Effect of Chrysler sale on future parts / service?

Question

What effect, if any, would the sale of Chrysler by Daimler have on the future availability of parts and/or service for a current (2005/2006/2007) Chrysler 300? Given that a lot of Daimler technology went into the Chrysler 300, would some current Chrysler models be discontinued and/or revamped without certain Daimler features? Would parts for 2005-2007 models become more expensive or harder to obtain?

Answer 1

This is a question many, many other people are pondering. Although no one can foretell the future, history may allow us to make an educated guess.

In 1979, a floundering Chrysler Corporation under new chief Lee Iacocca, made a dramatic improvement (and financial recovery) from a product line of mostly large rear-wheel drive cars into mostly small front-wheel drive products.

In 1998, a nervous-about-our-future Chrysler Corporation "merged" with Daimler Benz in less dramatic fashion to create DaimlerChrysler. Ironically, DCX reacquired a love for larger, rear-wheel drive vehicles and a nervous-about-our-future attitude reappeared.

In these two instances, my personal experience was that parts for my '79 Cordoba and '89 Dodge (we still own both) did not become more scarce than what one would expect due to normal model changes and the passage of time.

As long as the current Chrysler Group, as an automotive organization, does not disappear (like Studebaker), availability of parts and value of products will not dramatically change, especially in the long run.

Answer 2

That depends, who was Chrysler sold to?