Chyrsler Quality

Just picked up a new Town and Country Limited. Perhaps to support the
generous rebates I noted that Chrysler has replaced the Mich MX4 tires with
the decidedly inferior and less expensive OEM Bridgestone EL42's. Also, the
quality of the leather used on the seats is nothing like the quality used in
the past in this vehicle. It now looks just like vinyl and is quite stiff.

As for quality, the front window came with significant optical distortion,
the plastic molding for the upper dash has molding defects one would not
expect to see in a Yugo. Don't get me wrong, we like the vehicle a lot, but
Chrysler could forgo movable pedals for better tires, and could pay closer
attention to the quality of the parts it receives from suppliers. On this
point Consumer Reports had it right, I am sad to say.

Richard.

 

That explains it. Who cares. It's a small bus. After all, it's not
like you bought it because you wanted to impress the chicks. It's
basic mass-transportation. It's ain't no sports sedan. (yea, I know
the flames are coming. You're wasting your time).

What - you think you're driving a sports car?

How are they going to sell the mini-bus to short soccer moms who don't
driver faster than 30 mph in the rain?

Seriously, if you think Chrysler made a bad move swapping better tires
with movable pedals then you bought the wrong vehicle.

 

On my 300M (2001) all the windows except the rear window, have significant
optical distortion. But the people from Chrysler are unwilling, or unwanting
to see it.

 

OK... so you must have test drove the van before you bought it - or did you?
NO....THEN WHY THE HELL DID YOU BUY IT? And if you did look at a simular
van from Toyoto or GM, I am sure it would have been thousands of dollars
more. You get what you pay for. as they say. OHHH... and Yea... it is really
only a "Mommy Car"

Dan

 

You get what you pay for. as they say. OHHH... and Yea... it is really

Yes, that was my point. Chrysler is fighting the rebate wars it must fight
and financing that, in part, by switching to less expensive leather and
tires. But even with its flaws, the vehicle is very nice for the price. But
if Chrysler thinks that all it needs to fight Honda and Toy is to put in
folding middle and rear seats, I think that may be a mistake. Quality and
dependability is what will sell these vehicles without huge rebates, IMO. As
it stands the Town and Country Limited with DVD display and sunroof was
still 5 to 8 thousands dollars less than the Honda and Toy. It may be a
mom's car, but I will smile when I switch the OEM tires for new Mich Hydro
tires for an extra $300.00.

Richard.

 

really

But, the real warning that your missing is that it seems comparing the
current year's
interation with a prior year, the current year is lacking.

If the current T&C is made worse and designed worse than, say, a 5 year old
T&C, then
in my opinion you have a problem. That's a linear progression which is
going to end
the vehicle model going to the Great Auto Graveyard in the Sky.

Ted

 

A few weeks ago I was at a Chrysler lot looking at the Pacifica.
Started looking at new 300M's to see the changes from my 99. The trim
around the windshields of every one I looked at was put in
defectively. I can imagine anyone interested in buying one would exit
quickly after looking at the obviously poor assembly.

 

Sounds like we can blame that on Juergen Schrempp's management team. The
agitation about the decline in quality -- interior included -- of the
Mercedes-Benz Division is enormous.

DAS

 

To clarify, the windshield trim I was talking about was on the outside
of the car so the sloppiness was obvious to the casual observer.
Basically the black side molding of the windshield were only half
installed on the several 300M's I was near.

 

Art,

Thanks for saving me a trip to the Chrysler dealership. My 81 Plymouth
Horizon had rust from day 1 and a sloppy paintjob with drip marks visible.
I had thought that maybe...just MAYBE they would have their quality problems
under control 22 years later.... I'll stick with Toyota and Honda.

 

If you haven't owned a Chrysler in 20+ years, why do you still read this ng?


Matt

 

Well I have a 99 300M and a 2001 Avalon. The 300M is a superior car.
But it sure looks like they are being sloppy putting the new ones
together. Even so, if I was buying a similar sized car now, I would
look for a well put together 300M and buy it over the Avalon. The
300M may have some manufacturing defects that the dealer can fix but
the Avalon has (in my opinion) major design flaws that cannot be
changed.

 

I have a 94 New Yorker and I love it, no problems what so ever except for
that regular maintanance, oil, aligment, filters, etc...Has150,000k driving
40k every day for the past 2 years. Got it for $1,500 and now it looks like
at least $3,000. I don't think I will ever buy a new car coz they are all
the same, as long as you keep up with the maintanance, they'll last a while,
I rather pay for a house, at least they go up in value and not down like all
the cars do as soon as they leave the dealer.
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