AFSCME 3357-HOF'S BLOG

The Chrysler 200 Controversy
His review excised, the reviewer exits

Scott Burgess has been the main auto reviewer for the Detroit News for at least as long as I've been reading it online. It looks like they are going to need a new reviewer, because Scott Burgess resigned after his online review of the new Chrysler "Imported from Detroit" 200 had had negative remarks edited out of the online edition after a local dealer complained about the initial online and print edition. Jalopnik.com has been covering this story like it is major news, like the latest what what involving Charlie Sheen or Lindsay Lohan.

I read the before and after reviews, and I personally think that the editing helped the review; albeit long after the the editing process should have been completed. If you want to form your own opinion, here's a link to the current version of Burgess's review, titled "2011 Chrysler 200 falls short of the competition." The gist of Burgess's review is that the 2011 Chrysler 200 is improved over its predecessor, the Chrysler Sebring, but it isn't improved enough to match the other major competitors. I have had no first-hand exposure to the 200; in fact, I haven't even seen one in person. Our local dealers didn't even get them in until about a month ago, and availability is still tight. For a second and very contrasting opinion on the 200 here's a link to a review at the Chrysler fanboy site, Allpar.com. I personally think the Allpar review is more informative and comprehensive.

The sad part is that Scott Burgess is capable of writing excellent reviews, and he usually writes favorably of the products of the Detroit 3. Check out his reviews of the 2012 Ford Focus and the 2011 Chrysler 300. It seems that he's worried that any deficiency with the Chrysler 200 will contribute to malaise and unemployment in Detroit. Ironically, this heightened sensitivity seems to have caused a case of premature resignation, and Burgess is the only victim of 200-related unemployment so far.

Time for a more than marginally relevant video, here's Motor Trend's first look at the Chrysler 200.