Topic: Chrysler Death Watch

[Bubba]

As more stories like the Chrysler Death Watch series hit the web (http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/chrysler-suicide-watch-34-end-game/), I wonder more if buying the Sebring in November '06 was a bad idea.  The car isn't worth much on a trade-in already ($4,500 black book), and if Chrysler goes out of business, the trade-in value will likely be reduced to near zero.  Also, initially, I had hoped to keep this car for 10 years or so, but parts might be a problem too.

Any comments?

[Zoo]

There's lots of speculation around this issue on the web, in car mags, on the dealer floor etc.

If you wanted to sell your car in the short term you would likely take a steeper depreciation hit than you might like. Since you are keeping it longer term I would sleep soundly at night. Why? Your car is likely to be sold for some time and from I can see it is on some rental fleets so there is a lot of parts out there and there will be a ready supply of used parts that could be rebuilt if necessary.

I foresee a smaller Chrysler and I wonder if Jeep will get sold to another company (the only thing I still see left over from AMC after Chrysler bought them out). Isn't Jim Press with Chrysler now? He seems like a pretty sharp guy to try to turn things around.

[KRS]

 As long as you like the car I suspect your in good shape to keep it going for many years. As the owner of an AMC that Dodge has not supported appreciably, I can say that a number of other sources will spring up to help you keep the car running most likely for another 30 years if you wish. If you are looking to change cars though an end of the chrysler brand will be bad news for you as it will likely drop price rapidly at least in the short term. As long as you like your vehicle I don't think you made a mistake. If you are not loving it, though, it may be a good time to look at what you would like to replace it with while it retains some value

 

[dr_spock]

If resale value is going to plummet, why not buy another Sebring for parts when that happens?   Or be creative like those Cubans. 

[Cord]

Any comments?

Sure. It sounds like somebody is trying to work up a justification for getting a new car.

[gta_driver]

The website truthaboutcars (although a fun read at first) is website run by folks who hate all domestic car companies and have an obvious Toyota bias (see screen capture below). I take everything they write with a grain of salt. If they didn't take Toyota advertising dollars and wrote "love in" articles about Japanese cars, I would take them seriously. I think some of their deatwatch series will outlast the website.

[rrocket]

So are you saying the only manufacturer that advertises with them is Toyota?

[Bubba]

Have a look at how they rate Toyotas.  I would not call TTAC a love-in site for Toyota products.

http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/toyota/

[Zoo]

Whether biased or not (and who isn't baised anyways) it is certainly an entertaining read.

[Arthur Dent]

They made a lot of Sebrings - parts supply won't be an issue for at least 10 years yet.

[Rupert]

Most of our purchases for transportation have been Chrysler product. We own one at present. They have always been satisfactory and engines have never let us down.

[mmret]

Most of our purchases for transportation have been Chrysler product. We own one at present. They have always been satisfactory and engines have never let us down.

Which is utterly irrelevant to the topic at hand.

[initial_D]

I think Chrysler is already DEAD when Daimler Benz bought it ... now it is just a company that will get tossed and played pass the bucket ... somebody hope to make a go of it, if not, pass it on.

[Thinking Out Loud]

  Also, initially, I had hoped to keep this car for 10 years or so, but parts might be a problem too.

Any comments?

I had a 2000 Daewoo Lanos my F-in-L bought out and he is still getting parts from (what was once) 401-Dixie Daewoo.

Daewoo checked out at least 4 years ago, although many of the Daewoos were produced internationally so parts are available - even for the limited number ever sold in N/A.

Chrysler should be NO problem for parts, even if they packed it in tomorrow.

[Cortina]

Any comments?

There are a lot of sebrings out there. So if the car gives you no trouble you should be fine at least for a few more years. 

[Bubba]

Any comments?

There are a lot of sebrings out there. So if the car gives you no trouble you should be fine at least for a few more years. 

So far, so good.  My average gas consumption is at 9.4L/100 km and the car has needed regular maintenance only. 

[Thinking Out Loud]

Watch for front end suspension issues - CV joints if I recall - as a friend of mine had isses with his.

[TopGun]

Chrysler should be NO problem for parts, even if they packed it in tomorrow.

 ...I have had no issue maintaining a "vehicle" of which ~ 35,000 were made...and they stopped production in the mid '80's.

Unless you want a new car of course...

[Bubba]

Unless you want a new car of course...

I'd love a new car, but my financial planner would have a stroke.