I have owned and driven hundreds of domestic and foreign vehicles in my lifetime....but I will always call myself a Mopar guy. In addition to my vintage Mopars I own (and plan to own for many years) a 2010 Ram 1500 pickup and a 2012 Rallye Redline edition Challenger. And they are by far the best vehicles I have ever owned.
The only thing I don't like is the added complexity that all new vehicles have, but that technology enables us to have 400hp and almost 30 mpg, in a vehicle that is comfortable, and handles better than we ever dreamed a vehicle could in the 60s. Besides, everything is more complex than it was in the 60s.
I am not crazy about the bailout business and the way it was handled, nor about Fiat being the buyer, but I have to admit that overall the company and it's products are better for it.
If you read the whole article mentioned by the o/p, there are a lot of interesting observations. I also read several of the comments posted following the article. I found the one posted by John Montgomery had several points that I had not thought about before. It's long but someone here might find it interesting, too.
Dallas
Here is his comment;
Lots of folks want to attack a company that in a government approved partnership has helped bring Chrysler back to life, repaid all government loans, picked up the pieces after Daimler bailed and Cerberus Capital left it for dead. Fiat was the only one at the table willing to even try to help save Chrysler in 2009. Since then, a monumental effort was made on both sides of the partnership to make it work and Chrysler is profitable again.
Now that Fiat is hurting overseas several years later some people want to hammer them saying, playing Monday morning quarterback saying they did not support the rescue plan.
Here are the facts:
1. Fiat rescued Chrysler when NO ONE else would touch it with a 10 ft. pole. It saved 300,000 jobs at Chrysler and second tier suppliers, almost all of which were American jobs based here on our domestic soil.
2. Yes, Fiat got 20% up front, but BOUGHT their way up to 58.5% share and at the same time REPAID every penny of the high interest loans to the government and taxpayers 6 years early. Fiat does no owe taxpayers a single unpaid penny, but GM certainly does!
3. Fiat not only turned around Chrysler but greatly improved the quality of the product; just check up on all the awards, the new Chrysler cash cow profits and positive owner surveys for proof.
4. Fiat invested heavily in American soil based assembly plants making Chrysler cars and trucks and the long term job preservation and growth of American jobs. Chrysler EXPORTS Jeeps and other models like the Chrysler 200 (sold as a Lancia) to Europe? These vehicles are made HERE and sent THERE. Chrysler and Fiat are brands that are sold in over 110 countries. Part of the agreement was to make an electric car. Fiat has done it, making the 3000 unit 500E electric vehicles now sold in California.
5. Fiat also owns 100% of recognized quality brands like New Holland Tractor, Case Backhoes, Kobelco Construction Excavators, FPT Powertrain Technologies, Magnetti Marelli electronic systems, as well as Ferrari, Maserati, Alfa Romeo, Lancia auto brands.
Only the ignorant believe that Fiat makes just small cars.
6. Fiat not only showed a willingness in invest in America but they and independent auto dealers built over 210 Fiat Studios since 2010 to sell the domestic content laden Fiat 500 in North America. The Fiat 500 engine is union made in Dundee, Michigan and received the International Engine of the Year award in 2010? The Fiat 500 has tires made by Firestone, brakes made by Bosch in USA and airbags made by Milliken in SC. The Fiat 500 is one of the safest, high mileage non hybrid gas engine vehicles available in America today. Dont we need high mileage, efficient cars? The Fiat 500 outsells the Mini Cooper entire lineup consistently since the middle of 2011, passing them up less than one year after Fiat came to market here. Fiat invested in America in the middle of a deep recession and successfully brought back a brand to this county when NO other manufacturer has ever been able to do it. By the way, Americans work at these dealerships and US consumers have more choice in a small car.
7. Fiat is the #1 European manufacturer in low CO emission green friendly vehicles and the leader by far in natural gas vehicles. For instance, anyone who lives near London and has to drive into the city, a few cars are exempt from the $20/day impact taxes when entering the London city limits. The Fiat 500 is exempt because of low emissions.
8. Has anyone read Motor Trend magazine lately? The Ram 1500 Pickup Truck (40% of US market is pickups) just got the 2014 Motor Trend Truck of the Year award. This Ram 1500 with the 3.0 liter V-6 Eco-diesel motor (made by Fiat in Italy) and coupled with the new 8 speed transmission tows up to 9200 lbs. and gets a WHOPPING 8 MPG more that Ford or Chevys similar truck with diesel engines. Look for Motor Trends February 2014 issue, page 76, 77, 78.
9. Sergio Marchionnes leadership is a great example of what is still possible in America It cant be changed in spite of folks trying to bend history or invent facts to support an agenda driven bias or pure ignorance of the facts. Sergio and the partnership should be highly applauded for making Chrysler profitable. Chances are the announcement today will bring more jobs to America, especially since some labor factors in Europe are much more difficult to control. There is actual talk of moving the Fiat HQ here. So, anyone have a problem with investing in America?
10. I invite anyone to visit any Chrysler, Ram, Dodge, Jeep, Fiat, Ferrari, Maserati, New Holland Tractor dealership here in America and take a look at the American made product. Perhaps seeing the results of a real partnership in person will help folks understand this is a very good thing for America and American jobs.
-John Montgomery
