Wups. Anywhoo, wouldn't really be the first time:

 

As the resident DCX seller, my .02...

1) Every new launch gets highly touted by MANAGEMENT, and then gets screwed up in the advertising. The Sebring launch was a total bust...the Avenger isn't doing much better. Better ads, but sales are a yawn so far...

2) Because Chrysler has been MUCH slower in going to value pricing, everyone expects every car to be given away when they come on the lot. I rarely have to help customers, but we were understaffed the other day; I fielded a lady looking at a Patriot. Its our first one. "What are the deals on these? I know these things aren't flying off the lots" is the first thing she says. I tell her its brand new, its my first one, and there are no factory incentives on the car, but that I could knock a few hundred off the price to make a deal (mind you, the car only has an $800 markup!). She turns to her husband and says "hell, if I want to pay full price for something, I should look at a Honda." At which point, I pointed to the Honda store next door and told her to have a nice day, and that when she compares the price to a CR-V, she'll see the price is more than reasonable. As you can see, I make a lousy salesman...I get annoyed too fast

3) Every interior LOOKS neat, but is MADE of crap. Period.

4) The new Liberty looks great, but has that same box look of the Commander, just smaller. I really like it, but then again I wouldn't buy one, either...judging by the fact that the Commander is already being phased out after '08,....

In reality, we have some decent designs, and signs of hope. The new van will do well, the Jeep line is strong aside from the Commander (Compasses ARE selling well, however I am confident the Patriot will cannibalize many sales from it), the Caliber has done well...

The sucky points are the Sebring, Avenger, and Commander for new vehicles, and old ones like the Pacifica, Durango and Magnum are rotting horribly. I think the new Liberty, van and redesigned LXs will help Chrysler a lot...

 

Well...that's what he's talking about doing. If he takes it off the table (sells) there is going to be a capital gains tax come April 2008. Unless he has a seperate capital loss to offset.

 

Its interesting, I have seen more new Sebrings and Avengers than just about any other new vehicle that has come out in the last year. Chrysler just put together a team that their only job is to look at interior quality and to imporve it, but we will have to wait and see the results until any judgement can be made.