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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  2003 Steel Blue GT - 2003 Chrysler PT Cruiser
  By SteelBlueGT - February 17 - 12:20 am

  Bought the car in late 2002 and it has given me over 40,000 miles of fun driving and very little trouble. An oil sending switch, a balky airbag light, and resetting the trip odometer is the only trouble so far. It does not burn oil in between 3000 mile oil changes. Original tires lasted 40,000 miles as did the brakes. Good on long trips and loves the highways. I get 19 mpg in town and 24 on the highways. Ride is firm but never harsh and handling is as good as it gets with my all season Yokohama performance tires. Interior comfort is great for both myself 6 Ft and wife 5Ft. Back seat is very roomy for four and a tight fit for five as the car is not that wide. Love the seating choices.

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  Sexy Look - 2004 Chrysler Sebring
  By ChicagoNative - February 15 - 10:00 am

  Very nice car. Sexy front end gives it a unique look. Has decent power, a lot of bang for the buck

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  Never Before a Chrysler - 2005 Chrysler 300
  By Texas Bob - February 15 - 10:00 am

  Car is impressive but having problems: Outside Temperature Indication locks into a temp and does not change, if it is a low morning temp then the A/C does not work. Transmission speed sensor has failed and the part is on backorder with no delivery date. Chrysler has had my car now for 19 days out of 49 while we wait for the part. AM reception is awful, waiting on a new AM antena base.

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  small problems ad up - 2001 Chrysler Sebring
  By sjs1 - February 6 - 2:00 am

  The rear window defroster detaches when lowering the convertible top. Warrenty work by authorized Chrysler dealers is poor. Replacing the rear window everytime the defroster detaches has gotten old - fast. The roof also rattles.

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  Has been good car to me - minor problems - 2001 Chrysler Sebring
  By slatsyrc - February 4 - 11:29 am

  I have owned this car since 2000 when I bought it brand new. I had some problems with the dealer not putting the oil plug on right and it burned the engine and I had to replace the engine. The other problem is the front bumper is not designed well for going up steep driveways or parking over cement blocks and in result it is now torn and hangs down and scrapes a lot. Other than that, everything has seemed to go well. Something did explode in my rear view mirror perhaps related to the heat in Houston and the rear view dimmer feature. I have had it 6 yrs now and has been very good to me so far. Spark plugs are a pain to get replaced though due to the plenum.

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  Great Car Unit I get my Porsch 911 - 2005 Chrysler Crossfire
  By Dreberg - February 3 - 8:46 pm

  Love the looks, love the attention, love the american tags, love the great sounding stereo. Like the seats, like the driving posture, like the trunk space. Disappointed with visibility, throttle response time, heavy feeling to steering, Hate the wet and snowy weather handling (better to leave it in the garage then any way). Good that wife can drive it. My kids think it is too flashy and would have rather me have the SLK.

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  FINALLY STUGOTS UNDER 40K - 2005 Chrysler 300
  By Cappy - February 2 - 6:46 pm

  Since the late 60s I have not have so much fun driving a car with &*^%! Anyway, never owned a Chrysler product in my life, was a major motor head in the 60s, and have never been impressed since....you could spend 60k more, and not have the same ride! BTW; Only complaint is visibilty is not good, but if you are in front; who cares.....PPC

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  Just a little nervous... - 2001 Chrysler 300M
  By Sans Spin - January 31 - 7:28 pm

  At about 30K the car started to overheat. I forget what was wrong but fixing it was $600. Not too long after that the check engine light came on and remains solid. According to Auto Zone its something to do with the computer. Ive not taken it in yet because I dont have the $XXX to fix it! More recently, at 57K its starting to give me lots of weird signals. Right now, the radio stops playing after just an hour. It doesnt just cut off but if you touch the volume button, it quits. And... to top it off... dash lights will flicker on and off.

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  loveit hateit - 2005 Chrysler 300
  By loveithateit - January 30 - 10:30 pm

  I bought the loaded 300C 9 months ago and loved the looks, power and creature comforts of the 300. I had to sell the car after 9 months and 28,000 miles because it rides like you are on a buckboard wagon. You feel every bump in the road yet the Chrysler dealer says the ride is normal after taking it for a drive. I had planned on driving it for a long time but could not stand the thought of driving it any longer. PS - Resale value has gone down drastically.

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  solid performer - 2002 Chrysler PT Cruiser
  By ernie meri - January 28 - 8:10 am

  Very reliable,firm sporty ride. Grips the road well, but under powered. Still cant get used to window controls in center panel instead of doors. But great ride and no problems electrical or mechanical since delivery.