My opinion of recent Chrysler products is this: The biggest problem I've witnessed is the quality of interior materials. The dash, door panels and console in my Mom's Charger are made of some of the cheapest looking plastic I've seen in a car since my 1978 Chevy Monza. When you add that to the boring and squared off shapes they chose for these surfaces, you end up with an interior that seems to belong in a low-budget Chinese subcompact, not a large American car. It's been pretty much trouble-free for them, but the interior is a total put-off. And I'm sad to say that the interior I speak of seemed to have made it into the Challenger as well.
Chrysler Cars OK ??
- Thread starter Jerryb
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I've owned a 87 Dodge Omni, a 90 Dodge Dakota, a 92 Dodge Colt, and a 00 Jeep Cherokee.
The Dakota and Colt did very well for me. The Omni blew and engine and the Cherokee was a pos.
You may get lucky, you may not.
The Dakota and Colt did very well for me. The Omni blew and engine and the Cherokee was a pos.
You may get lucky, you may not.
1966 Dodge- 290,000 miles and going strong
1973 Plymouth- 456,000 miles, needs a little TLC but still runs great
1993 Eagle Vision TSi (Dodge Intrepid twin)- just sold with 257,000 miles, still running great
1999 Jeep Cherokee- 127k miles, just bought it a year ago, love it!
2005 PT Cruiser- only 40k miles, but wife loves it. Especially the interior quality (no acres of cheap gray Honda-like plastic here) and overall fit and finish. QUIET. Solid handling and ride. And of course they're ending production of the PT :-/
My opinion is that Chrysler has always had the best engineering of the big 3. Its not so much that every Chrysler engine will outlast every Chevy engine, but in any given engine family you can find a number of things that Chrysler just did incrementally better- like longer connecting rods for a given stroke, bigger bearings, harder block alloys, etc. on comparable engines. Where Chrysler periodically screws up (and they do it BIG TIME) is on assembly quality and overall quality control (like the late 50s rust debacle, the late 70s Aspen/Volare/Diplomat problems, etc.) They also screw up on anticipating market needs frequently. Their *current* product line is actually pretty darn good, with a few glaring exceptions. The Caliber/Compass/Patriot is a screaming pile of cr*p. UBER-cheap interiors and terrible fit/finish. Too bad that its their compact car, and compacts are what are most in demand right now. Their rear-drive engines and transmissions (including trucks) are tough to beat by anyone right now, but its not enough to carry the company when there's a need for high-quality small cars that they just don't have.
1973 Plymouth- 456,000 miles, needs a little TLC but still runs great
1993 Eagle Vision TSi (Dodge Intrepid twin)- just sold with 257,000 miles, still running great
1999 Jeep Cherokee- 127k miles, just bought it a year ago, love it!
2005 PT Cruiser- only 40k miles, but wife loves it. Especially the interior quality (no acres of cheap gray Honda-like plastic here) and overall fit and finish. QUIET. Solid handling and ride. And of course they're ending production of the PT :-/
My opinion is that Chrysler has always had the best engineering of the big 3. Its not so much that every Chrysler engine will outlast every Chevy engine, but in any given engine family you can find a number of things that Chrysler just did incrementally better- like longer connecting rods for a given stroke, bigger bearings, harder block alloys, etc. on comparable engines. Where Chrysler periodically screws up (and they do it BIG TIME) is on assembly quality and overall quality control (like the late 50s rust debacle, the late 70s Aspen/Volare/Diplomat problems, etc.) They also screw up on anticipating market needs frequently. Their *current* product line is actually pretty darn good, with a few glaring exceptions. The Caliber/Compass/Patriot is a screaming pile of cr*p. UBER-cheap interiors and terrible fit/finish. Too bad that its their compact car, and compacts are what are most in demand right now. Their rear-drive engines and transmissions (including trucks) are tough to beat by anyone right now, but its not enough to carry the company when there's a need for high-quality small cars that they just don't have.
Chysler has the worst engineering,putting a crank sensor in the back on the 318s,360s and 3.9s.I cuss everytime I put in one.I would of fixed my way.Put the crank sensor on the timing cover and putting notches on the balancer.Chrysler engine parts are expensive,very hard to find.Look under the hoods of 1940s, 1950s Dodge,Chrysler and Plymouth hot rods and even the street rods,a Chevy drivetrain since you can get Chevy parts cheap and are more available with lots of interchanges.Plus the small and big block Chevys are much easier to work on than a 318 or 360.Chrysler never did anything on the 2.7s and I was told the 2002 and up 2.7s are junk too from the dealer.Chrysler did updates on the waterpump 5 times.
We have an '04 PT. Basically it's my wife's car, for going to work and grocery getter. In December I noticed the coolant kept getting low (38k on engine). Traced it to a water pump leak. No big deal I thought, you know, just replacing the pump shouldn't cost too much. Wrong! It averages about $1000 to replace a pump in one of these things. Flipped us out. Funny thing was we decided to let our local Chrysler dealer do the work, since they were priced about the same as independents. We get a call, and to our surprise, it was all covered with the extended warranty that we forgot was on the car (7yr/70k).
It's leaking oil around the pan now. Went to check the bolts one day and one snapped off like it was plastic. Darned screw size bolts hold the pan on. So, I like the car overall, but some things about the engine bug me.
It's leaking oil around the pan now. Went to check the bolts one day and one snapped off like it was plastic. Darned screw size bolts hold the pan on. So, I like the car overall, but some things about the engine bug me.
I am glad I got rid of my 04 PT a few years ago....
After having 3 Chrysler's in the family and me owning my first with the Jeep I can say I really like Chrysler's. They've been really easy to work on, but the spark plugs on my moms 2.7 Stratus were a bit annoying. Front CV shafts and a wheel bearing on the Jeep were all done in an hour. Never left us stranded and have been very reliable. I love the 4.7 V8. It's very smooth and has plenty of torque. I'd buy another Chrysler.
The 4.7 is a huge piece of junk,headgaskets and sludge build up.I did read something,about Chrysler selling Jeep to International.There is a push to get Chrysler merge with GM still.
Originally Posted By: wafrederick1
The 4.7 is a huge piece of junk,headgaskets and sludge build up.I did read something,about Chrysler selling Jeep to International.There is a push to get Chrysler merge with GM still.
You obviously "read something" wrong. About every single statement you posted above.
The 4.7 is a huge piece of junk,headgaskets and sludge build up.I did read something,about Chrysler selling Jeep to International.There is a push to get Chrysler merge with GM still.
You obviously "read something" wrong. About every single statement you posted above.
GM...Govermenr Motors....New warranty....50,000 miles or next election...which ever comes first...
Originally Posted By: PT1
Originally Posted By: lovcom
In the last 20 years, our family has owned no less then 8 Chrysler products, and every single one had major problems with reliability before 50,000 miles.
Ok, I believe you but one question: What were you thinking after vehicle number 3? 4? 5? 6? and then #7 that convinced you to buy #8?????
My thoughts exactly..........??????????
Originally Posted By: lovcom
In the last 20 years, our family has owned no less then 8 Chrysler products, and every single one had major problems with reliability before 50,000 miles.
Ok, I believe you but one question: What were you thinking after vehicle number 3? 4? 5? 6? and then #7 that convinced you to buy #8?????
My thoughts exactly..........??????????
I know a Dodge truck that blew headgaskets with a 4.7,twice.The dealership ended up replacing it with a Jasper Reman.My father has a 2001 Dodge Dakota with the heads off,blown headgaskets and one head is junk.The 5.7 and 6.1 Hemis have 16 sparkplugs,one for the exhaust and one for the intake.
Originally Posted By: demarpaint
Originally Posted By: PT1
Originally Posted By: lovcom
In the last 20 years, our family has owned no less then 8 Chrysler products, and every single one had major problems with reliability before 50,000 miles.
Ok, I believe you but one question: What were you thinking after vehicle number 3? 4? 5? 6? and then #7 that convinced you to buy #8?????
Did it ever occur to you that there are SEVERAL people in our family? Meaning, 1 or 2 Chryslers each...yea, they all junk...bottom of the list in CR, Edmunds too, and also JD Powers, oh, and Blue Book for resale value....but you keep buying your Chryslers...some people just can't help but settle for crumbs...oh, and what does our family drive these days? You guessed it----> Hondas, Toyotas, and of the 8+ we have guess how many had major issues before 50,000 miles? None!
My thoughts exactly..........??????????
Originally Posted By: PT1
Originally Posted By: lovcom
In the last 20 years, our family has owned no less then 8 Chrysler products, and every single one had major problems with reliability before 50,000 miles.
Ok, I believe you but one question: What were you thinking after vehicle number 3? 4? 5? 6? and then #7 that convinced you to buy #8?????
Did it ever occur to you that there are SEVERAL people in our family? Meaning, 1 or 2 Chryslers each...yea, they all junk...bottom of the list in CR, Edmunds too, and also JD Powers, oh, and Blue Book for resale value....but you keep buying your Chryslers...some people just can't help but settle for crumbs...oh, and what does our family drive these days? You guessed it----> Hondas, Toyotas, and of the 8+ we have guess how many had major issues before 50,000 miles? None!
My thoughts exactly..........??????????
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Originally Posted By: Bamaro
Flash, its 2009. They are all OK! Some may be just a bit more OK.
Not according to most independent repair shop owners...the reality is that there are big differences...
Ba Bye Chrysler...you're going the way of Nash, Rambler, AMC, and StupidBaker...all junk....our American shame :-(
Flash, its 2009. They are all OK! Some may be just a bit more OK.
Not according to most independent repair shop owners...the reality is that there are big differences...
Ba Bye Chrysler...you're going the way of Nash, Rambler, AMC, and StupidBaker...all junk....our American shame :-(
Last edited:
Originally Posted By: lovcom
Originally Posted By: demarpaint
Originally Posted By: PT1
Originally Posted By: lovcom
In the last 20 years, our family has owned no less then 8 Chrysler products, and every single one had major problems with reliability before 50,000 miles.
Ok, I believe you but one question: What were you thinking after vehicle number 3? 4? 5? 6? and then #7 that convinced you to buy #8?????
Did it ever occur to you that there are SEVERAL people in our family? Meaning, 1 or 2 Chryslers each...yea, they all junk...bottom of the list in CR, Edmunds too, and also JD Powers, oh, and Blue Book for resale value....but you keep buying your Chryslers...some people just can't help but settle for crumbs...oh, and what does our family drive these days? You guessed it----> Hondas, Toyotas, and of the 8+ we have guess how many had major issues before 50,000 miles? None!
My thoughts exactly..........??????????
Maybe you should all talk about your auto problems more often...
Originally Posted By: demarpaint
Originally Posted By: PT1
Originally Posted By: lovcom
In the last 20 years, our family has owned no less then 8 Chrysler products, and every single one had major problems with reliability before 50,000 miles.
Ok, I believe you but one question: What were you thinking after vehicle number 3? 4? 5? 6? and then #7 that convinced you to buy #8?????
Did it ever occur to you that there are SEVERAL people in our family? Meaning, 1 or 2 Chryslers each...yea, they all junk...bottom of the list in CR, Edmunds too, and also JD Powers, oh, and Blue Book for resale value....but you keep buying your Chryslers...some people just can't help but settle for crumbs...oh, and what does our family drive these days? You guessed it----> Hondas, Toyotas, and of the 8+ we have guess how many had major issues before 50,000 miles? None!
My thoughts exactly..........??????????
Maybe you should all talk about your auto problems more often...
Originally Posted By: lovcom
Originally Posted By: Bamaro
Flash, its 2009. They are all OK! Some may be just a bit more OK.
Not according to most independent repair shop owners...the reality is that there are big differences...
So you surveyed all independent repair shop owners and checked with all ASE certified techs to see what they drive? Are you their spokesperson?
Originally Posted By: Bamaro
Flash, its 2009. They are all OK! Some may be just a bit more OK.
Not according to most independent repair shop owners...the reality is that there are big differences...
So you surveyed all independent repair shop owners and checked with all ASE certified techs to see what they drive? Are you their spokesperson?
Originally Posted By: lovcom
Ba Bye Chrysler...you're going the way of Nash, Rambler, AMC, and StupidBaker...all junk....our American shame :-(
Nash and Studebaker never built "junk". Studebaker in particular was known for cutting-edge design and engineering, even in it's final years.
It was poor marketing and the lack of "bean-counting" that caused many of these companies to go out of business. They were often run by engineers who knew how to make great cars, but not with the speed and the cost-efficiency of GM, Ford, etc. These engineers/managers also did a poor job of selling their cars to the public.
Ba Bye Chrysler...you're going the way of Nash, Rambler, AMC, and StupidBaker...all junk....our American shame :-(
Nash and Studebaker never built "junk". Studebaker in particular was known for cutting-edge design and engineering, even in it's final years.
It was poor marketing and the lack of "bean-counting" that caused many of these companies to go out of business. They were often run by engineers who knew how to make great cars, but not with the speed and the cost-efficiency of GM, Ford, etc. These engineers/managers also did a poor job of selling their cars to the public.
Last edited:
Originally Posted By: ms21043
Originally Posted By: lovcom
Originally Posted By: Bamaro
Flash, its 2009. They are all OK! Some may be just a bit more OK.
Not according to most independent repair shop owners...the reality is that there are big differences...
So you surveyed all independent repair shop owners and checked with all ASE certified techs to see what they drive? Are you their spokesperson?
That's what I was thinking....my local shop has a Jeep, GC, and a Neon in it's parking lot...Granted, also some Honda, GM, and Kia....
Originally Posted By: lovcom
Originally Posted By: Bamaro
Flash, its 2009. They are all OK! Some may be just a bit more OK.
Not according to most independent repair shop owners...the reality is that there are big differences...
So you surveyed all independent repair shop owners and checked with all ASE certified techs to see what they drive? Are you their spokesperson?
That's what I was thinking....my local shop has a Jeep, GC, and a Neon in it's parking lot...Granted, also some Honda, GM, and Kia....
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