Chrysler trying to sell Jeep???

[ox4mag]

If they offered a small diesel for the entire Jeep lineup they wouldn't need to sell off the brand in the first place.

Drop the upcoming baby Cummins (or current Grand Cherokee motor) in the Wrangler Unlimited (along with the steel wheels, snorkle, lockers, and beefy suspension offered on the military Jeep J8). Sell it as a 2-door pickup and a 4-door removable hard top. Why is this so hard? They could probably sell 1000 just to ExPo members/OJ subscribers.

Agreed. The 3.0 CRD is "freeking" awesome!

 

[haven]

The editor of Autoweek is predicting that Chrysler will
have to sell Viper and Jeep just to keep the car and
truck business alive.

http://www.autoweek.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080827/FREE/808279986/1028/FREE

 

[RedDog]

What strikes me as particularly odd is that the Jeep division is likely their most profitable. I read a couple years ago that the Grand Cherokee was their highest profit margin per unit model.

Granted, these aren't good days for big SUV's, but I'm seeing scores of Compasses and Patriots in traffic and if they pay the freight for Wrangler development - and the Gladiator concept I would buy in a second -great!

 

[SeaRubi]

It would be a real shame to see the Jeep brand leave American shores.

 

[Root Moose]

What strikes me as particularly odd is that the Jeep division is likely their most profitable. I read a couple years ago that the Grand Cherokee was their highest profit margin per unit model.

This is exactly why they want to sell it - to make money. No one would buy any of the other units. Cyberus is a money grubbing venture, they have no interest in being a auto manufacturer. To them cars are just a commodity widget to be sold or traded; there is no attachment or deep seated desire to being an "auto manufacturer".

This is why more and more car manufacturers suck. The "powers that be" are in it for the wrong reasons.

I don't care where Jeeps are made as long as they are a "quality" product. I guess I have that luxury not being an American and all.

 

[DaveInDenver]

This is exactly why they want to sell it - to make money. No one would buy any of the other units. Cyberus is a money grubbing venture

This is why more and more car manufacturers suck. The "powers that be" are in it for the wrong reasons.

What reason would that be? To lose money? Cyberus never represented themselves to be any more or less than an investment firm and investments have to make money. They saved the brand when Daimler was selling and stabilized it, now they are free to do what they want with it. If you feel it needs to be owned by an enthusiast, raise the many millions of dollars it takes to be an auto manufacturer and buy them. Ferrari's business model is much different than Jeep's, so the powers to be have different responsibilities to shareholders and investors. Jeep has an iconic history, but it's not immune to the realities of global competition if it wants to be around in the future. The reality is that the brand still has a lot of value and cashing out now seems perfectly reasonable before the price of fuel starts to permanently erode the market for SUVs.

 

[SeaRubi]

i see:

* IFS
* crappy rear leaf packs (you could plough a small tree under with those)
* styling straight out of old Godzilla movies
* looks top-heavy and very narrow.

no thanks!