Test drive Chrysler 300C

[louiegz]

I went to a Chrysler test drive event this weekend in Englishtown, NJ this Saturday. I’ve been looking forward to this because I’ve wanted to test drive the 300C. With a 10 year old Q, I know one day, I’m going to replace it and the thought of spending $50,000 plus for an M45, Q45 or BMW 530 is not appealing. Looking at the specs, the 300C would make a perfect poor man’s Q. I won’t make any comments on the exterior styling because with this car, it’s all a mater of opinion. First I drove the V6 because the line was shorter, not only that, I wanted to get familiar with the course before I’d drive the Hemi. The V6 is so slow but it drove much better than the last gen FWD 300M. I had a 300M as a rental on vacation last month and aside from being a very comfortable car, it drove very loose and soft, plus our hated FWD foe, torque steer. The slow RWD V6 300 is a step in the right direction. How would the Hemi drive? Well, first inside, the upgrade in the interior is noticeable. It’s nicer than the V6. The seating position is one of the comfortable that I’ve been in, very upright. The rear seat leg room is better than the G50 but that’s not saying much. The rear seats are comfortable and the leather is of a good quality. I’ve commented that the interior looked cheap when I saw it at the NYIAS in April, but when you saw it in daylight, it looked much better. So how did it drive? The course consisted of tight turns and circles that they didn’t let you go over 25MPH, but if you were with a Chrysler person that was cool, you can push if a bit. At the end, you had a straightaway that you stop and do an acceleration and brake test. So, on the handling part it drove competent, about as much roll as my Q, but they had a section with bumps and I found that the rear wheels went over the bumps a little harsh and mad a cheap, empty sound when they went over them. I go to the acceleration part of the test and I was under whelmed. I mash the gas to the floor and it didn’t take off as strong as it should with that power. I think that my Q had a little more zip off the line. It still had good acceleration and the brakes worked well. So after I was done, I ask myself, my wife and my buddy the $100,000 question, “Would you buy this car?” My friend and I had to say no, while my wife was indifferent, but I think she liked it. We actually enjoyed the other booth where you can test drive a Crossfire convertible and they had a BMW Z4 for comparison. Man, those two cars drove great. I would defiantly buy the Crossfire if I had some disposable income to buy a fun car. The help from MB is more noticeable on the Crossfire then in the 300C, more refined, but the 300C is taking a step in the right direction in giving up on that crappy FWD 300M platform and getting into RWD cars.

[Rex]

Nice write up, but I must say a little disappointing. I wanted the Hemi version to be a beast . Flex some US muscle.

Oh well, I'll stay on my current 4 yr plan to replace my 94 Q45 after 4 years. I'm 2 years into it and will be looking at the following when the time comes.

• FX35, must be AWD
• FX45
• M45
• 00-02 Q45

Keep in mind I'll be buying used, gotta let someone else take the depreciation hit.

[louiegz]

I wish I could have done some real world driving on the road to get a better idea. but no such luck. It would make a nice daily driver though. Yea, I did expect the Hemi to pull a little stronger.

[elwesso]

I really like the new 300C coupe and convertable thats coming out.. Those are HOT.....

The 300 is a nice car, and you sure get a HELL of a lot of car for the price... but IMHO its not the real deal like the Infiniti's.....

[Jesda]

That cheap sound going over bumps might be the result of Chrysler going cheap on the tires. Apparently theyre better suited to your mother's Honda Odyssey than a V8 sport sedan.

Im surprised the 300C has a better interior than the 300 Limited/Touring. The 300 I looked at had the 3.5 V6, and inside it was low rent. Rubbery leather, early 80s econobox carpet, cheap feeling plastics, but a nice layout and look. The whole interior was really nice until you had to touch it.

-Jesda

[louiegz]

That cheap sound going over bumps might be the result of Chrysler going cheap on the tires. Apparently theyre better suited to your mother's Honda Odyssey than a V8 sport sedan.

Actually not. Continental ContiSport 225/60/18 98H, if I remember right. I have Contis on my wife's 330i and they're not bad. They had one on display with 20in rims. It might be a dealer option.

[Jesda]

Ahh, yes that would definitely be a competent choice for the 300. I think the tires the magazines griped about were the default set from Chrysler:

P215/65R17 98T BSW All Season

[driverdriver]

I test drove the 300C and Magnum Hemi before they went on general sale (Dad works for Daimler-Chrylser). Loved the European version with six-speed manual installed from a Mercedes S-class (Euro version). The car was a rubber burning monster.

[Q45Viper]

If you want to evaluate this car make sure you drive the Hemi. Everything in that model is upgraded to E Class Mercedes standards. Heck, the entire suspension, transmission, etc. IS from the E class. The same way the crossfire is CLK underneath. And no amount of loyalty to the mighty Q that we might feel is gonna not make this car superior. Having said that, don't buy one just yet. As a Viper Club of America Officer I just recieved notification that the high performance version is ready to be released sooner than everyone thought. Serious handling and 400HP++!! The same motor will go in the Dodge Magnum AND the coupe and convertible mentioned earlier.

[louiegz]

Yea, I drove the Hemi. Sure, it drives better than the Q and it has more power, I just thought the power was going to be better than it was. I would have gotten a better taste for it if I could have taken it on the highway.

[rydwhite]

I really like the new 300C coupe and convertable thats coming out...

What are you talking about Wes? I haven't heard anything about these yet. Do you have pics or a link that I can check out?

[elwesso]

From car and driver: Chrysler 300 convertible and coupe

Already a solid success, Chrysler's 300 promises to become a series with the addition of coupe and convertible editions. The good-looking convertible draws heavily on the 300 Hemi C show car from the 2000 Detroit show. The coupe uses a sweeping C-pillar line to soften the 300's brick-like profile. DaimlerChrysler is also planning to offer coupe and sedan versions of the Dodge Magnum, as well as a revival of the old Charger nameplate. Look for the Dodge offerings as '05 models. The 300 coupe and convertible aren't expected until 2006.

I dont have any pictures but theyre in the august 2004 R/T...... They didnt offer the pictures on the website

[rydwhite]

Thanks