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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  Great Car - 2001 Chrysler PT Cruiser
  By Jeff - May 14 - 2:10 am

  Ive put 85,000 miles on this vehicle and it still drives well. Its been serviced for brake shoes, new tires, and the drivers side power window. I had to replace the radio at about 50,000. Thats all. Not bad. Feels bigger than it is. Cruises well on the freeway at 80 mph. Still feels solid. Handles well for a FWD car. The build quality is more like a Honda than a US maker. Still no rattles.

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  Electrical Problems - 2005 Chrysler 300
  By Tim - May 12 - 9:21 am

  Really enjoyed this vehicle, but lots of electrical problems. Power windows keep failing and digital read out mysteriously converted to German. MPG is average. If you dont keep the vehicle tuned up, it is atrocious. Excellent hwy car, poor in the city due to handling. Not in the class of Audi A4 or BMW 325.

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  Thank God for Pacifica - 2005 Chrysler Pacifica
  By Brandy Crenshaw - May 11 - 7:39 pm

  Overall I think that you cant beat what the Pacifica offers to a family being small or big. Saftey and comfortability is big in my book. The Pacifica offers this and then some with its SUV sporty look. And with a pinch of class, it offers self comfidence and worth.

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  JXI Limited Convt - 1998 Chrysler Sebring
  By SparkDog74 - May 11 - 1:54 pm

  I just bought the Limited model with the indiglo style dash, white faced gauges, and autostick. Love the car, gets attention you want and none that you dont. Two toned interior 2.5 is peppy not powerful. Chrome wheels are a nice touch, but expect the tires to be a little spendy. Just bought and putting it through its paces. Infinity sound systems is good, wish cd changer would read cd/rw formats. Looking for interior parts, I imagine they will be hard to find.

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  Resale Writeoff - 2008 Chrysler Aspen
  By Vandada - May 11 - 8:30 am

  Purchased a 2007 model in Jan 08. The vehicle included most options, but the smaller 8 cyl. Sticker was $41k. Saw the 2008 in the dealership when in for first service in April, 08 Liked it because of enhanced features on most options. Thought Id trade out and knew Id get hammered on the trade. I didnt expect to get slaughtered. Dealer quoted me a trade value of $23,500, or 12,500 less than purchase price 3 months earlier, and was only willing to cut sticker price on 08 by $4,000. When people realize that these pigs not only guzzle gas, but theyll guzzle your equity, we wont be seeing many more.

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  Room for improvement - 2004 Chrysler Pacifica
  By Troy32 - May 10 - 10:00 am

  Traded in Suburban for Pacifica AWD. Nice styling. Nice, smooth ride. Seats not as comfortable as Suburban. 14.7 mpg on last tank (significantly worse than advertised @ 17 mpg city!) Hi-end Surround Sound sys. is great IN COMPARISON AGAINST STANDARD SYS. - BUT, It falls short of other mfrs 5.1 systems (2004 Acura TL system has much better acoustics and clarity!) Navi sys is quite useful, BUT dont like having it in center of speedo. C-Pillar dangerously obstructs view.

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  Basically a Fun Car BUT! - 2008 Chrysler Sebring
  By SirSteven - May 8 - 12:47 pm

  I now have 10,000 trouble free fun miles except I had a mygig radio option. Dont let anybody kid you it is junk! In the first three months I was without a radio for at least two months. It came on when it felt like it. I was promised a software up grade each month. It never came! Finally it got here. They put it in and radio was worse. The installed a new radio. It wasnt new it was a refurbished. What a laugh. It was worse then the first on plus the switched hard drive capacity. It still didnt work. The bluetooth locked up with the phones and your party could not hear you. The put in another refurbished unit and it again was junk. Now have a new unit from a demo car and its junk

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  Great Car! - 2000 Chrysler LHS
  By lhs - May 7 - 10:57 pm

  This is a great car. It is very comfortable and has plenty of room. If you are looking for a nice car with luxurious amenities without the luxury car price this is it! I have had to replace 2 tires so I recommend buying a warranty with any tire purchase. I have also had to replace a radiator. Other than that no problems. Knock on wood!

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  Vehicle of choice - 2006 Chrysler 300
  By Roger Stalker - May 7 - 2:46 pm

  I have had the car almost two years and it is still a pleasure to drive. This is the only car I can say that about. I have owned Mercedes Cads, Corvettes, Zs and many others and this is my vehicle of choice.

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  Love that pt - 2005 Chrysler PT Cruiser
  By sheldon m. markel - May 7 - 1:16 pm

  I feel safer because of fast turbo acceleration. It feels good on the road. But not recommended for people who ordinarily take long trips. Great for city driving and parking. The seniors will appreciate the wide accessibility. Trunk space is limited unless you put a rear seat down.