Chrysler Comeback?

[Mallard]

A year ago and a half ago the outlook for Chrysler was bleak. All their product was crap and there was no hope on the horizon. Today it looks like they have made great strides and most of their line up for 2011 is new and getting good reviews. Their marketing is doing a great job too.

 

So far they have:

 

Challenger - 300 HP V6, and the SRT get's 470 HP (Although could be underrated).

 

Journey - ~280 HP v6, all new steering, suspension tuning, and a really nice looking interior with one of the largest and fastest responding touch screens in the industry. Minor exterior changes.

 

Avenger/200C - Minor exterior changes for Avenger (but decent looking), ~280HP V6 in a very affordable package, much improved interior, all new suspension tuning and bushings. One was next to me at a light this morning and the guy punched it off the line. I was surprised to hear it chirp second gear and it moved out pretty quickly. The 200C gets all the same, but has an all new exterior. It's a lot better than the old Sebring, but I'm undecided if I like the front. The rear resembles a new Jag XF, and actually looks ok.

 

Caravan/Town&Country - Minor exterior, all new interior is a huge improvement, new suspension tuning.

 

Charger - All new for 2011. Haven't seen too many reviews on it yet. The interior dash design is polarizing, with is a good thing. Better to have 'love-it or hate -it' over 'meh.'

 

300C - All new for 2011. No reviews yet. I think it looks ok, except for the ugly tail lights.

 

Grand Cherokee - All new, great interior, ride/handling, off-road capability, and looks. Traction control and suspension have different selectable modes.

 

Wrangler - All new interior is a huge improvement. Now available with a color matching hard top. In Europe the diesel engine gets start/stop.

 

The compass is getting a new exterior that mimics the GC and has a refreshed interior that matched the Patriot.

 

So with all this activity is anyone considering a Chrysler that typically wouldn't have? I've been in quite a few of these and I think this is quite a comeback story. I was never a Chrysler fan, but for the first time ever I could see myself considering a few of these if I were in the market again.

[Mr. Jones]

So with all this activity is anyone considering a Chrysler that typically wouldn't have?

 

No

[Sully]

I would probably get a Challenger SRT if I were in the market and could afford the payments.

[TTQ B4U]

meh......nothing I'd own except a Jeep GC.

[Mr. Jones]

One of my best friends has a 300C.

 

It's been a remarkably reliable vehicle, other than the usual stuff they are known for (tie rods every 10-15K). Going on 110,000 miles now with oil changes and tie rods, tranny flushes/ coolant flushes ect. Just regular maintenance.

 

The interior is by all measures, on par with an 80's grand prix, hard black textured plastics as far as the eye can see. While peppy, certainly not neck snapping, not that great on fuel.

 

His words " My next car will definitely be german"

[Tripleskate]

Every SRT that came to an autocross this year got dominated. New interiors can't fix 2.5 tons of steel.

[unfunnyryan]

Only thing they have going for them is a pretty good advertising campaign.

 

All of their cars are shit compared to their Ford counterparts.

[2 Sweet]

Does Chrysler still build dog shit transmissions that barely last 75k miles?

[copperhead]

I've been a fan ever since they ditched the uninspiring cars of the 90's. I love my WK GC, but when I go to replace it I'll probably go bigger and take a look at Commanders. I'd LOVE to pick up a Challenger but I'm years away from affording that.

[JaSSon]

The new JEEPs are nice. I really dig the new GC. The new 300c and Charger are fugly. The 200c is alright.

[6 Speed S4]

I will say Chrysler has stepped up a bit. I do like the 300C HEMI/SRT8, Jeep GC limited/SRT8, the Challenger SRT8, and the Wranglers. Not all are not very good on gas but I doubt you're thinking of fuel cost with an SRT8.

[Guest 614Streets]

My 2003 dodge caravan has 250000 miles and runs like it is new. Very impressive.

[iwashmycar]

Id say ford has stepped it up more, so no, id probably buy a ford

[ImUrOBGYN]

I'm waiting to see the Lancia and Alfas to start coming in.

[AWW$HEEET]

im more of a cheby man

[CRed05]

Do not want. Everything they make is a fugly POS.

 

I do like some of the new Jeeps though.

[Jizzle Juice]

Don't they have the journey SRT?

[El Karacho1647545492]

the new 300 takes away everything that was so inspiring about the old one. Yeah, they toned down the baller/gangster look of the last generation one, but thats what made it so great. It was mostly driven by ballers and gangsters but at the same time it was upscale enough for Grandpa to drive, feel young in, yet not have to "step down" in his mind. The new one is a clear appeal to the septuagenarians who didn't like the high hood and brash grille, but it alienates everyone who liked the ridiculous Gotham City villain looking car. Also, crappy hard plastics galore.

 

200C is still a goddamn sebring and I don't care what anyone says. Just cuz you put a cheap "200C" logo on the C pillar doesn't change anything, and the front proves that it is still clinging to the terrible Sebring roots; which also indicates that Mitsubishi won't be doing anything to modify the now-laughable Eclipse's Sebring roots as well.

 

The only people who buy the Challenger V6 are the people who didn't do enough research on the Mustang or Camaro V6. And AFAIK you still can't get the SRT8 with a stick shift which is mindbogglingly retarded.

[schmuckingham]

I want a Challenger but I havennt really done my homework to know what kind of car they are

[Skinner]

the new 300 takes away everything that was so inspiring about the old one. Yeah, they toned down the baller/gangster look of the last generation one, but thats what made it so great. It was mostly driven by ballers and gangsters but at the same time it was upscale enough for Grandpa to drive, feel young in, yet not have to "step down" in his mind. The new one is a clear appeal to the septuagenarians who didn't like the high hood and brash grille, but it alienates everyone who liked the ridiculous Gotham City villain looking car. Also, crappy hard plastics galore.

 

200C is still a goddamn sebring and I don't care what anyone says. Just cuz you put a cheap "200C" logo on the C pillar doesn't change anything, and the front proves that it is still clinging to the terrible Sebring roots; which also indicates that Mitsubishi won't be doing anything to modify the now-laughable Eclipse's Sebring roots as well.

 

The only people who buy the Challenger V6 are the people who didn't do enough research on the Mustang or Camaro V6. And AFAIK you still can't get the SRT8 with a stick shift which is mindbogglingly retarded.

 

 

SRT8 has a 6 speed option. it always had that option.

[AWW$HEEET]

I want a Challenger but I havennt really done my homework to know what kind of car they are

 

The road test between them, the camaro and mustang reveals what a shitty car it is. I think it was the heaviest, slowest (by a large margin), and most expensive.

[Littleguy]

While I have been more and more impressed with GM and Ford, Chrysler has been a disappointment. The 200c and "new" 300c are meh, especially compared to American/European/Japanese rivals. Sure, the Pentestar v6 makes 300hp, but it is after almost every other car company has already done it, and doesn't even help at all in a car like the Challenger that weighs as much as a cruise ship.

[thorne]

Meh, I was in a 500whp challanger and it felt like a boat. a quick boat but still a boat.

 

You know who stepped it up?

 

hyundai

 

http://www.rsportscars.com/eng/articles/images03/dub-hyundai-genesis-sedan-front-quarter-main.jpg

385hp

 

http://hipstersunited.com/images/hyundai-genesis-coupe-concept-2007-771073.jpg

305hp 3.8 + the 2.0t thats just waiting to be raped

 

http://www.autotodays.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/2011-hyundai-sonata.jpg

2.0t 274hp on 87 285 on 92

 

Thats a company that no one would have bought and now there are putting out some nice shit.

[copperhead]

Mallard, has Chrysler figured out how to get halfway decent gas mileage out of anything? That's really my biggest gripe about them, even their small cars can't touch what the others out there can do.

[Mopar]

Fuck Chrysler