2012 Chrysler 200 S 3.6 from North America

Summary:

Fun reliable car

Faults:

Rainwater would drip from the hood directly onto the battery, and get into the vent filling it overflowing, resulting in acid dripping onto my driveway. This corroded the battery tray to the point it had to be replaced. It was back to the dealer at least five times before they figured out what was going on; they finally figured it out with the help of Chrysler Canada head office. In taking the battery out so many times, they damaged or lost most of the fastners to access and remove battery; had to take it back and point it out for that to be fixed. Problem was resolved by installing a sealed battery. All was done under warranty.

General Comments:

Still love the car after almost six years; mine is red with black leather. It's a good looking car and very comfortable.

The 3.6 gets great fuel economy and it goes like stink; the six speed, well it's not the best, no issues but I'd describe it as primitive.

The biggest issue I have with it is it has too much power for a FWD car. With traction control on, it's all over the road (scary) if you floor it at any speed under 60kph. With traction control off, it will roast the tires thru four gears. It's hard to take off from a stop without chirping the tires. AWD was not available that year, a much needed option Chrysler brought in around 2014? I live in British Columbia, we have lots of twisty mountain roads. It does the curves like it's on rails.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 17th March, 2018

2016 Chrysler 200 C - AWD 3.6 liter from North America

Summary:

Awesome car; the V6 AWD is a completely different car, than other 200s

Faults:

ABS module went bad .... Dealership replaced, under warranty.

General Comments:

Had car since March 2017... Got it with just 11K miles... Have taken it from Charlotte, NC, to Michigan and back... Milwaukee, and back... And just completed a trip to Cincinnati...

These ('17s) are available with wonderful rebates, now... Get the V6. Get the V6, get the V6! Not because there's anything wrong with the 2.4 liter -> It's an awesome motor... But they (in some cars) didn't match the 9-speed automatic transmission, to the motor super well... Also since mid-model year 2016 can get the middle-grade car, the Limited, with the V6 motor. Mine's a C - Top of the 200 sedan food chain... It is absolutely AWESOME! All wheel drive package. 300 horsepower (it isn't said anywhere, but the AWD has a smidgen more power than any non-AWD 200 - due to it having a different exhaust).

... Love the dash, in this... How you can sift through all the different things, in the car, with the button on your steering wheel... Easy to check on all systems... Mine is jet-black, black leather inside... Has granite grey rims; 19 inch... The dial transmission shifter works, just great! Some 'expert' car review places have gone on that "Geez it has too many speeds... Who wants to shift nine times?"... Well you DON'T shift, nine times... in regular driving. Speeds 8 and 9 are highway cruising gears... And are why with my V6 I got an incredible 31 & 1/2 MPG, on my trip to Ohio.

And my car is fast. Hilariously, ridiculously fast... in the mid-car segment. Haven't done a run, myself - but I think the 0-60 mph time for these is right at six seconds. And quarter mile it blows away everything (save for the incoming Buick Regal V6 Turbo... which starts at a pretty high price).

My 200 happens to have the manual shift mode with steering-mounted levers, for if I want to really fly off of a light. 8.5 inch touch screen is the best, I've ever seen... Better than my friend's, in his Camry (He even says this... LOL)... I do miss a CD player. But I'm getting all my albums on a couple USBs, to stick in and pull up and play. One has about 40, so far.

As to the flap about the rear roof line (That Sergio, head of Fiat was WAY too sensitive about, when he gave an interview... He was not recognizing that Consumer Reports just doesn't like Chryslers, and has been biased, against Chrysler, for a long time). I mean kids getting in and out of the back, is no problem... and really, how many people who drive these have (other) adults getting in and out of the back, all week? C.R. took one item and hammered the whole car, because of it. And a lot of people are quickly influenced, by Consumer Reports. Thankfully, I wasn't.

So, this car is derived from an Alpha Romeo... I think it's cool I'm driving something with some Italian blood. Summing up: I love this car... Excellent power, takes the curves with aplomb... Seats could be slightly more comfortable, but they're not bad... 100K mile powertrain warranty... And awesome tech :)

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 6th January, 2018