CD Article: 2008 Chrysler 300C with SRT Design Package

[CD_Editor]

Test Drive:


With SRT Design Package: Equipped with the optional SRT Design Package, the Chrysler 300C resembles the high performance SRT8 model but keeps the 5.7-litre Hemi V8 engine with its fuel saving cylinder deactivation technology, says Senior Editor, Paul Williams.

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[Schmengie]

These things come with heavy discounts for a reason - the dealers aren't moving them. We'd better get used to the fact that big V-8 engines are on the way out, cylinder-deactivation systems or not. When gas hits $3.00/L (in a couple of months at this rate) the 300C won't be worth a plugged nickel. 

[si]

It's the best vehicle Chrysler never made in the 1990's.

I wonder what's the best vehicle they're not making now?  Probably some diesel....  OH WAIT!  They ARE making those for almost every model outside of NA. 

[Wolfe]

I hope they're not marketing this as a cheaper alternative to buying an SRT8 because there are genuine (slightly used) 300 SRT8s listed around here in the low $30k range.

[Eric Green]

SIVIC nails it. Ford, Chrysler, GM make great product- <i>in Europe!!!</i>

The stupidity of the "Big Three" product strategists in NA is beyond belief. These imbeciles, making product recommendations to senior management and the boards, are directly responsible for the gutting of the "Big Three". It was obvious ten years ago that China and India were going to put extraordinary pressure on oil prices- and an already-overtaxed NA consumer would not be buying these obsolete behemoths with 15 l/00 fuel mileage.

[ktm525]

I hope they're not marketing this as a cheaper alternative to buying an SRT8 because there are genuine (slightly used) 300 SRT8s listed around here in the low $30k range.

A SRT8 < $20k would be ineresting. I like the powertrains/chasis of these things (300C) but find some of the interior execution horrible.

[The Mighty Duck]

13L/100km is far from terrible.  As the article rightly points out: you're getting an awful lot of car for your money.  Yes, a Toyota Yaris might use half as many liters per hundred kilometres, but the 300C has 250% more horsepower and far more space and features...

It's a shame the Chrsyler/Mercedes relationship is over, since a 300 with the Mercedes Bluetech diesel would no doubt be an interesting vehicle...

[TopGun]

13L/100km is far from terrible.

I agree.  I drive on average 36,200 km per year.  Comparing a Mazda3 vs. a 300C:

• My mix of driving gets me under the hwy rating in my Mazda P5...so I'll compare hwy numbers
• 6.9 vs. 9.0 L/100 km highway
• Assuming $1.30 per litre for regular and $1.40 for premium (mid-grade recommended for the 300C)
• Price delta is $1,314 annually

I certainly see no financial justification to justify selling your 300C (if you had one) to get into more fuel efficient car...that would be really long payback.

[Schmengie]

13L/100km is far from terrible. 

Uh, aren't cars like this meant to be driven aggressively?? That's how they're marketed, and they sure look aggressive. I think most people that buy the 330C WON'T drive it like Granny in her old Corolla, or is that a crazy assumption?  I'd be amazed if anyone got anywhere close to 13L/100km in real life.

[airbalancer]

13L/100km is far from terrible.  As the article rightly points out: you're getting an awful lot of car for your money.  Yes, a Toyota Yaris might use half as many liters per hundred kilometres, but the 300C has 250% more horsepower and far more space and features...

It's a shame the Chrsyler/Mercedes relationship is over, since a 300 with the Mercedes Bluetech diesel would no doubt be an interesting vehicle...

I believe M-B still has a % of Chrysler, and they are still suppose to share technology
Jeep has a  M-B diesel engine in it
http://www.mpgomatic.com/2008/03/14/jeep-grand-cherokee-diesel-review/

[The Mighty Duck]

Uh, aren't cars like this meant to be driven aggressively?? That's how they're marketed, and they sure look aggressive. I think most people that buy the 330C WON'T drive it like Granny in her old Corolla, or is that a crazy assumption?  I'd be amazed if anyone got anywhere close to 13L/100km in real life.

Why would that be surprising?  If you drive reasonably, you can except reasonable fuel mileage.  Obviously if you hammer the gas at every opportunity, you will not.  But to assume that anyone that buys this car will automatically mash the pedal from every stop is a wildly foolish assumption.    It is possible to drive a fast car sedately.  Just ask all those owners of turbocharged cars who stay off boost and return quite respectable fuel mileage...

[Cord]

I'd be amazed if anyone got anywhere close to 13L/100km in real life.

That line of thinking applies to any car that is driven aggressively.

[Mitlov]

I'd be amazed if anyone got anywhere close to 13L/100km in real life.

That line of thinking applies to any car that is driven aggressively.

No joke.  That's an indictment of the entire genre of enthusiast cars, if anything.

[Schmengie]

I'd be amazed if anyone got anywhere close to 13L/100km in real life.

That line of thinking applies to any car that is driven aggressively.

Maybe, but the likelihood of driving in an aggressive fashion increases just slightly in a car like this, don't you think?

[Schmengie]

I'd be amazed if anyone got anywhere close to 13L/100km in real life.

That line of thinking applies to any car that is driven aggressively.

No joke.  That's an indictment of the entire genre of enthusiast cars, if anything.

No, actually, it isn't. There are plenty of smaller, lighter-weight cars out there that get excellent mileage even when driven enthusiastically. I have no issues with them - what I DO object to are dinosaurs like the 300C being passed off as though they were somehow 'efficient'. Yes, you can probably get within shouting distance of 13L/100km if you drive like there's an egg under the gas pedal, but is that the point in a car like this? I really don't think fuel economy is much of a priority with people that buy big, heavy V8 vehicles like the 300C. These things are a throw-back to a bygone era, and it's time we admitted it.

PS - That name just rolls right off the tongue, doesn't it? 'Hey, Bob, wanna see my new 300C with SRT Design Package?'

[Mitlov]

I'd be amazed if anyone got anywhere close to 13L/100km in real life.

That line of thinking applies to any car that is driven aggressively.

Maybe, but the likelihood of driving in an aggressive fashion increases just slightly in a car like this, don't you think?

Shame on Chrysler for making a car that's fun to drive hard.  Why didn't they make it boring?!  That would be better for everyone else, right?

 

No, actually, it isn't. There are plenty of smaller, lighter-weight cars out there that get excellent mileage even when driven enthusiastically.

But do they get their government ratings?  Even a Cooper S will fall well short of its ratings when you cane the engine.  This is no different.

In other news, I'd like to make a standing objection to Volvo's use of the letter "R" for design packages, Audi's use of "S" to designate bodykit ("S-Line"), BMW's use of M for the same, and MB talking about "AMG-inspired bodywork" on the C-Class.  Those letters belong on the tuned fire-breathers that made the letters famous, and nothing else.  All of these companies are diluting their performance lines by tossing the names around for bodykit-and-wheel packages.

[Schmengie]

Shame on Chrysler for making a car that's fun to drive hard.  Why didn't they make it boring?!  That would be better for everyone else, right?

Mitlov, you TOTALLY missed my point. Fun to drive cars are great, and driving hard is great in the right circumstances. Fun cars don't have to be great, hulking V8 dinosaurs, a point the world outside NA got decades ago. These things will be pretty much extinct in a few years with only the rich able to afford to drive them. Anyone care to make a substantial bet otherwise?

[ktm525]

Shame on Chrysler for making a car that's fun to drive hard.  Why didn't they make it boring?!  That would be better for everyone else, right?

Mitlov, you TOTALLY missed my point. Fun to drive cars are great, and driving hard is great in the right circumstances. Fun cars don't have to be great, hulking V8 dinosaurs, a point the world outside NA got decades ago. These things will be pretty much extinct in a few years with only the rich able to afford to drive them. Anyone care to make a substantial bet otherwise?

I'll be roaming the lonely backroads in my 300C SRT8 or better yet a SRT10 RAM.

[The Mighty Duck]

Mitlov, you TOTALLY missed my point. Fun to drive cars are great, and driving hard is great in the right circumstances. Fun cars don't have to be great, hulking V8 dinosaurs, a point the world outside NA got decades ago. These things will be pretty much extinct in a few years with only the rich able to afford to drive them. Anyone care to make a substantial bet otherwise?

We don't need to bet otherwise.  The proof is in Europe, where in spite of $5.00/L gasoline, vehicles like the 300C SRT8 still exist. 

As for "small cars" with good fuel economy even when pushed...  why don't you ask SIVIC what happens to the gas gauge in his Civic Si when he leans onto VTEC?  Or benhaze what happens when he hits boost in his MazdaSpeed6?

No one said a car needs a big V8 to be fun to drive, so I really don't know where you're coming from there...

[si]

Mitlov, you TOTALLY missed my point. Fun to drive cars are great, and driving hard is great in the right circumstances. Fun cars don't have to be great, hulking V8 dinosaurs, a point the world outside NA got decades ago. These things will be pretty much extinct in a few years with only the rich able to afford to drive them. Anyone care to make a substantial bet otherwise?

We don't need to bet otherwise.  The proof is in Europe, where in spite of $5.00/L gasoline, vehicles like the 300C SRT8 still exist. 

As for "small cars" with good fuel economy even when pushed...  why don't you ask SIVIC what happens to the gas gauge in his Civic Si when he leans onto VTEC?  Or benhaze what happens when he hits boost in his MazdaSpeed6?

No one said a car needs a big V8 to be fun to drive, so I really don't know where you're coming from there...

I get 7-9 L/100k regardless      VTEC is over so quickly, a second or two...


SO glad I didn't get the RX-8... talk about an indiscriminate romeo of dino liquids.