Chrysler contemplates selling the Wrangler and appocolypse now

http://www.jeepnewsnow.com/modules/news/article.php?storyid=3137

They are thinking of gutting their only good viable brand.

His documents said a liquidation analysis of Chrysler "assumes that certain car lines and the plant assets supporting them will be sold as going-concern enterprises. These lines include Jeep Wrangler, Dodge Viper and Dodge Ram and Dakota truck lines." But he delves deeply into the case of Jeep Wrangler, raising doubts about its ability to attract a buyer or survive as a stand-alone entity. "The example of the Jeep Wrangler is instructive," Manzo writes in his affidavit. "A potential buyer would face significant additional investment costs in the range of $550 million to $1 billion. "These additional costs include in excess of $100 million for signage to establish a dealer network, supplier-related costs exceeding $250 million and upwards of another $150 million in associated marketing costs to relaunch the car line. There are likely other significant costs that a potential buyer would have to incur in order to re-establish the brand. In addition, recent market experience reflected in the efforts to sell Saturn, Opel, Saab and Hummer brands indicates an extremely depressed market for stand-alone automotive brands."

This is lunacy... Bye Chrysler.. Have fun in hell.

http://www.autoblog.com/2009/05/05/chrysler-and-fiat-a-merger-of-equally-unreliable-product/

With Crysler is there ever any good news?

I have no idea whether the Wrangler is profitable, and it's possible that the question is literally meaningless anyway in the byzantine world of Higher Accounting. What it is, however, is iconic, with brand loyalty and brand recognition that are legendary. Comparing the task of selling the Wrangler to the task of selling Saturn strikes me as ridiculous.

If somebody made me Car Czar, I would transfer the Wrangler, the minivans, the big sedans, the Mopar Performance heritage stuff, and MAYBE the Grand Cherokee to GM and give the rest of Chrysler away to whoever wanted it... because clearly nobody needs or wants it now. (Is the marketplace clamouring for Sebrings and Patriots and Journeys and the rest of them? Didn't think so.) The Wrangler has survived being a Kaiser, an AMC, a Renault, and a Chrysler; there is no reason why it couldn't do quite nicely as a GMC.

OK, what the hell are the guys at Chrysler smoking to consider dumping the Wrangler?! And... can I have some?

Seriously though, you kill the Wrangler, you kill Jeep. It's the heart and soul of a brand that's lost its way (c'mon, the Compass?).

Stealthtercel wrote: The Wrangler has survived being a Kaiser, an AMC, a Renault, and a Chrysler; there is no reason why it couldn't do quite nicely as a GMC.

Don't forget Willys. And Daimler

The Jeep Brand is bad luck. Sell it to a French Company.

mtn, you are absolutely right. I must say, though, I really enjoy it when I get corrected in a way that makes my point stronger. This happens far too seldom!

WHISKEY.

TANGO.

FOXTROT.

OVER.

mtn wrote:

Stealthtercel wrote: The Wrangler has survived being a Kaiser, an AMC, a Renault, and a Chrysler; there is no reason why it couldn't do quite nicely as a GMC.

Don't forget Willys. And Daimler

And Ford.

[R.E.M.] Its the end of the world as we know it[/R.E.M]

but seriously, there's no way in ^&*$ that line will die...I could seriously see aftermarket competitors forming up an alliance to purchase this as a standalone, and continue under a new banner

Hmmm... maybe Roger Penske should drop the idea of buying Saturn and buy Jeep instead. A Wrangler would make a damn funny lookin' NASCAR COT, wouldn't it?

Screw giving it to GM. If anyone deserves loyal customers it is Ford.

John Brown wrote: Screw giving it to GM. If anyone deserves loyal customers it is Ford.

seconded

...and I used to be a GM man...

Jensenman wrote: Hmmm... maybe Roger Penske should drop the idea of buying Saturn and buy Jeep instead. A Wrangler would make a damn funny lookin' NASCAR COT, wouldn't it?

I've been wondering what the COTs will be labeled as if the OEMs decide to cut sponsorship for NASCAR. If there's no money in labeling their cars as a Charger or Monte Carlo, is somebody going to pretend it's an AMC Javelin or a 240SX? They even look a bit like a 240SX...

They will all be Camrys or Fusions ;)

studebaker FTW!!!

My wife wants a Wrangler next, and so too do I, personally I'd like to see Ford snag them as I've suddenly become a Ford'er after 10 years of Caddy ownership, I just can't justify GM's ridiculous dealership attitudes, I went looking at GM first and while they tried to get me into a 5 year old out-of-warranty full-sized PU when I wanted a new/slightly used compact PU and then jerked me around for an hour trying to find one/give me crap financing, I got on the horn to Ford and they had a 6month old Ranger w/10k on the clock (alot of warranty life left) with a 5 speed manual for the price I wanted, needless to say I left the GM dealership in the middle of them trying to get their act together. 30 minutes later I owned the Ranger for the price I wanted, no money down, and the interest rate I asked for. Seriously, is it that hard Chrysler? / GM?

My wife and I went to Jeep to test drive and really liked the Wrangler but we wanted fewer options to get the price where we wanted it, they told me they could only help us with what was on the lot and that we really had no leverage to haggle price since Jeeps are Jeeps and there is no competition / comparable so you pay what the dealer wants. We left...

Dr. Hess wrote:

mtn wrote:

Stealthtercel wrote: The Wrangler has survived being a Kaiser, an AMC, a Renault, and a Chrysler; there is no reason why it couldn't do quite nicely as a GMC.

Don't forget Willys. And Daimler

And Ford.

Ford never owned Jeep, or willys, or bantam, or had any control in them. they build some military Jeeps under contract, so did 4 or 5 other companies at the time. Willys and Ford are just the best known.

And, DON'T GIVE THESE TO GM. Good lord people, do you forget what GM does to a good product? They turn it into 6 other models for use in every other GM brand on earth, neuter it, then IF they do start to get it right, they kill it like the fiero et all.

Raze wrote: My wife and I went to Jeep to test drive and really liked the Wrangler but we wanted fewer options to get the price where we wanted it, they told me they could only help us with what was on the lot and that we really had no leverage to haggle price since Jeeps are Jeeps and there is no competition / comparable so you pay what the dealer wants. We left...

Hint.. www.carsdirect.com

hmm, what will the aftermarket do with all the leftover "HUMMER RECOVERY VEHICLE," "IF YOU CAN READ THIS FLIP ME OVER," and "ITS A JEEP THING, YOU WOULDN'T UNDERSTAND" stickers?????

andrave wrote: hmm, what will the aftermarket do with all the leftover "HUMMER RECOVERY VEHICLE," "IF YOU CAN READ THIS FLIP ME OVER," and "ITS A JEEP THING, YOU WOULDN'T UNDERSTAND" stickers?????

Unlike most every other car produced in America (or Mexico or Canada), people will be restoring Jeeps.

Yes, don't give it to GM - they'll be right behind Chrysler in bankruptcy court and then we'll have this talk all over again.

I figure the Wrangler has to be profitable. Isn't it the same basic design going back how many years? The design and tooling costs must have been amortized down to zero by now, leaving only the production costs. Because of it's wonderful rugged simplicity it can't cost that much to bolt together either. It's got to be a money maker.

Something to ponder:

2011 (Ford) Jeep Wrangler with MZR turbo engine.

wrangler has been all new several times... current generation shares nothing with older models.

John Brown wrote: Something to ponder: 2011 (Ford) Jeep Wrangler with MZR turbo engine.

How bout the 2.5L / 3.0L Duratorque turbo diesels offered in SA, AU, and NZ?