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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  Bitter Sweet - 2002 Chrysler 300M
  By S.Allen - March 28 - 2:00 am

  I am discouraged with the steering on my 300M special. The vehicle sways on smooth sufaces, and it has road noise. I am impressed with the design of the the 300m specialand I have received many compliments.

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  A Breakthru Vehicle - 2003 Chrysler PT Cruiser
  By Mark - March 27 - 3:20 pm

  My wife and I bought one of the first PT Cruisers available in our area. We paid $2k over list price to get delivery. To-date we have 42,000 miles on it. No rattles! We have the basic engine with an automatic. adequate for our purposes, but not a fast acceleration car. We ordered every available option except the roof rack. We take advantage of the very flexible interior and sometimes strip out the seats to carry a lot of our sailboat stuff.

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  2003 Limited 5-speed - 2003 Chrysler PT Cruiser
  By RobMan - March 27 - 2:33 pm

  I bought pre-owned at half the current selling price, chose the manual transmission to maximize performance and fuel economy, and am very satisifed in every aspect except road noise at highway speeds.

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  Hate It - 2006 Chrysler PT Cruiser
  By summergurl08 - March 27 - 8:00 am

  I bought this car a year ago thinking I would be much happier with this car then my previous one but i hate it. Water stains the seats. It really makes the interior look terrible. I had to replace tires on this car after only having 20,000kms on it. I drive this car in the winter and half the time the fan doesnt work. Try driving a car with fogged windows all the time! I am looking to get out of this car very soon and would not recommend this vehicle to anyone

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  Great road car - 1996 Chrysler LHS
  By Mgusto - March 27 - 2:00 am

  This car is extremely comfortable and is easy on the gas ... for a large car OR a smaller car. I put a ton of miles on this over the road, and I couldnt be happier with a vehicle. Will definitely look at another Chrysler.

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  Never Again Chrysler - 2000 Chrysler 300M
  By markmgolf - March 27 - 2:00 am

  Last Chrysler product for me. Glad it was only a lease. In the first 18000 miles, had a window motor replace, light switch replaced and the window trim shrunk and was replaced. By 28000 miles, the car had to be towed and the battery replaced. Also, way to much road noise. Enjoyed the ride and style. Too bad the reliability was poor.

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  my car - 2002 Chrysler PT Cruiser
  By terry - March 26 - 10:10 pm

  love my car, its a beautiful machine, chryslers best in years, the only disappointment is the gas mileage

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  love it - 2005 Chrysler PT Cruiser
  By BethThor - March 26 - 3:20 am

  The only complaint is some minor whirring and whislte from the engine at times. Probably the turbo pressuring up and relieving pressure when coming down. Yee Hah!

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  2002 Lxi - 2002 Chrysler Sebring
  By wingermi - March 26 - 2:00 am

  Bought as a used "program" car, rental turn in. Has been great, two problems, steering wheel leather shot (replaced under warranty)Air Bag light always going on - been to dealer twice. Otherwise very nice car - would have loved a Miata but nowhere to put the kids!

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  Our Pacifica for the first 4,000 miles - 2004 Chrysler Pacifica
  By Boomer4548 - March 26 - 2:00 am

  Have a 2000 300M that we like and were looking to get a newer one, but decided this would work out well for travelling. So far it has done so. Very comfortable to travel in. Would have liked better mileage, but it beats the sticker when on a trip, so cant complain too much about that. Only have 4,000 miles so far, may get better as it breaks in.