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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  Ill get another when shes gone - 2000 Plymouth Neon
  By smisley - December 12 - 8:23 pm

  209,000 miles. Never a prob. Its all about maintenence. I will def get another when it does kick it! Had a Ford contour for a yr and it had 7 recalls on it. Not secure in driving. Had this car 9 yrs. Give or take. Not one recall!

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  1999 Plymouth Prowler - 1999 Plymouth Prowler
  By BuddyBrad - October 21 - 1:46 pm

  You cant beat a Plymouth Prowler for turning heads and going out and having a great time. It isnt a winter vehicle, but it sure is fun in the summer. It has been very reliable and easy to maintain.

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  Plymouth Neon LX owner - 2001 Plymouth Neon
  By Brad Billeen - August 15 - 10:00 am

  This is my third Neon. The 1996 was the best one so far, but the 2001 is close behind. I have an automatic and wish I would have gotten a standard. The automatics are loud, but the car is still fun to drive. Take a Neon for a drive youll love it in the long run.

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  Runs like a champ - 2000 Plymouth Neon
  By GVLakerGuy - July 23 - 10:00 am

  I bought my 2000 Neon used with 42,000 miles. Since then I have driven 12,000 miles and I have no complaints. Its sometimes sluggish off the line, and a little noisy on the freeway. It has great styling and an awesome factory sound system. I also like all the options including a sunroof and disc changer. No problems so far with regular maintainence. Only drawbacks are the lack of cruise control and the 3-speed transmission has no place in the 21st century.

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  I am sold - 1999 Plymouth Voyager
  By jarmstrong - June 14 - 10:00 am

  Being the penny pincher that I am I think the dollar for dollar value for this mini-van is terrific. I paid 8,000 less for this than my brother-in-law paid for his explorer and I would not trade him even up! I have a much better ride and much more room, granted the explorer looks better but I am into value not looks. I have had zero problems and will buy another in a few years. My only complaint is road noise at freeway speeds.

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  Head Turning Cruiser - 1999 Plymouth Prowler
  By Cruizer - May 17 - 10:00 am

  Ive built a few hotrods, but this is the absolute best. Factory production features, reliability, comfort, performance and most of all...LOOKS!

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  Great Car, Great Price - 2000 Plymouth Neon
  By Neon LX - May 3 - 10:00 am

  After driving this car for almost a year and a half now, I have nothing but praise for it. Its spunky, the handling is great, and the interior is quite comfortable. To top it off, the factory sound system is marvelous. Mechanically, the car has been excellent--no repairs have been needed. Overall, this is a very tight & solid car. I think anyone looking at smaller, more economical cars should do themselves a favor by checking out a Neon...

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  Great Car. - 2000 Plymouth Neon
  By ecd2d - April 5 - 6:40 am

  I bought my Neon 4 years ago, for most of those years, I put 20,000+ miles plus per year, the car is now at 108,000, just had timing belt replaced, the car runs magically. Compared to my husbands Honda, the Neon is doing better.

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  Great Car for Low Cost - 2000 Plymouth Neon
  By KTB - March 21 - 10:46 am

  Good-looking, comfortable car with great gas mileage. Almost steered clear of buying a Neon, not sure why, but thought they had a junky reputation until I researched the vehicle and found the 2000 year and beyond to have great consumer satisfaction. My daughter and I love this car for its price range. We have been very happy with ours.

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  Best for the MONEY!! - 2000 Plymouth Neon
  By elite_iv - February 20 - 10:00 am

  Many people are of the opinion that Neons are junk, but I tell you I have had one for three years and have never had a problem with it. They revamped the Neon in 2000 to make a statement in both styling and performance. The car is solid handles well and is enjoyable to drive. If you are looking for a sporty little 4 door with a nice factory sound system this is the car for you.