Conversations with children can get a little weird at times. For a while it may be OK to play along with these childish conversations - after all you don't want to ignore the little creatures and have them develop a "my parents don't love me" complex, but after an hour or so the mind tends to get a little tired and the Uh Huhs replace any sort or
appropriate dialogue you may have had.
My son, Emraj, is in Grade 2 and likes to add numbers together for no apparent reason other than to please himself and to show me and his mom how clever he is.
However, after the usual hour of "Dad, I can count to 100 in fives you know, wanna hear?" and "I know what 12 plus 12 is," or "I know what 20 plus 20 is. Forty. Hey dad, that's not nearly as old as you are. You're way older than 40. Right Dad," the brain begins to numb.
So when your son or daughter asks what type of car you drove this week and without thinking you say it was the Chrysler 200, there is a point right between the two and the hundred that you want to stop your mouth from finishing the words, but it is too late, the hundred comes out with a lot less gusto than the two, and you know what is coming next.
"Hey, I just learned to count to 200 in 10s. Wanna hear?"
But it doesn't matter if you wanna hear, you are going to hear anyway, because next it will be counting in fives to 200, then it will be 100 plus 100 makes 200, or 50 plus 50 plus 50 plus 50, and then...
But whatever way you get to 200 doesn't really matter, because the Chrysler version of the number is one a lot of people will be
adding up to.
The 200 is as it should be, smaller than the Chrysler 300, however it doesn't lack in space and comfort.
The entry model comes in at around $16,500 but the model I tested at $24,343 came with a bunch of options.
The interior of the 200 looks more appealing than some vehicles in this price range.
A lot of vehicles lately have tended to go with plastic painted gray, trying to get the look of brushed aluminum, but just getting the look of plastic that has been painted gray. The 200 on the other hand uses more appealing-to-the-eye silver accents. Although it may not be more expensive than the gray plastic, it looks as if it is, and it offers a higher end, and more polished look especially against the black interior. A large analogue clock sits in the centre of the dash with silver trim, which is much nicer to look at than a small digital readout.
The 200 came with a 2.4-litre four cylinder putting out 173 horsepower, which is decent power for a car of its size, however if you do require more there is a V6 available with a whopping 283 horses.
Around town the 200 is a decent sedan offering lots of interior room and a suspension that soaks up everything but the largest of pot holes. In our city this will mean your bum will be sending a letter of thanks to Chrysler for putting such a plush suspension in the 200.
The rear seats split and fold down for more storage space and the driver gets control of the power, heated mirrors, keyless entry, tilt, telescoping wheel with stereo controls, and safety features like ABS, ESC, TC, and TPMS. The 200 came with all the airbags you need and an IIHS top safety pick means you won't have to worry about your safety.
Although decent around town the 200 comes into itself on the highway. Everything seems to smooth out more, the engine seems quieter, the ride seems smoother, partly because the people who work on the highways seem to know how to lay pavement correctly, and the 200 feels like a good long-distance cruiser.
The seat height-adjuster helps if you are a little shorter than the average bear, or if you just like to sit high and see everything out the front window. For the princess in the family lifting the seat to its highest point may allow them to feel like they are still sitting on their throne while driving.
The Chrysler 200 is a good cruiser, however if you do go for a drive in one remember to tell your school-aged children it was a Chrysler.
Whatever you do don't mention the number. And for God's sake don't ever tell them if you test drive a Chrysler 300.
SPEC SHEET
Vehicle
Chrysler 200
Vehicle type:
4-door sedan
Transmission:
4-speed auto
Engine:
2.4-litre
Horsepower:
173 @ 6,300
Torque:
166 @ 4,600
Mileage:
9.9 l/100 km
29 mpg City
6.7 l/100 km
42 mpg Hwy
Price as tested:
$24,343
