ORIGINAL: brentmannrt09
I gotta hand it to ya RLSH700 you know your stuff! It's just that it bums me out that you never hear much good press about the good american quality vehicles (Ford posting better quality grades that toyota for example- You never hear about that)! I'm a staunch believer in Amercan Made products and it breaks my Heart that the powers that be are giving this country away a piece at a time. Unfortunately I did have mucho problems with a brand new 99 Dakota R/T, (brakes, catalytic converter) and admittedly made me gun shy for a while on the Mopars. Having said that, I really like what Dodge et al has done in recent years, I mean how cool was the Viper and prowler and Magnum and Charger and now the Challenger! GM should look to Mother Mopar for some desing styling cues-the new Camaro aint gettin it! I'm new at all this forum stuff please bear with me! Seems like a real good group here for sure!
Well thank you. I appreciate that. I feel your pain on that. I personally give a significant potion of the blame to the press that things are this way. When you hear about oil sludge problems, they always make sure you know about the Chrysler 2.7L (which as I said did have the problem), but the Toyota I4 and V6 problem was more widespread as it covered practically their entire vehicle line-up from 1997-2001; meanwhile, the 2.7L was just the base engine in the 2nd gen Intrepid/Concorde and optional in the Stratus/Sebring sedan. You never hear in the media about how many engines the Big Three have produced that are extremely reliable, you only hear about the failures, yet you never hear about how many engines from German and Japan have the exact same problems.
I'm surprised to hear you had a bad experience with a 1999 Dakota. Perhaps it was because you had an R/T version, because most of the people I know who have those love them and don't want to get rid of them no matter how many miles they have on them.
No problem, we try to be as fair as possible especially to our newer members.
ORIGINAL: Albeeno
Not to be Debbie Downer here, but... The German designed platform that Chrysler "borrowed" from the E-class Mercedes whilst under the thumb of Daimler, and the Aussie designed Zeta platform that the all-new Camaro will be riding on are BOTH being built in Canada.
The only REAL, AMERICAN Muscle Car is designed and built in Flat Rock, Michigan. 1964-Present, Baby! Just to add insult to injury here, but did I mention Mustang is the only convertible being offered in the segment? That's a low blow, I'm sorry.
Alright Albeeno, there are a few errors and answers I have to what you have said.
#1. Replace the word "borrowed" to forced into. This was Mercedes forcing dependence on themselves so then they could reap the benefits. Had they remained independent, Chrysler would have been able to produce their own without a reliance on Mercedes inferior parts.
#2. By definition you said "REAL, AMERICAN Muscle Car," Canada is part of North America; therefore, they are still built in America. You never specified which country in North America.
#3. Don't become too proud about the Mustang being "all-American." The platform Ford is using is based off of a Junkuar (excuse me Jaguar) platform. Something to think about further, considering the reputation of Jaguar, which would you rather have as a basis? A Mercedes or a Jaguar? On top of this, the automatic is a design from France. Which would you rather have as a basis? German or French engineering. Also the automatic with the Challenger V6 is a Chrysler design from right here in the U.S. which is more than you can say for the Ford unit, and at least the Mercedes transmission is built in the U.S. as well. The 4.0L V6 is a design from Germany hence the name the Cologne engine. The Chrysler 3.5L featured on the Challenger was designed and built in the U.S. Although I will admit the Hemi isn't built in the U.S. it is built in North America which by definition is American as is the production of some of Ford's Modular engine in Canada. On top of this, the Mustang's V8 line is a departure from the traditional American design by not using the traditional pushrod OHV design and going to a import styled multivalve SOHC & DOHC design on the V8; meanwhile, Chrysler and GM have stayed true to the muscle car heritage by keeping their's OHV pushrod designs on their V8s. Furthermore, who cares if the platform is a Holden when Holden has been a part of GM since the 1930s? On top of that, Australian cars have stayed closer to our heritage than we have, so why not use the designs they have over there.
#4. Ask me if I care that they don't offer a convertible. I don't want a death trap design that will be noisier, leak, easier to break into, adds performance killing weight, can't be used in the winter due to the cold, can't be used in the spring because of the constant raining, can't be used in the summer because of the humidity, and can't be used in the autumn because of the cold weather & wind, while costing more money.
#5. If you want to start trashing Chrysler for the fact that the foolish Germans forced them into using platforms from other companies, start looking at your beloved Ford for a moment. The Fusion is on a Mazda platform. The Taurus/Five Hundred is on a Volvo platform. The Mustang as I already pointed out is on a Jaguar based platform. The Focus came from Europe, and the Escort before it was on a Mazda platform. The only 100% American platform is the Panther platform and before you get excited about the name in thinking it would be with a performance car, that would be the Crown Vics platform from the stone age. The fact is this was done to Ford by themselves; whereas, Chrysler was forced into doing this. At least Dodge's current halo car (Viper) is still on a 100% American platform. In fairness, GM has been the best at designing platforms here in the U.S.
Now if you are done trying trashing other American companies, maybe we can go back to agreeing for our support for our domestic companies.