What is going on? • The Dodge Challenger Message Board

by **dave-r** » 18 Feb 2007 10:18

I am hearing lots of rumours about GM thinking of taking over Chrysler and if that does not come off then the Daimler-Chrysler name will be dropped and become just Daimler.

What is going on over there guys???

by **dave-r** » 18 Feb 2007 12:48

Now I hear "'Hyhundai in talks to buy Chrysler". :shock:

by **christer** » 18 Feb 2007 13:09

dave-r wrote:Now I hear "'Hyhundai in talks to buy Chrysler".

Nothing wrong with Hyundai... :lol:

Remember when they used badge-engineering back in the late seventies to create Challengers out of Mitsubishis... :shock:

What if the history will repeat itself? :bonk:

Both swedish car companys are owned by american companies - so yes I am a bit worried myself. :s022:

by **spitfire9137** » 18 Feb 2007 14:55

Daimler-Chrysler is looking at ways to get rid of Chrysler since they are been doing poorly in sales. It was reported that GM was looking to buy Chrysler, currently since GM isnt doing that well either, they are not liquid enough to flat out buy Chrysler.

by jr » 18 Feb 2007 20:55

christer wrote:Nothing wrong with Hyundai... Remember when they used badge-engineering back in the late seventies to create Challengers out of Mitsubishis... What if the history will repeat itself?

That would be so great! They can simply rebadge Hyundai Pony as new Dodge Challenger and save huge amount in rnd.

GM would be fine as well. Now all those people who say our Challengers are Camaros would be right!

by **Eddie** » 19 Feb 2007 0:00

Sheer speculation and rumors reported about us by our competitors! It will be a "dark day in history" if Chrysler gets sold off to a company that will "absorb" it. Then where will we get our Challenger Parts? Personally, I think the American car companies have seen this coming for a while and are preparing for it,(bankruptcy would devastate the U.S. economy), and I think they are going to streamline and cost cut even more. :s002:

by **dave-r** » 19 Feb 2007 11:38

BBC news.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/6346299.stm

And Chrysler - now owned by German firm Daimler - also announced its own downsizing programme and is effectively up for sale.

by **ianandjess** » 19 Feb 2007 13:49

well that 2nd time round here in aus chrysler pulled out & all the cars turned to crap when japs invaded with there little rice burners now just as it began to look like some decent cars were coming on the market it all turns to crap again it may take a while to effect us here as were riding a mining boom but the follow on effect will get here thats for sure from what ive heard v8 sales are down on the holden commodore (gm) already , the 300c is still selling well but for how much longer who knows ,ive done my bit to support chrysler twice now in 2003 & again in 2006 , lets just hope the name ends up in the hands of somebody worthy
just my 2 bobs worth
cheers ian

by **Eddie** » 19 Feb 2007 15:50

I cashed in 35k in Chrysler shares to buy my 02 Cummins Diesel, and I still owed money, still do! Dave the BBC actually said it "was up for sale"? Never mind Dave I read it. 1950's it was called "wretched excess" conservationists warned us against this "affluenza" that affects most all Americans. The average family in this country is $12,000 in unsecured credit card debt at 28% per!!. There are more shopping malls than churches. What does all this mean? It means in twenty years or less there will be very little manufacturing going on over here, consumption is the order of the day, Prisons and Shopping malls is the future landscape of this once production based economy. Sad indeed and it's gonna get worse MUCH worse.

by **dave-r** » 19 Feb 2007 18:56

It happened here in the 1970s and 80s Eddie. The area where I live was one of the places the industrial revolution started. The first railways. The first steam tubines. We made big guns. Big ships. Tanks. Steel. Telescopes. We dug the coal that powered these industries....

All gone now. A lot of call centers and electronics. But mostly retail outlets and visitor attractions.

From the late 1970s on we had hundreds of thousands of men thrown on the scrap heap in this area alone. Some communities had over 40% unemployed.

You cannot carry on making basically the same things for ever. Take British bikes for example. When the Jap bikes came over you could start them with a push of a button. They made much more power from a smaller lighter engine unit and handled and braked like no British bike ever could.
Every single British bike company went down the tubes.

The same thing happened to the cars. We couldn't make them as good and they cost too much to make.

The American car companies are stuck in the same rut. I fear they have left it too late to climb out of that rut.

by **dave-r** » 19 Feb 2007 19:04

http://www.daimlerchryslervehicleproblems.com

by **Eddie** » 19 Feb 2007 23:23

Dave, you are right on that one! 40% unemployment! Wow, tough times indeed for all those skilled steel workers and engineers. The area I live in is also "famous" for it's industrialization, coal mines, steel, brewerys,(the most important!), and cottage industries which tended to serve the railroads and auto manufacturing. All gone. Replaced by shopping centers and fast food eateries. Terre Haute, Ind.(French for High Ground), has the most fast food eateries in the United States per capita! We are also the most obese per capita. The largest industry besides consumer goods and services is the Prison System, we have built a "monolith" just 3 miles from my home and where I retired from, it houses up to 3 thousand Federal Inmates. You are right about not being able to crawl out of the hole they dug for themselves, the writing has been on the wall for some time. There will always be a demand for "specialty" vehicles such as the Jeep brand and SRT line of performance Dodges, but can they survive as a car company like Ferrari, Aston Martin, Saleen ect..?

by **dave-r** » 20 Feb 2007 9:09

Aston Martin has not been British for a long time.

The only British car manufacturer left was TVR and that was recently bought by a Russian and he has closed the factory to move production to a cheper part of Europe. So that is that. There are no British owned car companies AT ALL any more. Just one or two small companies that make maybe one car every month or something.

Did you see the new James Bond film (best ever!) with the new Aston Martin DBS?
What a car! I want one big time!
But I couldn't even afford the servicing costs let alone the $350,000 to buy one.

by **dave-r** » 20 Feb 2007 9:15

I tell you what though. This shows how much my wife loves me.

When I was very ill a few weeks ago I was told at one point I had a 50/50 chance of surviving. When I didn't die they gave me a 50/50 chance of being disabled.

All has turned out well for me but if it hadn't my wife offered to sell the house so I could buy a new Aston Martin! That is love man. I am a lucky man in many ways. :nod:

I am almost sorry I am getting well again! :lol:

by **jh27n0b** » 20 Feb 2007 11:06

Well Dave. I for one am glad that you are getting well. I to am very lucky to have a wife who supports my love for my Challenger. Even though I have to remind her every once in a while that I have had the car Longer than her.
bob

by **Eddie** » 20 Feb 2007 15:07

Dave you are very lucky to have a wife that supports you're love of cars and I too am glad as well as everyone on this board that you didnt get that Aston and yes a very great movie and that car was superb, didnt know that there are NO British car companies left, what a shame, in high school we had Triumphs,(tr7), Mg's midgets british leyland, Jaguar, even those British built Crickets,(Dodge Avenger?), were all cool and women loved them. Dont know what my wife loves more, me or that Fat Burger she has her large hands around!! :biggrin:

by **dave-r** » 20 Feb 2007 15:51

Yeah the car and bike companies have all either gone completely or are owned by Ford or GM.

Triumph is the only success. Fans of the original bikes bought the company which had been closed for years and started from scratch. I like the bikes they make now as well as the bikes they made in the 60s and early 70s.

The new speed triple in particular is a nice bit of kit. :s017:

by **Eddie** » 20 Feb 2007 16:02

Man, Dave that is one sharp looking sportbike! I rode big bore SportBikes for a few years. My first bike was a HarleyDavidson and I had it 2 weeks, then sold it to buy a Honda600F2, had it 1 month not enough power, traded it for a new,(then), 1993Kawasaki ZX-11 C4 last year before Kaw ruines it by adding on 75 Lbs! Then my accident and I got rid of all sportbikes and equipment, at that time Triumph began its "resurgence" and I was interested in the Daytona" I thought it was a killer machine! Now I see this one, WOW, what is the weight and power? Rear Monoshock, Tockicos or Brembos? 55mm front inverted? Looks track ready! One of lifes greatest pleasures, taking a well developed machine through the twisties at full song and rubbing the puck! Man I miss the bikes BAD! You will probably be in the same "boat" as me Dave. Doc says no way! Carl Fogarty, Mick Doohan(212 MPH at Hockenheim)!!!!, Wayne Rainey,Eddie Lawson,

by **Eddie** » 20 Feb 2007 16:15

airfuelEddie wrote:Man, Dave that is one sharp looking sportbike! I rode big bore SportBikes for a few years. My first bike was a HarleyDavidson and I had it 2 weeks, then sold it to buy a Honda600F2, had it 1 month not enough power, traded it for a new,(then), 1993Kawasaki ZX-11 C4 last year before Kaw ruines it by adding on 75 Lbs! Then my accident and I got rid of all sportbikes and equipment, at that time Triumph began its "resurgence" and I was interested in the Daytona" I thought it was a killer machine! Now I see this one, WOW, what is the weight and power? Rear Monoshock, Tockicos or Brembos? 55mm front inverted? Looks track ready! One of lifes greatest pleasures, taking a well developed machine through the twisties at full song and rubbing the puck! Man I miss the bikes BAD! You will probably be in the same "boat" as me Dave. Doc says no way! Carl Fogarty, Mick Doohan(212 MPH at Hockenheim)!!!!, Wayne Rainey,Eddie Lawson,

Sorry off topic but Indian Motorcycle,(americas first M-cycle!) is suffering from the same fate. I think they went bankrupt?

by **dave-r** » 20 Feb 2007 16:25

I only ever rode the old slow British bikes. Like Matchless/AJS singles, BSA, and Royal Enfield.

Not sure if I could cope with a big engined modern bike. Although I have been a passenger on a few. :biggrin:

As for the Triumph. Well I can't help looking at a sexy bike. And I find this one very sexy.
It may not be the best bike out there. But it turns my head.

From the Triumph website;

The Speed Triple mixes a monstrously powerful three-cylinder core with a top quality chassis and aggressive, stripped down stance. The gnarly character of the inline triple is intrinsic to the Speed Triple’s brutish charm. Its primal 1050cc, DOHC, fuel injected, three-cylinder engine pumps out a great surge of bottom-end torque, followed by a massive mid-range punch and impressive level of overall power. Delivering that power to the rear wheel is a slick shifting six-speed gearbox. Crisp-edged engine cases and covers enhance the engine’s look. Peak power is 132PS (131bhp) @ 9250rpm while peak torque of 105Nm (77ft.lbf) arrives at 7550rpm.

A rigid aluminium frame contains the engine and provides massive strength with steering geometry that gives fast-steering neutrality plus great stability. The fully adjustable 43mm upside down forks and rear monoshock add superb levels of quality and control. Likewise, the pair of radial four-piston brake calipers and 320mm floating discs offer cutting-edge stopping power and feel. The five-spoke wheels add style and substance, as does the evocative single-sided swingarm. Twin high-level oval section exhaust pipes enhance the engine’s distinctive and addictive induction roar.

by **dave-r** » 20 Feb 2007 16:31

I should say. I helped a mate build a cool bike once. We fitted a 1000cc Kawasaki engine in a 650 frame (tight!) and I welded in some framework to convert it to mono shock rear.

The rear wheel we fitted was a bit low geared for the engine. So the potential top end suffered a bit. But it couldn't half shift away from the traffic lights even with me sitting behind my 310lb buddy!

by **Eddie** » 20 Feb 2007 17:00

You are nuts Dave, I mean it really! :shock:

by **Eddie** » 20 Feb 2007 17:08

airfuelEddie wrote:You are nuts Dave, I mean it really!

My ZX had 165 HP and weighed a portly 485lbs. factory was 525lbs. I trimmed off the rear, discarded all passenger junk, center stand, turnsignal indicators,(coat hangers), drilled the fairing, Rob Muzzy titanium pipes, carbon can, Dyno Jet stage 3 jets, and dunlops and RK chain. I could hang with my buddy who had a bored 1100R Susuki GSXR with a turbo till 120 then he took off. I miss it so much I even got rid of the pics. Maybe a good thing. Speeds are outta hand today. My bike would get eaten by the 750s today and those dudes with Hayabusas are skirting the line with 220+ top speeds! I would have had an accident for sure and at the speeds we play with the results are usually fatal,(no body armor justa Helmet boots and gloves!)

by **Jon** » 26 Feb 2007 15:27

I'm in the building business and I try to follow the trends in lending, supply, demand, pricing ect. The problem we are facing over here is home prices have skyrocketed due to lax lending standards. Everyone refinanced and pulled cash out of there home to buy toys, vacations and such. Now, that home prices are on the way down these debtors cannot access their housing ATM. Our economy was fueled by debt that now has to be paid back. It could get pretty ugly over here. And I think parts of Europe will follow closely.

Check out this web site and others like it if you want to see a very bias but in someways correct analysis of the situation.

http://housingpanic.blogspot.com

by **Eddie** » 26 Feb 2007 16:45

I'm afraid you are right Jon. The owner of the Dodge Dealership here in town was killed in a car accident 3 years ago, his wife died a year later and the "kids" put the home up for sale. It is still on the market and has been reduced 50% from it's asking price,(which is comparable to other homes next to it), and it is located 100 ft. from a beautiful exclusive Golf course.The housing market in my area is very grim. A buyer could do very well around here.

by **dave-r** » 26 Feb 2007 17:36

I am packing my bags straight away!

Seriously though. This same thing happened in the South of England a while ago. Many people found themselves in negative equity. Bigger mortages than their property was worth.

But prices picked up again.

I don't allow pollitics to be discussed on here because any comment made is bound to upset at least 50% of people one side or the other. So we have to be careful what we say please.

But I think at the end of the day you will find that there needs to be drastic changes to the way things are over there and things will get worse before they get better.

by JJ » 26 Feb 2007 20:47

Dave, consider Canada when you pack your bags....

by **dave-r** » 26 Feb 2007 21:40

JJ wrote:Dave, consider Canada when you pack your bags....

Always have mate. :wink:

But I will end up staying here in this piss hole. :roll:

by **challysteve** » 28 Feb 2007 21:27

Hi Dave thought i would post this picture of my first winter in canada,will either cheer you up or hate where you are even more,ps the temperature is -21 but does not feel it ,-2 in england feels colder.

by **dave-r** » 28 Feb 2007 22:33

Yeah my sister in Alberta is struggling in the snow lately. She just had a big operation on her foot so with that and all the snow she is having real problems watering the horses.

I've not seen more than a light dusting of snow around my place this winter yet. :roll: