The "Good" Chrysler Thread: Making Vanilla, Vanilla

  • Thread starter YSSMAN
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I think the Magnum thing looks pretty neat and tidy. I like it from a looks standpoint.

Unfortunately, that's because it looks just like the also good looking Grand Cherokee that the thing is based on. Chrysler tried to hide it, but they just didn't do it all the way.

Do they need it? GM moved their SUVs over to the Lambda platform and they seem to be selling reasonably well. Ford is building the new Explorer on a unibody platform. Chrysler has a chance to regain a lot of ground with this thing, especially since most of the competition is getting a fresh restart as well. And there's definitely a market for a full-size CUV.
 
That drawing of the "Magnum" is quite nice, actually. Would definitely be one of the better looking large SUVs. But like Joey said, it's not necessarily the vehicle Chrysler needs right now. A smaller, agressive crossover would be right more up people's streets. Well, a small, agressive crossover that's better than the Caliber, anyway.
 
And a Sedan to go with said small, aggressive Crossover.

"Magnum's" not a great name, anyway. It's origins are on an emissions-choked, lardy car from '78, with the chassis from a '68 Charger, but with wimpier springs. And then they put it on a wagon everyone liked but no-one bought.
 
I've always liked the name Magnum, even though for most people in the UK that name is more likely to conjure up images of an ice cream rather than a beast of a gun, a beast of a car or a 1970s PI...
 
I would be perfectly fine if Fiat turned Chrysler of 2015 into Chrysler of 1995. Maybe a bit more in the reliability bit, but I don't really see why Dodge needs any SUVs at all.
 
My confidence in Fiat plummeted when I saw the Chrysler Lancia. I don't think a worse idea could surface.

As I've said on other sites, kill it, bring the 200C.

Chrysler needs to move up. If they're going to rebadge, at least send them to Dodge.
 
Toronado
but I don't really see why Dodge needs any SUVs at all.
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I dunno. I'm not as savvy on the US market as I am on the Euro market, but Dodge seems like a good brand for SUVs and trucks to stem from. How good they are at it is a different matter, but their image suits off-roaders. Of course, it might be a bit irrelevant next to Jeep, but it's horses for courses. I reckon Dodge people and Jeep people are probably quite different, and a person that may like a Dodge SUV may not like the image of Jeep and vice-versa.

At the end of the day, if they're built on the same platforms then it's economies of scale. However, before that, I think Dodge need to re-position themselves a bit and make good with the Charger and other passenger cars, and have a crack at a genuinely good crossover, which is where the public's money is heading.

Incidentally, have I missed something? Why does the Caliber have a little note on the Dodge website (when you mouse-over on the different variants on the model page) that says "fleet sale only"? Have they stopped selling it to the public?
 
homeforsummer
That drawing of the "Magnum" is quite nice, actually. Would definitely be one of the better looking large SUVs. But like Joey said, it's not necessarily the vehicle Chrysler needs right now. A smaller, agressive crossover would be right more up people's streets. Well, a small, agressive crossover that's better than the Caliber, anyway.
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The only problem is the crossover market is rather saturated.

I think it's good that they are changing up the name as Durango has really lost it's appeal after the last couple generations. However reviving the name of a station wagon that was discontinued only a few years ago isn't exactly the best either. Now if they brought back Ram Wagon that would be cool.
 
Justin
The only problem is the crossover market is rather saturated.
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All the more reason to make a good one.

I think it's good that they are changing up the name as Durango has really lost it's appeal after the last couple generations. However reviving the name of a station wagon that was discontinued only a few years ago isn't exactly the best either. Now if they brought back Ram Wagon that would be cool.
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It depends what the "Magnum" (as a vehicle, rather than as the name) is like. If it's anything other than a body-on-frame SUV then it wouldn't make sense calling it a Ram as it would be too conceptually and mechanically distant from the Ram truck. I didn't think the previous Magnum was too bad a car, so it seems as good a name as any to revive. Was the Magnum a re-skinned wagon version of the Charger, or was it a re-skinned 300C wagon?

Either way, maybe Dodge have decided that they won't be doing the wagon thing again so they'd like to keep the name rolling with an SUV.
 
homeforsummer
Was the Magnum a re-skinned wagon version of the Charger, or was it a re-skinned 300C wagon?
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It debuted concurrently with the 300C, basically the same as the 300 Wagon you guys got. The Charger came after the 300C & Magnum.
 
Magnum? I got yer Magnums.




A gun in a car thread? Am I serious? Yes I am :sly:.
 
Toronado
I would be perfectly fine if Fiat turned Chrysler of 2015 into Chrysler of 1995. Maybe a bit more in the reliability bit, but I don't really see why Dodge needs any SUVs at all.
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Seeing that CUVs are the next BOF SUV in terms of popularity, I think it's good for Dodge to get in on that market. Sure, there are a lot of competitors, but it would be a pretty decent chance to pick up quite a few sales. If it's done right.
 
give it five years, and the "crossover" will ALSO go the way of the dinosaur, like Wagons/estates, and Minivans/MPV's...soccer mom cars :P
 
Yeah, probably. High gas prices will probably make even the car-truck crossovers too expensive. Hopefully then we'll see the hatchback and wagon selection get even better.
 
Philly
Yeah, probably. High gas prices will probably make even the car-truck crossovers too expensive. Hopefully then we'll see the hatchback and wagon selection get even better.
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Solution? 5cyl turbo diesel. :sly: 👍 I know Fiat and Alfa both have one.
 
I am not forgetting it, I think that it is crap and one US automaker needs to take a significant step forward. Chrysler is in a PERFECT spot to do this as is Ford--but Ford isn't as long as they have huge SUVs and Trucks with EcoBoost engines. Which is fine by me. lol
 
JCE
Solution? 5cyl turbo diesel. :sly: 👍 I know Fiat and Alfa both have one.
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It's a fantastic engine and sounds great even compared to some petrols, but as far as I'm aware it's also on the chopping block soon due to emissions regs. I might be wrong though.
 
Justin
I really wish more than VW would offer diesel options when it comes to cars.
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BMW started pushing diesel versions of the 3-series and X5 earlier this year, but I have no idea how well that has worked out so far. Honda was supposed to be doing a diesel Accord for 2010, but they killed it. Same with the diesel CTS that has been batted around for a while.
 
homeforsummer
It's a fantastic engine and sounds great even compared to some petrols, but as far as I'm aware it's also on the chopping block soon due to emissions regs. I might be wrong though.
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Any videos so I can hear it before it gets the axe? :sly:
 
JCE
Any videos so I can hear it before it gets the axe? :sly:
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Both here and here are pretty good youtube vids. Okay, so they're both ones with different exhausts but diesels are pretty quiet as a rule so it's hard to find a vid with a standard exhaust where you can even hear it...
 
race'emhard
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I'm fairly certain driving that through my home town would kill several pensioners.

Although there is a resident who owns a '69 Cougar so it wouldn't be the biggest, baddest thing in town. 👍
 
But isn't that not just one badass car? I love the way that looks all over. I hate the interior but the exterior is just the business. :D
 
WEll, that hoodscoop is a stickon...but yes, the magnum, especially in SRT8 guise, is badass.

and probably rare as hen's teeth in SRT8 guise, too.
 

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