Not exactly. It was an American company before the "merger". It still is. Just because its partent now lie offshore does not mean that the language over there has changed and that the land has been anexed by Berlin. The products that DCX brought to the table in the last few years were enginered and built here for the American consumer. They were green lighted by upper management in Germany but the real work was done here. Do you honestly see a neon and think "there goes a foriegn car!"??

 

You are not looking at the economics of it. The profits are now going to a German owned company. The cars are not technically American anymore. It is not an American owned business anymore since they were bought out. That is all.

 

How could Mercedes buy out Chrysler? Chrylser turned much bigger numbers than Mercedes could have ever dreamed before the merger. It was my understanding that when the two companies merged, most of the American chairman were booted, for whatever reason I can't recall. Still seems weird to me that Mercedes could buy out Chrysler. That would be like Kmart buying the larger and much more successful Walmart.

 

Not quite...Daimler Benz was in far better shape than Chrysler when they were taken over. Chrysler was not doing well, and therfore the purchase price was fairly cheap. Meanwhile, despite lower sales volume Daimler Benz had a ton of cash and was a far stronger company.

And sadly, I agree with Kevin on the economic factor. That's just the way it is with DCX these days. I assume the domestic content is higher than that of say a Nissan, so its arguably "better" for the economy to buy a Charger over an Altima, but the end result is still the same. The bottom line profit still goes overseas.

 

dcx is turning out uniquely american cars today. Its a slap in the hard working people at their plants to say they dont build American cars.

 

And hard working Americans build Altimas too. What's your point exactly? Go read the domestic content label on the window, and then tell me how "American" the Charger is versus say, an Ion. Then, consider the fact Chrysler IS FOREIGN OWNED and controlled, and that the PROFIT GOES ELSEWHERE.

Sorry to be blunt, but the point is clear. I'm not slapping anyone, and I kinda like the Charger. But IMO, its as American as that domestic content on the window, and the profit goes overseas regardless of what "hard working American" makes it.

 

Getting away from the amount of domestic content in the vehicles, I actually saw a Charger on the road yesterday for the first time. I was kinda dissapointed. It didn't have the same impact as I thought it would and it was the hemi model. It was still good looking but didn't have the presence that I thought it would.

 

As I found out you can't really quantify "Made in America" anymore. What means "Made in America"???

Assembled in America?
Used American Suppliers?
Owned by an American Company?
Manufactured with American Machines? (CNC's etc...)

Just a question.

Although, I'd prefer a German car to a Japanese. At least Europeans buy American Cars. The Japanese avoid them at all cost.

I would buy one, if it wasn't for the gas factor. But to some people that's not a problem/issue.

 

It could be a future vehicle for jkipp84.

I'd suggest leaving content decisions to the moderators. Many here only go to this forum on this site so some latitude in "car talk" is accepted.

The topic was clearly stated, you could have exercised your option to ignore it. I would want the opportunity to bounce a new vehicle decision off this group when that time comes for me.

 

Not that I post a lot since 1999, but ever since I sold my TA in 2001, I'm never in the other sections. I've gone to the Jeeps and the Corvette and the Chrylser message forums (I now own those types of vehicles), but somehow, the "5th gen" forum is where I pass my time at work and at home, reading the fine input from the numerous people that post here.

You'll never know when some may response with "automotive news" in a thread such as this one.

by the way, if a local chrysler/dodge dealership is honoring the "employee price" for one of these, it would be hard for me to say "no". I, too, need a 4-door vehicle, and I prefer RWD with a V8 option with nice/quality leather interior and dash layout. The 300C and Charger are 2 vehicles that have peaked my interest in new cars again.