2006 Chrysler Pt Cruiser Green, Excellent Condition, Automatic, A/c, 88k on 2040-cars

Auto blog

Is it time for American carmakers to give up on dual-clutch transmissions? [w/poll]

Last week, in the midst of Detroit's first days seeking relief in Chapter 9 of the bankruptcy code, Automotive News contributor Larry P. Vellequette penned an editorial suggesting that American car companies raise the white flag on dual clutch transmissions and give up on trying to persuade Americans to buy cars fitted with them. Why? Because, Vellequette says, like CVT transmissions, they "just don't sound right or feel right to American drivers." (Note: In the article, it's not clear if Vellequette is arguing against wet-clutch and dry-clutch DCTs or just dry-clutch DCTs, which is what Ford and Chrysler use.) The article goes on to state that Ford and Chrysler have experimented with DCTs and that both consumers and the automotive press haven't exactly given them glowing reviews, despite their quicker shifts and increased fuel efficiency potential compared to torque-converter automatic transmissions.
Autoblog staffers who weighed in on the relevance of DCTs in American cars generally disagreed with the blanket nature of Vellequette's statement that they don't sound or feel right, but admit that their lack of refinement compared to traditional automatics can be an issue for consumers. That's particularly true in workaday cars like the Ford Focus and Dodge Dart, both of which have come in for criticism in reviews and owner surveys. From where we sit, the higher-performance orientation of such transmissions doesn't always meld as well with the marching orders of everyday commuters (particularly if drivers haven't been educated as to the transmission's benefits and tradeoffs), and in models not fitted with paddle shifters, it's particularly hard for drivers to use a DCT to its best advantage.
Finally, we also note that DCT tuning is very much an evolving science. For instance, Autoblog editors who objected to dual-clutch tuning in the Dart have more recently found the technology agreeable in the Fiat 500L. Practice makes perfect - or at least more acceptable.

2020 Chrysler 300 gets new colors, a new package, and new prices

Although the Chrysler 300 is doing a pretty good impression of a listless, drifting ghost ship, there are product planners at the helm, and they have giveth and taken away for the 2020 model year. As with the last time we got news about the 300, some of this comes from Mopar Insiders instead of Fiat Chrysler, and it appears the Chrysler build site hasn't caught up to everything yet. Perhaps most important to prospective buyers, which is reflected on the build page, prices have risen anywhere from $50 to $370 across the lineup. The 2020 prices and the changes compared to 2019 are: Touring RWD, $29,590 (+$120) Touring AWD, $32,340 (+$370) Touring L RWD, $33,115 (Unchanged) Touring L AWD, $35,865 (+$250) S RWD, $36,695 (+$50) Limited RWD, $38,595 (+$100) S AWD, $39,445 (+$300) Limited AWD, $41,345 (+$350) C RWD, $41,995 (+$50) The Sport Appearance Package on the Touring trim needs a little more money, too, going from $1,295 to $1,495. The package puts on a 300S grille with a black chrome surround, gloss black window surrounds, black headlight bezels, black LED taillights, bright chrome wing badges with black inserts, and 20-inch Black Noise wheels on the RWD model, 19-inchers on the AWD. From last year's palette of eight colors, two are no more: Maximum Steel and Ceramic Grey. Frostbite, a popular white offered on the Dodge Challenger and Charger, has been added to the 300's choices. New hues Amethyst and Canyon Sunset will be added but are late availability. Inside, Black/Linen and Mocha interior colors increase the choice. The $475 Interior Appearance Group that brought features like bright pedals and premium floor mats has been done away with, too. The build site doesn't show the Red S Appearance Package for the 300S trim, but it's a thing. The option includes Black Noise exterior badging with red inserts on the wing badge, a red "S" badge on the decklid, and 20-inch Black Noise wheels on the RWD model. It can be paired with a new Radar Red interior which is also nowhere to be found on the configurator. The Red S Appearance Package can be paired with any exterior color except Frostbite, and costs $295.

GM seeks appeals court ruling to continue legal fight with Fiat Chrysler

DETROIT — General Motors on Friday asked a U.S. appeals court to allow it to continue pursuing its civil racketeering suit against rival Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, rejecting a lower court judge's belittling of the complaint. The automaker's filing with the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals comes less than a week after U.S. District Court Judge Paul Borman called GM's suit against Fiat Chrysler a "waste of time and resources" at a time when both automakers should be focused on surviving the coronavirus pandemic. Borman ordered GM Chief Executive Mary Barra and Fiat Chrysler CEO Mike Manley to meet by July 1 to negotiate a resolution. "As we have said from the date this lawsuit was filed, it is meritless," FCA said on Friday. "FCA will continue to defend itself vigorously and pursue all available remedies in response to GM's groundless lawsuit. We stand ready to comply with Judge Borman's order," it added. In its motion, GM asked the appeals court to throw out Borman's order and reassign the case to a different district court judge. It called Borman's order "unprecedented" and "a profound abuse" of judicial power. GM sued Fiat Chrysler last year, accusing the Italian-American company's executives of bribing United Auto Workers union officials to secure labor agreements that put GM at a disadvantage. Fiat Chrysler is under investigation by the U.S. Justice Department as part of a wide-ranging probe of UAW corruption. GM's accusations came as Fiat Chrysler and French automaker Peugeot were in the early stages of preparing for a merger. Fiat Chrysler has said the suit was aimed at disrupting that deal. GM has said the suit has nothing to do with the merger. In a statement, GM rejected Borman's characterization of the suit as a "distraction" and defended its decision to press the case. "We filed a lawsuit against FCA for the same reason the U.S. Department of Justice continues to investigate the company: former FCA executives admitted they conspired to use bribes to gain labor benefits, concessions and advantages. Based on the direct harm to GM these actions caused, we believe FCA must be held accountable." Related Video: Government/Legal UAW/Unions Chrysler Fiat GM