From what I saw on the news today, there will not be any merger.
Boo hoo.
They definately need a "Viper" type vehicle to save them.
I disagree. They have the Challenger out now. What they need is a hybrid Caliber (and maybe Avenger) and better interiors. Also to go back to the drawing board on the Compass/Patriot. They need something more along the lines of the Ford Escape.
the LX platform was probably more successful than they originally thought, Ram is one of the top 10 vehicles sold in the US every year for the past few years, so what did it? I think things like Nitro, Caliber, and Compass messed things up. I see a Nitro on the road like once a week. Cheap interiors on lower models, and I mean cheap.
I drive about 45,000 miles and year and here around Chicago I see tons (and I mean TONS) of 300s and just as many (if not more) Chargers. I'm starting a see a few Challengers, too.
I see a few Nitros here and there, but quite a few more Libertys. Understandable, since the Liberty is attractive and the Nitro (besides having a dumb name) is butt ugly. Who named that car, the same idiot that names the Ford Flex? Those fender flares are hideous. It drives and rides nice, though. I want to buy a Nitro as my next daily driver, but I can't stand the way it looks. I'll probably end up with a Liberty.
I see quite a few Calibers, too. Nice looking small car and you can buy an SRT. I like it.
Don't see Avengers. I see some Patriots, but not nearly as many Compasses. Chrysler can say what it wants about the Compass being about the same size as the old Cherokee, the Patriot and the old Cherokee are worlds apart. I rented a Compass for a day and it's crap. I hate those cars where you step on the gas and the engine makes a big noise winding up and the car goes nowhere.
Totally agree on the interiors. Dodge needs to go out and buy a Ford Explorer and copy the materials Ford uses. They also need to redesign the seats. Again, copy the Explorer seats. Hell, why not just hire the guy that designed the Explorer interior and have him work on the Dodges?
The Durango and Dakota need to be re-designed so they look like the first gen Durango. That was a nice looking truck and the same-gen Dakota was a nice-looking pickup. All the subsequent re-designs have been crap.
I have to add, though, that we have an '08 Grand Caravan SXT and, except for the interior, it is terrific. Not that I want to drive a minivan, but it's a hell of a functional car with some great design features.
Mike