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Open Letter to Chrysler & Ralph Gilles

144K views 228 replies 143 participants last post by  someotherguy 
#1 ·
What do you want to see become of the LX platform?
What running changes would you like to see in the existing vehicles?
What derivatives of the LX would make you buy another?
What do you want to see changed or added to the existing vehicles?

Post your comments and suggestions here so we can give DC ONE place to look (because we know you're watching!) ;)
 
#52 · (Edited)
What I would like to see on the magnum:
1. pouches on the back of the front seats- great for holding kids' stuff
2. locking console- stuff may be out of sight but it's still not too safe
3. less plastic on the doors and dash- it's a $30,000 car it should look like one
4. Change the spoiler to help keep the back window clean-more wind tunnel tests
5. customer service- "we" are the customers you should be taking care of
6. options- for example tires/rims and headlights- let us personalize our vehicles alittle
7. back windows tilt out- like on the extended cab trucks
8. fix the tire issue- wheels out of toe will "cause" tire wear and it doesn't mean the tire company is at fault. We should not have to fix these problems out of our pockets (right pull)
9. Rear hatch should have power open/ close feature on remote- when hands are full
10. tie the gas tank door to the alarm system or have a latch release in the car
11. not everyone is going to have issues or the same ones but it is your (DC) reputation that is on the line- you can't make $$ if nobody trusts your product.
12. day time running lights should be automatic- comes on when the car is started
My dealer is willing to work with me but the rep won't let him!
 
#53 ·
Magnum Lover,

"12. day time running lights should be automatic- comes on when the car is started
My dealer is willing to work with me but the rep won't let him!"

I too was looking for the DRLs, not because I like them, but I am now convinced after taking a driver safety course that they are safer (and have insurance benefits in NY).

The only way I could figure out a solution was to setup the computer as if the car was in Canada, but I am concerned that some other (unwanted) settings might suffer. Let me know if you find a solution.
 
#54 ·
I would like to also see a 2 door version of the lx base cars to compete with the mustang and gto. Im also with everyone else on the customer service. Dont market a car by saying "Open it up at either end" and then tell customers sorry about your warrantee you were running the car to hard. As far as magnum issues...Make the auto stick actually shift when you move to the next gear. Also make the esp actually turn off when you press the button. Other than that "I still love my beast"
 
#55 ·
DCX are you listening

I love my 05 RT Magnum. BUT IT PULLS TO THE RIGHT!!! crown sensitive or not, for 30 Grand the car should track correctly. Other than a faulty airbag sensor the most common problems I've have had with the car are the damages inflicted by the Dealer Techs, cut steering wheel, trashed lug nuts, broken steering column adjuster. Somebody needs to drag your butts to an Infinity or Lexus dealership! Contact with your problem resolution system is a joke, it's the "Black Hole" of Auburn Hills.

I will have to think twice about buying another DCX product, I love the cars and the engineering. Build quality is fair for the money, but service is down right painful.
With the increasing complexity of modern automotive systems, this is more and more of a factor when making a purchase decision. There are too many systems on the car that I cannot service myself.
If it's going to be a bummer to deal with your dealer service organization, then I would be foolish not to take my business elsewhere.
 
#56 ·
I have to believe most Chrysler Enthusiasts are the ones that never (or rarely) go to the dealer. That describes my family. Either our fleet of Dodge, Chrysler and Jeep autos are ultra reliable or we do minor work ourselves as much as possible. Work has been only maintenance in nature up to this point for vehicles that span 11 years. Pretty good in my book. Ocassional trip to the dealer for recalls and a couple warranty work items, but I can count the number of times I've been to the dealer in the last 5 years on one hand still.

With all that, the product is good and reliable. When I do go to the dealer, I shudder at the thought and I don't enjoy it at all. The whole idea of your car disappearing where you can't see it getting worked on and you rarely ever get to talk to the guy working on your car, well that stinks. The service advisors are not helpful in regards to repair details. They only know what the tech writes and they know the warranty and payment details pretty well. Most of them know nothing about MY car.
 
#57 ·
The dealer is willing to work with me about the tires but his rep says it's a tire issue. A car with all 4 tires out of spec toe will "cause" uneven tire wear, it doesn't matter what brand of tire. I got nowhere when I called Customer Service, maybe because I'm female, but my husband now has a case # and they are going to get back with us. I'll keep you informed. My dealer has been really great with any issues I've had considering my 2002 Stratus only saw them for oil changes/ tire rotations and two minor issues covered under warrenty and still had original tires when I traded it after three years. I get to watch them work on it and talk to them too.

13. Fog lights for back up lights-pen lights don't cut it with the solar glass backing up/down my driveway at night ( I'm terrible with mirrors)

I'm sure I'll think of something else but so far everyone has been on the money.
 
#58 ·
One of the main problems with dealerships across almost all makes is the dealer service, although most of the time it's a failure to communicate properly with each other. I'm a member of a VW diesel forum and by far the biggest complaint is the poor quality of service, but with great product satifaction for the cars themselves.

I often think there are two main reasons for this dealer problem.

1. Complexity of the modern car and multi makes and/or models tech is required to work and be an expert in trouble shooting & repair.

One of the things I avoid in car selection is a dealership that sells multi makes like a Ford, Toyota and say Volvo that service all brands under one roof. To me it just seems like the techs could never be really an "expert" and up to date trained in all makes and models.

2. Poor quality of care of the car by owner, which leads to service dept apathy. This is quit possiably a bigger problem for some customers and dealerships then number one above. Think about it, how would your work attitude change eventually to your work , if you worked in a dirty and dingy office or factory where the only thought was it's just an office or factory?

I have a friend who looks at his car as just transportation and care's nothing about the car other then it be a soft quite ride to where he goes. It's always trashy inside, seldom ever washed, and he could care less about it's mechanicals because that's what the dealer service is for in his mind. Funny thing is my friend like most of these kinds of people thinks his car is "excellent contition" when they are ready to trade, reguardless of number of cig burns, dents or dings and missing or none working parts due to neglect.
 
#61 ·
Stonebreaker said:
I think you're confusing 'economy' with 'efficiency'. If I could use a CVT to maintain maximum torque all the way down the quarter mile, my car will be faster.
Exactly. Thank you.

Incidentally, you can add another performance vehicle (2006 Lexus RX 400h) to the CVT list. I'd love to see an LX car equipped with one of these trannies.
 
#62 ·
I'm not sure I would want a car that had a tranny that workes the same way my old Snapper riding lawn mower did, it had a lever that moved a belt over various sizes of pullies to change forward speeds. :?:
It was a love-hate relationship for over 16 years.:itchy-scr

CVT is probably the wave of the future for small, low torque engines and hybred cars.

Now for the dreaded pull to the right!!!

I have seen two local Magnums that had the pull to the right stop after inflating the tires up to 38+ psi as per a tire shop instructions. In my old MB I could tell when my tires were getting low, the car would pull or drift to the right, if the tires were inflated to only 28 PSI it would shoot to the right rather quickly. My old MB had and MB still has the same basic type of suspension that is used on the Magnum. A friend of my mine has a '9? MB SD that he travels a lot with and has always had a love hate thing about the high PSI requirement for the tires to prevent right drift, he drops the PSI down for city use as he hates the harsher ride of the high PSI. I have riden in it both ways and there is not that much difference, but he likes that old Caddy feel of flooting over the road. But he does love that diesel and 32 mpg in a 5000 lb car, wish my Magnum had a MB turbo diesel under the hood.

I think the problem is the car is sensitive to the crown of the road, and they don't crown the highways in Germany were this supension was devenloped. So it wasn't a problem in the developement of the suspension used on MB cars. The thing that always bugged me was I could never understand why the air pressure in the tire made such a difference in the way the car straight line handled, untill I found out that the German highways were built without the crown we use here for water drainage. In other words all US highways and roads for that matter are slopped to the right for water drainage, and they don't do that in Germany.
 
#64 ·
DC has informed me now that they will cover part of the cost for new tires. I guess it doesn't matter to them that their car wasn't right from the start and now I have to payout money towards tires in less than a year. I would like to believe that they would stand behind their cars and try to make things right when there's proof it was their fault but I guess it's just a fantasy. Had a good feeling when I bought the car due to how good the Stratus was but it's gone now. I love the car but hate how DC is treating their customers, especially with a new production car which I would expect to have some bugs. They just push it aside and move on. Personally, I don't think I'll buy a Dodge or Chrysler again since their customer service stinks. (not the dealer's fault either)
 
#65 ·
Oh, please. Car mfg do not make tires, they buy them on spec. That's why they don't warranty them, the tire company does. The number of incidents of poor tire performance on all cars is huge, from Nissan 350s to Volkswagens. So you "hate the way Chysler is treating you" by being one of the few (only?) car mfg to chip in towards new tires?
 
#67 ·
All 4 wheels were out of toe. Front total was 3/8" and rear total was 5/16", which is too much. Spec on front said 0 to 3/32 max and rear said 1/8 to 7/32 max. The dealer didn't do the alignment but had a garage do it (under warrenty) and I saw the numbers myself. The mechanic even made a statement about it causing the tire wear. Because of racing, I have an understanding of toe and it's effect. So if the car was wrong from the start, why should I have to pay out money for tires? Warrenty on the tires doesn't cover for bad alignment. They cover other things that have gone wrong on the car because it isn't right, why not this?
 
#70 · (Edited)
Old Navy all US highways and roads for that matter are slopped to the right for water drainage said:
they don't do it much here in East Tennessee either. One PART of the road will slope one way,and 100 yds on down the road, and it slopes the other. So your car will pull to the right, left and then run straight all in less than a mile.
 
#71 ·
Banshee said:
they don't do it much here in East Tennessee either. One PART road will slope one way,and 100 yds on down the road and it slopes the other. So your car will pull to the right, left and then run straight all in less than a mile.
I was noticing the same thing here in MO today, sure is sorry state of affairs for a new road.
 
#76 ·
Well I have read all the posts on this thread. Very interesting comments. To address a couple of things: I have yet to see any application requiring full power coupling of torque from engine to transmission that would rely on a fluid Vs mechanical coupling i.e. class 8 trucks, drag racing, or any other motor sport.However lets not lose site of the fact that the LX platform is for the most part an every day driver.
As far as tire pressure goes it is safe to say that the vehicle manufacturers suggested pressure is under inflated. This is to give the occupant the feel of more luxurious ride with keeping the manufacturing cost of the suspension to a minimum. Inside info. Here again I will refer to the trucking indrusty. Truck manufacturers tell you to follow the tire manufactures recommended tire inflation pressure. It is for safety.
I fail to see why the customer is penalized for factory alignment issues. If it is even a couple of cases, come on, lets make good on it. I for one have been fortunate enough to have purchased a magnum that was randomly selected off the line to be tested for quality control. I still can’t figure out how they missed some items. The one that annoys me is the headlights. Poor seals, hazing and internal water spots. The dealer will not replace them fearing that DC will not reimburse them. Not my problem. DC says, for the third time, they will get right on it ……. Nothing!
As I do appreciate having DC representatives on these boards for damage control lets not lose site of the purpose of the board. It is after all a sounding board. Isn’t America great!
I personally feel the best customer relationship any manufacturer could have with its customers, especially with a new platform, is let them (the consumer) do the testing for you. Fix any small problems now and improve on next year’s model.
 
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