Comments on: Chrysler to offer cloth and hardtop Sebring convertibles http://www.leftlanenews.com/chrysler-to-offer-cloth-and-hardtop-sebring-convertibles.html Car news, reviews, and specs for the auto-industry Fri, 10 Feb 2012 23:25:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Mike http://www.leftlanenews.com/chrysler-to-offer-cloth-and-hardtop-sebring-convertibles.html#comment-90080 Mike Tue, 06 Jun 2006 13:23:54 +0000 http://www.leftlanenews.com/2006/06/05/chrysler-to-offer-cloth-and-hardtop-sebring-convertibles/#comment-90080 Minimal development costs, one of teh benifits of Flexible manufacturing that DCX is implementing now. For instance: In just 3 months on the market with advertising for only 1.5 months, the Caliber has sold 36,000 units. The "break even" point for this PLATFORM is 100k units. That means that once DCX hits 100k Caliber+Compass+Patriot+4th+5th+6th+7th, above that they are in the green. The costs to alter the model lines are so miniscule that it does not affect profit margins at all, and production takes less than 24hrs to switch from one model to another (based on the same platform) The tooling for both hard and soft top are not an issue for DCX's manufacturing process. Minimal development costs, one of teh benifits of Flexible manufacturing that DCX is implementing now.

For instance: In just 3 months on the market with advertising for only 1.5 months, the Caliber has sold 36,000 units. The “break even” point for this PLATFORM is 100k units. That means that once DCX hits 100k Caliber+Compass+Patriot+4th+5th+6th+7th, above that they are in the green. The costs to alter the model lines are so miniscule that it does not affect profit margins at all, and production takes less than 24hrs to switch from one model to another (based on the same platform)

The tooling for both hard and soft top are not an issue for DCX’s manufacturing process.

]]> By: Steve http://www.leftlanenews.com/chrysler-to-offer-cloth-and-hardtop-sebring-convertibles.html#comment-88957 Steve Tue, 06 Jun 2006 00:17:02 +0000 http://www.leftlanenews.com/2006/06/05/chrysler-to-offer-cloth-and-hardtop-sebring-convertibles/#comment-88957 Wouldn't they be able to sell a folding hard top at a lower price if they didn't have to create architecture that would accomodate both canvas and folding metal tops? Wouldn’t they be able to sell a folding hard top at a lower price if they didn’t have to create architecture that would accomodate both canvas and folding metal tops?

]]> By: CoCoChanel http://www.leftlanenews.com/chrysler-to-offer-cloth-and-hardtop-sebring-convertibles.html#comment-88391 CoCoChanel Mon, 05 Jun 2006 16:47:30 +0000 http://www.leftlanenews.com/2006/06/05/chrysler-to-offer-cloth-and-hardtop-sebring-convertibles/#comment-88391 The Fit has a better interior than the Magnum so it is a good thing for the Magnum that they aren't compared. The Fit has a better interior than the Magnum so it is a good thing for the Magnum that they aren’t compared.

]]> By: Mike http://www.leftlanenews.com/chrysler-to-offer-cloth-and-hardtop-sebring-convertibles.html#comment-88386 Mike Mon, 05 Jun 2006 16:43:57 +0000 http://www.leftlanenews.com/2006/06/05/chrysler-to-offer-cloth-and-hardtop-sebring-convertibles/#comment-88386 Yes. That is exactly what I am saying. It is like comparing a FIT with a Magnum. They may both have a 2 box shape, doesn't mean that they will be cross shopped. Not all convertibles are cross shopped with each other. The size and drivetrain options of the Sebring at its price point mean there are very few who would be cross shopped. Included are the G6 and the Solara, not much else. Yes. That is exactly what I am saying. It is like comparing a FIT with a Magnum. They may both have a 2 box shape, doesn’t mean that they will be cross shopped.

Not all convertibles are cross shopped with each other. The size and drivetrain options of the Sebring at its price point mean there are very few who would be cross shopped. Included are the G6 and the Solara, not much else.

]]> By: CoCoChanel http://www.leftlanenews.com/chrysler-to-offer-cloth-and-hardtop-sebring-convertibles.html#comment-88367 CoCoChanel Mon, 05 Jun 2006 16:25:13 +0000 http://www.leftlanenews.com/2006/06/05/chrysler-to-offer-cloth-and-hardtop-sebring-convertibles/#comment-88367 Mike, the shutline either exists or it doesn't, it can't be nearly non-existent. Maybe Chrysler has solved the big butt/shutline issue, but i doubt it. ALso, why are Americans all "they don't compete so your arguement is invalid"? In Europe the Eos is cross shopped against Mercede-Benz CLKs, are you suggesting that someone wanting a Sebring convertible isn't going to compare it to the Eos? Mike, the shutline either exists or it doesn’t, it can’t be nearly non-existent. Maybe Chrysler has solved the big butt/shutline issue, but i doubt it.
ALso, why are Americans all “they don’t compete so your arguement is invalid”? In Europe the Eos is cross shopped against Mercede-Benz CLKs, are you suggesting that someone wanting a Sebring convertible isn’t going to compare it to the Eos?

]]> By: Mike http://www.leftlanenews.com/chrysler-to-offer-cloth-and-hardtop-sebring-convertibles.html#comment-88329 Mike Mon, 05 Jun 2006 16:05:36 +0000 http://www.leftlanenews.com/2006/06/05/chrysler-to-offer-cloth-and-hardtop-sebring-convertibles/#comment-88329 of all that you mentioned, only the G6 could be possibly considered competition for the Sebring. As far as your comments about the shut lines...I misunderstood your original comment. You clarified your statement, and I am ready to disagree with you. Chryslers flexible manufacturing can easily provide to eliminate the shut line that would be required for the hardtop... assuming that there would need to be one (which, by the spy photos, is nearly non-existant. clearly a different league than the EOS) of all that you mentioned, only the G6 could be possibly considered competition for the Sebring.

As far as your comments about the shut lines…I misunderstood your original comment. You clarified your statement, and I am ready to disagree with you. Chryslers flexible manufacturing can easily provide to eliminate the shut line that would be required for the hardtop… assuming that there would need to be one (which, by the spy photos, is nearly non-existant. clearly a different league than the EOS)

]]> By: Ekim http://www.leftlanenews.com/chrysler-to-offer-cloth-and-hardtop-sebring-convertibles.html#comment-88312 Ekim Mon, 05 Jun 2006 15:54:20 +0000 http://www.leftlanenews.com/2006/06/05/chrysler-to-offer-cloth-and-hardtop-sebring-convertibles/#comment-88312 Ford Focus CC, Volvo C70, Mercedes-Benz SL, Mercedes-Benz SLK Ford Focus CC, Volvo C70, Mercedes-Benz SL, Mercedes-Benz SLK

]]> By: Ekim http://www.leftlanenews.com/chrysler-to-offer-cloth-and-hardtop-sebring-convertibles.html#comment-88309 Ekim Mon, 05 Jun 2006 15:53:22 +0000 http://www.leftlanenews.com/2006/06/05/chrysler-to-offer-cloth-and-hardtop-sebring-convertibles/#comment-88309 Mike, have you seen all the other hardtop convertibles? VW Eos, Opel Astra Twintop, Peugeot 206 and 307 CC, Renault Megane CC, Nissan Micra CC Mitsubishi COlt, Pontiac G6 etc. They have shutlines down the sides of the rear and a large trunk to accommodate the metal roof. A fat ass that a soft top doesn't need. Also Peugeot has as poor a reputation for build quality as Chrysler and its roofs don't work. As for the interior, it's a Chrysler, duh! Mike, have you seen all the other hardtop convertibles? VW Eos, Opel Astra Twintop, Peugeot 206 and 307 CC, Renault Megane CC, Nissan Micra CC Mitsubishi COlt, Pontiac G6 etc. They have shutlines down the sides of the rear and a large trunk to accommodate the metal roof. A fat ass that a soft top doesn’t need. Also Peugeot has as poor a reputation for build quality as Chrysler and its roofs don’t work.
As for the interior, it’s a Chrysler, duh!

]]> By: Mike http://www.leftlanenews.com/chrysler-to-offer-cloth-and-hardtop-sebring-convertibles.html#comment-88243 Mike Mon, 05 Jun 2006 15:21:11 +0000 http://www.leftlanenews.com/2006/06/05/chrysler-to-offer-cloth-and-hardtop-sebring-convertibles/#comment-88243 so, Ekim, you have seen the final version? The way that you are talking about shut lines means that you have seen this car without the camo, and that you have seen the final spec interior, not a low grade pre-production mule.... wait. you haven't. Tuck in your skirt, your bias is showing. so, Ekim, you have seen the final version? The way that you are talking about shut lines means that you have seen this car without the camo, and that you have seen the final spec interior, not a low grade pre-production mule….

wait. you haven’t. Tuck in your skirt, your bias is showing.

]]> By: Ekim http://www.leftlanenews.com/chrysler-to-offer-cloth-and-hardtop-sebring-convertibles.html#comment-88188 Ekim Mon, 05 Jun 2006 14:51:28 +0000 http://www.leftlanenews.com/2006/06/05/chrysler-to-offer-cloth-and-hardtop-sebring-convertibles/#comment-88188 Why offer both? The money could have been better spent on a quality interior and the soft top version will be lumbered with an ungainly rear end with pointlus shut lines. Why offer both? The money could have been better spent on a quality interior and the soft top version will be lumbered with an ungainly rear end with pointlus shut lines.

]]> By: Ekim http://www.leftlanenews.com/chrysler-to-offer-cloth-and-hardtop-sebring-convertibles.html#comment-88187 Ekim Mon, 05 Jun 2006 14:49:34 +0000 http://www.leftlanenews.com/2006/06/05/chrysler-to-offer-cloth-and-hardtop-sebring-convertibles/#comment-88187 Vinyl tops would be a real good piece of heritage design. Vinyl tops would be a real good piece of heritage design.

]]> By: Im Patrick Too http://www.leftlanenews.com/chrysler-to-offer-cloth-and-hardtop-sebring-convertibles.html#comment-88160 Im Patrick Too Mon, 05 Jun 2006 14:28:15 +0000 http://www.leftlanenews.com/2006/06/05/chrysler-to-offer-cloth-and-hardtop-sebring-convertibles/#comment-88160 Looks very like a VW EOS. Love the fake canvas top in the pictures. Are they gonna offer a vinyl top option on the coupe? Looks very like a VW EOS. Love the fake canvas top in the pictures. Are they gonna offer a vinyl top option on the coupe?

]]> By: Tweek http://www.leftlanenews.com/chrysler-to-offer-cloth-and-hardtop-sebring-convertibles.html#comment-88114 Tweek Mon, 05 Jun 2006 13:50:05 +0000 http://www.leftlanenews.com/2006/06/05/chrysler-to-offer-cloth-and-hardtop-sebring-convertibles/#comment-88114 Stop with the sensory overload on LLN!!! Malibu spy pictures, Sebring top options, redesigned Solaras, etc.. It's just too much excitement for one man to take. AARGH! Stop with the sensory overload on LLN!!! Malibu spy pictures, Sebring top options, redesigned Solaras, etc.. It’s just too much excitement for one man to take. AARGH!

]]>