Woohoo! Better than I hoped, four models, not three, cut. Now all they need to do is get rid of the HEMI, the 300, the Aspen, the Ram, the Viper, the Avenger, and the Sebring, and then they will have a good line up to start building from!

Dammit... That means that there won't be any more SRT8 Magnums... I was hoping to pick one of those up used in a year or two once people realized they couldn't afford the gas.

"Allen:
Woohoo! Better than I hoped, four models, not three, cut. Now all they need to do is get rid of the HEMI, the 300, the Aspen, the Ram, the Viper, the Avenger, and the Sebring, and then they will have a good line up to start building from!"

You are an idiot.

Yeah Allen, the 300 isn't that bad... that's it though, the rest can go. And why, oh god why, couldn't they get rid of the PT completely? I loathe that car more than any other. Seriously, when I see them on the road I feel my wheel being pulled towards them in an attempt to destroy.

I rented a PT Cruiser in Vegas this summer. You could see all the injection molding seams on the dash, door pieces, etc. Not what I would call quality. I love the 300 and even if you don't care for the ram grille on the caravan, its still one of the best family haulers available. If they lose sales off those top models you can kiss them goodbye. So if anyone at Chrystler is listening, better get someone from Japan on board with your design group and in your quality control area. SOON!

" better get someone from Japan on board with your design group and in your quality control area. SOON!"

Why? So all the Dodge vehicles can look like every other boring/bland vehicle from Japan?

I'm not a lover of the PT however they look differn't and they look unique. These days, I drive down the street and I see the same UJC (Universal Japanese Car) all over - they all look the same, they all have no character, drive the same, same size, same everything.

Japan did have some nice styling at one point - The original RX7, the 240Z, the original Supra, etc. What the hell ever happen to original styling?

I have to admit, I am with Allen on this one. American domestic auto makers need to wake up soon if they are ever to survive.

Chrysler needed to kill these models like yesterday. It is a good move. I hate to see people lose there jobs, but these vehicles needed to be phased out. However, Chrysler will introduce four new models: Dodge Challenger, Dodge Journey, Chrysler Aspen and Dodge Durango (hybrids). With the exception of the Challenger, Chrysler is continuing with 3 more variants of SUV's. Does Chrysler really need more SUV's? Does the public need more large SUV's (I know the Journey is Caliber based and smaller...but really)? Let's count the SUV's in Chrysler's lineup: Aspen/Durango , Aspen/Durango Hybrids, Compass, Patriot,Journey, Grand Cherokee, Nitro, and Liberty. Does anyone else see why Chrysler might be in trouble?

@String:

I respectfully disagree with your post. Chrysler products have been in the tank with reliability ratings. I agree that I would see Chrysler oversee the design theme of their vehicles. But they need a respected Japanese car maker to help with quality control.( DC broke off with Mitsubishi during the development of the Caliber platform... a Mitsu Lancer based on the same chassis feels/handles worlds better than the Caliber/Compass) Disagree with Q.C. issues, look at Edmunds, Consumer Reports, J.D. Powers, and a variety of automotive publications.

I hate the PT myself but I never thought it was a slow seller for Chrysler. I see those eye soars all over the place.

Interesting that there isn't a word said in any of this about the Crossfire, which is about 95% a Mercedes for 25% of a Mercedes price, a beautiful design, and a great car. My wife bought a 2006 and LOVES it. The decision to kill it may be a good one financially for Chrysler, I don't know -- but it's the death of a great car.

Interesting that there isn't a word said in any of this about the Crossfire, which is about 95% a Mercedes for 25% of a Mercedes price, a beautiful design, and a great car. My wife bought a 2006 and LOVES it. The decision to kill it may be a good one financially for Chrysler, I don't know -- but it's the death of a great car.

yes!!! get rid of it finally please!!!!!!!

yeah the crossfire is great but its probally the sales that are making it get killed off

I don't understand why they'd keep the Caliber.... well it's ugly.. but i guess it's somewhat practical because i see people driving it.. and then they're making an SRT of it.. so

Im tempted to say worse decision than calling the Neon an SX2.0 and then pretending they're not the same car.

Get rid of the dead weight and add more to replace it. Aspen? You've got to be kidding me. How about firing the entire team responsible for designing the garbage that's put them in this mess, along with the bean counters upstairs that cheapened the designs even more. There's a start for ya. Chrysler is responsible for some of the most hideous vehicles in existence today(Sorry GM top stop belongs to you with the Aztec) and really needs to get in touch with the car buying public.

You guys are way too hard on Chrysler.... the guys that buy these cars generally dont care about super fancy interiors etc. I have a 2001 Neon and I think the materials are just fine. And personally, I wish I could buy a Magnum or Charger with Hemi, suspension and wheels package, but none of the other BS that they throw in like Leather and other 'standard equipement' that are options on the lower models, thus increasing the price.

Anyway, everything going makes sense except the Magnum - seeing as it sells fairly well, but i guess its just too redundant with the Journey coming out. Too bad it couldn't be turned into a Charger Wagon (or better yet, drop the Charger name and call it the Magnum Wagon/Sedan's)

PT Cruiser is a GOLD mine. Why stop making it when 120-150,000 ppl still buy it every year - it owes NOTHING to the company. Pure profits. The only real reason they want to get rid of it is because they want to phase out the old 2.4 4banger under the hood. Even though I'm not a fan of it, put the World Engine in it, the CVT, a manual, and call it a day. You and I may not like the performance, but the guys buying it won't notice a bit.

Crossfire, meh. I like it... but I have no problem buying a used one for 30% of its initial value. The Pacifica was an obvious choice... but they shot themselves in the foot with that one. EXCELLENT vehicle. Reliability is great, ergonomics, etc. Problem? Price. WAY too expensive. Should have started at 29,995$ CND instead of 44,000$

Most of you seem to get your info from sources like Car & Driver, Motor Trend and Road & Track. Just remember, if cars don't perform like a WRX STi, a BMW 3 Series or a Corvette - those editors just flag them as 'meh' and they're automatically no good.

Forgot to add, I know its the PT Droptop thats getting the chop... but the reg. version is probably not far behind. Still a shame... it really isn't that bad of a car. We can bitch about interiors day in day out, but at the end of the day, it sells, its practical, and its inexpensive (re: inexpensive, not CHEAP) and easy to fix.

Not everything can be a Skyline kids.

I'm liking the Dodge Demon concept. I know this is Chrysler, but Chrysler owns Dodge.

Take the Demon,

1) Do something about the thick bulbous cross Dodge truck grill, if not take it off completely and just leave the grill open

2) Add a cramped back seat like a M3 or SC430 to make it at least somewhat practical

3) SRT6 engine option with at least 300 HP to complement the 172 horse 4 cyl

4) keep the weight at well under 3200 lbs.

Could be a winner. I normally don't like Dodge cars even though the new ones like the Charger, etc. have excellent performance, modern drive trains with IRS and AWD, etc. But I never liked the boxy styling and that thick painted plastic looking grill they put on everything.

Something about the Demon just catches my eye.

Not to change the subject, but whatever happened to the....i don't know what it was called exactly, but it was supposed to be a bigger more souped up version of the cross fire, it was called something like cross fire too.

If anyone could remember it that would be great.

What do they expect from slumping sales of the PT Cruiser, it hasn't been fully updated in forever.

What do they expect from slumping sales of the PT Cruiser, it hasn't been fully updated in forever.

What do they expect from slumping sales of the PT Cruiser, it hasn't been fully updated in forever.

What do they expect from slumping sales of the PT Cruiser, it hasn't been fully updated in forever.

What do they expect from slumping sales of the PT Cruiser, it hasn't been fully updated in forever.

What do they expect from slumping sales of the PT Cruiser, it hasn't been fully updated in forever.

In response to Conrad: I think you're thinking of the Firepower, the Chrysler on the Viper chasis with a 6.1 Hemi. Well, officially its dead, but still may show up now that Chrysler is free of MB. They need to focus on bread and butter cars first before they can bring Firepowers and ME 4-12's into market. (BRING BACK PLYMOUTH)

I just think Chrysler needs to simplify their lineup and avoid duplication. Here's what I want for their lineup:

Cars:
- Redo the Caliber from the same platform. The Lancer isn't bad, thus I don't see why Chrysler can't do a comparable version of it. (Call it the new Neon?)
- The Avenger/Sebring needs to be restyled desperately. Could they get any uglier? All I see are rental car companies buying them.
- 300 and variants: Keep them all, and give us the turbodiesel 300 CRD from Europe too.
- Magnum: Put the Charger front on it.
- Charger: Concentrate on the performance versions (R/T and SRT8). The base models look stupid with small wheels, etc.
- Challenger: I couldn't wait!

SUVs:
- Make Jeep the SUV division; kill off the Compass and the rest of the Dodge/Chrysler variants of Jeeps (Durango, Aspen, Nitro, and whatever else they have)

Trucks:
- Keep the Ram line.

Vans:
- Just keep the Grand Caravan. The Chrysler T&C is not different enough to justify keeping.
- As for the Sprinter, I dunno. It's a great van, but I don't see MBenz wanting to help Chrysler in the long run with this vehicle.

There... with this simplified lineup, Chrysler can spend more efforts on improving quality and do less on marketing variations on stuff that people don't really want.