Topic: Day-by-Day Review: 2015 Chrysler 300C; Day 1

[Autos_Editor]

Budget luxury-mobile with a dose of attitude from Chrysler?

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[Benhaze]

Chrysler (FCA) makes some of the best interiors for their price points but did it drop the ball with the 300. I find the 300S the most interesting model but the interior is a sea of black blahness that makes you think you are moving up the latter by a few steps when you sit in a 200...

And every time I see a picture of the interior like the model reviewed here with that ridiculous 2-tone steering wheel I automatically think of:




Seriously Chrysler should have just use the dash and instrument cluster of the Charger and save some $$$.

[Danno001]

Had a rental 300 Sport a few weeks ago in Calgary for a few days.
Spent a 4 - 5 hours on the highway along with typical Calgary peak rush hour traffic.

Pros
Solid highway cruiser
8 speed and V6 work well together - never felt need for more power
Highway fuel economy high 7s/100km
Approving looks from opposite sex - never happens because of me - trust me

Cons
It is a large car
No pace to place my Note 4 on the console area - like really?
I am a one handed driver - so need to find a place for my right arm - not possible in this car, center console is too short and dial gear selector offers no place to rest hand
Center console ergo issues would be deciding factor in my case to not buy or lease this car
Car lighter power did not work on a 10,000 km car - shows key on the lid to make it work - like really?

[Great_Big_Abyss]

If I was looking for a large American rear drive sedan with a V8, I'd look at a Charger before looking at this.

[Great_Big_Abyss]

The C doesn't identify it as having the V8. Chrysler offered a 300C with the V6 a while ago, maybe from 2014 on? I'm not sure.

Are you thinking of the 300S?  To my knowledge, the 'C' has always denoted the 5.7 Hemi.

[OliverD]

The C doesn't identify it as having the V8. Chrysler offered a 300C with the V6 a while ago, maybe from 2014 on? I'm not sure.

Are you thinking of the 300S?  To my knowledge, the 'C' has always denoted the 5.7 Hemi.

It used to, but not anymore. You can indeed get a 300C with the V6.

[wing]

Yeah i was looking right at that on the website and still wrote that.  Doh.  I'll fix that.  I don't know what the C is for then.  Maybe Chrysler lol

[OliverD]

Yeah i was looking right at that on the website and still wrote that.  Doh.  I'll fix that.  I don't know what the C is for then.  Maybe Chrysler lol

I think at this point they're using the C to denote luxury while S is for sport since those two models overlap.

[OliverD]

I too have found the C designation confusing, as it used to denote the Hemi.  What is the upside to causing confusion on this issue?

I think it's partly because a V8 is simply less relevant today than it was a decade ago when the 300 was introduced. The V6s have improved so much that a "top of the line" model doesn't necessarily need a V8.

[Noto]

The "C" stands for "Chrysler" as the "luxury" appointment.  "S" is for "sporting" pretensions.

That 5.7L V8's power ratings seem somewhat obsolete at this point...hell, 3.0TTs make a ton more power now.

Seems like the continuing trend - the V8 will die along with the manuals.

[redman]

The V6 option is no dog. More power than most V8's just a few years ago.

3.6 V6 Pentastar 3,604 cc (219.9 cu in)   304 PS (224 kW; 300 hp) [300S version] 350 N·m (260 lb·ft) @ 4800 rpm

[Northernridge]

What are the sales numbers for these? I seem to keep seeing new ones on the road.

[OliverD]

What are the sales numbers for these? I seem to keep seeing new ones on the road.

I see tons on the roads but the local dealers never have any in stock. I think a lot of them are rentals or previous rentals.

[Blueprint]

"C" is there for tradition, in part

Edit: the gorgeous first-gen was actually named C-300, while 300C was the 3rd-gen car, not as pretty as the one just below. "300" denoted the original car's hp rating.








...and as for the current car: GANGSTA!! 

[OliverD]

What are the sales numbers for these? I seem to keep seeing new ones on the road.

Sales figures here: http://www.goodcarbadcar.net/2011/01/chrysler-300-sales-figures.html

Weirdly, sales in Canada dropped to just 31 units last month after selling 613 in June. Looking back at the previous two years there are similar steep falls between June and July. Do fleets not buy cars in July or something?

[Kris78]

On the name issue, from what I recall part of the reason for launching with 300C was to differentiate it from the 300M. To continue with the "letter cars" this should have been a 300N, but as Blueprint noted, they chose to reference the first 300 - the C-300.

I am a little confused on the power ratings for the 5.7L. In Ramville, the truck verion is rated at 395 hp (+32), and 410 ft-lb (+16). The truck having more torque I get, but an extra 30 horsepower? WTF?

That 5.7L V8's power ratings seem somewhat obsolete at this point...hell, 3.0TTs make a ton more power now.

I wonder how much longer the wait will be for the DI Pentastar turbo. With that tech, I don't doubt that it would outgun the motor in this 300C.

[chignectohead]

Well, there are about three total of these big Chryslers, including Chargers at three Halifax area dealers. If you want one you have to order it sight unseen. Makes me wonder why they have a 300C as a press car because it's basically unobtanium even for a test drive.

I have a pal who works at one of the dealers, not in sales. Ask him why there aren't any in stock and the reply is that they do not sell. This is logic so twisted it's worthy of a Renaissance European philosopher's attention: do not display wares, so no sales follow, therefore not worth stocking. Right.

However, if you'd like a Porsche 911 Carrera 4 GTS there's two to choose from. Jags of varying ilk, BMWs likewise. But a 300C, not a chance.

[EV-Light]

What are the sales numbers for these? I seem to keep seeing new ones on the road.

rentals...

[Ontariodriver]

For 50 large why would buy this thing and not a Audi or Bimmer. (i'm repeating 5th gear here and I agree ) Beside even the 200 is much better car and thats not saying much.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4UjUfEMjszU   <--Watch what 5th gear say - they are pretty spot on.

[OliverD]

For 50 large why would buy this thing and not a Audi or Bimmer. (i'm repeating 5th gear here and I agree ) Beside even the 200 is much better car and thats not saying much.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4UjUfEMjszU   <--Watch what 5th gear say - they are pretty spot on.

Who cares what Fifth Gear says. The British press hates American cars. CAR used to outright lie about American cars. I remember reading an article that claimed the Focus sold poorly in the U.S. (it didn't) because it was more expensive than a Crown Victoria (it wasn't).

As for choosing this over an Audi or a BMW, the Chrysler is a much larger car than what you will get for $50k from the Germans. It's obviously aimed at a very different type of customer.

Chrysler/Dodge/Jeep dealers are funny. Around here, they basically stock Journeys, Grand Caravans, Rams of all kinds, and Jeeps of all kinds, with the odd Dart or 200 thrown in for good measure. No 300s, no Chargers or Challengers, no Durangos, no Town & Countrys. I don't see this outright ignorance of certain models' existence at GM or Ford dealers.