Intrepidation

We'll see.

That looks like something Max Steel would drive. Badass.

We've decided that its more cost effective to make the 42 minute drive to the closest Market Basket, which is in (tax free) NH, than go to Hannaford 7 minutes away for big shopping trips. Spent $180 for more than two week's worth of food which would have cost closer to $250 at Hannaford. It's worth the $8 in gas.

Mercedes didn't bother to save Chrysler. At the time of the purchase Chrysler didn't need saving. At the time Chrysler was doing very well. They got what they wanted, handed Chrysler a few leftovers from the parts bin, cost cut the hell out of development, then sold the hulk off.

Thanks guys!

Even the wheels have rotors, painted, and labeled calipers.

Never said the 50o wouldn't sell. I don't disagree that the Caliber needs to be replaced, quite badly. Personally, I'd love it if it looked like my render. However, cars don't get designed and engineered in 20 months either. Ask GM how long it took them to do the Cruze, for example. That's just how it is. As far as secretive goes, well its possible. Until 7 or so months ago we didn't really hear or see any spy shots, and now everything besides the Nitro and Liberty have been refreshed or redesigned.

I just realized that they even took the time to mold and paint the two air filters. I would have never seen seen that had I not taken those photos!

Since its not going to be a DD you don't have to worry much about reliability on a daily basis. So long as you're willing to put the time, effort (and money) into maintaining/improving it and are prepared for it you should be fine. I've still got tons to do with my car before I go looking into a weekend car, but I do have an itch for an older project car. Older (like older than `76)cars have got to so much easier to work. Lots more room, lot simpler, no smog equipment. Probably a good way to get started and learn.

So my prize arrived in time for my birthday, which is pretty sweet. The model is just awesome. Amazing detail. From the head and tail light elements which replicate the elements of the real car to the badge, molded "viper" on the rear bumper. Painted coolant overflow tank, wires, wipers, brake calipers and rotors, chrome exhaust tips and even real carpet. The seatbelt buckles are even chromed and the detail inside is so good I can tell that it has an RBQ stereo. Even the underside gets detailing, with molded and silver painted control arms, exhaust, and plates. I love it! Thanks Drew! For anyone thinking about entering the next competition, prizes like this are a real motivator. Also took some photos with my old Viper GTS model I've had for many years. The difference in quality and detail really shows. Both are awesome just the same.

Thanks guys! It ended a lot better than it started. I woke up with a Charlie Horse and that was rather unpleasant. Then of course I had to close. However when I got home Jessica made an awesome dinner for me and then we went to my mom's where her and Jessica had made a cake and surprised me with a nice gaming headset plus a Keurig coffee maker (I've been wanting one for several years now). Just relaxing now. Good day overall.

The thing you have to remember is that GM had a lot of product already in the pipeline ready to go before bankruptcy. Chrysler was starved of product. The refreshes have been done within the last 12 months and the 300 at least was delayed and had substantial changes made to the exterior after Marchionne took the helm. You won't really see the fruits of the Fiat tie-up for a couple years, when all-new models debut. It takes more than 12 months to design and engineer a car after all.

Thanks. My actual birthday is going to be pretty meh, I get to close at work so yay that. We went out for dinner last week though and on my next day off we'll probably do something. I did get a cool thing in the mail that isn't a birthday gift per say, but arrived to coincide with it. I'll get some pictures of that later.

Yep. On the economy front, I'd like to see them go a different route and use fuel efficient diesels personally. It's a different angle of tackling fuel economy and development costs have got to be less.

Makes little sense when you consider that Dodge is the volume leader. It should be: Chrysler - Premium/luxury brand Dodge - Sporty Everyman brand with trucks. Jeep - Offroad enthusiast and sport utility brand with luxury pretensions regarding the GC. The only thing I consolidate is Ram and put it back under the Dodge brand where it belongs, otherwise the brand strategy is perfectly logical. Chrysler's got plenty of room to grow as a luxury brand, and at the very least aim to compete with Buick and Acura, eventually moving up to Cadillac and the like. Marchionne has stated that its his dial for Chrysler brand, we'll see if the future product will back that up. If Chrysler can move upmarket and and not be competitor with Dodge products in the same showroom, its got potential. If not, then it would honestly be more logical to shutter Chrysler in favor of Dodge. As far as "wrong direction" its only been 12 months or so. Most of the product is stopgap until all new models arrive, and some of those have gone from bottom of the back to real class contenders (Journey, Minivans, then there's the new GC, Durango, Charger, and 300).

You should see the collection I have now.

Sure. Whatever.

Another score: $0.27

Doubt it, at a glance they look like last gen Jettas.

Apparently there is some other Camaro interior I've not spent extensive time in, unlike the 2010 2LT RS which I have. I don't really qualify scratchy hard plastic surfaces nearly everywhere (including the sun visors and hand brake), the the uncomfortable steering wheel and uncomfortable shifter as high quality. Someone point me to this higher quality interior so that I may be enlightened. I don't really care that the plastics are hard, never have, except on the visors and hand brake, its the steering wheel and shifter that bug me. The design is great, but the materials used are not. It's bottom of the class for materials. All you need to do is touch the upper dash of the three Mustang, Challenger, and Camaro to see for yourself. That's fine, the Camaro's purpose is for performance, but its not the sort of car you use as an example of interior quality. But don't take my word for it, because what do I know? http://www.edmunds.com/chevrolet/camaro/2011/ http://www.edmunds.com/dodge/challenger/2011/ Anyway, I could have sworn this thread was about the Optima midsize sedan, not muscle cars.

More interesting? Yes. Better quality? Not even close, at least anything below the ZL1, which isn't the same exact interior you get in the base car. Funny that.

For better or worse, in the Camaro's case, worse. Also you don't get the gauge pod in lower end models.