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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  Lord blessed me with a great find - 2005 Chrysler 300
  By DE Austin - December 12 - 10:09 am

  This car can go - This car is loaded and drives and acts like a luxury car or a fast sports car...Now I am the one asked to driver everywhere. I think Chrysler and Dodge get a bum rap!! The great Lord blessed me with an awesome find...

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  2002 PT - 2002 Chrysler PT Cruiser
  By RED BARRON - December 12 - 9:36 am

  Since i have had the pt it has been awesome, fun to drive, quick, the only problem is it only has 40,000 on it and needed front end work, the place were i bought it would not fix it. Other than that i love my candy apple pt. Oh it also needs the retro sound, needs to be a little more louder. Rmc

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  Great Car - 2006 Chrysler PT Cruiser
  By CK - December 11 - 11:10 pm

  I have just over 2500 miles on my PT and amreally liking it. Love being back to a stick shift. Like how it sits higher than typical compact sedan. Really like the 06 and newer PT interiors.

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  love it!!! - 2005 Chrysler PT Cruiser
  By JJ - December 11 - 5:20 am

  I just bought my Pt on 02/12/05, I love it, It is so much fun to drive, very roomy and my 3 kids love it as well. We like how you sit up high in it, like an suv, very comfortable to ride in, stylish, and I am getting really good gas mileage. This car gets alot of attention with people wanting to race me. We absolutely love the color midnight blue. I would recommend this car to anyone!!!!!

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  Thomas 2006 - 2006 Chrysler 300
  By rich300 - December 9 - 6:16 pm

  Its the car of my dreams, I have been waiting to get one since 1999 when they 1st come out and I finally got the opprotunity to get one! The car handles like a dream on the on the highway it is outstanding. Everywhere that we go people stop and ask us where did we get the car from. My husband and I will more than likely purchase another one in the very near future. Thanks for making a wonderfull car! The Thomas

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  It lives up to the hype - 2006 Chrysler 300
  By Brad Lannier - December 9 - 5:46 pm

  We looked at the Touring and the 300C, and the C was a no-brainer. The upgrades offered vs. the minuscule price difference made the decision easy. This car is very well appointed, although Id like the metallic stereo console to match the tortoise shell steering wheel. Also, the drivers seat seems a bit stiff. Maybe itll relax a little after some miles are put on it. The fuel economy is surprisingly high - overall avg. of 18.1 mpg in the dead of Winter, and most of that would be considered city driving. A lot of county roads with stop lights everywhere. The car gets commented on every time I get out of or into it. I love it. Too bad its my wifes car. I only drive it on weekends.

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  For a Blast Drive a 300C - 2006 Chrysler 300
  By Mark - December 9 - 2:16 pm

  I purchased this car new in November of 2006. It combines, power, handling and luxury all in one package. After owning high end Lincolns, Oldsmobiles and Buicks, this auto is one of my favorites with exception to the Buick Park Avenue. The 300C AWD intertwines ample power, superb handling and amenities that gives the driver and passengers a superior auto experience. In three years of ownership there have only been two visits to the dealership and the problems were a tech bulletin notice for a transmission seal leak and the navigation CD failed. Both were handled with no residual problems. I plan on keeping this car for a long time, side by side with my Park Avenue!

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  Decent Car - 2006 Chrysler Sebring
  By NDB - December 8 - 6:32 pm

  Ive driven this car for roughly two years and havent had a single problem with it.

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  Speechless - 2004 Chrysler PT Cruiser
  By Piggy - December 8 - 2:10 am

  I just bought the car a few weeks ago with 40,000 miles. Thank god I bought an extended warranty because it is already going to the shop. My wife noticed a hesitation in the acceleration while driving down the highway, the new brakes make a lot of noise, and the engine makes a squealing noise at cold start-up until engine is warm. I hope that this isnt the beginning of endless problems.

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  Secure, Responsive Driving Machine - 2001 Chrysler 300M
  By Enjoy the Ride - December 7 - 1:25 pm

  This 01 300M will go down as my first and probably only Chrysler purchase.Bought it used. I think it was the only Chrysler product on the lot. My kind of car has cost me nothing in any kind of " unusual" repairs or expense. And it can run like a bat out of hell if you extent your foot a little.