Why would anyone buy a GM or a Chrysler vehicle?

Question 1
Why would anyone buy a GM or a Chrysler vehicle?...  It just doesn't make sense why anyone would support a company that has bailed out union losers at the expense of the American taxpayer.

I think it is more patriotic to buy foreign than to support these pathetic companies.

Answers
1)   Buy a Ford product. - William W

2)   Sure why not? My dad has a '98 Grand Cherokee - a Jeep - which is a Chrysler vehicle. 150k miles and still running strong. Just had a tune-up done on it.

My dad used to have lots of GM cars back in the 60's and 70's - back when American cars were the best machines on the road. GM still makes nice stuff. Depends what you buy though. I would stay away from like a Cobalt or some other deathtrap like that. They make nice trucks. I'd buy a Cadillac.

Either way - it's better than buying a Toyota because GM never had a recall on a sticky gas pedal.

Any car is a good car if you maintain it properly and don't beat it all to shit. I drove a '95 Civic all throughout high school. I bought an EX, sold the engine that came with the car because I bought a JDM B16A for it. I just wanted more power. One it came with was a 125hp 1.6 liter. I put in a 168 hp 1.6 liter. NEVER EVER had one problem with it. The Japanese made Honda stuff is 10x better than the US stuff.

I agree with the Ford guy. Ford makes some pretty nice cars these days. There are alot of myths that they're crappy. That's not true at all. In fact, I might buy a Ford before a Chrysler or GM product.

Currently I drive an '08 VW Jetta. Very nice cars. My parents have an '06 Mercedes Benz E350. German cars are very, very nice but expensive.

I think all around, Ford is not a bad way to go at all.

I will also say this - there isn't a car rolling off the line today that is 100% made in the USA. My VW is only 42% manufactured in Germany. The rest of the car is made in Mexico and assembled in the US. My buddy's Honda del Sol was made in Canada. My Honda I had in high school was built in the USA- it had a sticker under the hood that said so. The only 100% made in the USA cars you would find these days are muscle cars and other American made collector cars. - Mike

3)   How is buying a foreign car patriotic? Only a handful of the jobs are in the US. None of the profits stay in the US. And if you don't want to support them they wont have any money to continue to pay back the LOANS. But I'm sure you knew that GM is paying theirs back with interest. Chrysler paid their previous one back with interest too. They also provide American jobs.

Would you prefer to buy a Toyota? The Japanese government bailed them out. The US government gave them (and all the other imports) billions in tax discounts to build a couple plants here.

Maybe you like the German companies? They got bailed out by their government (who owns a large part of VW/Audi/Porsche). They also got tax discounts to build in the US. - emiller1998

4)   Dr. Phil is fond of asking, "Would you rather be right or be happy?" - often the two are not the same.

I confess to being prejudiced against Chrysler products (I don't see they have cleaned up their act since my disastrous 1984 Dodge 600ES) but GM makes some good products. They are not perfect - Dex-cool is a continuing blotch on otherwise reasonably designed cars - but if you do your homework you can find some really good values. When my daughter was looking for a used car that met her needs, we found a 2004 Classic. I did the research and she bought it for a very attractive price. A year later it has been as good as I expected. - Michael

5)   i hate to say it but ten years ago i would have defended them to the death. BUT now i just dont know now. what screwed them was they stopped focusing on building good cars and started building cheap cars. with absolutely no quality control. they refused to make vehicles that were fuel efficient. the unions killed them. honestly does a guy who puts lugnuts on all day deserve 24 dollars an hr. i dont think so. sure its tedious but come on. - banky

6)   Buy a GM or Chrysler. The gas pedals don't get stuck and you live. - C-Tech

7)   Think about what you do for a living, mabye it would be better to outsource your job. Someone will do it better for cheaper. Even if the government had to bail out the auto industry it is because some people would by foreign cars in the first place. If we support our local economy before someone elses then we would all be better off... That an domestic cars dont have sticky gas pedals!! - The answer man

8)   Well Rick, If you want to be patriotic and not buy from the big 3, then buy from a foreign company that builds their stuff in America. I bought a Kawasaki motorcycle years ago and found out it was made here in the states. My Kia is now being made in the states and so are a lot of the foreign stuff. Check out the serial no. It has the place of origin on it. But you will have to have the dealer decipher it. - Jackolantern

9)   Stupid question, Rick. Many of us keep getting the same make that we have gotten great service out of for years.. - done wrenching


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Question 2
what does the PT in a PT Cruiser stand for?...  

Answers
1)   Chrysler PT Cruiser
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Chrysler PT Cruiser

ManufacturerDaimlerChrysler (2001-07)
Chrysler LLC (2007-2009)
Chrysler Group LLC (2009-)
Production2000—present
AssemblyToluca, Mexico
Graz, Austria (2002, Magna Steyr)
ClassCompact
Body style(s)5-door station wagon/hatchback
2-door convertible
LayoutFF layout
PlatformChrysler PT platform
Engine(s)2.4 L EDZ I4
2.4 L EDT Turbocharged I4
2.4 L EDV Turbocharged HO I4
Transmission(s)5-speed Getrag manual
4-speed 41TE automatic
Wheelbase103 in (2,616 mm)
Length2001-05: 168.8 in (4,288 mm)
2006- : 168.9 in (4,290 mm)
Width67.1 in (1,704 mm)
Height63 in (1,600 mm)
Convertible: 60.6 in (1,539 mm)
Curb weight3,123 lb (1,417 kg)
Fuel capacity15 US gal (56.8 L; 12.5 imp gal)
DesignerBryan Nesbitt
The Chrysler PT Cruiser is a retro-styled compact automobile that was first launched by Chrysler as a sedan/hatchback in the late 1999 (for the 2000 model lineup) and as a coupe/convertible in early 2005 (for the 2005 model lineup).
Originally conceived as a Plymouth model, the PT Cruiser received the Chrysler nameplate on introduction — in anticipation of the 2001 discontinuation of the Plymouth brand. The PT Cruiser was designed by Bryan Nesbitt, who later also styled the Chevrolet HHR.[1] The name PT Cruiser includes the initialism PT, standing for and designating the car's platform as well as production code. The name also recalls the 1930s line of Plymouth Trucks known by the "PT" moniker.
The convertible officially ceased production December 21, 2007, but the last 2007 convertibles were marketed as 2008 models. On January 12, 2009, Chrysler LLC, under the private equity Cerberus Capital Management investor, also announced the gradual discontinuation of the main model.
On July 6, 2009, after reorganization into the "New Chrysler", the company changed plans to discontinue the model by specifying that it will do so for Canadian and Mexican markets only.[2] However, strategic product plans may call for a discontinuation of this legacy model under Fiat management.[3] - Joe G

2)   PT is the body code for that car. - NiER

3)   personal transport - toby

4)   Personal Transportation - C-Tech


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Question 3
Do jaguar car parts cost more than Chrysler?...  Im looking to buy a 2002 Jaguar, I currently have a 1999 Chrysler 300m.....can I bring the jaguar to the same mechanic? And are parts more expensive on the jag?

Thanks

Answers
1)   Unfortunately the probability is yes. I worked at a delership for over 10 yrs. On that dealership was sold: Nissan, Isuzu, Buick, Landrover and Jaguar. The more "exotic" of a car you buy the more you will pay for parts and service. Even if the part is identical to one going on a Chrysler. But don't expect this honest of an answer from your sales person, delership or mechanic. - jack

2)   Typically, Yes - Tom

3)   Oh yes. your looking at a big difference. try hundreds more.
jaguars are one of the more costly fixers.

i had a buddy of mine get one just because he could. (one of those guys)
starter went out. wow. over 4 hundred at a jag shop!!!

american cars are 99% of the time going to be cheaper to fix. in short. dont do it. - mopar mayhem


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Question 4
is this sebring with a blown engine worth 900 bucks? pix included?...  people on craigslist keep asking $200 and $300, but am i crazy for asking 900? it just needs a new engine, otherwise its a decent car. what do you think? im going nuts....my livelihood is pretty much down the drain, and ppl want to give me 200 bucks for it =[ lol help mee

Answers
1)   Sebrings are worth diddly squat, dead or alive. They are the most unreliable cars ever created next to Daewoo. They want to give you only so much for it b/c they will have to spend unholy amounts of money either bringing it back to life or stripping it of useful parts (that's not many). Let this be a lesson in life not to own a Sebring ever again. - The Eagle Keeper

2)   " it JUST needs a new engine",,,to most people that's no small thing...what yr? what mileage? if over 125K what else does it need,,,i can find plenty of RUNNING sebrings running for 2K or less...why by one that needs 2 to 4K engine wise and God only know know what else....tires,brakes,suspension???/ - pedro7of9

3)   The worst car I have ever driven in is probably a Sebring. Poor workmanship, malfunctioning everything, stuff just falling apart, etc. If the engine is blown, $300 might be the most you'll get for it. Either that or scrap it and get some money for it. I'm surprised anyone actually offered money for that. Someone can get a Sebring that runs for only $1000 more, so I'd take the highest offer you have so far. - kory d


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Question 5
1996 Chrysler Concorde ABS and Traction Control lights on?...  I hadn't driven or started the car in over 6 weeks, during which time the weather was very snowy and cold (down to at least -10 F). It had to be jumped in order to start it back up. Now the ABS light is on as well as the light that says "Traction Control Off" (I tried to just switch it back on--no dice). Could sitting in the driveway for a long time (and in cold weather) have anything to do with the lights? Otherwise, what could cause this issue and what would be the approximate cost to fix what's wrong?
Also, do I risk causing more damage to the car by driving it this way? I understand it's not as safe to drive w/o ABS and traction control, but is it bad for my car to drive without them?

Answers
1)   I am aware of 3 things that could cause this, 1. You could have a cracked tone ring on one of the front axles. 2. A rodent could have chewed through some wiring. 3. Corrosion in the HCU.
Any where from $300 to $1200. - buddy_236

2)   It's most likely either a bad sensor, a broken wire, or something similar.

While a cracked tone ring would cause the light to come on, I've never seen a tone ring get cracked fro anything other than an impact (such as in a wreck, hitting a curb straight on, or other hard impact that would've caused other damage along with it) or trying to remove it during a repair or replacement. In other words, it's very highly unlikely to be a broken tone wheel.

It could be a rodent chewed wires, but not too many rodents running around outside in very cold weather, unless there was a warm spell while it was parked, but before the snow fell. While not impossible, it's not very likely to be the problem if it's been cold the entire time it's been parked.

The absolute best way to find out for sure what is wrong with it is to take it to your local dealer and have them check it out to see what the problem is. It may cost a little more than the local independent repair shops, but the better knowledge, training, equipment, and access to information will be well worth what little bit extra you'll pay for.

The cost will vary by the local labor rates, and by what is wrong with the system. It's hard to really give an idea since it could be anywhere from $100 to $2000 or more. The cost to find out should run anywhere from around $75 to about $125 (or maybe even a bit more), some shops won't charge the checkout fee if you have the repair done, some will always ask first to be sure of their policy.

There's just way more than 3 things that could be wrong with the sytem and it could be something simple and cheap, or something very expensive. - Mark B


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