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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  Mini Van - 2000 Plymouth Voyager
  By n2deeptn - December 15 - 2:00 am

  Bought new. My wife drives this van 50,000 in two years. Replaced water pump, brakes,battery, and tires. Not too bad

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  Voyager 2000 - 2000 Plymouth Voyager
  By dgm - November 14 - 10:00 am

  Nice price, style, and interior room. Weird shifting when climbing small hills and mountains.

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  MY LAST PLYMOUTH - 1998 Plymouth Grand Voyager
  By MARC - November 14 - 4:00 am

  3.3L engine. Blew gasket at 67k - out of warranty. Thereafter, major components were replaced, water pump, alternator, a/c compressor... Blew front rocker arm at 98k. Blew back rocker arm at 104k. Replaced head at 106k. All expenses from my own pocket.

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  Perfect $4.00 a Gallon Car - 2000 Plymouth Neon
  By MadScotsMan - September 29 - 6:43 am

  We purchased the Neon in 2002 with 12,000 miles. It now has 113,000 miles and contrary to what some might say, this has been a reliable, fun and economical car. I still average over 30 mpg, my best being 39.9 on a long highway trip. There have been no unusual repairs, just the normal repairs. At 113k, I have finally replaced the springs, struts and stabilizer bars (went with SRT4 springs/bars/STS)and am in need of brakes. Thats it. This is the fifth Neon in my family and Id definitely buy another if they were still made. Great car, a blast to drive, good in snow and really reliable...and I am in no way easy on cars!

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  Loved my first car - 2000 Plymouth Neon
  By lmatracia - September 28 - 1:55 pm

  My dad got my first car, 2000 Plymouth Neon, with 44k for $3500 in 2010. The only major problem I ever encountered was the radiator went out at about 60k (which is VERY typical). I also had the tie rod end snap, but that was only because when the original owner replaced it they put the wrong part on. Overall I loved this car, i never worried about it breaking down and it got great mpg. Very reliable and worth the money. Unfortunately it was wrecked in the front end when someone hit me in a truck head on and drove off, i only had state minimum so was unable to fix the car. :( was very sad to see it go. I now drive a 2000 pt cruiser (which i also enjoy driving)

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  GREAT CHOICE - 2000 Plymouth Neon
  By T FOSTER - September 20 - 2:00 am

  I THINK THE nEON IS GREAT, ITS STYLISH WITH THE BUBBLE EYES. THE GAS MILEAGE IS ABSOLUTELY WONDERFUL, I MEAN $13.00 TO FILL UP, EVEN WITH GAS PRICES BEING $1.40 PER GALLON. VERY VERY ECONOMICAL. IT IS COMFORTABLE, HOWEVER IF YOU HAVE TO LOAD KIDS OR HAVE A NEED TO HAUL THINGS, IT IS NOT MUCH SPACE. GREAT FOR TRAVELING IF YOU DO NOT HAVE TO PACK ALOT. THE SOUND SYSTEM IS GREAT. I HAVE NOT HAD ANY PROBLEMS IN NEARLY 4 YEARS, ONLY REGULAR ROUTINE MAITENANCE AND THATS ONLY INCLUDED: OIL CHANGES, BRAKES, & TIRES. THATS IT!

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  dependable, roomy family mover - 2000 Plymouth Grand Voyager
  By Jason - September 13 - 9:16 pm

  The 3.3l v6 is responsive, and gets pretty good mileage for a car this size. The seats are easily removed, if a little heavy once out, and comfortable. There is a lot of good in this car.

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  Its a shame they stopped making these! - 2000 Plymouth Neon
  By MadScotsMan - September 1 - 2:56 pm

  This car was originally purchased for my wife in 2002. I have been driving it regularly since 2006. It has 122,000 miles on it it runs like a champ. No major issues at all. I drive about 50% dirt roads and it handles great in all road/weather conditions...particularly good in snow with good tires. I drive in some pretty awful conditions and am quite confident in the Neon. This has proven to be one of the most reliable, fun to drive and economical cars Ive ever purchased. The only problem Ive had is leaky window and trunk seals. I look forward to many more enjoyable miles out of this fun and terribly underrated car. Excellent rally-cross capabilities!

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  Look Elsewhere - 2000 Plymouth Neon
  By Jason - August 25 - 11:06 am

  Did not have a great experience with this car. Build quality was horrible. The brake pads fell off locking the wheel on way to work. Also had the brakes not work at all (vacuum problem) and almost ended up in the Bay. Lots of rattles, bumper faded (seems to be a usual problem with red Neons). Car feels small, but did have a comfortable seat. With seats down, you could fit quite a bit of stuff. Had a 5 speed manual transmission (automatic was only 3 speed!) which was a bit clunky. The rubberized plastic parts were peeling before I bought it, and only got worse (even with my obsessive car detailing!).

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  Family Five - 1998 Plymouth Grand Voyager
  By Sam - August 21 - 6:23 pm

  The major problems Ive had with my Plymouth Grand Voyager in three years of ownership are: 1)a short out of the entire instrument cluster, 2)a bad head gasket on the 3.3L V6, and 3)an annoying rattle from the luggage rack on windy days. Other thanthat, the Grand Voyager is comfortable, responsive, easy to drive and pretty reliable.