what if daimler chrysler built cars that looked like mercedes with chrysler quality?
 

back when it was announced that chrysler and mercedes were merging, i remember remarking to a friend that i thought it was great!

cars that would have the style of a chrysler and the quality of a mercedes. but my friend (who i didnt think had this insight in him) said, "yeah but what if it turns out the other way?"

now i am pretty excited about the new chrysler products like the 300 and the magnum (yeah i know they arent new anymore). and i think they represent the simpler mercedes models that mercedes doesnt build anymore. (at least here).

so what do you all think?

tom w

What is MB quality?

What is Chrysler style? :)

tough crowd.

tom w

So far so good.. AFAICanTell.

Chrysler's cars seem to be an inovative step ahead (in styling and in concept) of the GM's and Ford's for the last half decade at least.

Now they need to start building MB's here in the US like Japan does.

Looking at the newest 300 and Magnum wagon (not to mention the Crossfire), the impression that I get is that window glass must have gotten a whole lot more expensive.

I was never impressed with chopped roofs in the 80's, and I'm not impressed with the look of these cars. Give me some windows!

I disagree. I think the Magnum is a GREAT looking wagon... But that's just a matter of personal taste.

However, they ARE well-built cars for the most part. Far ahead of what GM is putting out nowadays, and Ford too. Ford does build nice trucks/vans, though...

As far as the whole Daimler-Benz thing... I think overall, Chrysler has benefitted greatly from the relationship, while Mercedes has suffered.

Mike

Isn't it funny . . .
 

American car makers seem to be trying to improve their quality and to innovate and some of the most popular new cars are the "Retro" models like the Thunderbird, Mustang, Camaro, Dodge Hemi engines, etc.

I sense that I'm not the only one here who would place a high value on a good, solid, well engineered and build car with minimal electronic gadgetry and frills. Oh, yes, and it should run on water. We have plenty of that here, don't we?

Hey, if we can produce a car that runs on water, we can really put the screws to those guys in the Middle East!

what detroit needs to do is stop relying on old designs.. i.e. the retro deal.. come up with something new instead of thinking the golden 50's and 60's cars are what everyone wants.. its not. id much rather want something that is a new style not something old.

What they really need . . .
 

What Detroit really needs is to come up with something that sells better than Japanese and Korean cars. Otherwise, this discussion is pretty much all academic, eh?

Aren't they doing that now? Benz name and price....K car quality.

I disagree... I think it's great that they're putting out new cars with nostalgic influences in the styling!

IF I were going to buy a new American-built car, it would be one of those.... Perhaps the new Mustang, or the Challenger that's supposed to be coming out, or the retro Thunderbird that came out a few years ago....

It's a respectful nod to the "golden era" of automotive styling, and it's a VERY refreshing change from the generic schlock that US car makers have been trying to sell for the past 15 or 20 years.

Classic styling with modern engines, suspension, and other technology... I think it's a winning combination.

Mike

You got it, Mike. If and when the Challenger hits showrooms I'll be looking - something only the new Mustang has got me to do for quite a number of years now.

Man, I learn something every day on this forum. I didn't know Japan was building MBs here in the US.