Chrysler's return

So what?

Sign of life? Probably not. Certainly not enough to make an assessment about their future! They need product, not a new stand. Guaranteed the Chinese will have more floor space - and some damn good cars - in Motown next month. No more re-hashed has-been crudemobiles. Put the 300 to rest and focus on keeping Fiat from regretting things.

By jwojewidka on 3 December, 2009, 6:36am

A Nice return

All that Chrysler needs to do is improve the interior.
The Exterior is fantastic and the chassis is, well, ok, that needs a little improvement.
The 300C is a perfect example of this.
Fantastic to look at! The interior lets this car down.
Like Richard Hammond quotes in TopGear "Americans can't do interiors, they think luxury is just making things bigger" - quote from the Cadillac CTS-V.

By lucasworld on 3 December, 2009, 12:18pm

Actually the Benz Germans did the 300 interior, not Chry USA. The 300 is also a long way from a crudemobile. It is a superb touring car that combines exceptionally comfortable seating in a voluminous, quiet & fully functional (if stark) interior, with a thoroughly competent but unsporting chasis. The car is very roadworthy. It does not squat, dive, roll or understeer -- just plain neutral handling -- & can generate very high cornering forces. Unfortunately it just doesn't feel sporty despite its considerable ability. The fault lies in the slow ratio, uncomunicative Mercedes Benz power steering and the slow-shifting Mercedes (again the Germans) auto tranny.

The car is very quiet & solid, and that lovely hemi V8 could arguably be the best street engine ever -- hugely powerfull right from idle to redline, smooth, responsive, sonorous, relatively economical (with MDS technology) & virtually unbreakable. The car's weakest elements are from Mercedes Benze & that is hardly something to be condemned, while its greatest strengths are from Chrysler USA -- apparently anathema to those who form opinions based on a combo of ignorance and snobery, rather than long-term exposure to the product. Godspeed Chrysler.

By paddybrit on 7 December, 2009, 5:33pm

Inside look

I'm a car collector & I own a Chry 300 SRT8. It is not (yet) part of my collection, but it may very well end up staying forever. All of my "collectibles" are road-driven regularly, unlike concourse cars, and they range from 1950 to current cars. All are in first class working order & reflect my personal driving experiences & interests from my teen years until now. They are mostly of European & American origin but do cover most major manufacturers world-wide.

The 300C SRT8 was acquired out of curosity. I love its chunky, somewhat menacing styling & the Chrysler HEMI engine has a pedigree second to none in the world for both street & racing use. It has turned out to be a most remarkable automobile, being a paradoxical mix of gadget-filled bland high-comfort touring, amazing speed and handling & a shockingly affordable price. Nothing in the market approaches it for value.

My daily driver prior to acquiring the SRT was a BMW 745Li (which my wife still drives), but the SRT is so much fun that I seldom drive the 745. It blows the BMW into the weeds for both power and, quite amazingly, handling. It doesn't feel very sporty at all, but it sticks to the road like supersonic tar. It is certainly less sensory-tweaking and more work to drive in the twisties than the 745, but it actually will outaccelerate, outcorner & outstop the bimmer if you let it do what it can. It is ungoverned and has reached an indicated 275 kph!!!. It has also been totally trouble free in 85,000 km of pretty hard driving. My wife doesn't like it (not socially suitable) but I have learned to greatly respect this car.

By ToothDrM5 on 7 December, 2009, 6:58pm

Good Luck

Out spoken Chrysler fans bark loudly about how good the cars are but sales tell the true story. Old products and brittle interior plastic's even Tesco would frown on. Fiat has it's work cut out for it.

By christophducati1 on 12 January, 2010, 9:27pm