But the emperor isn't wearing any clothes?
09-05-2008, 08:35 PM
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But the emperor isn't wearing any clothes?
http://www.daily-journal.com/archive....php?id=426919
OK, maybe I'm over simplifying this but combined w/ the article people want good looking cars and this? What gives?
People want to buy the Challenger because it's a good lucking, inspired car with good performance.
Is it that difficult to figure out how to hit on these basic elements in each segment? People don't want to buy ugly practical cars.
Can we now have an homage of the Dodge Dart? 5.7 liter Hemi in a light, rear wheel drive car that meets the minimum safety standards? If something like this were available, think about it? You could gear it higher (wouldn't need as much torque to launch) and you'd probably get some pretty respectable MPG to boot.
Then take this approach to designing the rest of the offerings. (not cheap muscle, but fun, inspired products).
It's like there isn't enough enthusiasm in these established automakers to invest it in all models so they pick one or two and just go through the motions on the other models....then they wonder "Why aren't the other models selling"
To go Spinal Tap (the movie) on this, they need to share their energy with the people and then feed on the energy that comes back, man......and yes, mine goes to 11.
Despite trends, car dealership expands
09/05/2008, 11:02 am
Comment on this story | Print this story | Email this story
By Nancy Ghiotto
and Gatehouse News Service
nghiotto@djpeotone.com
Even as news broke Thursday that Chrysler LLC fared the worst in August of all major automakers, a local Chrysler dealership has expanded and is looking forward to continued growth.
James and Pearl Bult, of Monee, and Bill VanRamshorst, of Beecher, owners of Pearl Chrysler Dodge Jeep in Peotone recently opened a sparkling new dealership at the southeast corner of Illinois Route 50 and Wilmington-Peotone Road.
The 22,000-square-foot facility cost about $5 million a major investment any time, but especially during a tight economy that has hit Detroit automakers particularly hard.
The privately owned, Detroit-based automaker nearly fell to No. 6 in the United States in sales in August, selling 110,235 vehicles, down nearly 35 percent compared with August 2007.
Chrysler was the shakiest of the Detroit Three, outsold by Japanese rival Honda Motor Co. and nearly passed by Nissan Motor Co., the only major automaker to gain compared with last year.
"The industry is changing rapidly in terms of what vehicles and features customers want and the leasing and financing options available to them," Jim Press, Chrysler vice chairman and president, said in a news release.
But the Pearl Chrysler owners are optimistic about the future. They employ 19 full and part time employees and could add more, "if the demand is needed," said VanRamshorst, the dealership's general manager.
Yet, VanRamshorst acknowledged, "it's been a challenging year even with good exposure."
However, business has been steadily improving, he said. In fact, the business outgrew its former location at West Corning Avenue and Railroad Street in Peotone, which necessitated the move.
The new dealership boasts of a showroom with a larger area vehicle displays, offices and a expanded service area. Right now, a 2009 Dodge Challenger taking the lone spotlight in a space that has room for a half dozen more models.
The facility has 10 service bay areas and a car wash for customers. The dealership also displays about 150 new and used vehicles in the outdoor lot.
"For now, it's really a good feeling that after all our hard work and getting all the bugs out we can all just enjoy being here," Pearl said.
Pearl Bult said the old location would either sold or rented.
But even as the trio begins to fill its showroom with shiny new models, Chrysler announced it may further reduce production at its Belvidere plant, which recently downsized from three shifts to two, with a reduction of nearly 1,000 employees. The plant may now operate just one shift.
VanRamshorst isn't worried that reduced production will cut into his supply.
"If we need something dealers are swapping with each other," he said
09/05/2008, 11:02 am
Comment on this story | Print this story | Email this story
By Nancy Ghiotto
and Gatehouse News Service
nghiotto@djpeotone.com
Even as news broke Thursday that Chrysler LLC fared the worst in August of all major automakers, a local Chrysler dealership has expanded and is looking forward to continued growth.
James and Pearl Bult, of Monee, and Bill VanRamshorst, of Beecher, owners of Pearl Chrysler Dodge Jeep in Peotone recently opened a sparkling new dealership at the southeast corner of Illinois Route 50 and Wilmington-Peotone Road.
The 22,000-square-foot facility cost about $5 million a major investment any time, but especially during a tight economy that has hit Detroit automakers particularly hard.
The privately owned, Detroit-based automaker nearly fell to No. 6 in the United States in sales in August, selling 110,235 vehicles, down nearly 35 percent compared with August 2007.
Chrysler was the shakiest of the Detroit Three, outsold by Japanese rival Honda Motor Co. and nearly passed by Nissan Motor Co., the only major automaker to gain compared with last year.
"The industry is changing rapidly in terms of what vehicles and features customers want and the leasing and financing options available to them," Jim Press, Chrysler vice chairman and president, said in a news release.
But the Pearl Chrysler owners are optimistic about the future. They employ 19 full and part time employees and could add more, "if the demand is needed," said VanRamshorst, the dealership's general manager.
Yet, VanRamshorst acknowledged, "it's been a challenging year even with good exposure."
However, business has been steadily improving, he said. In fact, the business outgrew its former location at West Corning Avenue and Railroad Street in Peotone, which necessitated the move.
The new dealership boasts of a showroom with a larger area vehicle displays, offices and a expanded service area. Right now, a 2009 Dodge Challenger taking the lone spotlight in a space that has room for a half dozen more models.
The facility has 10 service bay areas and a car wash for customers. The dealership also displays about 150 new and used vehicles in the outdoor lot.
"For now, it's really a good feeling that after all our hard work and getting all the bugs out we can all just enjoy being here," Pearl said.
Pearl Bult said the old location would either sold or rented.
But even as the trio begins to fill its showroom with shiny new models, Chrysler announced it may further reduce production at its Belvidere plant, which recently downsized from three shifts to two, with a reduction of nearly 1,000 employees. The plant may now operate just one shift.
VanRamshorst isn't worried that reduced production will cut into his supply.
"If we need something dealers are swapping with each other," he said
The new dealership boasts of a showroom with a larger area vehicle displays, offices and a expanded service area. Right now, a 2009 Dodge Challenger taking the lone spotlight in a space that has room for a half dozen more models.
People want to buy the Challenger because it's a good lucking, inspired car with good performance.
Is it that difficult to figure out how to hit on these basic elements in each segment? People don't want to buy ugly practical cars.
Can we now have an homage of the Dodge Dart? 5.7 liter Hemi in a light, rear wheel drive car that meets the minimum safety standards? If something like this were available, think about it? You could gear it higher (wouldn't need as much torque to launch) and you'd probably get some pretty respectable MPG to boot.
Then take this approach to designing the rest of the offerings. (not cheap muscle, but fun, inspired products).
It's like there isn't enough enthusiasm in these established automakers to invest it in all models so they pick one or two and just go through the motions on the other models....then they wonder "Why aren't the other models selling"
To go Spinal Tap (the movie) on this, they need to share their energy with the people and then feed on the energy that comes back, man......and yes, mine goes to 11.
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09-05-2008, 08:49 PM
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RE: But the emperor isn't wearing any clothes?
Theres a simple answer to your question Skippy... It dosent fit the computer generated business model...
Heres the line that I find worrysome...
VanRamshorst isn't worried that reduced production will cut into his supply.
"If we need something dealers are swapping with each other," he said
"If we need something dealers are swapping with each other," he said
09-05-2008, 08:59 PM
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RE: But the emperor isn't wearing any clothes?
Right on!
Nothing wrong w/ matching production to demand, but DXing because no one's pulling (demanding) more from the factories shows that there is something not attractive about the package.
It doesn't need to be visually either, of course, not good performance, not good mileage something isn't motivating buyers like SOME MODELS (think Challenger here, right?).
I hope they look at what is making the Challenger special and apply to other models....maybe w/ the retiring of the Chief Designer, they're making in roads to this.
Hopefully, they read our forum and don't just shake their heads and cop out with "they just don't understand".
Nothing wrong w/ matching production to demand, but DXing because no one's pulling (demanding) more from the factories shows that there is something not attractive about the package.
It doesn't need to be visually either, of course, not good performance, not good mileage something isn't motivating buyers like SOME MODELS (think Challenger here, right?).
I hope they look at what is making the Challenger special and apply to other models....maybe w/ the retiring of the Chief Designer, they're making in roads to this.
Hopefully, they read our forum and don't just shake their heads and cop out with "they just don't understand".
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09-05-2008, 09:08 PM
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RE: But the emperor isn't wearing any clothes?
Those dang customers just dont understand what they really want.
As a side note do you happen to remember back in the 60s/70s when they showed cars of the future they all had an eggish kind of shape and were projected to be the car of 21st century (think 2000 model year). Well the funny thing is that it seemed to be driven so hard and fast into the minds of people that it actually became reality. Look at the cars leading into the year 2000 and you will notice the pattern. Were they ever very attractive? NO. Did they excel in performance? NO. Were they special or unique? NO. Did they have any other redeeming value? NO. Am I missing anything... I dont think so...
Seems the business model had been laid out decades before it every came to reality.
09-06-2008, 05:48 AM
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RE: But the emperor isn't wearing any clothes?
Yeah, but where are shiny clothes? And the dehydrated 7 course meals that explodes out of a pill with a drop of water added to it?
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09-06-2008, 08:57 AM
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RE: But the emperor isn'
ORIGINAL: mopar2ya
Those dang customers just dont understand what they really want.
Were they ever very attractive? NO. Did they excel in performance? NO. Were they special or unique? NO. Did they have any other redeeming value? NO. Am I missing anything... I dont think so...
Those dang customers just dont understand what they really want.
Were they ever very attractive? NO. Did they excel in performance? NO. Were they special or unique? NO. Did they have any other redeeming value? NO. Am I missing anything... I dont think so...
09-09-2008, 02:39 PM
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RE: But the emperor isn'
They actually are getting on the jetpack thing. Should be available retail within the next few years
Site selling them:
http://jetpackinternational.com/equip.html
New competitor coming, supposedly 1/2 the cost:
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/3/...ectid=10530700
Site selling them:
http://jetpackinternational.com/equip.html
New competitor coming, supposedly 1/2 the cost:
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/3/...ectid=10530700
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