New J D Power ranking on reliability on 3 year old cars

ND13

Originally posted by Mike682
Read this article:

http://www.allpar.com/cars/me412.html

Mike

Nice CONCEPT.

I've actually sat in this car, and too bad they have decided against building it. They have decided to go with the Chrysler Firepower concept that shares a chassis with the Viper and has a 6.1 liter Hemi from the SRT8 series of cars. I'll see if I can find a link to post on that. It is a drop dead gorgeous vehicle and about an eighth of the cost of the ME4twelve.http://www.allpar.com/cars/concepts/firepower.html

Here it is ^^^ above

Mike682

Originally posted by ND13
Nice CONCEPT.

I've actually sat in this car, and too bad they have decided against building it. They have decided to go with the Chrysler Firepower concept that shares a chassis with the Viper and has a 6.1 liter Hemi from the SRT8 series of cars. I'll see if I can find a link to post on that. It is a drop dead gorgeous vehicle and about an eighth of the cost of the ME4twelve.

Cool..the firepower is a sweet car..

Here you go:

http://www.allpar.com/cars/concepts/firepower.html

Allpar.com is a really good site if you like mopar...A lot of new info

Mike

ND13

Originally posted by Mike682
Cool..the firepower is a sweet car..

Here you go:

http://www.allpar.com/cars/concepts/firepower.html

Allpar.com is a really good site if you like mopar...A lot of new info

Mike

Yeah, I've been with Chrysler/Dodge/Jeep since 1994. I've got to see and touch alot of the concepts and prototypes. Even driven a couple of them, but at the time that I got to sit in the ME4Twelve, it was the only one they had and they pushed it around, not because it wouldn't run but because of the 7-speed Ricardo was a one-off then and they didn't want to take a chance of effing it up until they had others.

thehaens@cox.net

Originally posted by ND13
Nice CONCEPT.

I've actually sat in this car, and too bad they have decided against building it. They have decided to go with the Chrysler Firepower concept that shares a chassis with the Viper and has a 6.1 liter Hemi from the SRT8 series of cars. I'll see if I can find a link to post on that. It is a drop dead gorgeous vehicle and about an eighth of the cost of the ME4twelve.http://www.allpar.com/cars/concepts/firepower.html

Here it is ^^^ above

That ME would of been quite the machine. I had also hear rumors that it was going to be badged Mercedes after develop. I don't know if it would of been good bus. to compete w/ the SLR, as well, don't know how many would want to part with 400-500 large for a chrysler.....sometimes it is all in the name....Either way, it would be nice to see this car come to light in some flavor..

edit: IMO the ME is a hell of a lot nicer looking than the SLR

ND13

Originally posted by thehaens@cox.ne
That ME would of been quite the machine. I had also hear rumors that it was going to be badged Mercedes after develop. I don't know if it would of been good bus. to compete w/ the SLR, as well, don't know how many would want to part with 400-500 large for a chrysler.....sometimes it is all in the name....Either way, it would be nice to see this car come to light in some flavor..

edit: IMO the ME is a hell of a lot nicer looking than the SLR

That was the main problem, Mercedes would/will not let Chrysler one-up them. The 300C convertible concepthttp://www.canadiandriver.com/roadtest/images/300c.jpg was cancelled because it would have hurt Mercedes ragtop sales.

SCompRacer

Originally posted by ND13
..........Sprinter....

I'm a fleet guy and have some experience with Sprinters. Initially the [Mercedes] Sprinter was imported under the Freightliner badge. Guess who owns Freightliner. You'll see them in FedEx Express, UPS and DHL fleets.

The first Sprinters, 2001-2002, had a host of problems from drive train to engine (fuel pumps, injectors). Some even have rust starting under the windshield moulding.... in States that don't have snow so there is no salt used on the roads. Daimler warranty reps initially blamed these problems on US fuel, roads and US driving habits. I say if your going to sell something here, you ought to engineer it so's it can take it.

The 2003 Sprinters do have a beefier rear diff, improved fuel pump and injectors, but I'm told that UPS had enough and won't buy any more.

The one thing that didn't happen since the merger between Daimler and Chrysler is the Cummins ISB diesel is still being used in the Freightliner/Dodge trucks. We were initially told you wouldn't see a Cummins engine in those vehicles again.

ND13

Originally posted by SCompRacer
I'm a fleet guy and have some experience with Sprinters. Initially the [Mercedes] Sprinter was imported under the Freightliner badge. Guess who owns Freightliner. You'll see them in FedEx Express, UPS and DHL fleets.

The first Sprinters, 2001-2002, had a host of problems from drive train to engine (fuel pumps, injectors). Some even have rust starting under the windshield moulding.... in States that don't have snow so there is no salt used on the roads. Daimler warranty reps initially blamed these problems on US fuel, roads and US driving habits. I say if your going to sell something here, you ought to engineer it so's it can take it.

The 2003 Sprinters do have a beefier rear diff, improved fuel pump and injectors, but I'm told that UPS had enough and won't buy any more.

The one thing that didn't happen since the merger between Daimler and Chrysler is the Cummins ISB diesel is still being used in the Freightliner/Dodge trucks. We were initially told you wouldn't see a Cummins engine in those vehicles again.

Yeah, only one dealer, in a particular area, is allowed to sale Sprinters. They have improved on them greatly since the Dodge badge has been added. They are very limited here in the states as of now.

And CUMMINS ROCKS.

shack

Originally posted by billbillw
I want to see about 5 years. That's when the domestic brands start to fall apart while the imports just keep on ticking.

I guess my 93 LX 5.0 Mustang must be an import :rolleyes: . 188,000 + and have NEVER had to touch the drivetrain (except to put one clutch in). Still has good compresion and 0 leaks. Never need to add oil during a 5,000 mile oil change. Has 95% + of the original parts. Other than brakes, tires, shocks, belts, etc... I have only had to replace the radiator, alternator and air conditioner clutch. The old Ford 289/302 block went back to the mid 60s and was near bulletproof. It's not my daily driver anymore but it is still blast to drive!

ND13

Originally posted by shack
I guess my 93 LX 5.0 Mustang must be an import :rolleyes: . 188,000 + and have NEVER had to touch the drivetrain (except to put one clutch in). Still has good compresion and 0 leaks. Never need to add oil during a 5,000 mile oil change. Has 95% + of the original parts. Other than brakes, tires, shocks, belts, etc... I have only had to replace the radiator, alternator and air conditioner clutch. The old Ford 289/302 block went back to the mid 60s and was near bulletproof. It's not my daily driver anymore but it is still blast to drive!

Yeah, and I guess that my 1995 Chevy 1500 with 266k miles on it, with original 305 and 4ps AT, must be an import also. I drive it everyday to work and back(100 miles). It doesn't even leak much less use any oil. Never has been rebuilt either. I would drive it to Cali and back and not even blink an eye. It also gets about 19 mpg combined.

It still comes down to how you take care of them. Yes there are lemons, but they are not confined to just domestics.

Hell, I'm not even a GM fan at all, this is the only one I've owned that I liked, except a 1970 Chevelle I had my Sr. year of HS.

Mike682

Originally posted by ND13
It still comes down to how you take care of them. Yes there are lemons, but they are not confined to just domestics.

Exactly..I've always had domestic cars and the key is regular oil changes every 2500-3k....

reeltrouble1

Originally posted by ND13
Toyota is "supposedly" one of the best engineered makes out there, so one would have thought they would have perfected the hybrid drivetrain a little more before releasing it to the public.

It was perfected, the buyer forgot to include the extra long extension cord in the options, jeez guys!!:p

RT1

ND13

Originally posted by reeltrouble1
It was perfected, the buyer forgot to include the extra long extension cord in the options, jeez guys!!:p

RT1

Good one.:D

brettw22

Originally posted by ND13
That was the main problem, Mercedes would/will not let Chrysler one-up them. The 300C convertible concepthttp://www.canadiandriver.com/roadtest/images/300c.jpg was cancelled because it would have hurt Mercedes ragtop sales.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but the current 300 IS going to have a convertible and the old body style (the one you linked) never made it into production.

I did see an article on the release of the current 300 being made into convertibles. If Mercedes is willing to squash teh potential of the current 300 convertible just to play the one up game, they ought to be shot.

MacLeod

Originally posted by shack
I guess my 93 LX 5.0 Mustang must be an import :rolleyes: . 188,000 + and have NEVER had to touch the drivetrain (except to put one clutch in). Still has good compresion and 0 leaks. Never need to add oil during a 5,000 mile oil change. Has 95% + of the original parts. Other than brakes, tires, shocks, belts, etc... I have only had to replace the radiator, alternator and air conditioner clutch. The old Ford 289/302 block went back to the mid 60s and was near bulletproof. It's not my daily driver anymore but it is still blast to drive!

I got one for ya!

My moms last car was a 1988 Ford Escort. With 205,000 miles on it.

However it was falling apart by then and the auto tranny assumed room temperature at 110,000. But still, for an Escort thats pretty good!

disneyjoe7

The Ford Escort was recommended by Consumer Report, one of the couple cars of Ford that was recommended. They must have made it to good, so Ford killed it. :rolleyes:

ND13

Originally posted by brettw22
Correct me if I'm wrong, but the current 300 IS going to have a convertible and the old body style (the one you linked) never made it into production.

I did see an article on the release of the current 300 being made into convertibles. If Mercedes is willing to squash teh potential of the current 300 convertible just to play the one up game, they ought to be shot.

The linked 300C convertible was a concept/prototype that never came to fruition, it was not a front wheel driver 300M chassis. The new 300C convertible is on the horizon, but not as nice of a car as the concept. The interior on the proto/concept was up to par with the best from Audi and the Brits, one of the many reasons for its demise. It was a Hemi, of course, another reason. More performance, less $$$, just as good or better quality. The targeted price point was around $45-48k, which was the straw that broke the proverbial camel's back. It would have blown away anything that Mercedes had to offer within $40-50k of that price.

BTW, there are several coach builders/customizers that will make you a 300C convertible right now. http://www.motorcities.com/contents/05F1N335404798.html http://www.techautocareers.com/Concepts_More/index.album?i=10 http://forums.streetfire.net/showthread.php?t=86 http://chrysler.thenetlab.net/experience/concept/index.html http://www.telechem.com/7ups/300.htm http://www.auto123.com/en/parts/tuning/index,view.spy?artid=31975&pg=1
So as you can see there's plenty of aftermarket and manufacturer interest in producing such a car. How 'bout those 4-door ragtops.
I can't remember the last 4-door ragtop, but I think it was a Lincoln or Caddy, from the domestics and maybe a Rolls or Bentley from the imports. There's plenty of good reading in those links above, enjoy all you car buffs.

aaharvel

What's up ND13? I gotta question for you though. How could a 300 convertible rain on Mercedes parade?

I mean it's a 4-door convertible- technically it's not competing with anything from Mercedes b/c Mercedes doesn't have a 4-door convertible of their own- only 2 door "sportcar" convertibles. The 300 isn't a sports car, it's more or less a specialty vehicle right? Much like Chevy's SSR? It really doesn't have any competition. Either you want to buy it- or you don't

??

ND13

Originally posted by aaharvel
What's up ND13? I gotta question for you though. How could a 300 convertible rain on Mercedes parade?

I mean it's a 4-door convertible- technically it's not competing with anything from Mercedes b/c Mercedes doesn't have a 4-door convertible of their own- only 2 door "sportcar" convertibles. The 300 isn't a sports car, it's more or less a specialty vehicle right? Much like Chevy's SSR? It really doesn't have any competition. Either you want to buy it- or you don't

??

Not much, just work.

First off the 300C conv concept that got cancelled was a two-door that wasn't much larger than the SLs, and for 1/3 the price of the 600, which it would have competed with at least performance wise.
Those 4-door models in the links are all aftermaket. When the factory model comes out it will be a two-door. There's also a rumor of a coupe version of the 300C, which would be SWEEEEET!!!. A coupe version of the Charger would likely follow which would be even sweeter, especially if they would ever offer a 6-speed with the Hemi engine. I'm getting myself all hot and bothered with all this talk:p .

But anyways, the original concept 300C was a totally different car with different intentions. It scared Mercedes and they axed it, simple as that. All my info comes from the Senior Brand Manager of Chrysler passenger cars and Marketing, Scott Slagle. I grilled him for 3-4 hours at the Concours De'Elagance car show in Indy last summer. It was the weekend of the F1 race and was sponsored by Chrysler. They had several of their concepts(300C convertible, ME4Twelve, Chronos,among others) and historic vehicles on display, among all of their current models. That's when I got to sit in the ME4Twelve, and I was surprised how easily I fit into the car considering I'm 6'3" and 235lbs. I only wish they would have thought about American men when they styled the Crossfire. They should have stretched the chassis about a 5" to accomodate us. If they would have, they could have easily made up the cost by raising the price a few grand. I know I would pay the extra if the damn thing fit me. They would sell twice as many if they did that. Right now the car is limited to women and smaller men. The SRT-6 would be on my short list if it was. AMG blown, 330 hp V6 in that car, come on....

shack

Originally posted by ND13
How 'bout those 4-door ragtops.

I can't remember the last 4-door ragtop, but I think it was a Lincoln or Caddy, from the domestics and maybe a Rolls or Bentley from the imports.

The last production four-door ragtop was the 1967 Lincoln Continental.

aaharvel

that's a good enough explanation for me.

And yeah the crossfire looks terrible in the back. For the $ i'd rather buy a G35 coupe.

ND13

Originally posted by shack
The last production four-door ragtop was the 1967 Lincoln Continental.

Thanks for looking that up. I was thinking that it was a Lincoln, but wasn't a 100%. I believe it had suicide doors, also. JFK was killed in an earlier model.