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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  love this car - 2004 Chrysler PT Cruiser
  By ka - September 5 - 2:00 am

  i love this car. period. i would like to see more power from the stand, and a glove box light. a bit better gas mileage would help. great size for a 53" woman.

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  great car ok quality - 2004 Chrysler PT Cruiser
  By bkanefsky - September 5 - 2:00 am

  I love the car I wish that it would better on gas

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  PT Cruiser Rules - 2004 Chrysler PT Cruiser
  By Bob Anderson - September 5 - 2:00 am

  The PT is the very best vehicle for fun driving, good looks and sport utility like workability. This vehicle is AWESOME. We have had 40 other vehicles from full size vans, mini vans, sport utes, sports cars, luxury cars, u name it. This one is definitely the best for the price. Get a stick shift. If you cant drive a stick, learn to!

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  LOVE, LOVE, LOVE MY CRUISER - 2004 Chrysler PT Cruiser
  By christinep - September 5 - 2:00 am

  We purchased the Cruiser to accommodate our 2 year old and replace my 10 yr old chrysler lebaron convertible. The Cruiser not only offered a huge list of standard features, but it is infinitely flexible and I have yet to have it fail to perform in any task. Weve hauled 8 ft ladders in it, furniture, kids stuff, everything. Seats in , seats tilted up, seats out. Tailgated in it, you name it. I even used the rear deck shelf for changing my daughters diapers. And it is reminiscent of the 40s ford coupes. My husband and I love antique autos, and this is like my "old and new car rolled into one." I cannot say enough GREAT things about it.

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  PT Cruiser - 2004 Chrysler PT Cruiser
  By Courtney Blanchard - September 5 - 2:00 am

  Great car that is very roamy and easy to into and out of. High quality interior and exterior. We have had no problems with the car and its ride is very quite and smooth. Trade this car in on a Honda Civic and there is absolutely no comparison in the ride, quality of materials used in the construction, interior room, and handling the two cars. The PT beats it hands down. However, the Civic does get better gas mileage! Thanks, Courtney between

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  AWESOME PT CRUISER - 2004 Chrysler PT Cruiser
  By william ortiz - September 5 - 2:00 am

  MY PT CRUISER IS TOTALLY AWESOME

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  PT comments - 2004 Chrysler PT Cruiser
  By bunny3366 - September 5 - 2:00 am

  The car is great and fun to drive. I love how the seats sit a little higher up than a regular car. Its roomy and very comfortable.

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  Fun dependability - 2004 Chrysler PT Cruiser
  By Advantdoor - September 5 - 2:00 am

  My wife drives 200 miles average daily as a retail vendor. She is in Supermarket parking lots all day and is asked several times a week how she likes her PT. Women who are trying to convince their husbands/husbands that want to know that it is safe and whats the mileage like (30 mpg consistently) Complete strangers ask to get in the car to check it out. Everyone thinks its cute. Only glich was a non- starting problem (software we think) that the Dealers service manager helped with over the phone. Get out of the car, lock it up and start over. I think that I would have ordered the mild turbo had it been available when we bought.

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  Fun Vehicle - 2004 Chrysler PT Cruiser
  By Elliezer Freyre - September 5 - 2:00 am

  This one of the most fun cars I have ever owned. Its agile, very quick, while at the same time averaging 25-26 miles per gallon. Its amazingly smooth and quiet at highway speeds. Running 70- 80 mph, youd think you were going 50. It truly is a cruiser. I would definitely recommend the Turbo motor, as its performance is outstanding.

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  PT Cruiser Review - 2004 Chrysler PT Cruiser
  By alexism - September 5 - 2:00 am

  I own a PT Cruiser and it drives smoothly and it is a lot of fun. All my friends enjoy riding in it.