Lancia coming back to the UK as Chrysler

[fensaddler]

Just had Auto Express on the phone to me.  They were seeking quotes for a piece reporting that Lancia were coming back to the UK next year with the cars badged as Chryslers.  So I imagine they've had some confirmation that this is going to happen.

So:

Would you consider buying one?

Would you buy one and change the badges over?

Should we welcome owners of the new Chrysler badged cars into the club?

(My answers, for the record, are yes, possibly and yes)

[sparehead3]

yes yes & yes* **

*they may already own an old Lancia

**if they don't it may persuade them to buy and look after one

[Harvey]

I wouldn't buy a Chrysler-badged car, even if it's Lancia engineering underneath. Aside from the driving experience, a car is the biggest  projection of youself & values to other people. I don't relate to Chrysler and wouldn't want to be pre-judged as a Chrysler owner by the wider world. Changing the badge wouldn't change things.
However, I wouldn't impose my values and decision on others and would welcome owners of Chrysler-badged Lancias to the club.
By the way, I do acknowledge that I'm brand-led, not engineering-led. All my Lancias have been Fiats with Lancia badges, and I'm completely relaxed about that!

[Paul Greenway]

My sentiments exactly Harvey.

[toby2449]

Ever since the marrige of Lancia & Chrsyler, and it was announced that Lancia would replace Chrysler in Europe (excl UK & Ireland), i've been wondering if Chrysler were to offer their version of Delta here would i buy it? Hell yeah!!! I'd probably replace the badges & grill though!

If this works out between Chrysler & Lancia, i dare say it'll end up being just like Opel & Vauxhall, same cars different bagdes.

But i wish they had just brought back Lancia as Lancia!!

[fensaddler]

I wouldn't buy a Chrysler-badged car, even if it's Lancia engineering underneath. Aside from the driving experience, a car is the biggest  projection of youself & values to other people. I don't relate to Chrysler and wouldn't want to be pre-judged as a Chrysler owner by the wider world. Changing the badge wouldn't change things.
However, I wouldn't impose my values and decision on others and would welcome owners of Chrysler-badged Lancias to the club.
By the way, I do acknowledge that I'm brand-led, not engineering-led. All my Lancias have been Fiats with Lancia badges, and I'm completely relaxed about that!

That's why you just love your Fiesta then...

[sparehead3]

You mean "Fiestal" ...

[Harvey]

I am not emotionally attached to my Fiesta. It's bland, but I tried to compensate by choosing a bold colour.

[Thotos]

All my Lancias have been Fiats with Lancia badges, and I'm completely relaxed about that!

Since current Lancias are considered to be Fiats, are modern Fiat owners allowed in the Club? 

[Harvey]

Yes if they re-badge their cars as Lancias!

[toby2449]

actually thats a good point, i wouldn't be in favour of allowing owners of Chryslers to join the club, but if these new generation Chrysler/Lancia owers were to replace the badge to read Lancia, then i think they should be allowed join.

[sparehead3]

... surely you don't need a Lancia car to be a member of the club ? You just need to love them !

[fensaddler]

actually thats a good point, i wouldn't be in favour of allowing owners of Chryslers to join the club, but if these new generation Chrysler/Lancia owers were to replace the badge to read Lancia, then i think they should be allowed join.

I'd take the view that if they are sold as Lancias elsewhere in Europe, we should encourage owners into the club, regardless of the badge.  But there is a roaring trade, Mr Dealer Sir, to be done in selling trim conversion kits - grilles, steering wheel badges and other name and logo badges - to convert to a Lancia identity.  Its an act of passive resistance...

[fensaddler]

... surely you don't need a Lancia car to be a member of the club ? You just need to love them !

Indeed you don't, but there is broad distance between passive allowance and positive encouragement, and in that gap is a lot of money and a lot of members who could be enjoying our club, and understanding what heritage they have bought into, Chrysler badge or not.  New thinking for the brave new world gentlemen!

[stuwilson128]

I think that it is an absolute travesty that Lancias will be sold in the UK badged as Chrysler.  I for one will not buy any car with a Chrysler badge on it, even if it is a Lancia underneath.  If I do buy another new car at any time in the future, I will go through all the stress and hassle of importing one from The Netherlands where I can get one from a Lancia dealer, as I did when buying my Delta.

I don't see why we would turn away any owner of a Chrysler badged Lancia, afterall I see the club as being open to anybody who is a Lancia enthusiast.