Chrysler Jeep can not make them fast enough

No summer shut down planned for many Chrysler Jeep facilities. Rather than shut down the traditional first two weeks of July, they need to keep up with demand.

http://www.freep.com/article/20120502/BUSINESS0103/120502028/Chrysler-shutdown-plants

Article said: Chrysler said today that four of its plants will continue producing cars and trucks through July without observing the traditional two-week summer shutdown. Earlier this week Chrysler said that its Jefferson North Assembly Plant — where the company makes the Jeep Grand Cherokee and the Dodge Durango SUVs — will continue operating throughout the summer. Today, Chrysler said that its plants in Belvidere, Ill; Toluca, Mexico and Toledo Supplier Park will also continue operating throughout the summer. Two other plants — in Sterling Heights and Saltillo, Mexico — will only observe the summer shutdown for one week, the company said in a statement. Normally, the Detroit Three automakers and the UAW agree to halt production for two weeks in July because it enables the companies to balance their inventories with consumer demand and gives skilled trades workers time to install equipment needed for new models. But this year Chrysler’s sales have been outpacing the industry and the company needs to boost production to keep up. The Auburn Hills automaker’s U.S. sales have increased 33.4% through April compared with a 10.3% increase for the industry. Chrysler said it decided to skip the customary summer shutdown so that it can meet demand. The company is launching its new Dodge Dart compact car in Belvidere, Ill. The Jeep Compass and Jeep Patriot SUVs are also produced there. The plant in Toluca, Mexico makes the Dodge Journey, Fiat 500 and Fiat Freemont. The Toledo Supplier Park makes the Jeep Wrangler and Jeep Wrangler Unlimited. The Sterling Heights Assembly Plant makes the Chrysler 200, Dodge Avenger and Lancia Flavia. The Saltillo Truck Assembly Plant makes Ram light and heavy duty trucks.

Thinking of you Grafmiata, our own Jeep making buddy.

I do hear the new GC is a pretty nice car.

Good.

Inconceivable!

1988RedT2 wrote: Inconceivable!

I have over the years, built an immunity to Iocaine powder.

That's good for me. We make parts for Chrysler.

how long before the union starts to complain about not getting their 2 weeks off?

A buddy of mine is an engineer on the Dart fascia. I'm glad to hear that it's doing well.

AngryCorvair wrote: how long before the union starts to complain about not getting their 2 weeks off?

I dont understand? I never have used the flounder you speak of in my pecan pies?!?

Giant Purple Snorklewacker wrote:

1988RedT2 wrote: Inconceivable!

I have over the years, built an immunity to Iocaine powder.

This Jeep is not left-handed either!

Wait...ok that was funnier in my head. Hopefully their business keeps up...I'll still never buy one, but it's good that other people are, I guess.

Has anyone noticed the resemblence of the 4 door Wrangler to the Hummer ? I know, smaller. or is it just me ?

iceracer wrote: Has anyone noticed the resemblence of the 4 door Wrangler to the Hummer ? I know, smaller. or is it just me ?

Jeep sued hummer when the H2 was released, saying it looked too much like a jeep

iceracer wrote: Has anyone noticed the resemblence of the 4 door Wrangler to the Hummer ? I know, smaller. or is it just me ?

Sadly yes. I'm pretty sure it was intentional. But I'm biased. I think a 4-door Wrangler is blasphemy.

The new GC/Durango look pretty nice. I don't see either following me home, but I'm glad they are selling.

Yeah, I bet the unions are going to want something in return for giving up the 2 weeks vacation that don't count against the 4-weeks vacation they already get.
And the 4-door Wrangler is GREAT. Jeepers (like myself and others on this board) clamored for a 4-door wrangler, with real solid axles and a frame, for many, many years. Now just give us the Scrambler and we'll be happy.
I'm delighted they are not shutting down, it's a very good sign when you have to keep cranking production up to meet demand.

Strizzo wrote:

iceracer wrote: Has anyone noticed the resemblence of the 4 door Wrangler to the Hummer ? I know, smaller. or is it just me ?

Jeep sued hummer when the H2 was released, saying it looked too much like a jeep

Specifically the 7 slat grille.

I just hope that Chrysler fixed the QC issues like the spun sugar window regulators.

Rob_Mopar wrote:

iceracer wrote: I think a 4-door Wrangler is blasphemy.

I rented one once, and it was mighty useful and decent to drive. It suited the purpose damn near perfectly, in places you wouldn't want to take a regular SUV but needed 4 doors.

DrBoost wrote: Now just give us the Scrambler and we'll be happy.

I just saw one on a dealer's lot - it looked awesome. I've always liked Scramblers, despite not being much of a pickup or Jeep guy.

Curmudgeon wrote:

Strizzo wrote:

iceracer wrote: Has anyone noticed the resemblence of the 4 door Wrangler to the Hummer ? I know, smaller. or is it just me ?

Jeep sued hummer when the H2 was released, saying it looked too much like a jeep

Specifically the 7 slat grille. I just hope that Chrysler fixed the QC issues like the spun sugar window regulators.

Haha! I have know a few people that had Chrysler products that had to "wedge" their door windows closed after the glass fell in the door. I have been driving my step mother's Chrysler 300 for the last week and have noticed that the trans is acting up at 78K miles. That really didn't surprise me, but what did was when she told me it had already been replaced... twice!

She has one of those lifetime powertrain warranties so its not as big of a deal. Other than that, I like the car. Nice on the inside and out. And since my step mother is nearly 65 years old, I don't think she will be buying 26" wheels anytime soon for it to make it look thug-life.

300C's with V6's were known for transmission software issues. It has to do with the adaptive strategy, if Person A drives the car all the time then Person B climbs in, the trans controller (part of the PCM) has learned Person A's driving habits and goes bonkers when presented with Person B's habits. Vans will do the same thing. Funny thing was, Wranglers and Grand Cherokees weren't known for that even though the GC used the same Mercedes 'box as the 300C.

DrBoost wrote: Yeah, I bet the unions are going to want something in return for giving up the 2 weeks vacation that don't count against the 4-weeks vacation they already get. And the 4-door Wrangler is GREAT. Jeepers (like myself and others on this board) clamored for a 4-door wrangler, with real solid axles and a frame, for many, many years. Now just give us the Scrambler and we'll be happy. I'm delighted they are not shutting down, it's a very good sign when you have to keep cranking production up to meet demand.

Whoa... I get 4 weeks of vacation??? Sweet!!!

Could you take a minute and call my HR department and let them know this? According to them, I only get two weeks.

But actually, at least where I am at Toledo Supplier Park, most of the "old-guard" UAW folks have (finally) realized that the old way doesn't work. Yeah, losing the traditional 2-week summer vacation with the family sucks. But it beats the Hell out of awhile back, being laid-off not knowing if Chrysler would even exist again.

Even last year, the normal shut-down got scrapped, changed, and then discombobulated again due to supplier issues after the tsunami.

Granted, although I work at the Wrangler facility, I am employed by the company that assembles the body-in-white, not Chrysler. Maybe things are different next-door at our customer.

Right now, we're more concerned with implementing the changes we need to make to supply an additional 5 BIW's per hour to try to meet demand. Hopefully, this will enable us a little time off once demand eventually starts to taper-off. As it is now, I leave my house around 2 pm, and get home about 3:30 the next morning, six days a week. I kinda miss having a life.

But honestly, I'm not going to complain. It's a great problem to have right now, because it beats the Hell out of the alternative!!!

iceracer wrote: Has anyone noticed the resemblence of the 4 door Wrangler to the Hummer ? I know, smaller. or is it just me ?

Apparently it's not just you. It's the new douche-bag "This is my "mountain car" which I drive around in while wearing my goofy ass fly-fishing shirt in case a stream full of trout spontaneously sprouts up in the middle of the highway" vehicle of choice in these parts.

Glad it's keeping some of our folks busy!

Duke wrote:

Rob_Mopar wrote:

iceracer wrote: I think a 4-door Wrangler is blasphemy.

I rented one once, and it was mighty useful and decent to drive. It suited the purpose damn near perfectly, in places you wouldn't want to take a regular SUV but needed 4 doors.

DrBoost wrote: Now just give us the Scrambler and we'll be happy.

I just saw one on a dealer's lot - it looked awesome. I've always liked Scramblers, despite not being much of a pickup or Jeep guy.

I always thought that not keeping the scrambler going all these years was a mistake for jeep. When they were new, I used to see them all the time and I occasionally still see one around.

Glad to see you guys working for chrysler jeep fiat are working hard. Somebody around here has to

poopshovel wrote:

iceracer wrote: Has anyone noticed the resemblence of the 4 door Wrangler to the Hummer ? I know, smaller. or is it just me ?

Apparently it's not just you. It's the new douche-bag "This is my "mountain car" which I drive around in while wearing my goofy ass fly-fishing shirt in case a stream full of trout spontaneously sprouts up in the middle of the highway" vehicle of choice in these parts. Glad it's keeping some of our folks busy!

I always see the frat boy with Aeropostle gear on and flipflops kinda D-bag driving Wranglers around where I live.

DrBoost wrote: Yeah, I bet the unions are going to want something in return for giving up the 2 weeks vacation that don't count against the 4-weeks vacation they already get. And the 4-door Wrangler is GREAT. Jeepers (like myself and others on this board) clamored for a 4-door wrangler, with real solid axles and a frame, for many, many years. Now just give us the Scrambler and we'll be happy. I'm delighted they are not shutting down, it's a very good sign when you have to keep cranking production up to meet demand.

I'll clarify my disdain for the 4-door Wrangler. If they had named it something different, and maybe styled the front a little different, I'd be OK with it. If they did something along the lines of the new show trucks and maybe dusted off the Wagoneer name I'd really be OK with it. This with a 4-door body and enclosed cargo area would be perfect:

My wife has had '98 Wrangler since new. We fall into the classic Jeeper category of when the new model comes out (JK) the people who love the previous one (TJ) dislike the new one. I know YJ guys that can't stand the TJ, and CJ guys that hated the YJ.

But I strayed off trail in this post long enough. Being a Mopar guy I'm really glad people are buying the new GC & Durango.

grafmiata wrote:

DrBoost wrote: Yeah, I bet the unions are going to want something in return for giving up the 2 weeks vacation that don't count against the 4-weeks vacation they already get. And the 4-door Wrangler is GREAT. Jeepers (like myself and others on this board) clamored for a 4-door wrangler, with real solid axles and a frame, for many, many years. Now just give us the Scrambler and we'll be happy. I'm delighted they are not shutting down, it's a very good sign when you have to keep cranking production up to meet demand.

Whoa... I get 4 weeks of vacation??? Sweet!!! Could you take a minute and call my HR department and let them know this? According to them, I only get two weeks. But actually, at least where I am at Toledo Supplier Park, most of the "old-guard" UAW folks have (finally) realized that the old way doesn't work. Yeah, losing the traditional 2-week summer vacation with the family sucks. But it beats the Hell out of awhile back, being laid-off not knowing if Chrysler would even exist again. Even last year, the normal shut-down got scrapped, changed, and then discombobulated again due to supplier issues after the tsunami. Granted, although I work at the Wrangler facility, I am employed by the company that assembles the body-in-white, not Chrysler. Maybe things are different next-door at our customer. Right now, we're more concerned with implementing the changes we need to make to supply an additional 5 BIW's per hour to try to meet demand. Hopefully, this will enable us a little time off once demand eventually starts to taper-off. As it is now, I leave my house around 2 pm, and get home about 3:30 the next morning, six days a week. I kinda miss having a life. But honestly, I'm not going to complain. It's a great problem to have right now, because it beats the Hell out of the alternative!!!

I threw the 4 week comment out there, not knowing if that was the norm anymore. But when I was a UAW rat that was the norm, well, not for us. Our union brothers sold us out, negotiating a much crappier contract but keeping theirs the same. Anyway, they all had 4 weeks or more, + the 2 weeks, + the holidays, + the line shut downs they'd do by sabotaging the line.

Anti-stance wrote:

poopshovel wrote:

iceracer wrote: Has anyone noticed the resemblence of the 4 door Wrangler to the Hummer ? I know, smaller. or is it just me ?

Apparently it's not just you. It's the new douche-bag "This is my "mountain car" which I drive around in while wearing my goofy ass fly-fishing shirt in case a stream full of trout spontaneously sprouts up in the middle of the highway" vehicle of choice in these parts. Glad it's keeping some of our folks busy!

I always see the frat boy with Aeropostle gear on and flipflops kinda D-bag driving Wranglers around where I live.

Picture him 20 years from now, reliving his douchebaggy youth.

PS: Not saying that everyone who drives them is a douche. I understand not everyone who drives a subie wagon is a lesbian.