Alternate Route

Nov 22, 2007 - Ask Dub Schwartz!

Dear Dub,
I'm in the market for some reliable transportation and I figure that you ought to have some idea of which car to avoid since you get to see all the ones that have a lot of problems. Which car should I avoid?
Mitzi

First off, Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours Mitzi! And what more appropriate day could there be to pick my first Turkey of the Year award winner?

This one will sort of be a lifetime achievement award winner.

This car was introduced as a concept vehicle at the Detroit Auto Show in 2002 and hit the market in early 2003 as a 2004 model.

A lot of people were impressed with its styling and anticipated great things for the vehicle. Executives from the company believed that this vehicle would "firmly entrench the brand in the premium segment of the market." and that the vehicle is "simply cool and classy."

Pricing seemed a bit high and put the vehicle in amongst some stiff competition and set expectations high as potential owners drooled over every picture and article and swore this vehicle was the second coming and said it would be a "segment buster".

Consumers started to price out the vehicle and began to get antsy with the high price. But interest remained high as this was going to be the next got-to-have-it vehicle.

Then the cars started to hit the hit the road and comments like "great opportunity to be ahead of the curve...but missed the boat with the powertrain" start to appear as the natives got restless.

Then came the suspension and steering clunks, thumps and bumps and various clicking noises. TSBs for lower control arms, bushings, and power transfer units to try and get in front of the problems.

Stalling and starting issues start to crop up, and clunking noises continue to span model years. Suggestion for a change of slogan to "Clunking Comes Standard" abound.

Mercifully, the new ownership of the company decided this month that the vehicle was "a crossover vehicle that was too big and too expensive for family buyers" and discontinued the Pacifica.

And because a turkey dinner wouldn't be complete without potatoes, gravy, or stuffing, the convertible version of the PT Cruiser, along with the Dodge Magnum and the sporty Chrysler Crossfire, were also shelved.

So congratulations to the Chrysler Pacifica, the Turkey of the Year for 2007! Don't feel so bad Pacifica owners. Just think. In a few years you'll be able to form clubs and insist that your car was among the best ever built... just like the Edsel owners!

Had to be someone
The Chrysler Pacifica
May it rest in peace

6:08 am | Categories: ask dub schwartz, chrysler pacifica, humor Permalink | Alert Administrator

Add to: