Comments on: Ram Is Becoming A Stand-alone Brand

By: Admin (Jason)

Admin (Jason) — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 04:04:00 +0000

That’s what I thought, but I bet there’s a business case for a big pickup for some people…just like Das4c said.

By: TXTee

TXTee — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 01:43:04 +0000

I just found out today that gas prices are of os much concern you can’t even find 350Zs in Europe. I can only imagine a truck.

By: Das4c

Das4c — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 01:51:16 +0000

Farmer.

By: Admin (Jason)

Admin (Jason) — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 16:32:57 +0000

Das4c – Interesting. I was always under the impression that gas prices were too high for serious interest in real pickups in Europe. Was your buyer a wealthy person looking for a toy or someone who needed a real truck?

By: Das4c

Das4c — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 00:11:38 +0000

The smartest move for Fiat would be to introduce a european version of the American full size pickup. The europeans love them, you can take a full size truck to Germany and get what a lot more then what its worth due to the demand. The only thing they have to do is find a way around their taxing system due to the fact they tax the engine by the size. Thus the reason for 1.2l and a 5.0 V-12 in the BMW. The biggest pickup they have is a ranger. I unloaded a 99 Serria with a 7.4 in 2004 for 3K less than MSRP when I bought it.

By: Mickey

Mickey — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 20:08:55 +0000

Now we know why you have those comments das4c. Go for the bailout you paid for some of that. Might as well as get your money back with a Dodge or Chrysler or Fiat what ever the name will be.

By: Admin (Jason)

Admin (Jason) — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 14:22:11 +0000

Das4c – Fair enough. Iveco is the real deal. The point I was trying to make (and I think it has some legitimacy even in light of your comment) is that Fiat isn’t known for great pickups – they’re known for great cars. Much like Toyota is re-evaluating what they do and who they are, Fiat’s greatest strength is good small cars. If Fiat/Chrysler is starved for cash in 18-24 months, and if the truck market hasn’t heated back up by that time, I wouldn’t be surprised if the Ram was sold off.

By: Das4c

Das4c — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 02:28:59 +0000

Jason, what does “Fiat isn�t really a truck company” mean? Fiat has been making trucks since the early 1900’s. To this day they own company’s such as Iveco. They make commercial trucks, fire trucks and military vehicles. Toyota didn’t come around until what, the 1930’s. Being a European company they will do nothing but improve the Ram series, my next truck hands down! Imagine what they will do with the HEMI! I had a 87 UNO while I lived in europe and it was the best $400.00 car I ever owned for taking a beating! The best thing is they didn’t ask for a bailout! Just they truth.

By: Admin (Jason)

Admin (Jason) — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 21:47:17 +0000

Brian – True. I don’t see Fiat firing anyone (the company is already streamlined), so the current Ram design and development team is probably going to be left intact. However, I’ve read a few times that Chrysler spends 30% less on R&D than most auto manufacturers. I’ve also read that Chrysler has about half as many engineers per vehicle as their competitors. Less R&D and fewer engineers usually equals lower quality (which is where Chrysler is right now). I don’t think Chrysler can afford to keep up with Ford, Toyota, and GM when it comes to the next generation of pickups. My guess? The cost-cutting done under Cerebrus will catch-up with the Ram in a couple of years. When Ford, Toyota, and GM roll out new versions of their half tons, Ram will be peddling the same old rig…

By: Brian

Brian — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 19:51:18 +0000

Chrysler is no longer making the Titan for Nissan. That relationship went sour.