Signs of the Times

I've have a Chrysler PT Cruiser, and before that owned a Chrysler 5th Avenue, a Plymouth Voyager minivan and a Dodge Caravan minivan. We've owned Chrysler products - sometimes two - almost continuously since 1988. During the 19 years I've lived in South Orange County I've usually taken those cars for maintenance and repair to the Chrysler dealer at the Irvine Auto Center.

The front brakes are needing replacement so we took the car over to the Auto Center last night and was surprised to find the old Chrysler lot replaced with a Hyundai dealership owned by the same company. They still do Chrysler repairs there, but Chrysler-Jeep is now a small section on the corner while Hyundai has taken over the sales lot and showroom.

It's a sign of things to come. Frankly, with Chrysler and soon GM to be taken over largely by the United Auto Workers and the government, I'm not sure why anyone would buy a new car from either company.

I won't.

And given what it's costing me for the repairs I have to make today, I may never be able to buy another car again.