Not to pop any europhile bubbles, but current offerings from domestic builders, even the government motors variety, are easy on par with anything out of Europe these days, unless you get into supercars and very high end luxury stuff.

A CTS-V is easily on par with an M5 in all respects, and in some ways quite a lot better. A Fusion is easily on par with a C-series.

The problem with Chrysler brand, in particular, is that everything they make is about as exciting as a plain cheese pizza. But the US/Mexico produced Fiat 500 Abarth? That is some good frosty. As is the new Viper, and the SRT-8 Jeep was quite good until they styled it to look like a fridge.

I laugh when I see my middle age crazy friends and relatives buying challengers, camaros, and corvettes. Dumbest money spent ever.

For that money, I'm in an audi, BMW, or a Benz, even if it's used.

There isn't a thing in the world that will make me buy a gubmint motors vehicle. And I'm not alone.

I rent them all the time though and I can say the GM cars are pitiful. The Chryslers, while OK, aren't in the same league as even a KIA.

We had a trip where I had a 300. On the way back from the airport my daughter said this car ( a 10 year old avalon) was way nicer than the rental we had.

The administration and the UAW have trashed the car market for both new and used cars in the US. DOT and EPA have mandated so much that they've driven prices to ridiculous extremes. The car payment is one thing but car insurance is also out of sight. Meanwhile dealers lot have cars that were pushed on them rotting away. Go figure.

My wife and I were talking yesterday about various economic topics and I happened to mention Chrysler. She said, "You mean <i>Daimler</i>
-Chrysler?"

I told her no, these days it's UAW-Chrysler.

Dammi, I keep forgetting this new comment engine doesn't do formatting. Of any kind. At all. Ever.

That kind of sucks.

Wouldn't that be UAW/Fiat/Chrysler?

Just sad I'm owning my first and last Challenger. There won't be any when it's time to replace this one.