Does the Potential "Banko" of Chrysler change your mind about buying

[hammersley]

And let's not get into the problems with new products - emissions vs older rigs - I mean would you buy a new rig from an investment company (CHRYSLER) that looks like it is going to fail????

 

[steved]

I wouldn't buy a new car from any that appeared likely to file bankruptcy, and have any hope to have a warranty. As soon as they file bankruptcy, your warranty is in the hands of the Judge and can become non-existent. Not to mention the likelyhood of parts manufacturing/supplying for repairs, etc...

That was a buzz on another site... how any one of the car makers thinking about bankruptcy and the fact your warranty you BOUGHT with a new car is potentially null and void.

 

[Tractorat]

In todays world, even if there was some possible light at the end of the tunnel, I would not buy any new car/truck from a shaky company and here is why.



I know this is not an exact analogy, but I think it makes the point. Washington Mutual bank, although on shaky ground, had a lot of cash. And, theoretically, could have made it. However, the public lost confidence in the bank. I think this was mostly because of strong media hype. The result was that there was a run on the bank, and they went TU.



Even if the loyal Dodge RAM customers are able to cough up huge amounts of cash to buy new trucks, if the rest of the public isnt buying the cars, I can easily conceive of the same thing happening here.



Thats not to say that, if I were in the market for a new truck. If the price was right (very HUGE discount), I wouldn't consider a new Chrysler vehicle. But that price would have to be very low. Low enough that I would be able to justify any repairs out of my own pocket if the worst were to happen.



Just my 2 cents

TRat

 

[JMetzger]

This from steved I wouldn't buy a new car from any that appeared likely to file bankruptcy, and have any hope to have a warranty. As soon as they file bankruptcy, your warranty is in the hands of the Judge and can become non-existent. Not to mention the likelyhood of parts manufacturing/supplying for repairs, etc...



That was a buzz on another site... how any one of the car makers thinking about bankruptcy and the fact your warranty you BOUGHT with a new car is potentially null and void.



I agree with steved. My 2 cents

 

[HBarlow]

I understand the concerns stated above but if I didn't already own a new Dodge Ram and was ready for a new one I wouldn't hesitate a minute to purchase one.

Sure, there is a possibility that the worst possible situation, bankruptcy, could happen. But my take on the matter is, "so what?"

I put 325,000 miles on my first Dodge-Cummins, an '01. I had a lift pump and a MAP sensor replaced under warranty during the first 100k miles and I think the MAP sensor was probably damaged accidentally by a good mechanic who removed and reinstalled the starter. As most of you know it is difficult to access the starter.

I put 230,000 miles on an '06 in less than two years and never took it back to a dealer during the warranty period.

My '08 currently has 37,500 miles on it and has been troublefree.

I sleep well at night with no concerns whatsoever about the quality and reliability of my Cummins engine and Dodge Ram truck.

If I can't afford to repair the truck at my own expense if something should go wrong I probably can't afford the truck and shouldn't have bought it in the first place.

I have never purchased an extended warranty for any automobile or, for that matter, any appliance or product. I buy good quality products and have confidence they will perform reliably. So far they always have.

Whatever happened to good old American personal responsibility?

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

Whatever happened to good old American personal responsibility?

It has been largely replaced by a warranty that is PAID FOR at time of purchase. And like other forms of "insurance", it is intended to protect the "insured" against failures and defects that might be catastrophic for some buyers, such as engine and various other serious drivetrain issues some here have reported.



BUT, if your past experience motivates you to ignore all the above - and you're the sort who likes to drive long distances in hazardous areas without a spare tire because you've had so few flat tires - have at it... :-laf



But for me, unless there was a serious reduction in price to offset the likely loss of warranty coverage - coverage I was then willing to accept myself - I'd move on to another brand...



It's not really so much about "personal responsibility" in this case, as it is paying for something you may well need, but not get!

 

[steved]

But for me, unless there was a serious reduction in price to offset the likely loss of warranty coverage - coverage I was then willing to accept myself - I'd move on to another brand...



It's not really so much about "personal responsibility" in this case, as it is paying for something you may well need, but not get!

Exactly... reduction in price (not a single vehicle made is actually as valuable as its cost); and give me the choice of the warranty or a rebate for not taking that warranty (I am my warranty station).

 

[rholcom2]

Is this not the second time Chrysler has been bailed out? As I was not around (or at least cannot remember) at the time the first bail out occurred; How did customer sentiment suffer as a direct result of their bailout from Washington? Seems that this time sales had been in a downward spiral for a good long time (12+ months). Obviously there were many factors affecting the sales numbers. Prior to the bail out do you believe sales were suffering from those who thought Chrysler would soon/potentially be in bankruptcy?



I suppose I am one of the minority consumers who does not have much/any faith in the purchase or existance of a warranty. I consider myself or my pocket book my warranty.

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

I suppose I am one of the minority consumers who does not have much/any faith in the purchase or existance of a warranty. I consider myself or my pocket book my warranty.

WELL, the manufacturers and dealers really LOVE customers like you I suppose - but whether you choose to actually use that warranty or not, you most surely DID pay for it. And if you don't use it when/if needed, that added-on purchase cost simply stays in the dealer and manufacturer's bank account.



Sure, as I power-modded my truck right after purchase, I also considered the potentially affected parts as now my personal responsibility, and accepted them as such. Fortunately, the only 2 warranty items, a mirror and a PS pump seal, were covered by the dealer with no problems or expense to me.



On the other hand, the eventually slipping clutch was clearly my own responsibility, and expense for the upgraded clutch I installed myself - and was treated as such.

 

[JCasper]

we're still picking up our new 5500 for the company on Friday



Can't wait to get it

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

One issue of the potential failure of Chrysler - and warranty coverage - relates to exactly WHERE will you take a non-warrantied truck if/when it DOES require work formerly covered under warranty? A local independent shop perhaps? Cummins MIGHT cover the engine itself to a degree - but nothing else. When the OEM maker and dealership disappear, so do the repair facilities, the relatively rapid access to the proper parts, and the trained expertise in getting the repairs accomplished.



Do most here have ready access to similar capabilities close to them? We sure don't anywhere close to where I live - and the abilities of the independents around here are very much up for question - as well as their speed and reliability.



Would all that weigh heavily on my own personal choices for a new truck?



Yer dern RIGHT it would!



.

 

[RDHamill]

i should be getting my new '08 3500 by the end of the week as well.

The deals you can get right now are terrific, I ended up trading my '07 ( 75,000 miles) for an '08, for just over 9 grand. An expired warranty on the '07 vs an uncertain one on the '08 is certainly a concern.

 

[Tom Schuster]

I purchased a new 08 4500 cab and chassis with a utility body from Rob at Dishman Dodge in Spokane last month. Rob, like Adam Macomber before him, is an excellent salesman who knows his product and goes the extra mile for the customer. This truck is the sixth Dodge CTD I have purchased since 1990. The only warranty work I have ever needed was for a faulty voltage regulator on my 90 W250 and an 6. 7 emissions reflash on my 07 mega-cab. Warranty coverage is not a big concern of mine, although I can understand why it would be for some people.

Dealership service departments scare the hell out of me. Who in TDR land hasn't had the experience of knowing more than the service writer or the parts guy--the guy who's job it is to know but who always seems to need your help. No thanks, that's why I do my own work. Having no warranty would almost be a relief. I'm not saying that there aren't good service departments out there or that this is only limited to Chrysler--there are and it's not--but a lot of us don't have one close to home.

No matter what happens to Chrysler, Dodge CTD trucks will have product support indefinitely because they are, hands down, the best work truck out there and have, and will continue to have a cult-like following of down to earth, technically savvy owners. This website is better than any warranty from Chrysler. When I have a problem this is the first place I come because I know someone else has been there, done that, and posted a fix.

As far as paying for something I might not get, that's more likely to be my Social Security benefits than my warranty from Chrysler.

 

[hammersley]

While I agree - is they go south.....

I purchased a new 08 4500 cab and chassis with a utility body from Rob at Dishman Dodge in Spokane last month. Rob, like Adam Macomber before him, is an excellent salesman who knows his product and goes the extra mile for the customer. This truck is the sixth Dodge CTD I have purchased since 1990. The only warranty work I have ever needed was for a faulty voltage regulator on my 90 W250 and an 6. 7 emissions reflash on my 07 mega-cab. Warranty coverage is not a big concern of mine, although I can understand why it would be for some people.

Dealership service departments scare the hell out of me. Who in TDR land hasn't had the experience of knowing more than the service writer or the parts guy--the guy who's job it is to know but who always seems to need your help. No thanks, that's why I do my own work. Having no warranty would almost be a relief. I'm not saying that there aren't good service departments out there or that this is only limited to Chrysler--there are and it's not--but a lot of us don't have one close to home.

No matter what happens to Chrysler, Dodge CTD trucks will have product support indefinitely because they are, hands down, the best work truck out there and have, and will continue to have a cult-like following of down to earth, technically savvy owners. This website is better than any warranty from Chrysler. When I have a problem this is the first place I come because I know someone else has been there, done that, and posted a fix.

As far as paying for something I might not get, that's more likely to be my Social Security benefits than my warranty from Chrysler.

Buying parts for this rig may be like getting crap for a YUGO - with the expense of a Rolls.....

 

[HBarlow]

Would all that weigh heavily on my own personal choices for a new truck?

Yer dern RIGHT it would! .

You had no thought of buying a new one and probably can't afford one whether Dodge gave you a lifetime warranty or none at all so why does Chrysler's possible failure matter to you?

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

You had no thought of buying a new one and probably can't afford one whether Dodge gave you a lifetime warranty or none at all so why does Chrysler's possible failure matter to you?

AH, I can ALWAYS count upon good ol' Harvey for a good laugh over his dedication to juvenile personal digs... :-laf:-laf



Obviously - as usual, you haven't the SLIGHTEST clue as to my intentions or finances...



Hope you had a good holiday season - and good trolling to you in the new year! :-laf

 

[HBarlow]

Obviously - as usual, you haven't the SLIGHTEST clue as to my intentions or finances... /quote]

Well, if I was wrong show me a different intention by your actions.

Actually, you are very predictable. You can always be counted on to take the blue collar, labor union, anti-business, "someone owes me" position on every issue regarding American industry such as the so-called "big oil", "big business", etc.

You were taking pleasure from the misery of the big three automobile manufacturers and the hundreds of thousands of Americans who earn their livings from the auto industry and pontificating on why you wouldn't buy a new truck when we both know you had no intention of buying a new truck whether Chrysler had just posted record profits or notice of filing bankruptcy.

Last time I talked to a Dodge dealer they were offering $15,000 discounts off of MSRP on a loaded new Dodge Ram. How could anyone make a big deal of such a petty issue as whether the manufacturer was also going to provide a warranty under such a circumstance? I would have gladly signed off on no warranty to get a $15k discount on my new cab and chassis a year ago.

Try speaking positively about an important American industry just once and try to assist them rather than watching their unfortunate demise.

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

Well, if I was wrong show me a different intention by your actions.

Fact is Harvey, I've long since recognized your obsessive tendencey to immediately go into an aggressive personal attack mode against any who disply the audacity to challenge any of your Pontifical edicts - and you consistententy react with purple-faced bluster and self-righteous sputterings. #@$%!



Your opinion, OR my desire and intentions to "show" you ANYTHING rates down somewhere less than zero - live with it!



It should be clear to any reading this and other similar threads, that you go out of your way to personally attack me and my comments, completely ignoring the MANY others in the same threads who have posted similar and stronger comments than mine - your obsession with me and my participation on TDR are clearly obvious to anyone with eyes and brains.



Yeah - you dislike me personally, just as *I* consider you a pompous, blowhard arse - the biggest difference between us, is that because I consider you a jerk, I consistentently avoid you and your posts and threads, whereas you steadily follow me and my comments, spewing your usual predictable stream of demeaning comments that are both off-topic, and against clearly defined board rules.



Strangely, you get by with your selective and personally abusive trash, while others get called on the carpet, threads locked and posts erased (such as this one most likely will!)...



I wonder why that is...

.

 

[RBROOKS]

i was told by a cummins mechanic (actually the boss in their power gen. division to here him tell it) that they will and do work on dodge trucks on waranty, has any one tryed this, this guy worked at cummins nw in portland or

 

[HBarlow]

Fact is Harvey, I've long since recognized your obsessive tendencey to immediately go into an aggressive personal attack mode against any who disply the audacity to challenge any of your Pontifical edicts - and you consistententy react with purple-faced bluster and self-righteous sputterings. #@$%!

Your opinion, OR my desire and intentions to "show" you ANYTHING rates down somewhere less than zero - live with it!

It should be clear to any reading this and other similar threads, that you go out of your way to personally attack me and my comments, completely ignoring the MANY others in the same threads who have posted similar and stronger comments than mine - your obsession with me and my participation on TDR are clearly obvious to anyone with eyes and brains.

Yeah - you dislike me personally, just as *I* consider you a pompous, blowhard arse - the biggest difference between us, is that because I consider you a jerk, I consistentently avoid you and your posts and threads, whereas you steadily follow me and my comments, spewing your usual predictable stream of demeaning comments that are both off-topic, and against clearly defined board rules.

Strangely, you get by with your selective and personally abusive trash, while others get called on the carpet, threads locked and posts erased (such as this one most likely will!)...

I wonder why that is...
.

You are mistaken. I don't like or dislike you personally. I simply profoundly disagree with your personal philosophy and when you express that philosoply here I often post another point of view. The reason I do that is there are many younger men who post or read these threads and I want them to read another more positive point of view concerning our nation, our economy, our business industries, Chrysler in particular, and our future as a nation.

I am not bitter and resentful toward our industries when, for example, diesel fuel prices rise to an uncomfortable level for a few months or a proud old manufacturing company like Chrysler is suffering from financial losses and could possibly go out of business. I understand that business is cyclical, prices rise or fall on supply and demand, and sometimes external forces can destroy a good company. I try to speak positively about the companies who make the products we find essential for maintaining our lifestyles and the owners, executives, and employees who run them. I don't blame them for all the world's ills.

It sounds like you are feeling persecuted by many individuals, not only me. Maybe it's time for you to leave the TDR in anger again like you did a couple years ago when you last felt persecuted. The break might be just what you need.