There's a Chrysler 200 parked across from my house..

"Eric @ opposite-lock.com" (theyrerolling) 01/15/2017 at 18:08 • Filed to: Mystery, Rental car

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..it has been sitting there for about 5 days now and hasn’t moved an inch.

I was just in slot H23 before you were given the keys to me.

It’s obviously a rental car. My wife pointed out that she noticed it was one when she started wondering about it, since it had been sitting there a while...

I told her, “Nobody buys a new Chrysler 200 for themselves, so I didn’t even have to look closely to know it was a rental.”.

Then it got me thinking: Is there anyone that actually bought one of these new? You know, someone that isn’t buying for a fleet...

CB > Eric @ opposite-lock.com 01/15/2017 at 18:12

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I think we have more Ranchero owners on Oppo than we do 200 owners.

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > Eric @ opposite-lock.com 01/15/2017 at 18:13

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Yes, tons of people. People filled with regret, anyway.

http://www.carcomplaints.com/Chrysler/200/2015/

dogisbadob > Eric @ opposite-lock.com 01/15/2017 at 18:13

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Its a Fiat of course it hasn’t run in 5 days :p

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > Eric @ opposite-lock.com 01/15/2017 at 18:14

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A neighbor of mine has a Cirrent gen Blue 200s AWD, a 2012 SHO and a 944 turbo that only comes out on summer weekends.

Phatboyphil > Eric @ opposite-lock.com 01/15/2017 at 18:14

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My imagination says it was used for some heinous crime and abandoned. But my head says they drove it to the persons house they’re visiting riding with them and not using it.

Ps I did know someone who bought a used one. Honestly I liked it.

Shankems > Eric @ opposite-lock.com 01/15/2017 at 18:19

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My father has one. He likes it a lot. The car has miraculously avoided all issues.

Eric @ opposite-lock.com > CB 01/15/2017 at 18:22

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That’s true of the world in general. I’m sure there are far more Ranchero owners in the world than there are individual 200 owners.

Steve in Manhattan > Eric @ opposite-lock.com 01/15/2017 at 18:22

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Lease ran out, no one will miss it, just leave it wherever.

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > Eric @ opposite-lock.com 01/15/2017 at 18:22

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I would have assumed it was broken.

Frenchlicker > Eric @ opposite-lock.com 01/15/2017 at 18:27

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I know somebody that replaced a 3rd gen Sebring with a wait for it

First gen 200. She said it was so nice and better than her last car.

Eric @ opposite-lock.com > Shankems 01/15/2017 at 18:28

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Definitely improbable.

Although if my grandpa were alive today, bought new cars, and would buy a Chrysler product (wouldn’t happen - he was a Ford guy), he might have liked it just because it was cheap and big enough to stick a wheelchair in the trunk.

Luke's Dad Sold His 2000TL To Get a Sienna > Eric @ opposite-lock.com 01/15/2017 at 18:29

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Two of my residents in my hall bought used 200s, I’m pretty sure they used to be rentals. They’re International Students.

Eric @ opposite-lock.com > Frenchlicker 01/15/2017 at 18:31

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That might be the only case where a first gen 200 is an upgrade. If they upgraded to a 2nd gen 200, it would be the next step up. You wouldn’t want them to shock their systems too hard by putting them in an actual decent car.

Eric @ opposite-lock.com > Luke's Dad Sold His 2000TL To Get a Sienna 01/15/2017 at 18:33

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They are probably the cheapest newer used car obtainable, so it makes sense. Between the rental brand on the title and the epic depreciation of the model, it’s probably about the best deal around, particularly if you’ve never driven a decent car before.

Frenchlicker > Eric @ opposite-lock.com 01/15/2017 at 18:34

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The last gen Sebring and first gen 200's were the same car though. I tried to talk them into a comparable Ford and they seemed like they were going to do it, right up until they drove up in a new 200. NEW!

Eric @ opposite-lock.com > Frenchlicker 01/15/2017 at 18:39

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I envisioned an earlier version of the Sebring.

This story makes no sense. She must be the biggest masochist ever.

Frenchlicker > Eric @ opposite-lock.com 01/15/2017 at 18:42

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She is the average car buying public. They buy what they want and don’t give two shits about reason. They ask because they want validity not opinions.

FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com > Eric @ opposite-lock.com 01/15/2017 at 18:45

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I don’t know anyone personally who has. Dealers near me only stock a few loaded ones to sell non-fleet. As I recall, a year or two ago you could get a V6 Limited or C with a sticker of $30k for $22k new at a few no-haggle dealerships. That probably still isn’t worth it considering the problems and awful resale, but I can see how they might have hooked a few people looking at V6 Camcord with a much higher sticker.

LongbowMkII > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 01/15/2017 at 18:47

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“CarComplaints.com Notes: The 2015 model year is the first of the sedan’s 2nd generation. Maybe they should have stuck with the 1st generation.”

DAAAAAAMMMMMMMNNN

E90M3 > Luke's Dad Sold His 2000TL To Get a Sienna 01/15/2017 at 18:59

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International students driving Chrysler 200s? Man, the oil market is really down.

Under_Score > E90M3 01/15/2017 at 19:01

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He probably means China or India.

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > Eric @ opposite-lock.com 01/15/2017 at 19:06

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I have walked past these for a rental spec chevy impala. It really is that bad.

duurtlang > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever 01/15/2017 at 19:09

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New impala or the old one? I had a ‘16 Impala Limited (the old model) as a rental. It was a verrrrry bad car. Honestly, the 200 can’t be worse.

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > duurtlang 01/15/2017 at 19:12

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It was 2014 so the old one they designed in the early 2000's. just to confirm the 200 is worse. At least the impala has large and in charge going for it.

Vicente Esteve > Eric @ opposite-lock.com 01/15/2017 at 19:20

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I have the idea that the V6 AWD one isn’t too bad. I wouldn’t mind it tbh.

shop-teacher > Eric @ opposite-lock.com 01/15/2017 at 19:21

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Every piece of crap has its fans. Actual human people bought Daewoos after all.

ranwhenparked > Eric @ opposite-lock.com 01/15/2017 at 19:30

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My elderly unmarried aunts bought one for themselves and seem to like it. I mean, it wasn’t a terrible car, just compromised due to serious miscalculations of what American car buyers expect from the segment. Which is getting to be a persistent problem with Fiat Chrysler in anything other than full-size cars, muscle cars, and trucks/SUVs.

Also, try commenting very loudly about how the car hasn’t moved, and see if it leaves. Could be someone surveilling you - perfect car to use, nobody notices a 200 under normal circumstances.  

Liam Farrell > Eric @ opposite-lock.com 01/15/2017 at 19:46

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My friend has one. Though the only reason is his uncle owns a bunch of FCA dealerships.

Eric @ opposite-lock.com > shop-teacher 01/15/2017 at 19:46

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But those people were desperate, same deal with old Kias, etc.

Liam Farrell > Under_Score 01/15/2017 at 19:47

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The Chinese students drive GTRs and Maseratis. And the Indian students drive Lexuses

Wacko > Shankems 01/15/2017 at 19:51

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SR20

Under_Score > Liam Farrell 01/15/2017 at 20:01

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Oh wow. It probably depends on the school. My sister goes to an engineering school in Alabama and the foreign students there seem like the type that would drive something basic like a 200.

Luke's Dad Sold His 2000TL To Get a Sienna > E90M3 01/15/2017 at 20:36

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The car culture for the obscenely rich international student is actually very modest here at TU. Like one guy in my dorm drives an old Equinox he bought used recently but when he’s home in China, he drives an S Class.

E90M3 > Luke's Dad Sold His 2000TL To Get a Sienna 01/15/2017 at 20:37

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I had a guy from Nigeria in my senior design group. In the states he drove like a 2006 Corolla, back in Nigeria he drove an X6. His brother drove a GT-R, he showed me a picture.

jimz > Eric @ opposite-lock.com 01/15/2017 at 20:57

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I see plenty of loaded ones which obviously aren’t rentals, but I live in the Detroit area so there you go.

jimz > Frenchlicker 01/15/2017 at 20:59

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Technically yes, but if you sat in a Sebring you’d want to off yourself within minutes. the replacement 200, for whatever its flaws, was much nicer inside.

jimz > Eric @ opposite-lock.com 01/15/2017 at 21:04

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Sebring:

Typical of Daimler-era Chryslers, a sea of hard gray plastic. And what wasn’t hard plastic still looked like it was. This wouldn’t even have been suitable for a Plymouth, never mind something with a Chrysler badge.

200:

You can tell by the shape they couldn’t change the structure of the dash, but the materials are much more agreeable and the design doesn’t have all of these horrendous panel cut lines all over the place. plus the door trim panels were much nicer with better noise blocking. I remember going to the 2011 Detroit auto show and sitting in all of the Chrysler/Dodge/Jeep vehicles which had “emergency surgery” to quote Ralph Gilles; and the step up in look, feel, fit and finish was phenomenal.

Racin'Jason001 > Eric @ opposite-lock.com 01/15/2017 at 22:02

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I would if I weren’t a broke teenager.

shop-teacher > Eric @ opposite-lock.com 01/16/2017 at 00:33

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Chrysler is a leader in subprime auto lending, so really it’s the same desperation at work.

pip bip - choose Corrour > Eric @ opposite-lock.com 01/16/2017 at 07:11

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some people only want transport.

Eric @ opposite-lock.com > shop-teacher 01/16/2017 at 11:23

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But that would put it more in line with old Mitsubishis than Daewoos or Kias (they were merely cheap cars and the Kias had long warranties). Back then, you had to watch out for Galants like a hawk, since nobody with even bad credit bought one... Sort of the car for the “I’m about to go bankrupt or to prison” crowd.

I wonder if this explains the types that bought the Dart...

Eric @ opposite-lock.com > ranwhenparked 01/16/2017 at 12:41

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Chrysler has been out of touch pretty much since Iaccoca left. It’s just glaring when mid-sized cars are such an intensely competitive market and compacts are heating up, yet they are hopelessly unable to comprehend it.

After I posted this, within 6 hours, it disappeared, to be replaced by another white rental Chrysler product this morning (Dodge Durango). Seriously mysterious.

Eric @ opposite-lock.com > jimz 01/16/2017 at 12:48

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Detroit’s auto scene is completely irrational, though. What you drive is more a function of where you work than what you like (or what is actually good). It’s why employees within a company have such a hard time seeing how far their product is from what people actually like buying. Chrysler and GM seem to be the biggest offenders on this front.

Liam Farrell > Under_Score 01/16/2017 at 13:07

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Yeah, at Syracuse there were multiple GTRs with crazy modifications, and at Miami Ohio, Maseratis and RS7s which it looked like people had no idea what they had.

Eric @ opposite-lock.com > Racin'Jason001 01/16/2017 at 13:17

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Wow. It makes me curious about what makes you tick. Why would you buy one of these over, say, a pogo stick or the extra $5 to get into a base Fusion? Maybe $900 more for a Camry? Or even $300 more for an Altima? Or $200 more for an Accord (which is a better car in every conceivable way)? Maybe $50 more for a base Kia Optima (which is completely loaded relative to all these in the base spec and comes with a 100k mile warranty, plus it’s better built than a Chrysler product, looks better, etc)? I mean, why a Chrysler 200?

For that matter, you could have your pick of cars the next size class down for a lot less that have far nicer interiors, better build quality, better design, etc. With so many options to choose from, why choose this car?

I know why they end up in rental fleets - too much production, too little sales, so instead of mothballing the plant (and paying union wages for nothing), they sell in large numbers at deep discounts. But if you’re an individual purchasing your own car, there are a lot more boxes to check than “cheap”, “midsize”, and “automatic”.

Eric @ opposite-lock.com > pip bip - choose Corrour 01/16/2017 at 13:26

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But for the same money they could get a Fusion or Optima, or for a little more they could get into an Accord. Or quite a bit more into a Camry that will likely last 2-3x as long and have actual resale value.

It is just the worst financial and practicality decision I could think of in the appliance sector unless you’re getting an insane discount on a bulk purchase like rental fleet buyers do.

shop-teacher > Eric @ opposite-lock.com 01/16/2017 at 13:33

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Yeah, exactly. In general, three types of people bought 200's and Darts.

There’s the Mopar or No Car crowd. Or to use a quote by my sister-in-law, “Them Dodge cars is good cars.” She still insists this regularly, despite the fact that she has driven Kias for the last 15 years. Side story, she talked her husband into buying the final year Sebring. He got rid of it 10 months later because, “he did not feel safe.” This is a guy who gives literally no shits about cars, and once towed a U-haul trailer across the country in a clapped out old Saturn, but the 30k mile Sebring, THAT didn’t feel safe. He traded it in on a Kia.

Then you have the bad credit/no credit crowd. They but lots of FCA products, as Ma Mopar has long played fast and loose with credit.

Then there are regular old suckers who do zero research and buy from whatever dealer they end up at first.

A Venn diagram of these three types will show significant overlap.

Under_Score > Liam Farrell 01/16/2017 at 13:46

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Oh, okay, Syracuse. Yeah, the one person I know of that’s going there, her dad has his own car dealership.

ranwhenparked > Eric @ opposite-lock.com 01/16/2017 at 17:15

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I don’t know, they had some decent hits with the Neon, LH cars, Cloud cars, PT Cruiser, 2nd gen Ram pickup, LX cars, and the minivans and Jeeps have always been steady business.

I’d argue they really started to lose their way when Daimler came into the picture, and other than the odd bright spot here and there since, they really haven’t gotten it back together.

Racin'Jason001 > Eric @ opposite-lock.com 01/16/2017 at 19:09

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Though it’s not my first choice, I think it looks good, and its not like every single one has ground breaking issues. Yes, a CR-Z would be totally better than this, but it isn’t that bad.

Sam > Eric @ opposite-lock.com 02/02/2017 at 09:19

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Part of that isn’t even brand loyalty, it’s just a fair bit cheaper to get a car with an employee discount. Plus, you get to park in the closest parking lots.

Sam > Steve in Manhattan 02/02/2017 at 09:23

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Probably not even worth stealing.

Steve in Manhattan > Sam 02/02/2017 at 09:30

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Eric, car still there?

Eric @ opposite-lock.com > Sam 02/02/2017 at 12:13

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That was actually implied in my comment, but I’m sure many are unaware that this goes on. I guess it does sound like brand loyalty...

SantaRita > Eric @ opposite-lock.com 03/20/2017 at 12:27

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you can buy a brand new nissan versa for 10K.
why look any further.

I think it has to do with rebates or family history. Maybe some people are just mopar??? Certainly Enterprise and Budget are.

Eric @ opposite-lock.com > SantaRita 03/20/2017 at 12:56

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Fleets are fleets these days. They buy whatever is cheap that they can rent as a specific class of vehicle. Chrysler is represented in many fleets because they have far more production than demand (similar to GM, but worse).

In the old days, most rental companies were subsidiaries of major manufacturers that would simply receive their excess production to keep the plant producing at an optimal rate.