Overview & Reviews

Chrysler is generally considered part of the Big Three, a title that refers to the traditional triumvirate of domestic automakers. The current accuracy of this classification is open for debate, but there's no debating the fact that Chrysler has experienced a revival of sorts over the past few years.

Chrysler Corporation was founded in 1925 by Walter P. Chrysler, a noted machinist; he'd purchased the Maxwell Motor Corporation of Detroit and used it as the foundation for his new company. The automaker quickly earned a reputation for advanced engineering. In 1928, Chrysler Corporation expanded with the purchase of Dodge and the creation of the DeSoto and Plymouth divisions.

The 1930s saw Chrysler boldly looking toward the future with the introduction of its revolutionary Airflow. Powered by a front-mounted inline-8, the car was one of the first to be designed with aerodynamics in mind, and featured swooping lines and a prominent grille. Perhaps a bit too ahead of its time, the Airflow was a flop with the public. Chrysler was able to survive the lean years of the Depression thanks to strong sales of its entry-level Dodge and Plymouth brands, whose vehicles boasted more traditional designs and much lower price tags.

Chrysler shined postwar. For a period in the late 1940s, it even surpassed Ford as the No. 2 U.S. automaker. The company's storied "Hemi" V8 engine debuted in 1951. Offering 180 horsepower, it was a significant improvement over Chrysler's previous 135-hp V8. The Hemi engine was meant to trounce the V8 offered by Cadillac, Chrysler's rival, and it kick-started Detroit's horsepower race of the 1950s and '60s. The '50s also saw the debut of treasured Chrysler classics like the handsome Town and Country and the sleek 300C.

By 1961, Chrysler had trimmed its line of brands by dropping the DeSoto nameplate. New technologies were also afoot, such as unibody construction (Chrysler was the first of the Big Three to introduce it) and the replacement of generators with alternators for a car's charging system. In the latter half of the '60s, Chrysler was heavily involved with NASCAR and producing performance-oriented cars.

At the same time, however, dark clouds were gathering. As with other domestic automakers, the 1970s proved to be a difficult decade due to the oil crisis, new government regulations and changing consumer tastes. A costly and ineffective overseas expansion further hurt the company's bottom line. By the late '70s, the company was in such financial disarray that it petitioned the government for $1.5 billion in loan guarantees to save it from bankruptcy.

Thanks to impressive public campaigning by then-chairman Lee Iacocca, the debut of the well-received K-car platform and the creation of the modern minivan, sales had improved dramatically by the mid-'80s. The government's loan was paid off seven years early. The picture further brightened in the late 1980s with Chrysler's purchase of American Motors Corporation (which netted the company the Jeep brand) and a joint venture with Mitsubishi known as Diamond Star Motors.

Success continued through the early 1990s. In 1998, German-based Daimler-Benz merged with Chrysler to form DaimlerChrysler. At the time, this deal was presented as a merger of equals. But it quickly became apparent that it was more of a purchase, with Daimler being the dominant partner.

Less than a decade later, that merger was no longer, as Daimler sold Chrysler (and Dodge) to a private equity firm in 2007. However, that merger had borne some worthwhile fruit, most notably in the form of the Chrysler 300 full-size sedan. The latter shared some chassis components with an older Mercedes-Benz E-Class platform.

As such, the 300 was a highlight for Chrysler that had a pleasingly solid feel to its driving dynamics that was further sweetened via an available powerful V8 engine. But soon after the split, America's economy slid into recession. Due to poor sales and debt, Chrysler had to declare bankruptcy and the federal government intervened with bailout loans. Eventually Chrysler came under control of Italy's Fiat.

Today, the lineup has been pared down to a pair of sedans, a convertible and a minivan. However, after years of having lackluster entries in the very important midsize car category, Chrysler made major improvements in the performance, design and quality of its midsize sedan entry, the 200. The latest 300 also stands as a prime choice for a premium full-size sedan. Still, it remains to be seen as to whether this and future product releases will be enough to restore the company to its former glory.

User Reviews:

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  one of the greats - 1994 Chrysler Concorde
  By moman - July 7 - 11:36 pm

  I bought a 1994 concorde in 2000 and had 130,000 miles on it. Now in 09 its at 312,387 miles and the trans shifts smooth as can be. only problem I ever had with this car was the tires. it has not failed me once. I am a firm dodge/chrysler man. Ive fixed more cars then most. the 3.5 is a great motor along with the 3.3. Every dodge Ive owned has given me my moneys worth. have a 1977 dodge powerwagon with a 360 that has 796,342 miles on it. Best truck I will ever had owned. just like this concorde is shaping up to be the best car i ever owned. you treat her right shell treat you like a king. Plus it doesnt have pointless parts which go out that need replacing like chevy and ford.

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  Ooohh my god - 2003 Chrysler PT Cruiser
  By GLORIA - July 7 - 4:20 pm

  Ok first of all I love my car it is cute and fun and I have enjoyed it till now. Brakes went out several times, the front bumper keeps falling off I replaces the head and gaskets and the oil is in the radiator again, I have replaced the thermostat three time as it keeps getting hot, I had to replace motor mounts twice, power steering is out again abs lights have been on a year and ac always leaked, service engine remains on, I have put a lot of money and it still it gets hot and oil still in the radiator, but it runs smooth for the two or three blocks before it gets hot again. Any recommendations? I cant afford to fix again nor get another car.

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  GREAT CAR! - 2002 Chrysler PT Cruiser
  By dfdfddf - July 7 - 2:50 am

  The Pt Cruiser is a great car. I get 30-31 mpg and it has good acceleration. I hit 0-60 mph in 8.2 with stick and in my wifes with auto i got to 60 mph in 10.2. and get 24-27 mpg in hers.

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  Love my Pacifica - 2004 Chrysler Pacifica
  By carparts - July 6 - 10:00 am

  It has been ten years since I had bought a car, so I was ready to get into something new. Believe me, I took my time in evaluating different vehicles, since I knew it may be awhile when I would buy another one. After taking the car back to work, my son saw it and immediately liked it. In fact, everyone liked it, and the more I showed it to people, the more I enjoyed it myself. By the end of my 24 hour test drive, I was completely sold that this was the vehicle for me.

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  great idea - 2001 Chrysler PT Cruiser
  By Doug - July 6 - 3:10 am

  I think the PT cruiser is very ergonomically designed. Its very comfortable, easy to get around town in and great for picking up groceries, etc. We have had problems with its constant hesitation, but hope to get problem taken care of next week.

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  Even Better the 2nd time around - 2004 Chrysler PT Cruiser
  By Doug Halby - July 5 - 8:06 pm

  This is my 2nd buy of a PT Cruiser. My first one I loved (2002 Silver Ltd with Manual Transmission). I traded it in after 53,000 miles. After one test drive of the 2004 GT (Auto Stick/Turbo) I was sold on it. The Horse Power boost is incredible & a usable range for everyday driving. Autostick feature allows almost complete clutchless control on wet or snow surfaces or is fun to use when you really want to drive.

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  Solid Car Until 150k - 1998 Chrysler Cirrus
  By Tim Lindfelt - July 5 - 7:11 pm

  Comfortable car. Feels heavy and bulky on turns, but overall nice drive. DO NOT use dealership for maintenance - not trustworthy. Needed quite a few small repairs (keep in mind i drove it heavily 25k per year): new battery, brakes wear somewhat quickly ignition cylinder replaced, then broke key lock in steering column and had to replace entire column, can move shifter with car off, etc. That said no MAJOR drivetrain repairs, so thats good...until the dreaded 150k...Began to stall and misfire. Had leaky valve cover gasket. Replaced spark plugs, ignition wire, cover gasket - $650. Runs better but still misfires and stalls occasionally so i gave it to charity. Overall happy until 150k

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  Poor Quality - 2001 Chrysler Voyager
  By Bob B - July 5 - 11:36 am

  At 60K miles: Three transmissions replaced,A/C replaced, stabilizer link pins replaced, rust bubbling through paint, P/S pump replaced, brakes all the way around. This has been a nightmare vehicle. I seriously maintain my vehicles to avoid these problems, but this car can not be helped! Next vehicle will be foreign.

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  Worst mistake I ever made, dont buy one! - 2007 Chrysler PT Cruiser
  By 4x4thewin - July 5 - 10:24 am

  I babied my PT Cruiser, but once it hit 90k miles it all went down hill. Routine service like starter, alternator, brakes is all to be expected but it didnt seem to matter how much I put into it mechanically, every few months a new problem would arise. At 120k it started pouring oil out, had a blown head gasket. Kelley Blue Book value was less than an engine rebuild, so I cut my losses and donated it as is. If your thinking of getting one, dont. I wouldnt take one for free!

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  From Honda to Chrysler - 2005 Chrysler PT Cruiser
  By Scott In Buffalo - July 4 - 7:20 pm

  When I traded my 02 Accord SE for this vehcile, I was very apprehensive about my first "American" car in over 10 years. Overall, I have had the cruiser for about a month and am satisfied with my buying decision. It seems at this point the imports are not willing to deal. I was even told by a local Honda dealer "We dont really negotiate on our Accords anymore, they sell themselves". Well, not to this consumer. The cruiser is an excellent vehicle on a long trip. Everyone is comfortable, including rear seat passengers. It takes a while for gas mileage to improve but I am finally getting about 22 MPG in a city/hwy mix after about 4 weeks.