Note the next to last paragraph about Fiat quality (or "quality"). R.I.P. Chrysler.Would You Buy a Car from Chrysler? buyers to take a chance on the bankrupt automaker might turn out to be tougher than working Chrysler out of courtBy David KileyNow that Chrysler has done what was once unthinkable for Detroit's Big Three carmakers?filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization?everyone from President Barack Obama to the automaker's own public relations department has tried to assure car owners and would-be buyers that the company is going to continue operating and that its warranties are safe. But the question for consumers is, should I buy a Chrysler now? And how about one of those Fiats I hear are coming to America?Consumers can be spooked by the idea of buying from a bankrupt company; many equate bankruptcy with "closing the doors." Car-buying site says 21% of consumers it polled said a bankruptcy would affect their decision on which company they would buy a car from.So Chrysler and its dwindling army of dealers know that the job of selling cars just got a lot tougher. They will have to do a lot of advertising and communicating in the next 60 days to keep people coming into showrooms."They should shout from the mountain tops in ads and every other way they know how that they are here and not going anywhere," says Jason Vines, former communications chief at Chrysler as well as Ford (F), who has dealt with several public relations crises. "Now is not the time to be shy."The Quality ProblemEven before this, talk of a bankruptcy filing had been hammering Chrysler's U.S. sales. They are down 46% so far this year, worse than the 38% decline for the industry. Part of that, of course, is the impact of the recession and scarcity of consumer credit. But it is hard to feel good about Chrysler's vehicles based on the independent data available on reliability and quality. Consumer Reports, for example, recommends no Chrysler, Dodge, or Jeep vehicles in its auto guide this...

At least the Alfas don't rust on the assembly line anymore...When I was arranging a car hire at the Avis Milan airport station (to ensure I got an Alfa) I asked the manager what he thought of Alfa and what he drove. He said he would never buy an Alfa and he had an Opel (GM) of some sort.Every petrolhead would love an Alfa but few -- in Britain at least -- risk it. I have driven an Alfa 147 twice on hire (among the lakes of northern Italy - lovely). With a lively 1.9-l turbodiesel engine and great looks it was terrific. Even more so as I did not have to worry about the costs of any mechanical failure...I understand Fiat quality has come on a long way but, I suppose, has that of just about every other major brand.Presumably a problematic reputation on reliability kept them off the US market. Now they want to buy a chunk of a big but bust company in a country about which they know nothing... I wonder what the last shareholder meeting was a like...or is it another case of megalomaniac...

Would You Buy a Car from Chrysler?

May 01, 2009 61 Replies

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joe 17 years ago

i hate the number keys, yes it was 1948 (had to chicken peck that) and nothing is ever "that" simple. But i was trying to keep as simple as i could without writing a novel.

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joe 17 years ago

My point exactly.

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