iNeon - 5/14/2007 6:51 PM You read, but you didn't listen. I said that they needed to learn how to build a car as cheaply built as the 163 was-- that's where Chrysler came in. Benz did a HORRENDOUS job starting the ML-Class line. They couldn't even get trim problems sorted out until well into the product's lifecycle, let alone the electrical issues. Chrysler never affected established Mercedes-Benz products in a negative way. Chrysler's people and technology helped perfect the w163 and to iron out the issues inherent in an all-new "German" econoSUV. Chrysler's people gave Benz most of their new product ideas and Chrysler's people tuned/massaged the w210 hand-me-downs in such a way that Benz is using it on their next E. "Engineered like no other.." my ass. The truth of this whole matter is that when it was DCX, the Germans funneled money away from Chrysler operations to prop-up their own economic shortcomings. They, themselves, badmouthed their little brothers, making it even harder for Chrysler to have any semblance of a good reputation. The Germans Touted their 'engineering' and Chrysler sales plummeted as a result. The Germans forced Chrysler to use their own substandard parts, lowering our reliability while simultaneously raising costs to consumers. Daimler is holding quite a bit of the Dodge trucks in this deal, and that just cements what I was saying originally-- THEY ONLY WANTED CHRYSLER SO THEY COULD LEARN TO BUILD GOOD CHEAP CARS AND TRUCKS. Nothing more. When Benz is in the same situation they are now in 5 years-- don't blame Chrysler. Your guys in Stuttgart ARE at fault for all of this. Chrysler was on the up-and-up when they were accquired and they couldn't be better off now. Good riddance indeed.

The proposed deal calls for forming a new company to assume Chrysler's pension and health-care liabilities, in which Daimler would hold a minority stake...

Cerberus, which is based in New York, made its name in the 1990s and earlier this decade as a buyer of bad loans around the world, foreclosing or settling the debts at a profit through hard-nosed tactics. Then it slowly moved into buying whole companies in countries like Germany and Japan that were struggling with high costs or bloated work forces. After acquiring these companies, it swiftly slashed costs, laid off workers and closed factories, shifting production to lower-cost spots in Asia. Though many industries in the U.S. and Europe are making similar moves, buyers like Cerberus typically make profits by drastically speeding up the process...

iNeon - 5/15/2007 12:12 AM

You're right. Mercedes-Benz and Chrysler weren't a match from the beginning.

They merged, though,

iNeon - 5/15/2007 3:16 AM A merge of equals?

iNeon - 5/15/2007 12:26 PM It's mostly semantics anyway. Changing merged for bought gives it the same meaning. Let's see how they're both doing in 5 Years. I'm done with this.

iNeon - 5/15/2007 1:49 PM

So I ought to watch and cheer as a company that's provided my family safe, reliable, *affordable* transportation my entire life fades into oblivion whenever the Germans that put them where they are rest on laureled stars?

Being indifferent is not my strong suit.

It may be business as usual for all of you, but I refuse to support such practices-- be it with my wallet or otherwise.