Leaderboard

In 2012, South Korea lowered its tariffs on U.S. cars to 4 percent from 8 percent For reference, the tariff for US cars entering the EU is 10%. For US cars entering China, it is currently 25% but will drop to 15% on July 1. Japan has no import tariff on US cars, however Japanese market tastes are... unique... and American cars aren't suited for that market, so an increase in tariffs on Japanese cars isn't going to balance the trade. Tariffs for cars imported into the US are 2.5%, and for commercial vehicles, trucks, and 2-door SUVs, the tariff is 25%. This is commonly known as the Chicken Tax. Regardless of the numbers, I still think it is a personal thing between him and Merkel.

Style I generally like, tho if it spent a few moments under the pen of a domestic studio it would come out more finished. Sits a bit high, could use a front bumper & more shrouding of the front wheels. I've advocated for a 'minimalist car' on this board in the past; I DO think something like this has a market out there. Would be interesting with a Sonic 1.4T in it!

I really like these redline editions that Chevy does. I know there isn't anything groundbreaking here, but the package just pulls everything together and looks great.

To a degree... but at the same time he doesn't like Chancellor Merkel. You'll notice it wasn't Korean cars he mentioned wanting to ban. He is just saber rattling on this, but I don't doubt that he'll enact high tariffs if he doesn't get what he wants. It will be fairly devastating to the auto industry on both sides of the pond. Buick in particular would probably die in the US.

Yes. All these sensationalized pieces and article titles are getting out of control. Nobody in their right would think that the actual goal here is to ban German cars. It's to merely level the playing field in regards to taxes as you pointed out.

'60 Eldo Seville; I just LOVE this year/model ~

I prefer the 300 to the Charger as well. I'd love a 300C in that green with a saddle color leather interior.

She's kind of a space heater..I don't need an electric blanket in the winter.

Next Durango will be the 3 row GC variant in the slide, I bet. A Ram branded minivan would be odd. I could see a butched up Pacifica w/ a seven slot grille being a Jeep crossover van... Given how low the sales #s are, Alfa and Maserati seem pointless to continue..

Only value I see in FCA my friend is in Jeep and RAM, and keeping them close to the way they are now. The rest is pretty much throwaway which they could replace with their own lineup (would be cheaper as well) and use the current dealer network.......

Well, it's pretty simple: Chrysler and Dodge were not mentioned because none of the products will be around by 2022. Journey is done at Toluca in mere weeks.... Good chance of a closure of the Brampton plant (300, along with the charger, challenger) will happen as well... Durango and Pacficia could simply end up joining the RAM family... If they want to have a few "special" models. they could just import them from someplace, like China...... As much as I hate the thought-FCA is going to pretty much be Jeep and RAM from here on out..... Want to hope I am totally wrong, but my gut tells me otherwise....

This does bring up an interesting thought...with the sale of Opel, I assume future Buicks will be designed in the US and China and no more Opel-derived models (after the current generation models)? Or does GM have a long term agreement/contract w/ PSA for components and models..

They are pretty darn close. To me, the Chrysler looks a bit more prestigious on the outside. I just like the more upright roofline. It's just a visual preference though. I know most here will prefer the more sport looks of the Charger.

They'll even screw that up. It'll be RJAM or some crap, lol.

I get a grace period. It's actually June, but I spotted this one in May, on the 18th to be exact. It belongs to someone I know. It is a 1994 Impala SS (same as the 1994-1996 Caprice) and is equipped with a 5.7 V8. It is a hobby car for this individual and not a daily driver. It has the buckets and a non-operating console, so the shifter is located on the column. It was explained to me that the shifter was on the console in 1996 ... where it should be. Familiar shape (Caprice) but different execution (Impala SS): This bas relief applique on the rear fender came standard: Old school - turned the "right" way, with the transmission behind it and lots of room. Identical to the 4.3 "baby" V8 of the same years in appearance. The placard is the only way to distinguish them. Don't be scraping off the placard: Look at the clearance between the radiator/fans and the engine. Also, note the pulley diagram. It's a weird one ... all the stuff is on the left: Nice ... only the speedometer is digital (along with the odometer) but everything else is analog. Presumably less to go wrong: Old school center stack, with a cassette player, and a huge glove box bin. Buckets, in leather, but the shifter is not on the console:

Sergio has been very clear about not selling off Jeep / Ram without the others. Jeep / Ram is what is keeping FCA afloat. Chinese wanting an established dealership network would be the only reason if cheap enough to buy Dodge / Chrysler / Fiat. If Chinese did get approval to buy DCF, they would probably be pretty quick to swap out models with Chinese made versions rebadged as those brands. I honestly see more value in Dodge / Chrysler than I do in Fiat.

Being fwd has its advantages. That low load floor height makes these so much easier to get things in and out, plus also gives you about as much internal vertical height you can get without going to a box truck. The nose cone, while....homely.... Is actually designed to be easily and cheaply replaceable such that a person with minimal mechanical skill could perform it themselves if they wished.

I agree, at this point, I could see Sergio selling off Dodge, Chrysler and Fiat for pennies on the dollar to unload those brands and all associated to a chinese auto company wanting to get feet in the door for selling in America. The only problem is Potus 45's trade war makes this unlikely to happen. Partial close down for various lame reasons coming from FCA. FCA soon to be JRAM corporation

Governments picking winners and losers (otherwise known as industrial policy) seldom works well for markets or consumers. Too bad Trump never ran a real multinational corporation: at that point he would recognize that free trade and minimal governmental interference on the consumer-facing side are good things to have as policy. Then again, the GOP rank-and-file probably prefer protectionism (if not autarky), whereas their (former?) leaders and elites actually prefer free trade and NO industrial policy.

FIAT deserves to die (at least in the USA). As for Chrysler and Dodge, merge the two brands at this point.

So a Solar Saturn.....

I would assume they would be aluminum body panels covered in an array of photo-voltaic cells. PV cells don't have the structural integrity to be used as body panels alone.

The idea behind the threat, from my understanding, is to get the tariff on the same level playing field as they tax our cars 10% while we only tax theirs 2.5%, whether it is raising our tariff or getting them to lower theirs. I think there is zero chance they ban German automobiles.

Yet Potus 45 buys Rolls Royce, owned by BMW. So Supporting Germany as he pounds his Imperial America first drum. ? I honestly cannot see this really happening as I think he will hit some very hard road blocks. It will be interesting to see how MB and BMW respond considering that they import in their performance lines last time I checked, so M and AMG would be the hit points more so than the regular auto lines or as the story points out the G-Wagon. The world is getting more and more crazy. ?

These are classics that are so well baked at this point...you can't go wrong. Lack of any options aside, the 2017 Challenger R/T (literally zero options, and cloth with no backup camera...but burbling Hemi) was incredible for the 5000 miles I put on it as a rental for work. Best part, quiet, smoothness, and refinement heft aside, was with the ZF 8-speed, multiple times I got 28-29mpg cruising, with an all time best 29.6 mpg from western PA back to Philly on a Sunday. Yet since, I've driven smaller cars, cars with no power, etc. and struggled to get more than 22-23 highway. Had a V6 2017 Charger SXT rental for a week too, with far nicer technology inside, and even though the 3.6L is no barn stormer, with he 8-speed it's silent and strong. These cars just keep going and going and going... Which makes you wonder...

Another recent Mopar color I like is a dark red I've seen on the Challenger and Charger. Octane Red.

Benz never "gave" anything to Chrysler; pieces/components were SOLD to ChryCo, and in some instances mandated that they be used to boot. I have seen ex-insiders claim the prices were "full development cost" and royalties were also charged for components MB was moving to the next generation of (were worthless to MB). ChryCo was already moving to the RWD LX platform before the take over; the FWD LH platform was engineered to support RWD. MB also had all their US/Germany conference calls billed to Chrysler. Daimler raped & pillaged Chrysler.

I pretty much agree with everything you said here... Feel the same way about the Charger too.....

Get one while you still can

Seems like Chrysler is exiting stage left now anyways...