Live in Interesting times: Hyundai/ Kia want FCA

mich800 wrote:

wilber1 wrote:

mich800 wrote:

Bionic Man wrote:
Seems to me that merger/purchase would be good for both parties. FCA would give the new company entry into the full size truck, Jeep, minivan, full size car and pony car market. And KIA would bring the small cars that Chrysler has always struggled with.

I thought that is what the Fiat / Chrysler merger was supposed to accomplish.

True but Hyundai/Kia have already built that market in NA, they don't have to start over like Fiat. It could be very good for the Chrysler segment, maybe not so good for Fiat though.

There is truth to that. The small/economy car styling from Fiat does not translate well here. I have put a lot of miles on the 500's and they drive ok. But I would never purchase one because I cannot get passed the horrible styling in my eyes.

But I think Chrysler is running out of time with respect to these mergers/acquisitions. It is like a shelter puppy that has been passed to several homes but not a good fit. Eventually it becomes a dog and nobody wants it. All this is not good from a moral standpoint for the all rank and file workers both on the lines and middle management. At some point they will stop thinking they are part of some bigger plan and wondering when the pink slips will be handed out.

Make no mistake, this is not an indictment of Chrysler. But first hand experience working at companies that have had their organisational structure collapse in an otherwise good business.

I bet I've seen you in your 500 on US 23. There aren't very many around here (Michigan) so I've probably seen you and yours. They are so ugly, one cannot help noticing them.

Like the lime green Dodge Darts. Stand out like a pimple on smooth skin.

SidecarFlip wrote:

mich800 wrote:

wilber1 wrote:

mich800 wrote:

Bionic Man wrote:
Seems to me that merger/purchase would be good for both parties. FCA would give the new company entry into the full size truck, Jeep, minivan, full size car and pony car market. And KIA would bring the small cars that Chrysler has always struggled with.

I thought that is what the Fiat / Chrysler merger was supposed to accomplish.

True but Hyundai/Kia have already built that market in NA, they don't have to start over like Fiat. It could be very good for the Chrysler segment, maybe not so good for Fiat though.

There is truth to that. The small/economy car styling from Fiat does not translate well here. I have put a lot of miles on the 500's and they drive ok. But I would never purchase one because I cannot get passed the horrible styling in my eyes.

But I think Chrysler is running out of time with respect to these mergers/acquisitions. It is like a shelter puppy that has been passed to several homes but not a good fit. Eventually it becomes a dog and nobody wants it. All this is not good from a moral standpoint for the all rank and file workers both on the lines and middle management. At some point they will stop thinking they are part of some bigger plan and wondering when the pink slips will be handed out.

Make no mistake, this is not an indictment of Chrysler. But first hand experience working at companies that have had their organisational structure collapse in an otherwise good business.

I bet I've seen you in your 500 on US 23. There aren't very many around here (Michigan) so I've probably seen you and yours. They are so ugly, one cannot help noticing them.

Like the lime green Dodge Darts. Stand out like a pimple on smooth skin.

If it had an M plate it may have been.

Near Cabelas on US23, Exit 15 in Michigan of course, but it could have been farther north, closer to 96 I live here as well. I rarely see them. See more Mini Coopers than 500's, another car I find kind of pimple like.

Guy down the road has a yellow Smart Car. Really tiny, really ugly. Really unsafe on the road. I don't do small cars well, you are fair game on the highway from everything because, everything is bigger than you and here in Michigan you and I both know that one, no one pays any attention to the speed limit, two, tailgating is a popular pastime, three, hardly anyone uses their turn signals (must be an option on cars in Michigan) and four, because it's a no fault state, no one is at fault when you get mowed down,

Kia is buying back cars due to rust issues, how good can they be?

Yak wrote:
Kia is buying back cars due to rust issues, how good can they be?

Sounds like Nissan with their flying hoods because the hood latches rust in two and the floor pans under the mats / carpeting rust through so you out your feet on the mat and they go to the road instead.

Like Honda with the lethal Takata air bags or GM with the ignition switches that start by themselves.

All have issues, some worse than others, but no car maker is exempt.

RAM's have differential tubes that leak oil, Durango's eat engines....

I could go on for pages....

I think a Hyundai/Kia take over would be better than a Chinese takeover, but either way the Asian's will put their people in the top management positions.

Either way you won't find any of these brands in my garage.

FishOnOne wrote:
I think a Hyundai/Kia take over would be better than a Chinese takeover, but either way the Asian's will put their people in the top management positions.

Either way you won't find any of these brands in my garage.

Hate to break it to you but... They are already in your garage and have been. World Class Manufacturing means sourcing parts and assemblies worldwide (from all those countries), usually at the least expensive price.

The Fiat 500 is a retro design inspired by the 500 Topolino which was hugely popular in Europe from the fifties through to the seventies, similar to the original Minis. Abarth tuned 500's were Italy's version of the original Mini Cooper. In that respect it succeeds quite well but because the original 500 didn't have much of a following in North America, the new one doesn't have the same retro appeal it does in Europe.

The 500 also provides the platform of the 2nd gen Ford Ka, another popular European mini car.

Interesting. They still look like a pimple.

The only Fiat that interests me is the 124 Spider which is a modified Mazda Miata and I would prefer the Mazda over it. FCA really does not have any autos in which I have interest and this appears to be case with other posters in this thread.