Archive for the ‘Chrysler’ Category

This is about as far south in California that you can go without adding Baja to the address. Here in the rolling hills east of San Diego, there is an excellent opportunity to examine the ride, handling and power of a new car, with roads ranging from Interstates toi mproved cow paths. Just about every vehicle we pass is a green and white Border Patrol truck, but this is one Mexican immigrant that is freely waved across the international boundary.  Read the rest of this entry »

The vista was eye-grabbing. Winding our way through the high country of California a€™s Sierras, fellow auto writer Russ Heaps and I took in the view that stretched for miles before us. There was not a soul in sight, in this land of pinion pines and scrub, where hawks swirl peacefully on the updrafts.

Ita€™s a view accessible to a small group of fortunates: hikers, with strong legs; bikers, with good tires; or off-road enthusiasts, with a capable 4 x 4. We fell into the latter category. Read the rest of this entry »

“Variety is the spice of life”: It’s a phrase could very well be borrowed as the tag line for Chrysler’s latest versions of its minivan lineup. Between its flagship Chrysler model, the luxury-level Town & Country, and its entry-level Voyager, rebadged last year from the Plymouth side of the family, this automaker offers eight distinct models that allow buyers to choose important options such as all-wheel-drive, three different engine sizes, as well as a variety of sporty features. And, from its new design, both inside and out, it’s clear that Chrysler understands the varying needs of its buyers, who are looking for versatility, convenience and safety features and will use their minivan sometimes as a seven-passenger shuttle bus, sometimes as storage vehicle, and sometimes merely a form of individual transportation. After all, Chrysler (and sister division Dodge), now under the DaimlerChrysler umbrella, claims to have established the minivan formula 17 years ago and since has built over 8 million, a figure that represents over half the minivans sold worldwide. Read the rest of this entry »

A week in the new 2004 Chrysler Pacifica is not enough time in which to truly measure the worth of this vehicle. If it sounds a little like I?m whining, I am.

Wrapped in luxurious leather and chic style, the new Pacifica feels every bit like a cocoon for the weary executive class. This is a vehicle that deserves to go on a cross-country trip. With exclusive seating for six and the all latest gadgetry including a navigation system and DVD entertainment unit, the Pacifica sets a new standard for all 5+ passenger vehicles to aspire to.  Read the rest of this entry »

Chrysler Crossfire has keen styling plus an exuberant spirit

Stomp that throttle on rare straight stretches but tap the brake before turning into all of these tight curves as we rip up California 79, a wiggly line of wrinkled asphalt that climbs over humps of the Laguna Mountains to scenic Lake Cuyamaca pitched about a hundred miles east of San Diego.  Read the rest of this entry »

Could this be the new ?terror of Colorado Boulevard?

It’s funny how fast things go from being the hottest ticket on the block, to being regarded as just another great idea past its prime. To prove this trend, all I have to do is act as if I know who’s hot and who’s not in the entertainment industry and my two teenage daughters will put me in my place faster than you can say Justin Timberlake.  Read the rest of this entry »

A torrent of rain falls across the verdant Piedmont Plateau of Virginia, filling the concrete interstate slab of I-64 with broad puddles as our all-wheel-drive minivan plows a sodden path toward Richmond and the airport, where a plane waits to carry us out of the storm.

So much unwarranted water on the roadway creates hazardous driving conditions with a sea of slippery spots that can spin a tire and send a speeding vehicle sailing off to a hydroplaning disaster.  Read the rest of this entry »

Slip the stick down to the bottom rung and tap that throttle to feel the V6 surge as we romp up Tiger Tail Avenue in Coconut Grove, the palm-fringed Miami community set beside Biscayne Bay.

With a warm sun glowing in a true-blue sky, we’re cruising the Grove with the ragtop dropped on a sporty new GTC edition of Chrysler’s Sebring convertible.  Read the rest of this entry »

The Chrysler Concorde has a problem with its current market niche. It doesn?t have one. While presenting itself as a wonderfully refined and comfortable large sedan, it seems nobody cares enough to give a passing glance. Recent surveys indicate only one percent of the consumers looking in this segment will respond with the Concorde on their A list That’s a shame, as I found out by spending a week behind the wheel. Once you give the new Limited an opportunity to show its stuff, there really is a lot to like about this car.  Read the rest of this entry »

The Chrysler 300M is a striking sedan, an aggressive performer with a sporty stance. The additions particular to the Special edition, make this handsome design just that much more attractive.

It is immediately obvious the 300M Special sits lower than the standard model. With ground effects side skirts and a one inch drop in ride height, the results are a 2 percent reduction in aerodynamic drag and a slightly menacing demeanour.  Read the rest of this entry »