Is Chrysler Going to the Dogs?
Published: February 20th, 2008
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That is, of course, the logical headline for a column comparing Chrysler's main players to various dog breeds. But Ward's Automotive can't say that, so they go with "Chrysler Bares Teeth in Dog-Eat-Dog Business Climate." If you think that's a bit forced, try reading Eric Mayne's column. It starts off as a clever-ish lead: "This is an historic month. For the first time in Westminster Kennel Club’s 132-year history, a beagle won best-of-show. And precisely this time last year, Chrysler started going to the dogs. [ED: see?] Before the next quarter concluded, the pentastar pack had a new leader – one with three heads." Mayne is like a dog with a bone; he simply refuses to surrender his metaphor. "According to Puppyfind.com, [Chrysler Veep Jim] Press would be a Blue Tick Coonhound. Bred to track crafty game capable of fleeing through a woodland canopy, they are 'good problem-solvers,' the site says." Mayne identifies Vice Chairman and President Tom LaSorda's spirit dog as a Cane Corso Italiano, a.k.a. Italian Mastiff. CEO Bob Nardelli "can only be a Siberian Husky." And then Mayne finally gives us five sentences approaching genuine analysis. Pardon me while I get my pooper scooper.
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I firmly believe Chrysler is headed straight for bankruptcy court yet again. History does have a way of repeating itself. Can a second Chrysler/ government bailout be too far off in the future???? Chrysler always was (and still is???) it seems, the weakest of the domestic 2.8
"# red dawg : February 20th, 2008 at 10:48 pm I firmly believe Chrysler is headed straight for bankruptcy court yet again. History does have a way of repeating itself. Can a second Chrysler/ government bailout be too far off in the future???? Chrysler always was (and still is???) it seems, the weakest of the domestic 2.8" I am not here to defend Chrysler, but they never actually went BK and never used used government bailout money last time. That being said, I don't have faith that they will survive without being purchased by another car compsny.
The only thing Cerberus brings to the table is an "attack of the bean counters". Unfortunately, too many of the offerings from Chrysler and Dodge have already been bean counted into the land of low-rent mediocrity. After a week in a Sebring rental, my feeling was that the car needed quite a bit of redesign to make it commercially viable. The current Sebring struck me as essentially an ok Plymouth, circa 2002. The game is moving forward and another round of products that have been bean countered to death is dog that won't hunt with car buyers.
Approach every situation like a dog: If you can't eat it or hump it, piss on it and walk away.