Dodge Viper might not be a Dodge in the future

[dayvedayve]

http://money.aol.com/news/articles/_...ons-for/150401

[The_Blur]

Originally Posted by dayvedayve

http://money.aol.com/news/articles/_...ons-for/150401

The Viper could go the way of the Talon. That's just awful. For an American brand, even Dodge, to sell its flagship to foreigners is terrible. If they ever crawl out of their hole, they will regret this, but this is a sign to me that there may not be a Dodge as we know it for very long. :(

[Dan]

I don't know how old that article is since I can't open it at work. Last I heard Dodge had already canceled the Viper.

[dayvedayve]

Chrysler weighs strategic options for Dodge Viper

NEW YORK -Chrysler LLC says it is weighing strategic options for its Dodge Viper business, which could include a sale of the brand.
The automaker says it has been approached by third parties who have shown interest in the sports car line. Chrysler says it will focus on strengthening its core Dodge portfolio, and is rolling out four new Dodge offerings in 2009 — the Journey, Challenger, Durango Hybrid and Ram.
The announcement comes as Chrysler struggles with declining sales brought on by a weak economy and lower demand for its trucks and sport utility vehicles. The Auburn Hills-based automaker's sales have fallen 23 percent through July this year.
Chrysler went private last August after the private equity firm Cerberus Capital Management LP bought a majority stake in the automaker.

2008-08-27 10:56:48

[The_Blur]

Originally Posted by Dan

I don't know how old that article is since I can't open it at work. Last I heard Dodge had already canceled the Viper.

Apparently, Dodge wanted to put the Viper to rest for a while, but no performance automaker can survive selling its flagship. Imagine Bugatti selling the Veyron 16.4. Dodge can stop producing the Viper for a little while to build its other brands, but selling it is a terrible idea—an idea almost as bad as investing in them in the first place right now.

[Angrybird 12]

GM at one time thought about spinning the Corvette off from Chevrolet...

[BitchinCamaro]

New article, old news. I heard that there was a new generation Viper in development that they dropped and are just going to keep building it as is until it becomes unprofitable.

If they do sell it off, I'd love to see Shelby buy it and start making the "Shelby Viper." Since he helped out in the original development of the car, I think it would be fitting.

[Dan]

Originally Posted by The_Blur

Apparently, Dodge wanted to put the Viper to rest for a while, but no performance automaker can survive selling its flagship. Imagine Bugatti selling the Veyron 16.4. Dodge can stop producing the Viper for a little while to build its other brands, but selling it is a terrible idea—an idea almost as bad as investing in them in the first place right now.

Perhaps but then Bugatti isn't dancing on the razors edge of bankruptcy either.

[BowtieGuy]

Originally Posted by dayvedayve

Chrysler weighs strategic options for Dodge Viper

NEW YORK -Chrysler LLC says it is weighing strategic options for its Dodge Viper business, which could include a sale of the brand.
The automaker says it has been approached by third parties who have shown interest in the sports car line. Chrysler says it will focus on strengthening its core Dodge portfolio, and is rolling out four new Dodge offerings in 2009 — the Journey, Challenger, Durango Hybrid and Ram.
The announcement comes as Chrysler struggles with declining sales brought on by a weak economy and lower demand for its trucks and sport utility vehicles. The Auburn Hills-based automaker's sales have fallen 23 percent through July this year.
Chrysler went private last August after the private equity firm Cerberus Capital Management LP bought a majority stake in the automaker.

2008-08-27 10:56:48

This is why Dodge will ultimately fail. Despite what is going on in the American economy, and what every other automaker is doing, they still "roll out" three new gas gobblers (and I bet they're insanely oversized too!). The hybrid probably isn't any better. They can't hardly give Rams away where I live, despite selling them at near 50% off MSRP, and they have a new one? The minivan is dead, bye bye Journey. The Challenger may be a good vehicle, but it's almost a niche market car. Bad moves all, Chrysler.

[kevin2323]

This is old news. The viper is not going to be produced beyond 2011-2012. It just cost way too much to make.

[kevin2323]

Originally Posted by BowtieGuy

This is why Dodge will ultimately fail. Despite what is going on in the American economy, and what every other automaker is doing, they still "roll out" three new gas gobblers (and I bet they're insanely oversized too!). The hybrid probably isn't any better. They can't hardly give Rams away where I live, despite selling them at near 50% off MSRP, and they have a new one? The minivan is dead, bye bye Journey. The Challenger may be a good vehicle, but it's almost a niche market car. Bad moves all, Chrysler.

Why do you think they redesigned the ram. They know what they are doing and yes they have made many bad moves but the ram will sell alot next year especially with the improved gas millage on the new one.

[BowtieGuy]

I wondered how long it would take that comment to flush you out kevin, lol.

Improved gas mileage? What, 18 hwy? lol.

[radz28]

Originally Posted by kevin2323

This is old news. The viper is not going to be produced beyond 2011-2012. It just cost way too much to make.

Originally Posted by kevin2323

Why do you think they redesigned the ram. They know what they are doing and yes they have made many bad moves but the ram will sell alot next year especially with the improved gas millage on the new one.

ARE YOU SHEETING ME?! That is terrible, in all seriousness. For many years, I can remember pulling my hair out at the Corvette being beat in many performance test by the Viper and to think that may end soon just plain sucks. As much as I love the Corvette, I'd hate to see the Viper go; even more if it were to be sold to another company. From the information put here though, for as many as it sells, I can't see that it helps Mopar in making money. What's the point in a product that doesn't return a profit?...

DUDE, I've read a couple articles on the Ram and have to say that, IMHO, a truck manufacturer finally got things in perspective. Why in the world would someone want a 5500 lb. truck, that's rated as a half-ton, but has all the burdon of that strength burdoning fuel efficiency, among other things? I can completely see that a lot of people, including me, would want a truck with as high a capacity as possible. With gas how it is, and how it's likely going to get in a couple years, if you aren't using it to it's full capacity, it's just a waste. I'm not suggesting that I know what people want nor that those people should be told what to buy, just, for me, if I only need a half-ton, that's what I want to get. If I need to pull an 8,000 lb. trailer, I should get a 3/4 or 1-ton, but the lighter the truck, the better (obviously.) Anyway, I think Mopar is getting closer to the bullseye, but I hope they don't let the Viper go.

[kevin2323]

Originally Posted by BowtieGuy

I wondered how long it would take that comment to flush you out kevin, lol.

Improved gas mileage? What, 18 hwy? lol.

20 but who's counting

[kevin2323]

Originally Posted by radz282003

ARE YOU SHEETING ME?! That is terrible, in all seriousness. For many years, I can remember pulling my hair out at the Corvette being beat in many performance test by the Viper and to think that may end soon just plain sucks. As much as I love the Corvette, I'd hate to see the Viper go; even more if it were to be sold to another company. From the information put here though, for as many as it sells, I can't see that it helps Mopar in making money. What's the point in a product that doesn't return a profit?...

DUDE, I've read a couple articles on the Ram and have to say that, IMHO, a truck manufacturer finally got things in perspective. Why in the world would someone want a 5500 lb. truck, that's rated as a half-ton, but has all the burdon of that strength burdoning fuel efficiency, among other things? I can completely see that a lot of people, including me, would want a truck with as high a capacity as possible. With gas how it is, and how it's likely going to get in a couple years, if you aren't using it to it's full capacity, it's just a waste. I'm not suggesting that I know what people want nor that those people should be told what to buy, just, for me, if I only need a half-ton, that's what I want to get. If I need to pull an 8,000 lb. trailer, I should get a 3/4 or 1-ton, but the lighter the truck, the better (obviously.) Anyway, I think Mopar is getting closer to the bullseye, but I hope they don't let the Viper go.

Trust me I love the viper more than any other dodge product everrrr. But I dont want the company that I support to go down just to keep a car produced that doesnt make them profit. It sucks but hopefully they get rid of it and dont sell it. Then later on if things get better bring it back.

I also agree with you on the whole truck thing. If toyota was smart and didnt make the tundra a Ram carbon copy without the reliability, they would be selling those light old tundra models like crazy. But they took a gamble and are suffering as well in the truck department. You pick the size that you need period.

[radz28]

Originally Posted by kevin2323

Trust me I love the viper more than any other dodge product everrrr. But I dont want the company that I support to go down just to keep a car produced that doesnt make them profit. It sucks but hopefully they get rid of it and dont sell it. Then later on if things get better bring it back.

I also agree with you on the whole truck thing. If toyota was smart and didnt make the tundra a Ram carbon copy without the reliability, they would be selling those light old tundra models like crazy. But they took a gamble and are suffering as well in the truck department. You pick the size that you need period.

OH MAN THEY DID! Who would've thought gas would go up so quick though? I'm sure Dodge has set a trend now though, and I don't think that's such a bad thing.

[kevin2323]

Originally Posted by radz282003

OH MAN THEY DID! Who would've thought gas would go up so quick though? I'm sure Dodge has set a trend now though, and I don't think that's such a bad thing.

I agree

[BowtieGuy]

A trend for what? Absurdly large trucks? Are they performers where trucks are required, by all means. Are they very ergonomic everywhere else? That one may be debatable. But then, what isn't on this site?

[DGthe3]

As I understand it, the mention of the Viper being discontinued was first made months ago and has since been dismissed. I assume this is still true. But it wouldn't be the first time a member of the the Big Three ended production of a sporty car while its lower performing rival lived on . . .

[TAG UR IT]

I sure hope Dodge doesn't sell the Viper off. It just goes along w/ all the supercars....along the vette and others (like mentioned). I don't think selling this off is going to do anything for the Dodge we know today....it's just going to tear apart the company...piece by piece...