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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  Third Cruiser - 2005 Chrysler PT Cruiser
  By Andy - January 25 - 5:13 am

  This is our third PT Cruiser. We had a 01,03 GT, and now our 05. The GT was probably the best car of the three a lot of fun to drive and it was a 5 speed, the other 2 are automatics. Until now we have had good luck with the cruisers. We should have researched this year a little more before we bought it. At 45,000 mile control arm bushing are bad, had to have them replaced, at 48,000 miles fan motor had to be fixed drawing to many amps when air conditioner is on. We do like the Chrysler car styles, but workmanship seems to be fair. Good thing i have the extended warranty 7/70000. this will probably be our last Chrysler product.

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  Black2006 300c - 2006 Chrysler 300
  By Fraank Akerley - January 24 - 4:16 am

  Love the car but brakes pulse right off of the show room. I think the car sat to long without being moved and the rotors got pitted. Only have 500 miles on it and its not getting better. I hope I dont have to fight about getting it fixed.

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  Gas - 2006 Chrysler PT Cruiser
  By Wifes car - January 22 - 9:23 pm

  I bought this car for my wife and we just went on a trip from Jacksonville to Miami. We got 24 miles to the gallon. I drive a 1997 Caddy with a Northstar V8 and 110000 miles on it. On a recent trip to tampa I got 27 MPG. My wife loves the PT but a brand new 4 banger should get better gas mileage.

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  Niche vehicle - 2005 Chrysler PT Cruiser
  By Rob Man - January 18 - 11:06 am

  Okay, its not for everybody. As a "mini-mini-van", it has no peer. Get the 5-speed and enjoy a modicum of performance (and the joy of rowing). As for utility, its HUGE inside. With the limited edition, you get all of the creature comforts plus a fairly good handling vehicle. Its noisy above 60 and the chassis gives away its truck heritage. Also, the trade value drops by half in only two years. Still - Id buy another in a heartbeat! I often coose it over my Japanese luxury-performance car and my bread-and- butter Japanese economy car for sheer fun. I repaet that its not for everybody, but if youre looking for a vehicle with certain special qualities, the PT Cruiser may just be it!

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  Guidance System - 2005 Chrysler Pacifica
  By HankNJ1954 - January 17 - 8:06 am

  Love the car, but did not get it with the map built into the dash, so they installed another model. It opens up in front of the heat/air controls so that the sensor doesnt see the people, it sees the hot back of the display and turns off the heat. Would not do that again, but otherwise love it - took it on a 2700 mile spin last week - fun car. Hank

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  Its a kick to drive ! - 2006 Chrysler PT Cruiser
  By McNelly - January 14 - 11:36 pm

  While Ive only had this Cruiser a month or so - I felt compelled to tell you all what a kick it is to drive, for an economy car. This is one of the few vehicles Ive ever purchased strictly on a budget, and with a purpose in mind.. Cheap, Dependable, and good on gas. I needed all 3 as a second car with little time to dicker about it.. and this car excels in all 3 areas - and I cant beleive what a fantastic buy this was for under 14K! If youre looking for good reliable "basic transportation" and dont want to break the bank.. check this out. Its one of Americas best kept secrets!

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  happy with the switch - 2005 Chrysler 300
  By waynem51 - January 12 - 10:00 am

  Love the car! Happy with just about everything except fuel economy and climate control. Not a day goes by without a thumbs up from people I drive by. Would be a good idea for promoting it, not that it cant do it on its own. We switshed from a 300E Mercedes and feel we got a great value.

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  Fun ride, bad milage - 2003 Chrysler PT Cruiser
  By lhkiaer - January 9 - 2:00 am

  This is my second PT, the first one was a Touring, and one thing they have in common is the bad gas milage. The Touring with the standard 2.4 L was too weak, and I traded in after I tested the new Turbo. The Turbo is a very fast car, 0-100 is done in a few seconds. However driving it in city my car has an average about 12 miles a gallon or less, where Chrysler said 19/gallon. BAD!!!!But it is a fun ride, interior is leather, Autostick is cool, ok stereo, nice sun roof, I love my PT!! The suspension is much better than the Touring and diskbrakes, traction controll and ABS brakes makes the ride safer and more relaxed.I think the design IS the PT Cruiser!

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  Continental - 2006 Chrysler 300
  By William L Harris - January 5 - 4:46 am

  I have experienced tire problems after the first four thousand miles. The P215/65R17 Continental tires develop flat spots causing excessive front end noise and has been a constant problem. I have had the tires rotated three times since owing the car and had the front end checked by the dealers service manager. This is the first Chrysler I have owned and it may be my last if Chrysler Corporation continues installing these type of tires.

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  Its got Giddyup - 2007 Chrysler PT Cruiser
  By VMP - December 29 - 4:53 am

  Although the gas mileage is low, this snappy wagon has kick. It rapidly accelerates from a dead stop, something that is crucial in L.A. traffic. I have actually beaten a Porche in accelerating from a dead stop...my car was first to overtake the other..but then, of course, the Porche overtook me pretty soon thereafer, even though we both started at the same time. No joke or embellishment. I was astonished...and proud of my bulbous wagon: The Vanilla Bomber.