This is the all new Chrysler 200 convertible, and it sort of picks up where the old Sebring left off. Styling wise, it's more of the same from Chrysler. Overly chromed, overly plastic-ed and over all, very unappealing. Perfect for grandma and grandpa! So what in God's holy name is Eminem doing behind the wheel? The advert says: 'Imported from Detroit' and that sickening feeling you had after you read that isn't going to go away any time soon. I'm all for Chrysler reinventing themselves, but this car is a far cry away from anything new from the company that seems perpetually cursed to produce anything more than a car 5 years behind current innovations and trends. Which helps to explain Eminem's appearance in the first place. The ad and the car itself are geared towards today's 'hip youngsters,' as I'm sure a Mr. Burns-esque board member at Chrysler calls anyone under 50. As one, I figured I would at least humor them and take it out for a spin.
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| Back in my day, clocks had hands! |
Far from being moderately “whelmed,” the first thing I noticed as I stepped into the 200 was the enormously oversized air vents on either side of the front cabin. Had they been square, they would've been the exact size of the computer screen in the center console. The good news is that you can still get a brand new car with an analog clock. Something grandma will appreciate, no doubt. But I'm afraid these are the least of it's problems. The convertible version starts at $26,575, which is a lot for a car that doesn't even seat 5. For that price, you get a 173hp inline 4 cylinder engine. Or for about $5,000 more you can get one with an unreasonably large 3.6l V6 which develops 283hp. Both get 29mpg highway for some reason, so you have to wonder why they didn't make the base model a bit more fuel efficient. All three trim levels come with the same 6-speed automatic transmission, which is kind of silly, but I don't know why I was surprised. This was cutting edge stuff 5 years ago.
Outside the car, the stance it has is it's biggest failing in my book. It's way too high off the ground for a “sporty” convertible. However, it all becomes much clearer after you remember that this is a Chrysler and grandpa's got that hip replacement surgery next week. Making, of course, the extra height a necessity for his decrease in mobility. But it's not like you'll be forgetting this is a Chrysler, it's poorly styled front end screams Chrysler about as loud as your crochity old neighbor next door yells at kids to keep off his lawn. And with the top up, it is about as appealing as an overripe banana that's been left out in the sun. Perhaps that's why they haven't included any pictures of it this way on Chrysler's website.
I suppose at this point you'll expect me to talk about handling, but to be honest I'd rather not. The steering is vague and unresponsive like most Chryslers and the suspension is too soft to be in the 'sport convertible' category. It would appear that Chrysler is just trying to half-heartedly compete with the Cadillac CTS-V; by trying to make the swing from borderline luxury to borderline sports car. Needless to say, only Cadillac remains successful. If Chrysler wants to rebrand themselves successfully, they're going to have to beat the CTS-V, and badly. However, the 300's review should wait for another time.
Mostly my feelings about the 200 and Chrysler's recent make-over reflect that of disappointment. I wanted Chrysler to bounce back and bring some pride to, not only Detroit, but to the United States's failing auto industry. However, in order to “bounce back,” that would imply that they ever made anything good in the first place. The sad fact of the matter is that Chrysler now only makes three cars: the 200, 300, and the Town & Country mini-van. They have, of course, put the PT Cruiser and the Sebring's part of it's dismal history to rest. However, with the memory of them ringing all too prevalently in the 200's DNA it makes me think that the only thing good to come out of Detroit this year will be the Lions. A sentence I never thought I'd get to say in my lifetime.
