Hornet prototype — homely enough to sell to GM
Word out of Detroit…has Chrysler almost ready to sign and seal a deal with Chinese automaker Chery Automobile.
DaimlerChrysler had previously told us that it really needed a partner if it were going to succeed at the low-margin end of the lineup, where Chery can certainly help with one of its small car platforms. The most likely vehicle coming out of this partnership would be the Dodge Hornet concept in production form.
The article is a dozen weeks old. I’m mentioning it because CCTV9’s “Biz News” noted this morning that Daimler-Chrysler is in China to sign off on the deal. So, maybe it actually will come to pass.
Now all we need is a 2008 Gremlin with stylish denim seat covers.
The Neon apparently wasn’t enough of a lesson to warn DCX off of really low-quality small cars.
Anyone who wonders why Toyota and Honda keep building new plants while the no-longer-Big Three are shuttering theirs need look no further than this example. A wretched little vehicle built by a tier Z car company and named after another ill starred piece of American junk will not connect with American consumers.
Engineer a Civic-killer and perhaps we’ll have something to discuss. Until then, don’t be surprised as the great domestic automaker meltdown continues.
Interesting Mini Cooper rip-off: Just what I’d expect from Dodge and Chery.
The American car companies are doomed. Or at least their workers are – the companies will still exist, each with a few dozen executives in a ritzy office building, and all production in Asia and/or Mexico.
I actually bough a Neon in early ’99, the 99 model. 4 years no interest.
Worst – piece – of – crap – ever
I logged no less than 4 official complaints to D-Chrysler and one against the dealership.
Little things like no more break pads – and destroying the front disks – after only 10,000 KM, the automatic transmission completely self-destroyed after 15,000 KM, the entire muffler and all the pipes rusted with holes at 20,000 KM, and at 24,000 KM the air-conditioning compressor died.
They actually challenged me to small claims court, since the limit back then was only 6000$ and I had left to pay over 12k.
Got rid of it at Toyota dealership for 8K (two better than going to court) and got a used ’97 Tercel, 5 year loan at 8.25%.
Would you believe that I used the Tercel for 3 years, and did nothing to the car other than oil changes, and sold it back to the same dealer for 2k higher than the loan balance !
I do about 13K KM’s per year. When I got rid of the 99 Neon is was my 23rd month and was at 26,000 km.
At least the Chrysler-Only dealer went out of business, Nissan bought it and even kept most of the employees.
#5 – but then you have my wife, who bought a ’98 neon, base model except Auto trans and Air. It still works with only some maintenance work (tires, brakes, standard stuff).
It’s running up on 9 years old now, and it’s starting to show it’s age, but I can’t complain for a car that ran her all of 12K brand new.
I can list many Toyota, Honda, etc complaints I’ve heard. I’ll agree that the Japanese made better cars through the 90’s, but lately the things I’ve been seeing say that the “Big 3” (Which truly is more the Big 1, GM, anymore) are making huge strides in quality.
My ’06 Impala has 13K Miles (20K KM, I think?) and haven’t had one problem with it. Never once have talked to the dealer or service department. I’ve changed the oil and rotated the tires. My previous ’02 Camaro had 90K when I traded it in, and I never had a problem with it either (had to get rid of it due to having child….alas).
My parents ’03 Silverado with 70K has been golden, and my sisters 05 Saturn (30K miles) has had one problem, but it was one of those hard to diagnose noises that didn’t affect function, but more your sanity. They did fix it though once they figured it out.
Anyway – I wanted to throw in my two cents, as people tend to disparage the “American” car makers, but it seems the info they use is about their “93” this or there “96” that. I’ll gladly grant that American cars have taken too long to get things in order, but they are really getting it there. And I will tell you this – you can almost always get a comparible “Domestic” car for less than the foreign model.
That’s why I got my Impala. And when I buy a car again in the next 6 months to retire the Neon, it’ll be American more than likely unless I can get a really good deal from a “foreign” car maker. But I’m not holding my breath.
Tim
Why should I replace my Dart -67 510″ , does it have a hemi option? Is it the “half A-body”? gimme a car with a soul!
Nice “car” – excuse me while I violently retch……
I don’t know why some of you have so much animosity about Neon. Could it be how you treat your cars?
I have a ’95 Neon, bought new in April ’94. I still have it and it runs like a champ…13 1/2 years later and 110,000 miles….the a/c pump bearing went out last year at 99,000 miles…I just unpluged it, don’t need a/c here that often anyway. 30mpg city/42 hwy. uses no oil between changes, corners like sports car and plenty of power.
I liked it so well, I bought another in ’05……
As for hooking up with China, I’m not too pleased about that, but the vehicles may surprise you. China has been building thousands of cars for a long time now….the Hornet is kinda cute.