2009 CHRYSLER 300C reviews

Chrysler 300C CRD SRT- Design 2009

Way back at the beginning of the last century, Walter P. Chrysler’s guiding passion was quality engineering - establishing a DNA that has survived to this day. Now, for graceful motoring in the grand manner, there’s nothing on the market to rival the Chrysler 300C.If ever a machine deserved the title ’senator of the road’, embodying as it does, dignity, authority, reliability - packaged with a dash of metallic sartorial flair and Patrician glamour - this ’top of the range’ versatile cruiser brooks no rival. And if that’s not enough, it comes at a price that’s exceedingly competitive, to the extent that one wonders ’How do they do it?’ Here’s a car, you say to yourself, that attains a level of smoothness and sophistication that would not be out of place in a Bentley and yet is available to the sensible and discerning purchaser for a price comparable with a ’top of the range’ Mondeo. This car is the complete package. Where else could you find performance like this coupled with such an impressive level of refinement, economy, comfort and style? Friends, I make no idle boasts - it’s a fabulous piece of kit. Moreover, it’s a truly democratic carriage - as pleasing to an executive hurrying to a business luncheon in the Outer Hebrides as it would be for a South London mom on the school run. It’s not too grand to be functional but grand enough for any six star hotel you might care to park it outside. You’ll lap up it’s luxury, with room for five in comfort on comfy leather seats, satin silver bezels on the fascia and ’soft touch surfaces’ everywhere - and rest soundly, knowing that there are lots of safety features. At the same time, you purr at its economy, sensible manners and accoutrements. Specification of the SRT-Design variant tested, is further enhanced over the already well equipped standard model, by the addition of a ’concert hall’ sound system and lots more pampering to increase the price from £27,600 to £32,500. Taking its style cues from a long pedigree of luxury cruisers, it manages to look up to the minute, up to the mark and at the same time, surprisingly individual. The exceptionally smooth 3.0 Litre V6 Diesel engine is a Mercedes based unit and produces a most healthy 215bhp and - more importantly - 376lb ft of torque. As if that’s not enough, the test car was further boosted with the ’Startech Diesel Power Xtra Module’ costing £1,104, which gives an extra 44bhp and another 70nm of torque. Rather unnecessary, I thought, because there’s enough ’go’ already in standard spec.. 143mph is enough for me and so is the ’stump pulling’ torque already there. On the road, superlatives line up to be negotiated. Excellent dynamics, rewarding performance, reassuring solidity and regal deportment. All these are characteristics of this consummate Chrysler. Driving the rear wheels through a delightful five speed automatic box, performance is truly effortless and you make regal progress; be it on boulevard or interstate. British motorists may not need to negotiate interstate highways but I can assure you from experience, that this supple machine makes mincemeat of British B roads and bypasses. Handling is well up to the mark and you can drive briskly with confidence. I judge that it is more nimble than a large Jaguar. And economy is such a delight that one is constantly fighting the nostalgic urge to pull up for fuel when it’s simply not necessary. It’s the economy stupid! Despite Chrysler claiming a combined figure of 34.9mpg I achieved nearly 40mpg on one fairly gentle one hundred mile ’round trip’. In road testing, as in life, the road to fulfilment is a long and rocky one. But a thought did strike me as I basked in the admiring attention that greeted my passage through the streets, that here at last was the nearest tangible equivalent to the fabled car of dreams - of course, there are minor niggles since no car is perfect. However it all pales into insignificance when the package as a whole is considered. Once we’ve consigned the credit crunch to oblivion, we all should be driving about in one of these. Let’s hope ’Chrysler keep on Building’ on their success. After all, the ’special relationship’ is the closest we’ll get these days to a British motor industry.