Let's talk about the Dodge Promaster Van

We just came back from a 7 weeks trip to France Italy, Albenia and Greece
Most of those 7 weeks were spent in a rented Fiat-Ducator Class B, exactly like this one:
AVIS RENT A CAMPER
It was equiped with 2.3liter 4 cylinder turbo diesel engine with the 6 speed manual transmission.
I found the vehicle to be very well built, fun to drive with excellent road manners and handling (surely in account of its front wheel drive set-up).The engine had all the guts I needed in the Alps and returned well over 30mpg.
As compared to my Benz Sprinter based Roatreck:
The Fiat is much more stable in high winds (again, front wheel drive)and does not lean as much as the Benz in tight curves.
The Benz engine is more quiet when labouring.
The Benz is roomier and feels much heavier.
The Fiat has an incredibly short turn radius, much shorter then the Benz and feels very agile as compared to the Benz.
The Fiat is much lower to the ground and easier to get in (again, the front wheel drive advantage. It has a very low floor ans there is no need for a bulky drive shaft and rear differential.

In Europe, from what I have seen, there are 10 to 12 Fiat-Ducato camper for each Sprinter based camper. (price is certainly a factor)

Avida has done a ToyHauler/Class B version of the Ducato. Called the Escape.

Fastpaddler wrote:
Question: If Fiat wholly owns Chrysler and Fiat is losing money in Europe, what strategy do we all anticipate will work to keep this unholy alliance viable and, in specific terms vis a vis RVs how will that emerge in terms of quality, dollar-value products which retain a respectable percentage re depreciation. The FWD chassis that our Aussie friend, Robert Ryan says is de rigeur in Europe, will it retain the same or better market share in America, arguably, the biggest market for these products.

Personally whatever the market desires really. We differ from the Europeans in having IVECO, Sprinter and Ducato and was Transit bases in that order. Some heavier Class C's on Japanese light truck(do not exist in Europe). Across the Ditch from us New Zealand has more Japanese truck based units. There have been some Econoline based units sold as Gas Class A's but far from a great success as the Isuzu based Class C units vastly hold their price in comparison to the US Gas Class A's.
My suggestion wait for the diesel Promaster as it may have enough "grunt" to be a reasonable tow vehicle. The V6 Promaster would not be able to pull the skin of a tapioca pudding.

Question: If Fiat wholly owns Chrysler and Fiat is losing money in Europe, what strategy do we all anticipate will work to keep this unholy alliance viable and, in specific terms vis a vis RVs how will that emerge in terms of quality, dollar-value products which retain a respectable percentage re depreciation. The FWD chassis that our Aussie friend, Robert Ryan says is de rigeur in Europe, will it retain the same or better market share in America, arguably, the biggest market for these products. I feel it might with commercial vehicles but with RV conversions, I have some concerns, as I have simply stated earlier in terms of FWD and power/weight/towing and so on. Nobody knows really. I hope it all works out. Cheaper prices for RV conversions is the salient factor for all of we rvers.
IMHo
AL

I thought the video about the Travato showes something good. The Travato has an imaginative layout. Maybe they did some things trying to get the price down, but it showed some new approaches-such as that fold down bed. I think the whole B industry will benefit from new thinking. Also, appealing low and mid-priced Units should have a downward pressure on prices.

More on the Company structure.

In a separate announcement today, Chrysler and Fiat said their combined company will be renamed Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV. It will be incorporated in the Netherlands; have a fiscal domicile in the U.K. for tax purposes; and have its primary listing on the New York Stock Exchange and secondary listing in Milan. The automakers' merger was announced Jan 1.

bobojay wrote:
Interesting, the thoughts were that they were going to headquarter in Britain

Still could have HQ in Britan for tax purposes.

Mlts22 wrote:
Just FYI, as of today Fiat is no more. It is now Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, and headquartered in the Netherlands. Does this mean anything other than a top level reorg? Nope. However, it does change the name of the company to FCA or for the ProMaster, Dodge still works.

As for PMs in the country, believe it or not, even in the very rural dealerships, I'm seeing them on the lots. They seem to be selling.

Sounds like it is fairly rapidly following the European use of the Ducato. As far RAM and Dodge ,Sergio is not a fan of Dodge and will be replacing it with RAM.
I think there will be some confusion with what Chrysler is more it was than under Mercedes ownership. The Ducato and the VM Motori engined RAM 1500 and Jeeps are a long way from "MOPAR". Also "Dodge" will not be coming back to NASCAR.

Interesting, the thoughts were that they were going to headquarter in Britain