanity of all this." (http://www.mercurynews.com/drive/ci_11401609?nclick_check=1)

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/501/Chrysler_Town_and_Country_-_17_-_25_city-highway.jpgTom Krisher and Ken Thomas - AP – Jan. 7, 2009

Chrysler’s Town and Country – Possibly last look at the most fuel efficient Minivan achieving just 20 mpgUS combined on the 08 EPA.

With Chrysler’s almost imminent demise, a hundred thousand plus direct and indirect employees will be jobless in the aftermath :ccry: -- Ed.

DETROIT — Even by the standards of battered automakers, Chrysler is in dire shape. Its sales in December were down a stunning 53 percent, far worse than Ford or General Motors, and analysts say it probably won't survive the year as an independent company — despite $4 billion in government loans and the possibility of more.

Things were so bad last year that a single Toyota model, the Camry/Solara mid-size car, outsold the entire fleet of Chrysler passenger cars.

"Basically, they're done," said Aaron Bragman, an auto analyst with the consulting company IHS Global Insight in Troy, Mich. "There is no real possibility of turning this thing around as an independent company, in my opinion." ...

Jonathan Macey, a Yale University law professor who has been critical of U.S. automakers' management, said Chrysler's sales numbers are "further evidence of an unviable entity. Giving the carmakers any money is burning cash."… http://www.mercurynews.com/drive/ci_11401609?nclick_check=1

Turn out the lights - the party's over....

I wonder if it has crossed their minds to shut down all gasoline vehicle production, shutter for 1.5yrs, then reappear as an EV only manufacturer? That's assuming they actually have been doing all the EV research they've claimed, of course...

Let's not hear any more bumph about it being a 4 billion dollar "loan". The US government got diddley for it's "bailout" in this case. Too much macho gung-ho charge, and not enough strategy about where they were going. (Umn, on second thought, guess that would be "down")

Chrysler was a lost cause in 1979, let alone now....

And they STILL only are offereing a measely $500 off the full size gas suckers in my home town! Should be more like $10K....!

Chrysler was mortally wounded when Chrysler Financial halted their leasing plans. Every Chrysler/Dodge/Jeep ad I heard on television for the last five years always sounded the same - "Returning well qualified DaimlerChrysler lessees can lease this {insert FSP name here} for around 299 a month." Of course, the word "around" meant "give or take a thousand bucks", but it got people to take a chance on their cars. Knowing they'll be married to a car/truck for 5 or 6 years is more of a commitment than most buyers want to make when the manufacturer is on shaky ground. The "Lifetime Powertrain" warranty means nothing when there is nobody to honor the warranty and no factory replacement parts available.

I put up a poll after recalling the Jurassic Park scene Dennis Nedrie sees the small dinosaur and says: "No wonder you're Extinct! I'm gonna run you over when I get in my Jeep" Of course the dino is the one left standing.

I put up a poll after recalling the Jurassic Park scene Dennis Nedrie sees the small dinosaur and says: "No wonder you're Extinct! I'm gonna run you over when I get in my Jeep" Of course the dino is the one left standing.

But Jeep's the only part of Chrysler that'll actually be around in a year....

GM and Chrysler are extinct in the wild since they would have gone under without a taxpayer bailout. Ford is critically endangered - since it hasn't had to tap that line of credit, yet, anyway.

But Jeep's the only part of Chrysler that'll actually be around in a year....
Agreed, someone will buy the rights to the Jeep name and possibly some of the tooling and/or production capacity. But it's pretty clear Chrysler will be gone.

Extinct from the Wild, given current taxpayer support.

I'm certainly not rejoicing in Chrysler's current status, but I do think they'd be in better shape today if they'd paid more attention to fuel economy and hadn't become the poster child for aggression on the road.

Agreed, someone will buy the rights to the Jeep name and possibly some of the tooling and/or production capacity. But it's pretty clear Chrysler will be gone.

Extinct from the Wild, given current taxpayer support.

I'm certainly not rejoicing in Chrysler's current status, but I do think they'd be in better shape today if they'd paid more attention to fuel economy and hadn't become the poster child for aggression on the road.

Or the poster child of blown transmissions. :eek:

I guess I disagree.

IMHO, the bailout has always been about saving the UAW. The dem's are very beholding to the UAW. Our tax money will be thrown onto this fire until it smothers the fire and the Big 3 survive. They may not be in the same form and called by the same name(s), but they will be their even if they are totally owned by the US government. This is necessary to keep the UAW in power.

This is a scary thought, but I beleive it is real.

Frank