[Deputy Dog]

Trivia: When Fiat bought Chrysler Sergios idea was to phase out the Dodge nameplate all together and send them into history. Sergio's aim was to focus on the Fiat 500s . When was the last time you saw one of his Fiat 500s? The Charger and Challenger saved them. I'm not sure if it was the American Dodge performance team that saved them. They gave it one last go with the Challenger, they lowered the price, bumped performance and advertised it. Challenger sales began to pickup because as you remember when Challengers came back out they weren't selling well and the biggest issue was pricing, they were high. Also remember Dodge Trucks? Well, they don't make Dodge trucks anymore which is sad. Sergio and his bright ideas got rid of Dodge trucks and gave them the new stupid name of Ram. Almost 100 years of a brand name down the drain. He dumped the Dodge truck name because Dodge was to be killed off entirely but the Truck itself was to stay just not the name. Low and behold the Challengers picked up in sales along with the Chargers thanks to the Dodge team. Ralph Gilles pushed Dodge performance and he probably had a lot to do with it. So now Dodge is still alive but Sergio is dead. Ain't that a b!tch?

[98_Camaro]

LOL You Tell 'Em Deputy Dog. Aint Nothin' Like A Hemi-rroid Saving Fiat Company You Know What They Say About Fiat (Fix It Again Tony)

[50MileSmile]

What have I missed all these years - isn’t it the objective of automakers to sell vehicles? RAM trucks sales are up - and Dodge introduces new models of the Challenger and the Charger every year, which keeps them selling. Maybe the Chevrolet truck and car divisions could learn a lesson or two, instead of just watching sales fall.

[FH212]

Originally Posted by 98_Camaro

LOL You Tell 'Em Deputy Dog. Aint Nothin' Like A Hemi-rroid Saving Fiat Company You Know What They Say About Fiat (Fix It Again Tony)

Hemi-rroid!!!!! Lol thats great!

[LT4Greg]

Well I guess Dodge is doing something right then with their sales!

[KingLT1]

Actually I have seen a couple Fiat 500's this week...look like shit boxes. The Charger and Ram definitely have saved Fiat.

[95 imp]

Originally Posted by 50MileSmile

What have I missed all these years - isn’t it the objective of automakers to sell vehicles? RAM trucks sales are up - and Dodge introduces new models of the Challenger and the Charger every year, which keeps them selling. Maybe the Chevrolet truck and car divisions could learn a lesson or two, instead of just watching sales fall.

Maybe they need some more "real people"?

[ctrlz]

Originally Posted by 50MileSmile

Dodge introduces new models of the Challenger and the Charger every year, which keeps them selling.

Not sure I would call them "new models."
Much respect for how Dodge has been able to maintain sales without changing the basic platform of these cars for something like 10 years.

I am reminded of something I learned in Marketing 101. At the time, Tide laundry detergent had been on the market for about 50 years and had been "new and improved" 68 times! To this day they market Tide the same way!
I think Dodge took a page from this book!

[Ventura 1LE]

I think the Dodge group is going to be the last to shed their Hemi based platforms compared to Ford and GM with all this push of EV.

My whole problem with EV is think about those that don't own a home and rent apartments. What about the down time in full charge time vs fill-up time with gas.
Then as more EV cars are surfacing what about the big elephant in the room.. taxes lost on gas.. hmmm..

I would buy Dodge for the sake of a new vehicle that is gas driven... if they are the last hold out..

[keystonemedical]

Originally Posted by Deputy Dog

Trivia: When Fiat bought Chrysler Sergios idea was to phase out the Dodge nameplate all together and send them into history. Sergio's aim was to focus on the Fiat 500s . When was the last time you saw one of his Fiat 500s? The Charger and Challenger saved them. I'm not sure if it was the American Dodge performance team that saved them. They gave it one last go with the Challenger, they lowered the price, bumped performance and advertised it. Challenger sales began to pickup because as you remember when Challengers came back out they weren't selling well and the biggest issue was pricing, they were high. Also remember Dodge Trucks? Well, they don't make Dodge trucks anymore which is sad. Sergio and his bright ideas got rid of Dodge trucks and gave them the new stupid name of Ram. Almost 100 years of a brand name down the drain. He dumped the Dodge truck name because Dodge was to be killed off entirely but the Truck itself was to stay just not the name. Low and behold the Challengers picked up in sales along with the Chargers thanks to the Dodge team. Ralph Gilles pushed Dodge performance and he probably had a lot to do with it. So now Dodge is still alive but Sergio is dead. Ain't that a b!tch?

I think Chrysler / Dodge has done a wonderful job marketing the " muscle car " models. I remember when they first released the Demon. It was all over the web and and I saw several tv spots advertising the car before its release. Ford made a feeble attempt at the same thing with the new GT500. GM attempted the same half assed marketing with the new mid engine Vette. I think Chrysler found a bit of a niche with the Challenger /Charger badges. The entry level cars are all affordable to the masses til you get up to the Hellcat / Demon stuff and at that point the horsepower speaks for itself. Chrysler likes to attach sexy little names like " Scatpack , Daytona" ect. to its more reasonably priced badges, and obviously a section of the market like that sort of thing. The sales of those cars have been real steady. I personally couldnt bring myself to buy one. I tried to work myself up into a lather enough to buy a Hellcat when it first got released back in 2015 but just couldnt do it. The look and thought of the cars have always seemed corny to me. Regardless, I think Chrysler / Dodge has done a great job with marketing there products. Ford and GM should take notes.

[Jaxcam02]

Hell chevy is failing because they don't advertise high performance cars anymore. I haven't seen a Camaro commercial in ages. I don't even see Camaros advertised on the internet or magazines.

[guitarman8373]

Still think the Viper was a badass car tho. I'd take it any day over the Challenger. Just was too damn expensive, even the base model.

[hotlap]

Actually ...Challenger sales were down last year and Jeep is saving their ass

[keystonemedical]

Originally Posted by guitarman8373

Still think the Viper was a badass car tho. I'd take it any day over the Challenger. Just was too damn expensive, even the base model.

agreed....