Pacifica, PT Cruiser, Magnum Could Get Ax Today

A few weeks back, we told you about rumors circulating that Chrysler would cease production of a number of models. Today, the board of Chrysler is meeting to decide the fate of a number of models, and The Detroit News is reporting that the Chrysler Pacifica, PT Cruiser and Dodge Magnum will assuredly be getting the ax, and the Jeep Commander will be on the table as well.

While we don’t mind seeing the PT Cruiser go, both the Pacifica and Magnum were unlike anything else on the market for their time and deserve a second chance. We’d guess the new Dodge Journey will get a Chrysler spinoff to replace the Pacifica, otherwise Chrysler might be missing the boat and losing some loyal fans of the crossover. Again we poll you, our readers, to see if this is the right batch to kill off. And we’ll get confirmation as soon as possible on which models are indeed no longer for this world.

Chrysler to Dump Three Slow-Sellers (The Detroit News)

Comments

Keep the Magnum. It is unlike anything out there in the long run besides the AMG MB Wagon.

Magnum SRT 8 is half the price of it and just as powerful.

The others can go. PT cruiser needed a new body but theres no real way to retro update it.

Pacifica can go since the Journey is come out. Durango and Aspen should be on that list more then the Commander. Jeep needs a 3 row people mover.

Anon's take is spot on. Also, drop the compass, but keep the caliber on the Dodge side.

Chrysler was slated to get a rebadged Journey, but that has now been put on hold and rightfully so. I think the Pacifica still has a lot of promise.

The Compass and Commander are real stinkers. Let 'em sink.

It was eventual that the PT Crusier would get cut but the Magnum?? Please! Along with the 300C it helped Chrysler get back on it's feet. The only thing in the Chysler lineup that really needed to go was the PT as well as the Aspen which is just an overdressed Durango. As for the Pacifica, it's one (of very few) of the gems the entire brand in general is producing. It's not like anything on the road so it more than deserves its right to stay.

Dodge is where the cuts needed to be, the quality is just not there any more.

I thought the PT was one of the cars that saved Chrysler? Don't cut off the hand that feeds.

None of these vehicles really need to be axed. They just need to be dramatically re-designed/engineered. All Cereberus needs to do is to talk to Mr. Ghosn over at Nisaan on how to reinvent a compnay from scratch.

the magnum is a really cool car. The Pacifica is too ugly and euro-looking and the PT is past its prime, but yeah, keep the magnum. but cerberus is just going to run this company the rest of the way into the ground, because these finance guys don't understand the need for r&d any better than the big 3 management have for the last 30 years, which is to say not much.

Why axe the Magnum while the Charger is doing the wrong job of competing with its cousin 300?

Drop the PT (leave that market to the HHR),drop the Pacifica,and restyle the Magnum to more resemble those large station wagons of the late 60s/early 70s....less drop off of the roofline,and somewhat fuller flanks.America would still be buying Country Squires,Town and Countrys and Kingswood Estates had it not been for .99 gas and CAFE standards (in the late 70s),turning buyers to overblown trucks (SUVs)and their muscular V8 engines.

Keep the pacifica, ditch the other two

totally agree with Jay

PT- all I have to say is FINALLY! it hasnt been redesigned in years.,

Pacifica- they could make it a good vehicle if they added rear headrests, a second row bench, and a slightly nicer interior. Chryster is still considered (although with doubt) an upscale, if not luxury, car brand. there shouldnt be any hard plastic in any of its models. any of them. the pacifica does have a pretty absorbent ride, and since crossovers are becoming more popular it would be unwise to kill the Pacifica without an immediate replacement (or one that comes next year). plus its one of the few vehicles that Chrystler (as a whole) has a 6-Speed auto.

Magnum- it debuted the styling, and the styling is ok, but needs and update. bring it in closer with the Avenger
and lighten it up so the V6 is acctually decent. also, no more 4 speed junk and hard plastic on the inside.

Commander-what it really needs is a longer wheelbase for more 2nd and 3rd row room,a better cargo area behind the thrid row, and a standard backup camera. rear visability is diplorable without one, and if they add a rear-center headrest (which they should), then there will be no way to see out of the rear hatch window. a backup camera is a must. the interior is pretty good as it is, but they still need to work on tighter fitting trim pieces (ALL Of Chrystler vehicles need help with that) and no more hard plastic. lightening the frame a bit to make the V6 a viable option (along with 6 speeds) could make the Commander a good selling vehicle for Jeep.

I can't believe they are taking off the Pacifica! The interior of the Pacifica is so much better than most of the current Chrysler vehicles and it's an attractive crossover. And the PT Cruiser has been popular and should be redesigned, but I guess it's too late. And Magnum was a cool car, but I'm concerned more about the Pacifica.

They should get rid of the Compass and the Patriot soon!!!

I can't believe they are taking off the Pacifica! The interior of the Pacifica is so much better than most of the current Chrysler vehicles and it's an attractive crossover. And the PT Cruiser has been popular and should be redesigned, but I guess it's too late. And Magnum was a cool car, but I'm concerned more about the Pacifica.

They should get rid of the Compass and the Patriot soon!!!

No surprise that these three dogs are going away. The PT is way past it's 15 minutes. The Pacifica is acutally a decent crossover but has no appeal at all. The Magnum is possibly the ugliest car on the road on the outside and a Hemi can't help the incredibly poor quality interior on the inside.

The real issue is what Chrysler has that's worth saving. The Sebring is a joke. The 300 is nice but needs an update soon. The Aspen was stilborn. The T&C, IMHO, is on the way down. Any time a company resorts to gimmickry rather than quality it spells trouble. Remember the GMC Envoy XUV?

They shouldn't ax the Magnum. The Crossfire, on the other hand...

They should ax the entire company as I can't imagine why anyone would buy a Chrysler product. In the past six years my family had owned a Caravan and a JGC, never again. The quality of both vehicles was abysmal. We now own a Honda minivan and a Toyota 4Runner and love both of them. Now we get why millions are buying Japanese vehicles as they are rock solid reliable. If I was given a Chrysler vehicle it be listed on eBay in a blink of an eye.

I am absolutely appalled that Chrysler would even THINK of getting rid of the Pacifica. I have loved it since it debuted in 2004. Why? Because it was the nicest looking SUV for the money! I just bought my first one this past April. I thought it was going to be one of many. I looked at many, many SUV's before deciding (and I had to fight tooth and nail with my GM loving husband!) and I know I made the best choice all around! I have a luxury car for nowhere near the luxury price.

I guess I should be grateful they are cutting it off, this way I don't have to watch it suffer and DIE with the rest of Chrysler because they hired the one CEO that is good at killing off companies...anyone had a decent experience at Home Depot in the last ten years?

Exactly....

On the upside, if you're looking to buy one of these vehicles you will probably find one heck of a deal.....Keep in mind, you get what you pay for.

I still say Chrysler could sell PT's for another 4 years with a new 4 cyl and a 5 speed auto. Maybe a slight wheelbase stretch.

Part of the reason the Crown Vic has been around so long is that when they needed to update it (in the late 70's!!) they didn't have the money so they tweeked it instead. I'm not sure how far back the Panther Platform goes but it's tooling is paid for and they make money on still.

don't cancel the PT. It is fuel efficient and cool looking. You see more of them on the road today. The Pacifica should go, you never really see it and it is no that stylish. The Magnum looks like a hurse, so cancel that too!

I am very disappointed that they are cancelling the Pacifica. I looked long and hard at several SUV's, the Pacifica offered everthing I was looking for without being too big and too expensive. The options you get this car for the money can't be touched. The ride is excellent. I should also mention that the Pacifica has a very loyal following. Chrysler should look around at all the copy cats now. They started the segment and now are going to abandon it. It makes no sense at all.

Being both a happy Pacifica owner and a PT Cruiser owner (my wife'), I'm disapointed to here both of these go. Down the road I could see buying an updated version of both. The Jouney doesn't look like a comparable replacement to the large space of the Pacific, and theis is nohing else that drives and is tall like a Cruiser in the Chrysler/Dodge lineup that my wife would like. The Caliber isn't it.

This page is older than dirt.
However the biggest error of Chrysler was dimissing the Magnum. I am the very lucky owner of a 2008 SRT-8.They only manufactured 167 of these hot rods, and to be quite honest, it is a 5,300 lb hot rod that very few can drive with any skill. Mine is moderately modified and has a top end of 180 mph, drives like an indy car, has Brembo brake calipers and brake rotors the size of garbage can lids. An extremely comfortable interior, on and on and on. If you ever have the chance to drive one, do not think it's a slug, it will leave with out you and you will be trying real hard to get it back under control if you are of the more boring type of traffic menace . It's already a colectable and will only go up in value.
If you haven't romped on a HEMI with it screaming and sashaying to a fro, you ain't drove nothin fun...ever