Chrysler is now 100% FIAT

[MLee]

Read and we-p-p.
Just announced that Fiat has purchased the last 41.7% or the rest of out standing stock, of Chrysler stock. What will the out-come be for the Cummins power plant? Looks like the hand writing is on the wall. :--)

 

[Joseph Donnelly]

A Chrysler warranty guy told me Fiat has worked well with them and shared info, ideas, etc. Very different from Daimler. I suppose Fiat will be interested to see how the VM engine does in the 1500 regarding sales and warranty claims, but I doubt they will mess with the huge success of the Ram-Cummins partnership. The engine option has risen to $8k, more than doubled, yet sales have risen greatly because people will pay for quality. Look at how successful the Aisin has been, no doubt beyond Rams expectations based on the periodic delays on ordering it. The clear message back to Ram is that we will pay for quality that is "too good" for a pickup, and Ram's response has been to upgrade the chassis beyond what a pickup would normally have. Ram has not looked for a bargain basement approach. So, unless a better, not cheaper engine is found, I believe we can rest assured that the Ram-Cummins partnership is alive and well.

 

[mwilson]

I agree with Joe, simply not a good business decision to do otherwise.

It sells. Very well. Shareholders like that kind of thing.

The improvements made for 2013 and 2014 shows some serious commitment by Fiat to keep the RAM-Cummins trucks the top choice for informed buyers.

It also showed me that Fiat is listening to the customers and are actually making positive changes as I saw first hand at the rally this past summer.

Changes that we had asked for in 2011 had been implemented. That is impressive.


BTW, the Germans were not long backing away from trying to insert a Mercedes engine into the Dodge pick-ups once loyal customers got wind of the idea.

Mike.

 

[RustyJC]

Personally, I'd rather see total Fiat ownership than a forced marriage of Fiat/UAW ownership that existed prior to Fiat buying the UAW's shares. Any organization with more than one head is a monster.

Rusty

 

[DonFitzwater]

I'll go back to gassers if the cummins engine goes away. I seriously doubt they would do anything to lose that ace up their sleeve. Let's face it, lots of folks that drive dodge/cummins do so because of the engine.

 

[Ram4Sam]

If Fiat throws out the Cummins, I bet Ford will be right there with open arms.......

Sam

 

[DonFitzwater]

If Fiat throws out the Cummins, I bet Ford will be right there with open arms.......

Sam

I don't mean to sound disagreeable, but Ford doesn't seem to be that smart. They've passed up cummins before. I really think they love being able to sell all those parts to the loyal powersmoke owners out there. :-laf

 

[Ram4Sam]

Who knows, the ones that made that bad decision twenty five years ago are probably retired.....I wonder if the newer blood have learned anything since then.

Sam

 

[Joseph Donnelly]

Ford seems committed to building and using the cheapest possible engine. Since the 6.9 and 7.3 they have tried the 6.0, 6.4, and now a 6.7 and all have had major problems and massive truck buy-backs.

 

[Deleted member 995608]

If Fiat throws out the Cummins, I bet Ford will be right there with open arms.......

Sam

I won't drive a Ferd. Even with a Cummins motor in it.

 

[Regcabguy]

Hopefully,there will be an increase in reimbursements for warranty work and that it will find its way to the techs who do a good job.

 

[MLee]

All good points and well made to the possitive, hopping it stays that way.

 

[rscurtis]

Ford seems committed to building and using the cheapest possible engine. Since the 6.9 and 7.3 they have tried the 6.0, 6.4, and now a 6.7 and all have had major problems and massive truck buy-backs.

Other than valve failures, what other problems has the 6.7 had? I understand it's being "freshened up" for the 2015 model year, but I would hope it's still an improvement over the 6.4 disaster. I can say one thing, after seeing one disassembled at the Truck Nationals at Carlisle last summer, "it aint no Cummins".

Regarding ownership by Fiat, look at the alternative- Bob "Home Depot" Nardelli. He would be doing exactly what he did at HD- sell the cheapest crap possible regardless of the "cost". No wonder they gave him $210 million to go away.

 

[jhenderson]

Our towns' new rescue is Ford. We've got it back in the shop now, under warranty for a blown turbo. And I mean blown. - than 40,000 miles.

 

[Doubleclutch]

Hey Joe, any chance we could get somebody from Fiat at MM this year? Might be nice for them to see a crowd of enthusiasts spending a week concentrated on the Dodge/Cummins...

 

[NIsaacs]

If Cummins goes away, the biggest issue will be parts support. You can almost buy Cummins parts at Walmart. I have a small compact road grader, Fiat-Allis with the 5.9 liter Fiat/Iveco engine. It seems like a dandy and only uses 1.5 gal of fuel per hour, I only run about 3/4 throttle with power to spare. However parts are hard to come by and are expensive. I am sure that is going to be the issue with the new 1500 diesel, dealer only parts.

Nick

 

[MLee]

As stated above by NIsaacs, hard to come by parts, That is the problem with the Libby Jeep and the VM engine, No parts available, Three sets of gaskets were sent before my son got his jeep out of the shop, and the right ones received. Plus its expensive to repair, The shops hate this engine.

 

[AnOldBiker]

Time will tell, but I never keep my hopes up that high.

I worked for an American company for over 25+ years and then the *****holes in corporate sold us out to the Brits. (you know, the far west end of Europe). They were happy with what they bought and admitted we were their highest in profit and safety in all of their world wide facilities. We were hoping they leave us alone and we go on our merry way. Then 1 1/2 years after the sale was final, memos started coming down the pike. In just over 2 years, our heads were still spinning with the changes. It seemed once they started from behind closed doors in corporate, it only escalated to maximum velocity outwards, like a 44 mag bullet towards a target.

When the dust settled, we were in European HELL !
You 'WILL' assimilate !

I thank God not long after that I retired and ran as hard as I could.

Let's just wait 2 to 2/12 years after the sales close date and compare now .... to then.
You might be suppressed ... but I'll bet I won't be.

May God have mercy on our cummins powered trucks.

 

[DonFitzwater]

Other than valve failures, what other problems has the 6.7 had? I understand it's being "freshened up" for the 2015 model year, but I would hope it's still an improvement over the 6.4 disaster. I can say one thing, after seeing one disassembled at the Truck Nationals at Carlisle last summer, "it aint no Cummins".

Regarding ownership by Fiat, look at the alternative- Bob "Home Depot" Nardelli. He would be doing exactly what he did at HD- sell the cheapest crap possible regardless of the "cost". No wonder they gave him $210 million to go away.

I owned one of these Fords in 2011 with a 6.7 Powerstroke and it went a whopping 10756 miles before it got its first turbo. At that point it ate itself during the test drive and ended up getting a complete drop in engine and then ANOTHER turbo. The last engine dropped a valve on the starboard side and when that happened, I got back into Dodge. No more koolaid for me.

As far as problems with the truck goes, transmission shifting issues were horrid-far worse than any stock 48re I've ever owned. The turbo issues, exhaust smells in the cab, fuel leaks, all turned me off. It was a hell of a truck and I really like everything about it with the exception of the powertrain. The frame, body and front end were all first class. The interior had some issues early on that Ford took care of rather quickly. They just can't seem to make a diesel to save their arses.

 

[RustyJC]

Sergio Marchionne is supposedly a very product-oriented CEO. All the articles I've seen indicate that he OKed the new Viper that was developed behind his back (no authorization to do so) when the first clay model prototype was presented to him. Not to say that it couldn't happen, but I daresay he understands that the Cummins sells the Ram HD trucks. I strongly suspect that, if he doesn't, that message would be presented to him loud and clear from product focus groups before he made any significant changes. Look at the 2013/2014 trucks - they are a pretty good indication that he's listening to what the market is telling him is important.

Rusty