PT Cruiser On The Hit List

[skylight]

PT Cruiser On The Hit List

PT Cruiser fans who were relieved to hear only the convertible version would no longer be built may, after all, have reason to mourn. The Wall Street Journal, quoting a Chrysler dealership owner, says the retro-styled wagon-like CUV is again on the company's hit list.

No word on why Chrysler brass changed their minds or when the final PT will be built, but if you want a new one, you should probably take advantage of the soon-to-be-announced rebates soon. So, is it just a coincidence that the final special edition PT Cruiser will be the Sunset Boulevard Edition?


Source: Autoblog, Chris Tutor


Update:

End of the road for Chrysler's PT Cruiser

Chrysler plans to stop production of the PT Cruiser, according to the Wall Street Journal.

The paper reported Friday that the automaker will drop the line after the 2009 model year. The move comes as Chrysler executives consider killing slower-selling models to help the company return to profitability.

Chrysler had said earlier this month that it would eliminate the PT Cruiser convertible. The company is also halting production of the Dodge Magnum, Chrysler Pacifica and Chrysler Crossfire.

By the end of the 2009 model year, the PT Cruiser will have enjoyed an extraordinary run. Introduced in 2000, the PT Cruiser was initially a hot property. Dealers were charging customers steep premiums over the car's low sticker price.

Since then, the PT Cruiser has had only a mild redesign, the 2006 model. This means that Chrysler will have been selling virtually the same car, with only minor alterations, for twice as long as most car models go before being completely redesigned and re-engineered.

Although the PT Cruiser is still the fifth-most popular compact crossover in America, just behind the Chevrolet HHR, overall sales are down 27 percent this year, according to the Power Information Network.

Cruiser sales are on track to top 100,000 this year, a sales pace sufficient to justify its continued production, at least for now, Chrysler spokesman Rick Deneau told CNNMoney.com earlier this month.

But Chrysler executives have struggled, even before the company's split from Daimler and subsequent takeover by a private equity group, with how to redesign the retro-styled PT Cruiser without losing the vehicle's unique character.

Ultimately, it may have proved easier to drop the PT Cruiser name, jettisoning the expectations attached to the current model and giving designers greater flexibility in creating a replacement.

In other Chrysler news, the Journal reported that Chrysler is considering a drastic plan that would allow it to drop some overlapping Dodge, Chrysler and Jeep products and cut out under-performing dealerships.

Under the proposed plan outlined in the Journal, Chrysler dealers would sell all of the automaker's passenger cars under the Chrysler name. Dodge dealers would sell only pickup and commercial trucks, and Jeep dealers would sell only Jeep sport utility vehicles.


Source: CNNMoney.com

[soonercruiser]

....."a Chrysler Dealer says...."????
Is James Carville up to his old tricks of spreading rumors again?
Nothing like a guy with no b.... to be quoted! Real men don't work that way!

[soonercruiser]

Let me clarify my previous remarks!
The Chrysler executives are a bunch of pin heads!

[skylight]

Originally Posted by soonercruiser

Let me clarify my previous remarks!
The Chrysler executives are a bunch of pin heads!

Maybe recent bunch of Chrysler executives are retro haters.

[dklipfel]

I've worked for several privately owned coompanies during my career. In general they are superior places to work. No worries about short term profits, not answerable to stockholders desire for dividends, do things that are good for the long term health of the company, willing to invest in future projects, etc. As a result, the people working there are generally pretty happy with their employer.

That said - I am not so sure I would trust the current owners of Chrysler for any extended period of time. It is not like the current owners were formed around a group of visionaries who were driven by a love of automobiles. Ain't no Bob Lutz in the group. IMHO these guys will grab the low-hanging fruit, cut the low performers, not improve them. They will streamline operations to reduce manufacturing costs. This will take perhaps five years. By then profits should be substantial on whatever product line they have left. They will then go public, or otherwise sell off the whole she-bang for a healthy profit. It's a big game they play on wall street. So don't get too attached to any current products.

[mjb457]

BUILD A PT WITH A TURBO (RELIABLE 200K) MILE DIESEL FOR LESS THAN 25K WITH THE LIFETIME WARRANTY AND THEY WILL SELL 200K & a 6--SPEED AUTOMATIC!!!!VEHICLES,,enough said!!! 50MPG!!! >IM DREAMING HUH<,, not AMERICAN...

[Superwoody]

Originally Posted by mjb457

BUILD A PT WITH A TURBO (RELIABLE 200K) MILE DIESEL FOR LESS THAN 25K WITH THE LIFETIME WARRANTY AND THEY WILL SELL 200K & a 6--SPEED AUTOMATIC!!!!VEHICLES,,enough said!!! 50MPG!!! >IM DREAMING HUH<,, not AMERICAN...

You make to much sense!

I've thought all along that they (DC) dropped the ball, powertrain wise, on these beautiful vehicles! The kinda mileage we get with these Cruisers, we should have a V8 under the hood.....If a bigger, heavier, HHR can get better fuel mileage than our PT's, then that should be like Bill Engvall's "here's your sign" to Chrysler.

[arro222]

I get really tired of hearing of how difficult it is to redesign an already designed retro. That is so much bull crap its not funny. Maybe they were always unwilling to state the real reason why they want to kill the Cruiser, but don't buy the "hard redesign" excuse for one second. Any group of good auto designers could effectively spruce up that design 25 different ways in two weeks. The previous poster was right on track with a deisel option under a freshened body (or not) would financially rejuvenate that line in a heartbeat. Someone posting above hit it exactly as well: This company is being run by bean counters, not car guys. They would not recognize a profitable, with it car design if it hit them between the eyes because its not where they care to look.
About the plan to redistribute cars and truck selling badges. Don't you think the "Chrysler Challenger" sounds so much better than the "Dodge Challenger"I think if I owned a Chrysler Charger I would be ashamed to tell people what I own it sounds so stupid

[CREWZIN]

last word.....

[ptma767]

well they cant make the same old car for ever. pt sales are way down . dealers when i bought mine said used arnt selling well same with new. my car was on the lot for 6 monthsbefore i bought it.now if they were to change some thing (ok before you say they did a new frount bumper and interior dont count ) like the moter small v6 would be great suspesion and some real body changes then maby it would have survived.and yes the pt is more likey to go they had a news story about it on aol& cnn . hey its not all bad maby now there wont be as many around. just about every ware i go i see them