Live in Interesting times: Hyundai/ Kia want FCA

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,

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.

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.

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.

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.

Most any vehicle will last at least 150K miles with proper care, barring corrosion, which is always an issue up here in the north. Even aluminum Fords will rust eventually, not red oxide but white oxide instead.

Me Again wrote:
Hyundai/ Kia, I had a friend that was the manager of the Port of Everett, tell me years ago that they were going to be a major player in the auto industry. He traveled a lot to the Asian countries as part of marketing his port. Guess what, he was correct some 30-40 years ago. Chris

Absolutely. When we first started seeing Hyundais in the mid 80's they were garbage. They stuck with it and their quality has improved to rival the Japanese. My gf has a 2010 Kia Forte with over 100,000 miles, zero mechanical or other issues. It should go another 100,000 easy.

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.

Interesting that only the Chrysler arm of Fiat makes any money. Fiat's may be popular in Europe but here, their Fiat 500 / Abarth bombed. Who wants a tiny car with about as much style as an unmade bed. The other Euro vehicles are niche vehicles at best.

Not sure about Italy's labor situation but I've heard it's not good.

First Diamler bought Chrysler (not for the company but for the cash in the employer part of the pension fund, which they drained), then, Fiat comes along and buy what's left and now Fiat wants to sell out.

Tells me something.

Whatever happens it will impact the rank and file employees here. Hopefully, not adversely. I live in an area where Jeep has a huge presence employee wise.

Had one CJ years ago, I'd never buy another.

Hyundai/ Kia, I had a friend that was the manager of the Port of Everett, tell me years ago that they were going to be a major player in the auto industry. He traveled a lot to the Asian countries as part of marketing his port. Guess what, he was correct some 30-40 years ago. Chris

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.