I have always admired Mopars, and have owned my share. Every member of my immediate family currently owns Chrysler products. I am on my second one purchased new in as many years. My brother is on his second Chrysler product purchased new ( 1985 and 1996), and my Mom has a Concorde she purchased new in 1998.
I have had: 66 Baracuda, 67, 69 and 70 Chargers, 72 Duster, 68 Sport Fury, 85 Caravan, 02 PT Cruiser and 03 PT Cruiser GT. As you can see, I did grow up, but didn't grow old...
I will continue to have a fond memory of a lot of the muscle cars that I have owned with the Mopar family name, and I still love the PT Cruiser. I think it is a practical fun ride, and the Turbo gives it a performance edge for it's class and price range.
However, it is migrating into the next higher price bracket on one end of the equation, and the comfort level is erroding to the next lower price bracket on the other end of the equation.
This is not a winning combination from the customer point of view, and I will have to think long and hard before deciding to purchase another vehicle that depends on any Chrysler coprorate decision, either to purchase or to maintain.
The wife is on her second Subaru Forrester, and I am leaning toward the Turbo Subaru Baja that will be coming out in the next 3 to 4 months. The engine used in the Forrester and the Baja had to be de-rated when turbo charged, so as not to compete with the WRX market (according to their sales people). There is still room for more performance on either.
My Subaru Dealer claims to be the largest in the world, and they sponsor a few cars. They are into the performance end, and are not afraid to support it in both sponsorship and sales. They have even put a member of the younger crowd in the parts department to deal with the younger crowd. In their service department waiting room is a photo album of their sponsored cars, event pictures and pictures of most of their WRX customers at the dealership, with their cars. They currently have a STI tricked out with aftermarket tires, wheels, stereo and DVD video system, ready to go. They show an agressive stance in changing to meet the market. This is a much fresher approach as opposed to the stale odor of the current Chrylser/Mopar disdain for the customer, and overall disjointed dealer/manufacturer relationship.
At any rate, their quality, service and approach to customer satisfaction and customer service, as compared from experience with new models from each manufacture, over a span of ownership of 2 new models from each manufacture, puts Subaru hands down in the lead.
They have really tried hard to put me into a WRX, and I believe they will eventually offer me enough on my GT to get the job done. They try to maintain trade-ins from each of the performance oriented vehicles on the lot; probably for the "gloat factor". I suspect they would offer nearly 2X what the Chrysler dealer would give trade in on a GT towards any car in a comparable price bracket with what they offer. The STI is a little past what I want to get into, but the Baja looks like fun; while maintaining practicality, adding AWD and a pickup bed.
I don't mean to sound like a Subaru infomercial, but these are my candid thoughts. To me, the Chrysler buying experience has hit the skids. My Subaru dealer may be the exception, and not the rule. However, as long as they exist, I feel sure I will be happy with the purchases we have made with them. I haven't been able to find this in a Chrysler dealership, and other forum responses indicate that this is a nationwide plague. I am sure that there are Subaru dealers that may not be up to par with the one I do business with, just as I am sure that there are Chrysler dealerships that excel.. Most of the DCX dealerships that I have had experience with are "5 star dealers" and have been on the downhill slide for years. Chrysler has ignored customer complaints and has put off recalls for as long as a decade in some cases. They set the stage for the current shape they are in.
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