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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  Better then a middle age "Vet" - 2003 Chrysler PT Cruiser
  By Domestic Dame - August 18 - 2:00 am

  Totaled my Subaru Forester and loved it, but wanted something a little more flashy at this time of life and the corvette was not an option. Absolutely love my red PT....It has all the bells and I like the seat adjustments, as I am short. A month after I bought mine, I sat in on my sons purchase of a turbo blue. Our garage is now a PT "nest" with Daddys Exployer parked under the carport.

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  Its a fun car - 2005 Chrysler PT Cruiser
  By Robert Shaw - August 17 - 6:06 pm

  Thoroughly enjoy driving this car around town. Have received many, many compl- ments about from complete strangers. Still received them and car is almost two years old!!

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  What a great deal - 1994 Chrysler LHS
  By Sold on LHS - August 17 - 2:00 am

  I owned a Jaguar and bought this vehicle when my old airport klunker died and soon found that I enjoyed driving it much more than the Jag, so I sold that car and love commuting in this beauty.

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  300 C - 2006 Chrysler 300
  By Rocco - August 16 - 11:00 pm

  A few things could have been better, But then again, every car has some flaws. I found it vey difficiult to adjust the rear view mirror. I cant grip it good to move it. Bling spots all over. And limited view through the front window, cant see traffic light good, i find myself looking at the walk way lights to determine if the light changed green. But over all , i love it.!!!!!

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  Quality - 1994 Chrysler Concorde
  By jack600 - August 16 - 2:00 am

  1.Air Condition need repair 2.Transmission break down, went to AAMCO in Centereach,NY, the repair cost $2600, had to discard the car

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  Best American design - 1999 Chrysler 300M
  By Louie Ett - August 16 - 2:00 am

  I mostly agree how you rate this car, but I believe having driven several of the competition cars, that it is better than most, interior quality and definetely better looking. Especially compared to the boring Japanese makes. Reliability is exellent, after 95000 mls, only oil and wear parts. Besides a sensor on the electronic auto transmission, (warranty) where the car was driveable but stayed in 2nd gear,(E- program) I had no problems. The gas mileage is better than on a 2002 Passat V6 and with quite more bang. Unable to find an European edition at the time my only critic is it could brake better.

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  Smile time - 2008 Chrysler PT Cruiser
  By j meisenbach - August 15 - 10:30 pm

  Wife picked this car out while driving by the dealership. Test drive was satisfactory, price was right, wife was right, traded my 97 Stratus ES. Overall, after a year, quite satisfactory. Bad fit on the doors, rowdy motor, so-so gas mileage, all disappear when the top goes down. Then its all grins (and compliments from bystanders).

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  Great car but quirky - 1999 Chrysler 300M
  By AWarrick - August 15 - 2:00 am

  My 99 300M has been pretty good so far. Ive had my door window motor replaced and theres a distinct creaking in the front end, which goes away after the dealer lubes it but it returns within weeks. Ive had a lot of problems with front end shaking while braking from highway speeds and have had the brakes and rotors done with no change in the problem. I strongely suggest a nose bra for you highway drivers like me. I love the power and the upgraded stereo was worth the extra money. The gas mileage has been better than expected for a large car and Ive been averaging around 23mpg. I only run 93 octane as the engine knocks at 89 and 87.

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  Wonderful - 2005 Chrysler PT Cruiser
  By PJ - August 13 - 8:50 am

  I have only had this car for a couple of days, but I love it! I have owned a Jetta for 6 years and this is WAY better. I love the ride, the interior and everything about it. It gets the same gas mileage as my Jetta which was 30 miles fwy. You cant go wrong. I do see some of the things people in their other reviews had said, but they arent annoying after you drive a Jetta.

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  execellent car - 2001 Chrysler LHS
  By golfpro - August 13 - 2:00 am

  had good luck. excellent ride. power to pass when needed and to get onto expressways.