2005 Chrysler 300 Touring and 300C
11-23-2004
by
Matt St-Pierre
, Auto123.com
|
On the road
Steering in the 300C felt less accurate than the Magnum, which was already a slight sore point in the big wagon. The ride also felt even more jumpy than in Magnum and the brakes did not perform as well either. One thing that has to be kept in mind is that these test cars will be abused and pushed to their limits sooner and more often than a regularly owned car. So, I won't dock too many points off the C because of these shortcomings. This may be so, but considering the sheer size of the discs and the fact that only 15,000 km were indicated on the odometer makes me worry about the real life durability of the braking system. Small irregularities continue to find their way into the cockpit as they did in the Magnum.
It seems as though the Touring had it easier on many levels: the ride wassmoother and more controlled. The brakes were less strained and produced better pedal feel, response and shorter distances. Steering feedback was more present and felt more direct. It is clear that weight plays a big roll in the dynamics of these cars, or any cars for that matter. It is not often that one gets to drive two identical cars with weight differences. The 17" wheels and taller sidewalls did a good job of isolating the rough roads from the passenger compartment.
The Hemi is sick! Consider, for a moment if you will, a 4,000 plus pound car taking off from a standing start and reaching 100 km/h in a tick over 6 seconds. Not too long ago, this was Supercar territory. Highway passing is a breeze. The 5-speed Mercedes autobox is always ready to jump into action. The 3.5L is no slouch either. It will climb to 100 km/h in about 8 seconds. It won't snap your head back like the Hemi but it gets the job done. In this case, the 4-speed automatic is not as responsive. It takes longer to kick-down and upshifts are nowhere near as crisp. I believe that if the 3.5L had the chance to be joined by the 5-speed, acceleration would be quicker and cruising more enjoyable.
The xenon headlights, only available on the 300C, cure the lack of intensity from the regular halogen lights that are standard on all other 300 and Magnums.
The fact that both cars consumed roughly the same amount of fuel per 100 km is either a testament to how well the Multi-displacement system that Chrysler endows each Hemi works (shuts off 4 out of the 8 cylinders when cruising) or how heavy the 3.5L really is on gas.
Safety
The car has standard dual front air bags, optional front and rear side airbags, traction and stability control, ABS brakes with brake assist and seatbelt pre-tensionners. The NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) awarded the car 5 out of 5 stars (a perfect result) for a frontal impact, 4 out of 5 stars (a very good result) in lateral impacts for front occupants, and 5 out of 5 for lateral impacts for the rear passengers.
|
|
|
Print