Overview & Reviews

In its day, Plymouth was one of the best-selling and most beloved brands in the U.S. Owned first by Chrysler and then by DaimlerChrysler, the marque existed for more than 70 years before being discontinued in 2001.

The Plymouth Motor Corporation was born in May of 1928 as a marketing subsidiary of the Chrysler Corporation, with Walter Chrysler as its president. The first Plymouth, the Plymouth 4, followed soon thereafter, cruising into showrooms in 1929. The car was based on a Chrysler model, the Chrysler 4. Its low price and solid quality established Plymouth as the brand to beat for consumers seeking affordable transportation.

The 1930s saw Plymouth investing in the development of a new vehicle; the Plymouth PA was launched in 1931. Featuring then-innovative rubber engine mounts, the car was a hit, and helped Plymouth sail past more established brands like Buick to nab the 3rd-place spot in national car sales, behind Ford and Chevrolet. By 1939, more than 3 million Plymouths had been built, and its name had been officially changed to the Plymouth Division.

In the years following World War II, Plymouth introduced models like the Cambridge, Suburban and Cranbrook. The look of the vehicles was a departure from the prevailing aesthetic of the time. They were chunky and tall whereas the most popular vehicles were long, lean and low. V8 engines and automatic transmissions were also new additions to the Plymouth brand in the '50s. By the time the decade drew to a close, more than 12 million Plymouths had been built.

The '60s saw the birth of the pony car, and Plymouth was at the forefront of the movement with its legendary Barracuda, which was initially based on the Valiant compact when it was introduced in 1964. As the years went on, the Barracuda offered a range of powerful V8 engines and a choice of body styles, including a convertible. The decade also saw the introduction of a pair of muscle cars based on the midsize Belvedere: the bare-bones Road Runner and the more luxurious GTX. The psychedelic era also gave rise to the brand's potent 426 Hemi V8 engine.

The fuel crisis of the mid-1970s spelled trouble for Plymouth, as high fuel prices caused poor sales for its larger models. Plymouth saw some success with its Valiant, Duster and Volare compacts. But the lone shining star on the sales charts was the subcompact Horizon. Otherwise, the company suffered slow sales due to an aged and dwindling lineup. Things didn't get much better for Plymouth during the '80s. In spite of the debut of the popular Voyager minivan and a couple of other new models like the Caravelle and Sundance, the brand continued to struggle.

By the time the '90s rolled around, Plymouth was no longer a full-line make. Chrysler had plans to reinvigorate the brand with the introduction of new models, but all that changed after the company's merger with Daimler at the end of the decade. At the close of the '90s, Plymouth's lineup had been reduced to just five vehicles: the Voyager and Grand Voyager minivans, the Breeze sedan, the Neon compact and the Prowler sports car. DaimlerChrysler soon decided to pull the plug on the long-neglected brand, with the last Plymouths being made in model-year 2001.

User Reviews:

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  I love this car - 2000 Plymouth Breeze
  By Peggy Setliff - March 14 - 1:30 am

  I bought this car used, it was a leased car. I have had only a couple of problems with my car but they were minor. All of my grandchildren love to drive my car too. It handles so easy and has a lot of power. It has a lot of room to be a small car, very comfortable.

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  Better car than 1st Gen Neon - 2001 Plymouth Neon
  By whippingpostguy - March 2 - 10:00 am

  I have averaged 20,000 miles a year on a Neon since 1996. The second generation, while a little heavier, is a much better car. Excellent car to buy used, its a better built car than its reputation, and you can get a bargain price.

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  Reliable and great value - 2000 Plymouth Neon
  By vplsek - January 24 - 2:00 am

  Very good reliable car.

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  1998 Plymouth Breeze - 2000 Plymouth Breeze
  By Carman444 - December 9 - 12:33 am

  The car was an overall exeptional vehicle. I liked the roominess. It was a joy to drive and I loved it. (although the transmission came apart after the first two months)

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  plymouth van - 1998 Plymouth Grand Voyager
  By jbuy - December 7 - 10:00 am

  Comfortable van with very smooth ride

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  Best car purchase Ive made - 2000 Plymouth Neon
  By Robert - November 30 - 1:46 pm

  Bought new with 14 miles on it, 7 were my test drive, the other 7 were at the plant as it was a Quality Control test car. I get 30 miles to the gallon, regularly driving 120 miles at 65 to 85 mph (60 miles one way to work). My LX is the loaded version, Silver, 5spd man w/traction control and 4 wheel disc brakes, sun roof, premium sound w/4disc cd & cassette. For the pounding this car has taken, I have more than gotten my $16,425 out of the car. At 183000 miles I replaced the timing belt (before failure) even though rated at 100k miles, your milaege may vary & it is recommended to do at 100k because of the newer type engines easily damage when the belt goes.

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  1998 Gr. Voyager - 1998 Plymouth Grand Voyager
  By woodrow ban - November 19 - 2:00 am

  Like most chrysler products, this vehicle experiences problems well before one would expect. While comfortable for famlies on trips and for large loads (it holds a lot of stuff - good for moving daughters to college/first apartments). A tall vehicle, expect slow response, and difficulty in elevated/gusty winds. Delivers not-bad milage. Interior feels, looks and performs cheaply. Blown head gasket within 3/36 milage, but outside the 3 years. Chrysler wouldnt help. Dealership stepped up and shared the cost. Unfortunately, Chrysler makes the vans with the most desirable overall package.

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  2000 Plymouth Neon Highline - 2000 Plymouth Neon
  By sfox74 - November 19 - 2:00 am

  The 2000 Neon is a great economical car. I have not had any problems with it other than the normal things that would need done to a car while owning it. I would recommend this car to anyone look for something cheap to drive that looks pretty good too!

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  Transmission Failure - 2000 Plymouth Neon
  By transmissiontrouble - October 25 - 10:00 am

  What a bummer, 41,000 miles and the transmission decided to stop working. The ten transmission shops I contacted were quick to explain that these transmissions are quite possibly the worst ever manufactured by any one company. The lowest quote I recieved for the rebuild was 2,300. Ok run the blue book on the car, or better yet contact some local dealers and have them tell you what its worth. Darn near nothing. Its to bad,I liked this car but will never purchase another Chrysler product again. Maybe Ill look at Hyundai, hey 10 100k powertrain warrranty, how could I go wrong?

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  Comfortable traveler - 1998 Plymouth Grand Voyager
  By reliable car - October 1 - 2:00 am

  I purchased this vehicle brand new in 1998, after about 50,000 miles the head gasket blew, my extended warranty covered that. At 67,000 miles the master cylinder went out, thankfully the extended warranty covered that before it expired. This vehicle goes thru brakes like crazy, it seems like I have to replace them about every 8 months. However, I do have 140,000 miles on this vehicle and it gets better gas mileage now than when it was new. It is very comfortable on long trips, and the room is unbeatable.