Getting your player ready...
Chrysler had probably 200 reasons for changing the name of its midsize model; one explained it, however – the Sebring version was a slow-seller, had been for several years. While Chrysler was selling 38,000 Sebrings last year, Ford took payment for almost five times that many Fusions.
So, along comes the 2011 Chrysler 200, sized the same as Sebring. It has, though, a new grille, hood and rear decklid, projector headlamps and foglamps and LED taillights. The design has more class than the previous, and the finish of the one given me, a white gold color, was gorgeous.
It was a Limited model, dressed up with bolstered premium leather seats, improved-look dash and instrument gauges, soft-touch door panels and armrests, and well-styled adjustable headrests on the front seatbacks.
A 6-speed automatic transmission blends impressively with the 2.4-liter, 4-cylinder engine. The 4 has strong takeoff acceleration. It’s noisy, possibly from the intake tubing. That and a bit of lag in midrange acceleration adds appeal to the optional 283-horsepower, 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6, a highly rated, new Chrysler power source.
Suspension has been retuned; body roll has been reduced with stiffer spring rates and thicker antiroll bars. Steering is more responsive.
Down the road a few months to help spark a planned sales resurgence by the 200 are convertible models and an “S” style to be aimed at younger drivers. The Sebring some years back was the best-selling convertible in the country, and new front and rear styling on the ’11 200 convertible are aimed at regaining lost market share. The 200 convertible will be available with either softtop or hardtop. The special S200 models will feature blacked-out grilles, red leather interior, lower ride height and spoiler at the rear. It will arrive in the spring. The 200 Limited review model posted an average of 27.2 miles per gallon in a 60/40 highway/city split of driving. This measured up closely with two other midsizers reviewed last week – the Volkswagen Jetta 5-cylinder at 28.8 and the Suzuki Kizashi at 27.5. The 200 is rated at 20/31. In Limited trim, the 200 seemed reasonably priced. Its sticker price of $25,735 included a Garmin navigation system, Sirius satellite radio, power sunroof, remote start and automatic headlamps. It also included trip computer and steering-wheel-mounted audio controls, automatic temperature control and front/front-side/side-curtain airbags. The 200 drives satisfactorily, with a fairly quiet cabin. Kim Parker joined Jan and me for a drive out to Island Grove Event Center in Greeley for the 24th annual Breakfast of Champions youth baseball benefit, where we enjoyed talks by Colorado Rockies co-owner Dick Monfort; former Rockies second baseman Clint Barmes, who is expected to play shortstop for the Houston Astros this summer; and Alanna Rizzo of Root Sports.
Barmes drew two standing ovations from the crowd, signed autographs for kids (Jan got one, too) for almost an hour and received praise from Monfort, who said, “As good a player as he is, he’s a better man.”
The 200 on Sunday carried us round and round the streets of Old Town Fort Collins before we finally found a parking spot, then joined Kurt, Tammy, Kara and Ryan Wells in meeting Erik Wells, a Colorado State University freshman, for a birthday at Beau Jo’s Pizza.
Besides the Limited version and the upcoming sporty S level sedan, the 200 is also offered in cheaper LX and Touring models.
The rear-wheel-drive RX-8 boasts a balanced 50/50 weight ratio and is a pleasure to aggressively maneuver through tight corners on country roads.
The 1.3-liter, 232-horsepower twin-rotor (it redlines at 8,700 rpm) sits low and far back in the engine bay, which lowers the center of gravity and improves the vehicle balance. With 6-speed manual transmission, it’s a great handler and steering is very quick; the downside of the sport-tuned, stiff suspension is a bouncy ride.
Brake and accelerator are close and at same level, lending ease to heel-and-toe driving. Care is necessary in normal, round-town drives, though, to not touch one or the other at an inopportune time.
The Mazda averaged 19.6 miles per gallon in lots of country driving. Tightly bolstered sport seats are a good fit.
There is little room in the back seat, entry to which is gained from two small rear-hinged doors. There is no B pillar and those rear doors open in opposite direction of the front doors and can be opened only when the front doors are open. The “freestyle” system provides easier access to the tight rear seats.
The Mazda RX-8 carried a sticker price of $33,055. It is a competitor of the Nissan Z and Audi TT.
Down the road a few months to help spark a planned sales resurgence by the 200 are convertible models and an “S” style to be aimed at younger drivers. The Sebring some years back was the best-selling convertible in the country, and new front and rear styling on the ’11 200 convertible are aimed at regaining lost market share. The 200 convertible will be available with either softtop or hardtop. The special S200 models will feature blacked-out grilles, red leather interior, lower ride height and spoiler at the rear. It will arrive in the spring. The 200 Limited review model posted an average of 27.2 miles per gallon in a 60/40 highway/city split of driving. This measured up closely with two other midsizers reviewed last week – the Volkswagen Jetta 5-cylinder at 28.8 and the Suzuki Kizashi at 27.5. The 200 is rated at 20/31. In Limited trim, the 200 seemed reasonably priced. Its sticker price of $25,735 included a Garmin navigation system, Sirius satellite radio, power sunroof, remote start and automatic headlamps. It also included trip computer and steering-wheel-mounted audio controls, automatic temperature control and front/front-side/side-curtain airbags. The 200 drives satisfactorily, with a fairly quiet cabin. Kim Parker joined Jan and me for a drive out to Island Grove Event Center in Greeley for the 24th annual Breakfast of Champions youth baseball benefit, where we enjoyed talks by Colorado Rockies co-owner Dick Monfort; former Rockies second baseman Clint Barmes, who is expected to play shortstop for the Houston Astros this summer; and Alanna Rizzo of Root Sports.
