American cars are often considered crap by Europeans and that's largely because the two continents are vastly different. In the US you can, like Roman says, drive a thousand miles without turning the steering wheel. The roads are straight and wide and flat. In Europe the roads are narrow and winding and a large American car doesn't necessarily make sense. The US is about the same size as Europe but a lot flatter and with less than half the people. Speaking as a European that has lived across the pond I understand American cars and I also understand why many Europeans dislike them.
I own a 2013 300c 5.7L V8 Hemi, and I must say - It's got balls. But at the same time, it feels incredibly secure and solid, and very comfortable and classy. I've heard it described as a linebacker in a tuxedo. Precisely.
+Wrecked I'm looking at a 2014 base model AWD to replace my 2014 outback (few reasons for looking to replace it) Would you advise the 300 base with the 3.6 v6?
The 300 is definitely a regal car. You'll obviously lose out on some of the stuff with the base model but it's still a helluva car. The Pentistar V6 is a fine engine for it.
agreed. I live in Europe an we either have shit cars(being that they originate here, they are cheaper on parts) or we have very expensive nice cars. I like the 300's. They are amazing imo and when we do see them I like them alot.
I'm currently driving that specific model and it is a very nice car overall, its smooth, shifts nicely, the fuel mileage is no where near what a VW Jetta TDI can manage but at the same time, its not horrible either, especially for its size. It definitely has plenty of power but the traction control likes to step in uninvitedly at times which can be dissapointing. The one thing that I'm not entirely crazy about the car is the shifter. Although it's neat in how it shifts, it can be erritating when just wanting to shift into gear and go. I would definitely say that this can easily pass as an "old man's car". The car that comes to mind that would be similar is an older Jaguar . . .
Great review Roman. European car reviewers are just biased and even if it's the best car in the word if it's American, is automatically a bad car to them. I just don't take them seriously in that regard.
I wouldn't use the English press as a yardstick for european taste. You might get a surprise if you watch some other sources available here on youtube. You'll get broken english or subtitles but still very much a motoring enthusiast review without a huge chip on the shoulder.
I'm from Spain (Europe) and my father-in-law bought a Chrysler 300C Diesel a few years ago because he and his wife like to travel in comfort sitting on two enormous and comfy leather seats. Here in Spain the looks of this big american car turns lots of heads, more than any other BMW that are more common around here. My father-in-law prior to this car owned a BMW 7 series E32 that had for almost 20 years. He said that the BMW was better in canyon roads, but this one is more comfortable and when he bought it, was really cheap (fully loaded for about 30k €). And also the 3.0L V6 diesel engine came directly from Mercedes Benz (when Chrysler and Mercedes were partners), it is pretty fuel efficient for a vehicle of that size & weight averages 30 MPG.
You got the point, in Europe this car is just too expensive and don't have the really needed handling capabilities for small mountain roads and high speed (over 80mph), sometimes really twisty, motorway / autoroutes / Autobahn / autostradas …
I'm from Britain , and I completely get this car. I had one on hire in April 2013 in Florida. I didn't want a clone of a UK/Euro car so no Chrysler 200, Buick or ford Fusion. I'm on holiday/vacation and would like to drive something I wouldn't consider back home. The 300 I drove was an amazing cruiser. I drove from Orlando to Clearwater then 2 stop overs to get to Naples. Across to Miami, another stop over. Then back to Kissimmee. I can't remember how economical it was, but as US petrol prices it was reasonable. So as you can see I totally agree with Roman and his opinion of the 300's mile eating capabilities
Half the vehicles here in America is a pickup or SUV. A small European car is dangerous. A ford F250 would run over a Fiat and keep on going. Like squashing a bug.
I rented one of these out in AZ (canyon and LA road trips ensued). Surprisingly the rental had the 5.7L Hemi. I averaged about 22MPG, and it could barely muster 25MPG on the highway. That said, it weighs 2.5 tons, so with that much power that's not too bad. Highway cruising in this car is a dream, and it wasn't too terrible in the turns. I would never want one for my daily commute, but if I lived somewhere with open roads it would be perfect.
Well done. It should have been done with the hemi though. I got rid of the Mercedes for this, and once I reached the equivalent mileage, the chrysler became a more reliable, comfortable, and more efficient car. The benz would go in for an oil change, and come out with a host of minor corrections. The standing joke is BMW and Benz are 500$ oil changes, and my household lived it. You chrysler guys... Dont give it a second thought. German reliability is NOT what it was, and the only reliable car out of Europe is Volvo. These Chryslers are excellent, despite the German underpinnings. Keep driving these "Yank Tanks". Even Cadillac and Lincoln figured it out... We are getting our roomy luxury back!
So he's saying the same thing as European reviewers - it's only good for falling asleep while driving in a straight line, and using too much fuel in the process...
No! He's saying its a comfortable riding car built for the American interstates! To try and break it down a bit more. In America it relatively inexpensive for the amount of Luxury and comfort it has. He's saying it a comfortable ride for a long distance and gets good gas mileage. Especially for a big comfortable car. If what I've seen on TopGear is any real indication we tend to like bigger cars here in America than they to in England. I seen a show once where they were trying out a little hatch back and couldn't figure out why anybody would need so much room. To me they looked crammed and uncomfortable.
T Ritchie You say no, but then you agree with the two points I made: 1) "Built for the American Interstates" = Straight line snooze on cruise. 2) 19mpg city / 31mpg highway is NOT "good gas mileage". Hell, I beat that in a 15 year old BMW 7 Series! So neither you, nor the reviewer are actually disagreeing with Top Gear etc on the facts, it's just that in America (where the car & its fuel are also cheaper to buy) no-one gives a shit. As for the hatchback (which was probably the same price in the UK as the 300C sells for in America!), they were only excited compared to other tiny cars in its class. If it was a large luxury car, they'd be complaining of claustrophobia (and the "feel of the buttons & switches" ;-)
I don't think the European journalists are using the wrong yard stick as you've said. It's Fiat that set the price targeting to those E-segment cars. I don't know how much do BMW 5-series or Mercedes-Benz E-class in America with the same power output cost, but apparently in Europe with the same price and power output those cars are better in almost every way such as performance, fuel economy, drivability, refinement, desirability and other perception quality. I'm not gonna talk about the design as it depends on one's taste. My last word is this car in Europe is absolutely HOPELESS.
I do not know if it is hopeless. Cars like the Smart sell in the US and frankly just do not work well in most of the US outside of say SF and NYC. It is more of a matter of taste and I in this case pricing.
Nathan... this was probably the best Review you've ever done! not that your old ones were bad.. but this one was great! (Your review made my dad buy a 300c)
I have 2 issues with the 5th Gear review: 1. At the intro to their "team test", they mentioned that the 300 (Emporia) is positioned as a 5-series competitor. WTF??!! The 300 is really more of a luxury/family car than lux/performance. Even the "SRT8" is a whole different ballgame than any "5". I have rented many different examples of the '13 300, including an "S" with HEMI, and i've been impressed every time with the car's comfort, solidity, and style. 2. One of the 5th Gear douche bags also said that the 300 no longer carried "German" underpinnings/suspension (obviously, he was referring to the Merc E-Class). I thought that the suspension setup on the latest 300 remained essentially unchanged from the previous gen. Wrong? Basically, the 300 is a lovely car and the 5th Gear "team" can suck it!
Personally I like the 300C, but here in Britain it costs the same as a 5 series and so it is compared to one. We know it isn't really a competitor, but that doesn't matter because when we could have a 5 series, e-class, Jaguar XF for the same money why would we buy the 300C? If the dollar price was directly exchanged to pounds, this car would cost around £23,000 - about the same as a top of the line Ford Mondeo, Vauxhall Insignia etc and it would do much, much better in reviews. Sadly, we have import taxes and 20% purchase tax to go on top and various other levies and that isn't possible but once every ten years or so a US manufacturer thinks it's a good idea to have another crack at the UK market. You should stick to mainland Europe because every time a US manufacturer brings a car to the UK it ends up being priced (through no real fault of their own) above its station.
IMO, this car does not compete anymore with the 5 Series or E class. Years ago, when it was launched it did, but not nowadays. Now it competes with the Skoda Superb, and that car simply makes much more sense.
He's absolutely right, regarding the cost point of view. In my country (Portugal), taxes are ridiculous, and when you buy a car you ad a car tax plus VAT (23%) to the base price, which gets this car on par pricewise with the germans...
I can understand the argument he is giving, however in Britain we review cars to how they are used in Britain such as you guys do in America. In Europe that car costs the same as a BMW 525d, which produces almost as much power, is faster and much more economical, as well as driving much better. And do think that a 300C 3 litre diesel is £36k/$60k, whereas in Britain, $36k buys a basic Audi A3 (just), or high spec Ford Focus. Also do remember in Britain we do use country roads (single track) and twisty A-Roads, and do tend to try and get from A-B as fast a possible on any road (if you drive a large executive saloon/sedan). I do however understand the reasoning for TFL and Roman's grievances to our reviews of this car. I may be slightly biased as my family has almost always had BMW's, Audi's and Mercedes', but for the UK, the 300C doesn't make any real sense.
Great presentation. I have a 2007 300C Hemi which is still in pristine condition. I exported it to Finland where there is a lot of open space on the road unlike other parts of Europe. It truly is a pleasure to drive & I love the Americana aspect of it's design. You are so right that it is the quintessential American touring car designed for the open road.
Roman, you nailed it as much as I love the British motoring shows; they put American cars on unfair pedestals and call them "rubbish"! Chrysler clearly doesn't compete or even try to compete with BMW and Merc. Europeans consider their cars to be the holy grail of the auto world. While in some cases it may be true, but every car has a market it wants to cater to.
There is one thing - in Europe 300C does compete with BMW 5 series or Audi A6. It's as expensive as both of them. What they do with American cars is thet they compare it with European competitors and from European point of view.
Very good Roman! The Europeans are generally hard-nosed about American cars anyway. However, you say this car is meant for cruising down the interstate, which is a valid argument. But that begs the question: what was Chrysler thinking when they put an optional 6.4 Liter SRT engine in it? That engine is what makes me side with the Europeans. Don't get me wrong, though, I'd love me a 3.6 V6 with an 8 speed or a 5.7 Hemi! 6.4 is simply ridiculous, though. Anyone else agree?
I have driven the 300 with the 6.4L Hemi. WOW its fast but its not punchy fast its more elegent. I would buy the 300 SRT. Its a cruser with power. Rememeber the American way is putting a big engine in everything.
From a price perspective (at least in Canada), the 300 would more closely compete with a 3 series, not a 5 series. And that's even using the Hemi vs. the 328i as references. (SRT version will land you about $10k less than the 335i) Based on that alone, I think there's a very compelling argument for the 300 (in addition to everything what Roman had to say). Although, parts of Europe have excellent (and straight) highways.
I own a chrysler 300C and it has been the best car i have ever owned. I enjoy every minute of it. You made some great points Roman. Granted i do also have the 5.7L :)
With high emissions taxes and high fuel costs (we pay two separate taxes on our fuel in the UK) we just can't justify cars like this in the old country. The 300C is also priced out of the market it competes in when it's in America -- its inflated cost puts it against European and Japanese cars it was never designed to compete with. Plus, until recently, you have to admit the average overall quality of American cars was dire in comparison to overseas rivals. That legacy is what taints many British and European reviewers -- the cars that used to come over were the output of the Big Three when they were all basically not trying. Nowadays it's thankfully different -- Cadillac in particular are nailing it in matching or bettering their Germany rivals. All that said, I still love TFL and Roman's reviews.
the car is very comfortable going on a straight road, very quiet, the internal finish is ok, there is a very noticeable turbo lag and feel kind of sluggish when passing. and the car does not handle well turning at high speed
Well here in the UK I just looked up the specs and all models of the 300C come with a 3.0 v6 turbo diesel with a 5 speed auto. base price starts at £36,000.00 or $59,119.90 the top of the range is £40,000.00 or $65,688.78 having this info you might see why top gear expect a lot more than the car delivers. Not hating on american cars, I think they priced it completely out of the market.
The odd thing being that in the US, American cars are usually less expensive in every segment despite shipping fees. In all markets outside of the US, American cars cost a lot more than their intended competition.
Of course price matters a lot. Once a car is burdened with trans-continental transport costs and import duties, very few cars make sence any more. Thats why VW build cars for the north american market in Mexico, while Toyota build cars for the European market in Europe. And so on and so on. If Fiat/Chrysler want to sell the 300C in Europe, they need to build it here. Otherwise its going to be irrelevant for our market. Thats just how it is. So in a sence Roman and the 5. gear team are both right.
It is all too true that European auto reviewers measure American cars to the wrong degree. This 300 with the 8-speed is gold for American interstates. Set the cruise to 75mph and enjoy 31mpg all day, especially on I-25 where this review took place.
I think that you missed one thing. This car (300C) is overpriced in UK. It would be great car if it had smaller price. Look at brands like Dacia or Skoda. They made cheap (Dacia) or reasonably priced (Skoda) cars. And that's why these cars sell very well in EU. When price is right people don't care about things like plastics or sporty handling.
Although I agree with Roman about this car being ideal for America with long "straight" roads I think he is missing the main point here when talking about European testers saying its crap and that point being that is is NOT a drivers car .. Here in the UK we might not have 1000 miles of straight Highway which to that point I can say "thank god for that" because I like most European drivers enjoy "driving" a car not just sitting in it ..If I want to sit somewhere comfortable like a sofa I will stay home and be as bored as I would on your 1000 mile highways .. if European drivers/testers are so wrong then why do so many testers look for the ultimate driving roads and that includes many, many American testers which are better known than Roman ( I don't mean that to sound demeaning in any way ) all head for the hills or to Europe to try out cars .. Drivers like cars that they can feel what they are doing in them ..old people and boring drivers enjoy wheeled sofa's to get from A to B. Lately I have heard Roman with a few comments knocking Europeans and I hope this is not a trend to come from him as I think he is better than that :)
Some people just want to get from point A to point B as fast as possible & a straight line is the way to get you to your destination the quickest way possible. All you pretend Jenson Button's in England speeding in your ridiculous traffic circles understand that a softer suspension is much better for long distance rides. Fifth Gear should have at least tested the SRT-8 300,maybe in the future...
Eff Dinero I fail to see what Jenson Button has to do with enjoying driving ? All I'm saying is Drivers who enjoy driving would not appreciate this type of car outside of the States because those types of road are mostly found in the States and nowhere else in the world so maybe that car is best kept there :)
First, it's the Chrysler 300C in UK only, (where Lancia became Chrysler) in other countries it's like in Italy the Lancia Thema. As you said in Europe it is more expensive. starts at 44 500 € in France 61 143 U$ in today currency!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!. The Engies are the V6 petrol that you know, but it is almost only sol in Diesel with the 3.0L in 190hp or 239hp. So it goes against European Expensive cars that corners better. Don't forget it is buit on a old Mercedes platform. I would love to have one if a was in the US, but here impossible to parl, and old old shcool for the drinving exprerience.
Americans CAN travel 1000 miles in a straight line, but how many of you actually do that? And If you put yourselves in our shoes, would you rather travel 1000 miles in a 300C or a 5 Series or E Class? Because all three are the same price in Euro Land.
Good review Roman, they weren't comparing apples to apples. In America 300 V6 also competes w New Chevy Impala, Hyundai Genesis, and Toyota Avalon. New 5 Series BMW's base price is $20,000 more than all these cars.
No, what it is is that European drivers want to be able to feel the road whilst driving, and have fun whilst driving. In the Uk that amount of mpg doesnt compare to any other cars in that price range. Even though in america it might seem to be cheep to fuel, in the uk its terribly expensive...
Roman, you nailed it on the head. I had previous watched the 5th gear review of the Chrysler 300C and left a comment basically making the same points you did. The 300 is definitely inferior in terms of quality and overall driving performance to an 8cyl BMW 5-series or MB E-class, but it's not try to complete with those cars. They're in a class above. Cadillac would be a more fitting comparison. I'd love to see 5th Gear compare a new Caddy to one of the European competitors such as a CTS to a BMW 3-series. I hear the Caddys are real driving machines now.
I think the fifth gear car had the diesel which they said wasn't smooth at all because the price of their test car is near the price of a 5 series and e class. Where as in america this is a class under those european rivals and much cheaper as well with the smoother pentastar engine
I'm trying to be open minded here, but essentially this video felt like 7 minutes of damage control. If you're wondering why your American cars often get harsh reviews by Europeans it's because we have a VERY high standard. Our cars are more efficient, safer, stylish... You name it, now don't get me wrong I love American Muscle! But what the fuck is this? Who in their right mind is picking a 300C over a similar car from Mercedes, BMW, Audi, Volkswagen, Vauxhall or Ford? Especially over here in Europe? At the end of the day, us Europeans love American Muscle and you Americans love European sports cars.
What people also forgot about is the dumb repairs these Germany cars need that cost an arm and your first born.... The cost of repairing a Germany car vs American alone is why I will stick with a Cadillac ats over a 3 or something that ends in SRT.
In Europe it's a different story, maintenance of American cars is pretty expensive and they need a lot of repairs because they have terrible reliability ratings.
Ok Roman we understand that the Chrysler 300C does not compete with BMW and Audi in the US but in Europe it does on price. So thats unfortunately the competition. So the choice is obvious: BMW or Audi
I love mine but without a doubt, taking any curve over 25MPH and I feel like I'm gonna die. I drove a C-Class and I shockingly the 300 materials felt much higher in quality, but you will never match the driving experience of a German car.
You don’t drive a car to a wrong environment. These cars are not for racing in curvy race tracks, this car is designed as a highway cruiser for long road trips
"Horses for courses." A quarter horse would be out of its element in the Kentucky Derby just as those horses in the Derby would be unfit for the work the quarter horse does. It really is a matter of scale. European drivers are used to a class system, social, economic etc. Americans refuse to bend a knee to anybody, anytime and will do and drive what they damned well please. Outside of city centers and suburban sprawl we have roads which cross counties in about the time it takes to cross many European countries. In truth we are big, think big, live big, drive big and do not like the idea of squeezing our large butts into a cars smaller than some of our golf carts. The best cars are those which identify whatever need they are meant to meet and use the best of any technology available, without regard to its origin, to achieve their goals.
how is this rewiew for european buyers? hes only saying why somebody from the us supposedly might like the car. at least the original 300c looked good. this doesnt.
Well done. I live in the EU for 6 years now and what needs to be said is that it is easier to change the car than it is to change the people's preferences. So take the 300C, give it V8 with the AWD, ramp up rumble to disturb the peace in the black forest and call it the eu model. The thing is that the fuddy-duddy of US is not the same as the one here. No, you don't need to double-clutch the eu model and don't forget that if the Euro reviewer doth protest too much it could be the 300C is too close for German comfort.
I think their good looking cars. I would like for them to boost the horse power up to 300. Seems it should match the name at least. It also looks comfortable to me.
To say the least, we Europeans sometimes get a little one-dimensional when thinking about cars. Thanks for pointing that out; really enjoyed your review. P.S. this goes to Mr. Dorem: Please check the "list of mountain ranges" in Wikipedia. You're in for a big surprise
The V-6 is a total snooze-fest wheezer and the rear leg room is downright sad. But, it's a nice enough looking car for the money. I would spend a bit more and get a lot more though with another brand. The interior reminds me of my 2005 Buick Lucerne. Now that was a nice highway cruiser!
many europeans really like american cars. but the reason why there are so many critics is that they are way too expensive. for example, in france, a chrysler 300 cost about 62000dollars for a base model(190hp 3liter diesel). which is twice the price in the usa. on the other hand, europeans don t really need such a big car, they are happy in their econoboxes...
I try to avoid highway driving as much as i can , it's so boring, good thing that my ford has an option in the navigation where I can take the backroads :)
In Brazil it costs around 53.000 euros or 72.000 dollars. Thats less than what a BMW 328i or a Audi A5 costs here. When you compare to the 5-series or the A6 it sounds like a joke: the 300c is SO MUCH MORE value for money. I mean... seriously. Volkswagen set the price of its CC here at nearly 90.000 dollars... are you SERIOUS, germans?! Your cars aren't made of GOLD.
My Dad bought one. The Hemi version. Which is a lie since the new engines are only around 60 percent hemispherical and not a true hemi. ... But... Anyway... I hated it. The power was great !! But the vision out of the car was very poor. It is like looking out of a pill box. When you have such poor vision it compromises safety big time !! . It may look cool, but if you are claustrophobic at all, you will not like being in this car. My mom also hated it. After 6 months on this brand new car, electrical things began to break. Car was traded in on a Mercedes S500 which was a better car safety wise and you could see and drive it well, but it spent as much time in the shop as the 300C. Eventually, it too was traded in for a Lexus RX350. The Lexus has never been in the shop yet.
The only thing that classifies a combustion engine to be "hemispherical" is that the head and piston at top dead center be a polyspherical design. There are other reasons they call it a hemi. Like the crank shafts are interchangeable to Hemis made 50 years ago. Also the Valve covers from the original released in 1953 will bolt right up. They carry Forged and Cast steel, using aluminum heads. This was a first for american production engines in the 1960's; lead by the 2nd generation Hemi. The research and development of the current engine started with the overview of the original and second gen, using the best aspects and fine tuning it, for a modern, more economical, less costly to produce Engine. To understand what makes a Chrysler Hemi a Hemi and not just a hemispherical engine, you must first understand the History of the Hemi.
Patrick Austin Pat.. Do more Research. There is a Huge Difference between a Hemispherical chamber and a Hemi. Problem is this... , Originally Cryco Copyrighted the word Hemi and implies Hemispherical in the past but not the present. In that lies the problem. Axiomatic.
Just because Ford puts Mustang on their cars doesn't make it a horse. That is the essence that the designers wanted to capture, just like the Hemispherical design is one that Chrysler based their Hemi on. The fact of the matter is a truly hemispherical engine is not a very efficient way to make power, and it is better that they adopted some of the defining aspects of the design and engineered it their way. Never the less it is a great power plant, a bit more of a truck engine than a performance one, but I'm sure the new 6.2 Hellcat will change that. The new Hemi currently being designed is not going to share very much at all with the 5.7,6.1,6.4. Chrysler is setting out to completely reengineer it, again.
1. Lancia Thema in europe, besides Chrysler 300c; with v6 diesel costs about 50.000€ and more, or 68.700$. And for that kind of money ppl rather buy very good equiped audi a4 or something european. Cadillac, chrysler, chevrolet are not popular in europe. Ppl see those cars like kia or something less quality. Even lexus has problems, although it is luxury car. 2. Ppl in europe mostly buy cars bellow 35.000€ (like golf, passat, avensis and shit) or under 60.000€ (bmw, mb, audi..prestige).
I can completely understand Roman's point but I think European press has been fair to its own standard this is it. I know Roman presented the 300C as the us luxurious cruiser for interstates but in Europe it's actually sold as an italian car. Obviously, everyone knows it's not. But still, we don't have the Chrysler/Dodge brand image behind that car, because it supposedly a Lancia. And here is the major issue. Lots of great american vehicles are sold in Europe and fit perfectly the markets (just look at all of the chevy cruze (SW, 5 door and sedan), you'll know what I mean), but seriously rebadged 300C and Sebring convertible? I truly think this is a mistake. This is going to do the same effect as with the new flavia convertible : you'll have a car that is too large to fit Europe, that only comes with automatic transmissions, with poor gas mileage and with a price beyond measure, because this is something most people don't realize but they put dollar-like prices on those car! While Chevys are for instance Worth their value in euros, and this makes them the cheaper fun cars on the market, because they are priced for Americans ;)
Owned a 2013 ,300c for a few months and its a rare sight in the UK , had a couple of minor issues but nowhere near as bad as the piece of junk 2015 Mercedes W212 E-class i just sold , the most unreliable car i have owned and an absolute money pit. The Chrysler is a stunning looking car and turns heads , the italian 3 ltr diesel returns 38mpg(town) to 44mpg (motorway) , and eats motorway miles up . If you purchased a BMW 5 series or merc E-class and ticked the options to bring it to the equivalent spec on the Chrysler , you would pay £20k more for the German cars , because the Chrysler is fully loaded unlike BMW & Mercedes , who will screw you on the factory options. So it doesnt corner as well as a German car , who gives a sh*t , its a 2 ton execitive car , if you want to do the Nurburgring by a Yamaha R1.
Don't get me wrong, I am a big fan of American cars especially the older stuff from the late 60's - early 70's.. And, I love the look of the Chrysler 300, and the now out of production Crossfire. You keep saying that the 300 is great in a straight line, this is one of the main gripes here in Europe. The road testers keep saying that American cars don't handle well around corners. Maybe if you can sort these issues out, the car may well get better reviews. Oh, and the other thing people pick up on is the quality of interior fittings, which they claim are not up to European standards.
In your face European guys Americans like power not speed we haul and work we don't need baby care that care only haul there own weight good review guys
If that looked like the classic 1960's and older I'd like it but its bad minor changed over time so they need to redesign it. If they made a special edition of the classics with everything the same then I'd be happy about the car but i wouldn't worry since I'm not a driver (yet).
Europeans have issues with American vehicles for a number of reasons ,bold styling brand recognition,size ,fuel economy and this includes minor things like the fact there all automatics.the British press has however been very unforgiving of U.S. automakers almost to the point of being snobbish.ford makes good European cars as it has an excellent European division that try’s to understand the market a little more ,the mustang and edge have been relatively successful I think. Personally I love American cars maybe they can return as market disrupters with long range electric technology ,but for now I think there done.although not completely
There are some more "problems" with American Cars in general: 1. They are - as your already mentioned - usually quite expensive compared to their value. 2. They use overall too much gas - 12.3 combined liters per 100 km (23 mpg) is NOT sufficient for European Markets, since gas prices are much higher (Germany: 7,97 US-$ pg vs. USA: 3,05 US-$ pg premium). 3. They are (since because of taxes etc. being quite pricey compared to US-prices) not that much socially accepted: If you are successful, you buy German cars (maybe British => Jaguar, Land Rover/Range Rover). They just have a difficult image in Europe. 4. They are mostly too cheaply made. GM changes that with their new Cadillac-modellineup, which is great! But overall the cars still have some quality development to do. 5. The sedan-market is not as strong as in the US. Competitors like Hyundai, Toyota and Honda do not offer most of their North-American-cars in Europe - again, because the competition is too strong and for a practical car, most people buy stationwagons. 6. As you, Roman, already mentioned, there is a different lifestyle in Europe. But there are also big differences in driving, the average speed is in Europe much higher, streets are smaller and turns are sharper. These big, comfortable cars are mostly not suitable for the small European roads, parking-garages and traffic. Last but not least has each car to proof itself one way or another on the Autobahn and this really is not the place for a 300C. With diesel-powered six-cylinder engines up to 380 hp German luxury sedans are using less fuel and are faster. Not to mention the resale-value is much higher. Over all: I really like American cars, if they were socially more accepted, same price as in the US and first and foremost less gasguzzling, I would consider buying one. But the needs and mentality is in Europe so different to the US, that its going to be quite plenty of work for a US-brand to get successful here. But with the new Cadillacs, they are doing babysteps in the right direction.
The engine size alone, is a major turn-off for most markets around the world due to the huge road tax incurred. Why is it the Americans still don't get it ? The car is nice until the cost factor is taken into account.
This car might do better in Europe with a diesel engine, of course a diesel version would be nice in the US too. Why are the Europeans always so concerned how a car performs on a test track? Real road testing is what actually counts.
Because 90% of our roads are as curved as a test track. If you haven't been here it is hard to explain how different the road networks are in the US to Europe.
The new car is nowhere near as striking as the old one. For years I've tried to get used to it and I just don't like it as much as I do the original. Hopefully, I can get my hands on the 2010 SRT Design model next year.
American cars are often considered crap by Europeans and that's largely because the two continents are vastly different. In the US you can, like Roman says, drive a thousand miles without turning the steering wheel. The roads are straight and wide and flat. In Europe the roads are narrow and winding and a large American car doesn't necessarily make sense. The US is about the same size as Europe but a lot flatter and with less than half the people. Speaking as a European that has lived across the pond I understand American cars and I also understand why many Europeans dislike them.
I own a 2013 300c 5.7L V8 Hemi, and I must say - It's got balls. But at the same time, it feels incredibly secure and solid, and very comfortable and classy. I've heard it described as a linebacker in a tuxedo. Precisely.
Haha I own the same car, and I must agree.
+Wrecked I'm looking at a 2014 base model AWD to replace my 2014 outback (few reasons for looking to replace it) Would you advise the 300 base with the 3.6 v6?
The 300 is definitely a regal car. You'll obviously lose out on some of the stuff with the base model but it's still a helluva car. The Pentistar V6 is a fine engine for it.
+Wrecked I just picked up a 2014 300c with the 3.6 v6 AWD, and LOVE the car.
great review roman. i totally agree with you. The 5th gear review was total crap on a plastic plate. To me, this car is a work of art from Detroit.
It's not that this car is bad, it's that Europe does not have a level playing field.
agreed. I live in Europe an we either have shit cars(being that they originate here, they are cheaper on parts) or we have very expensive nice cars. I like the 300's. They are amazing imo and when we do see them I like them alot.
I'm currently driving that specific model and it is a very nice car overall, its smooth, shifts nicely, the fuel mileage is no where near what a VW Jetta TDI can manage but at the same time, its not horrible either, especially for its size. It definitely has plenty of power but the traction control likes to step in uninvitedly at times which can be dissapointing. The one thing that I'm not entirely crazy about the car is the shifter. Although it's neat in how it shifts, it can be erritating when just wanting to shift into gear and go. I would definitely say that this can easily pass as an "old man's car". The car that comes to mind that would be similar is an older Jaguar . . .
Great review Roman. European car reviewers are just biased and even if it's the best car in the word if it's American, is automatically a bad car to them. I just don't take them seriously in that regard.
And that's why i love American cars big and comfortable and to top it all off a big v8 under the hood
This video is a great example of why I prefer car reviews from Roman and TFL.
I wouldn't use the English press as a yardstick for european taste. You might get a surprise if you watch some other sources available here on youtube. You'll get broken english or subtitles but still very much a motoring enthusiast review without a huge chip on the shoulder.
finally someone pointed that out. That is exactly why I like american cars, even being a European.
I'm from Spain (Europe) and my father-in-law bought a Chrysler 300C Diesel a few years ago because he and his wife like to travel in comfort sitting on two enormous and comfy leather seats. Here in Spain the looks of this big american car turns lots of heads, more than any other BMW that are more common around here. My father-in-law prior to this car owned a BMW 7 series E32 that had for almost 20 years. He said that the BMW was better in canyon roads, but this one is more comfortable and when he bought it, was really cheap (fully loaded for about 30k €). And also the 3.0L V6 diesel engine came directly from Mercedes Benz (when Chrysler and Mercedes were partners), it is pretty fuel efficient for a vehicle of that size & weight averages 30 MPG.
You got the point, in Europe this car is just too expensive and don't have the really needed handling capabilities for small mountain roads and high speed (over 80mph), sometimes really twisty, motorway / autoroutes / Autobahn / autostradas …
I'm from Britain , and I completely get this car. I had one on hire in April 2013 in Florida. I didn't want a clone of a UK/Euro car so no Chrysler 200, Buick or ford Fusion. I'm on holiday/vacation and would like to drive something I wouldn't consider back home. The 300 I drove was an amazing cruiser. I drove from Orlando to Clearwater then 2 stop overs to get to Naples. Across to Miami, another stop over. Then back to Kissimmee. I can't remember how economical it was, but as US petrol prices it was reasonable. So as you can see I totally agree with Roman and his opinion of the 300's mile eating capabilities
Half the vehicles here in America is a pickup or SUV. A small European car is dangerous. A ford F250 would run over a Fiat and keep on going. Like squashing a bug.
I hope Top Gear and Fifth Gear watch this and realize how stupid they are for saying the car isn't sporty enough.
I rented one of these out in AZ (canyon and LA road trips ensued). Surprisingly the rental had the 5.7L Hemi. I averaged about 22MPG, and it could barely muster 25MPG on the highway. That said, it weighs 2.5 tons, so with that much power that's not too bad. Highway cruising in this car is a dream, and it wasn't too terrible in the turns. I would never want one for my daily commute, but if I lived somewhere with open roads it would be perfect.
Well done. It should have been done with the hemi though. I got rid of the Mercedes for this, and once I reached the equivalent mileage, the chrysler became a more reliable, comfortable, and more efficient car. The benz would go in for an oil change, and come out with a host of minor corrections. The standing joke is BMW and Benz are 500$ oil changes, and my household lived it. You chrysler guys... Dont give it a second thought. German reliability is NOT what it was, and the only reliable car out of Europe is Volvo. These Chryslers are excellent, despite the German underpinnings. Keep driving these "Yank Tanks". Even Cadillac and Lincoln figured it out... We are getting our roomy luxury back!
American cars, truly an enjoyable experience no matter what the brand is.
Came for the title, stayed for the review.
So he's saying the same thing as European reviewers - it's only good for falling asleep while driving in a straight line, and using too much fuel in the process...
No! He's saying its a comfortable riding car built for the American interstates! To try and break it down a bit more. In America it relatively inexpensive for the amount of Luxury and comfort it has. He's saying it a comfortable ride for a long distance and gets good gas mileage. Especially for a big comfortable car. If what I've seen on TopGear is any real indication we tend to like bigger cars here in America than they to in England. I seen a show once where they were trying out a little hatch back and couldn't figure out why anybody would need so much room. To me they looked crammed and uncomfortable.
T Ritchie You say no, but then you agree with the two points I made: 1) "Built for the American Interstates" = Straight line snooze on cruise. 2) 19mpg city / 31mpg highway is NOT "good gas mileage". Hell, I beat that in a 15 year old BMW 7 Series!
So neither you, nor the reviewer are actually disagreeing with Top Gear etc on the facts, it's just that in America (where the car & its fuel are also cheaper to buy) no-one gives a shit.
As for the hatchback (which was probably the same price in the UK as the 300C sells for in America!), they were only excited compared to other tiny cars in its class. If it was a large luxury car, they'd be complaining of claustrophobia (and the "feel of the buttons & switches" ;-)
Wotsma Naym
*yawn*
Konformation07 You shouldn't type while driving
I don't think the European journalists are using the wrong yard stick as you've said. It's Fiat that set the price targeting to those E-segment cars. I don't know how much do BMW 5-series or Mercedes-Benz E-class in America with the same power output cost, but apparently in Europe with the same price and power output those cars are better in almost every way such as performance, fuel economy, drivability, refinement, desirability and other perception quality. I'm not gonna talk about the design as it depends on one's taste. My last word is this car in Europe is absolutely HOPELESS.
I do not know if it is hopeless. Cars like the Smart sell in the US and frankly just do not work well in most of the US outside of say SF and NYC. It is more of a matter of taste and I in this case pricing.
Nathan... this was probably the best Review you've ever done! not that your old ones were bad.. but this one was great! (Your review made my dad buy a 300c)
Can't agree with you more. I said the same thing at the end of this vid. The best vid done by Nathan..
I have 2 issues with the 5th Gear review:
1. At the intro to their "team test", they mentioned that the 300 (Emporia) is positioned as a 5-series competitor. WTF??!! The 300 is really more of a luxury/family car than lux/performance. Even the "SRT8" is a whole different ballgame than any "5". I have rented many different examples of the '13 300, including an "S" with HEMI, and i've been impressed every time with the car's comfort, solidity, and style.
2. One of the 5th Gear douche bags also said that the 300 no longer carried "German" underpinnings/suspension (obviously, he was referring to the Merc E-Class). I thought that the suspension setup on the latest 300 remained essentially unchanged from the previous gen. Wrong?
Basically, the 300 is a lovely car and the 5th Gear "team" can suck it!
Personally I like the 300C, but here in Britain it costs the same as a 5 series and so it is compared to one. We know it isn't really a competitor, but that doesn't matter because when we could have a 5 series, e-class, Jaguar XF for the same money why would we buy the 300C? If the dollar price was directly exchanged to pounds, this car would cost around £23,000 - about the same as a top of the line Ford Mondeo, Vauxhall Insignia etc and it would do much, much better in reviews. Sadly, we have import taxes and 20% purchase tax to go on top and various other levies and that isn't possible but once every ten years or so a US manufacturer thinks it's a good idea to have another crack at the UK market. You should stick to mainland Europe because every time a US manufacturer brings a car to the UK it ends up being priced (through no real fault of their own) above its station.
Very good arguments on both side of the Atlantic. But I still hate Sergio Marchionne for raping Lancia!
IMO, this car does not compete anymore with the 5 Series or E class. Years ago, when it was launched it did, but not nowadays. Now it competes with the Skoda Superb, and that car simply makes much more sense.
I watched & commented on that Fifth Gear vid & you nailed it on exactly what the 300C is all about...
He's absolutely right, regarding the cost point of view. In my country (Portugal), taxes are ridiculous, and when you buy a car you ad a car tax plus VAT (23%) to the base price, which gets this car on par pricewise with the germans...
I can understand the argument he is giving, however in Britain we review cars to how they are used in Britain such as you guys do in America. In Europe that car costs the same as a BMW 525d, which produces almost as much power, is faster and much more economical, as well as driving much better. And do think that a 300C 3 litre diesel is £36k/$60k, whereas in Britain, $36k buys a basic Audi A3 (just), or high spec Ford Focus. Also do remember in Britain we do use country roads (single track) and twisty A-Roads, and do tend to try and get from A-B as fast a possible on any road (if you drive a large executive saloon/sedan). I do however understand the reasoning for TFL and Roman's grievances to our reviews of this car. I may be slightly biased as my family has almost always had BMW's, Audi's and Mercedes', but for the UK, the 300C doesn't make any real sense.
Dude's trying so hard to like the car. But like most everyone else, he doesn't. Really.
Awesome and unique review Roman!
Great presentation. I have a 2007 300C Hemi which is still in pristine condition. I exported it to Finland where there is a lot of open space on the road unlike other parts of Europe. It truly is a pleasure to drive & I love the Americana aspect of it's design. You are so right that it is the quintessential American touring car designed for the open road.
Roman, you nailed it as much as I love the British motoring shows; they put American cars on unfair pedestals and call them "rubbish"! Chrysler clearly doesn't compete or even try to compete with BMW and Merc. Europeans consider their cars to be the holy grail of the auto world. While in some cases it may be true, but every car has a market it wants to cater to.
There is one thing - in Europe 300C does compete with BMW 5 series or Audi A6. It's as expensive as both of them. What they do with American cars is thet they compare it with European competitors and from European point of view.
Very good Roman! The Europeans are generally hard-nosed about American cars anyway. However, you say this car is meant for cruising down the interstate, which is a valid argument. But that begs the question: what was Chrysler thinking when they put an optional 6.4 Liter SRT engine in it? That engine is what makes me side with the Europeans.
Don't get me wrong, though, I'd love me a 3.6 V6 with an 8 speed or a 5.7 Hemi! 6.4 is simply ridiculous, though. Anyone else agree?
I have driven the 300 with the 6.4L Hemi. WOW its fast but its not punchy fast its more elegent. I would buy the 300 SRT. Its a cruser with power. Rememeber the American way is putting a big engine in everything.
Imported from Brampton Ontario not Detroit lol
From a price perspective (at least in Canada), the 300 would more closely compete with a 3 series, not a 5 series. And that's even using the Hemi vs. the 328i as references. (SRT version will land you about $10k less than the 335i)
Based on that alone, I think there's a very compelling argument for the 300 (in addition to everything what Roman had to say). Although, parts of Europe have excellent (and straight) highways.
I own a chrysler 300C and it has been the best car i have ever owned. I enjoy every minute of it. You made some great points Roman. Granted i do also have the 5.7L :)
That "interstate crusing" doesn't sound very exciting... it even seems kind of dangerous, because the driver may get sleepy.
With high emissions taxes and high fuel costs (we pay two separate taxes on our fuel in the UK) we just can't justify cars like this in the old country. The 300C is also priced out of the market it competes in when it's in America -- its inflated cost puts it against European and Japanese cars it was never designed to compete with. Plus, until recently, you have to admit the average overall quality of American cars was dire in comparison to overseas rivals. That legacy is what taints many British and European reviewers -- the cars that used to come over were the output of the Big Three when they were all basically not trying. Nowadays it's thankfully different -- Cadillac in particular are nailing it in matching or bettering their Germany rivals.
All that said, I still love TFL and Roman's reviews.
Excellent review!
the car is very comfortable going on a straight road, very quiet, the internal finish is ok, there is a very noticeable turbo lag and feel kind of sluggish when passing. and the car does not handle well turning at high speed
So its an old peoples car then???
there is no turbo? lol.
camshaft53149 In Europe it is only sold with the VM Motori 3.0 Diesel that does have a turbo.
Lexolo999 Thanks for the info, sorry I did not know. Wish we had more diesels here.
camshaft53149 And we get the AWD version as well :)
35000 pounds is 57333 dollars. How did they come up with that price? It's kinda ridiculous.
Also! My mopar hemi smokes many bmws in a traditional drag race!
Well here in the UK I just looked up the specs and all models of the 300C come with a 3.0 v6 turbo diesel with a 5 speed auto. base price starts at £36,000.00 or $59,119.90 the top of the range is £40,000.00 or $65,688.78 having this info you might see why top gear expect a lot more than the car delivers.
Not hating on american cars, I think they priced it completely out of the market.
The odd thing being that in the US, American cars are usually less expensive in every segment despite shipping fees. In all markets outside of the US, American cars cost a lot more than their intended competition.
Finally a great review for a wonderful car
Y'all should really do one with the V8 Hemi!
Of course price matters a lot. Once a car is burdened with trans-continental transport costs and import duties, very few cars make sence any more. Thats why VW build cars for the north american market in Mexico, while Toyota build cars for the European market in Europe. And so on and so on. If Fiat/Chrysler want to sell the 300C in Europe, they need to build it here. Otherwise its going to be irrelevant for our market. Thats just how it is. So in a sence Roman and the 5. gear team are both right.
It is all too true that European auto reviewers measure American cars to the wrong degree. This 300 with the 8-speed is gold for American interstates. Set the cruise to 75mph and enjoy 31mpg all day, especially on I-25 where this review took place.
Not wrong degree. They review it from European point of view, what Europeans like etc.
sic22l that is what I mean. The 300 is a great car, in America. In Europe it's an overpriced, gasoline-powered, heavy, Lancia.
Mark Russell In Europe it's mostly diesel powered but with the engine both slower and less economical than similarily priced BMW 530d.
Fifth Gear also reviewed the DIESEL version that isn't even available in the US.
Which gauntlet is this?
I think that you missed one thing. This car (300C) is overpriced in UK. It would be great car if it had smaller price.
Look at brands like Dacia or Skoda. They made cheap (Dacia) or reasonably priced (Skoda) cars. And that's why these cars sell very well in EU. When price is right people don't care about things like plastics or sporty handling.
I thought the "C" in the name meant that it had a Hemi V8?
Although I agree with Roman about this car being ideal for America with long "straight" roads I think he is missing the main point here when talking about European testers saying its crap and that point being that is is NOT a drivers car .. Here in the UK we might not have 1000 miles of straight Highway which to that point I can say "thank god for that" because I like most European drivers enjoy "driving" a car not just sitting in it ..If I want to sit somewhere comfortable like a sofa I will stay home and be as bored as I would on your 1000 mile highways .. if European drivers/testers are so wrong then why do so many testers look for the ultimate driving roads and that includes many, many American testers which are better known than Roman ( I don't mean that to sound demeaning in any way ) all head for the hills or to Europe to try out cars .. Drivers like cars that they can feel what they are doing in them ..old people and boring drivers enjoy wheeled sofa's to get from A to B. Lately I have heard Roman with a few comments knocking Europeans and I hope this is not a trend to come from him as I think he is better than that :)
Some people just want to get from point A to point B as fast as possible & a straight line is the way to get you to your destination the quickest way possible. All you pretend Jenson Button's in England speeding in your ridiculous traffic circles understand that a softer suspension is much better for long distance rides. Fifth Gear should have at least tested the SRT-8 300,maybe in the future...
Eff Dinero I fail to see what Jenson Button has to do with enjoying driving ? All I'm saying is Drivers who enjoy driving would not appreciate this type of car outside of the States because those types of road are mostly found in the States and nowhere else in the world so maybe that car is best kept there :)
First, it's the Chrysler 300C in UK only, (where Lancia became Chrysler) in other countries it's like in Italy the Lancia Thema.
As you said in Europe it is more expensive. starts at 44 500 € in France 61 143 U$ in today currency!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!. The Engies are the V6 petrol that you know, but it is almost only sol in Diesel with the 3.0L in 190hp or 239hp. So it goes against European Expensive cars that corners better. Don't forget it is buit on a old Mercedes platform. I would love to have one if a was in the US, but here impossible to parl, and old old shcool for the drinving exprerience.
You guys are the best keep it up!!!! I always forward your videos to my family and friends.
Americans CAN travel 1000 miles in a straight line, but how many of you actually do that? And If you put yourselves in our shoes, would you rather travel 1000 miles in a 300C or a 5 Series or E Class? Because all three are the same price in Euro Land.
Wait! So he criticizes the "lack" of back seat room, but he had the front seats pushed all the way back past the B-Pillars? Hmmmmmm...
Good review Roman, they weren't comparing apples to apples. In America 300 V6 also competes w New Chevy Impala, Hyundai Genesis, and Toyota Avalon. New 5 Series BMW's base price is $20,000 more than all these cars.
No, what it is is that European drivers want to be able to feel the road whilst driving, and have fun whilst driving. In the Uk that amount of mpg doesnt compare to any other cars in that price range. Even though in america it might seem to be cheep to fuel, in the uk its terribly expensive...
Roman, you nailed it on the head. I had previous watched the 5th gear review of the Chrysler 300C and left a comment basically making the same points you did. The 300 is definitely inferior in terms of quality and overall driving performance to an 8cyl BMW 5-series or MB E-class, but it's not try to complete with those cars. They're in a class above. Cadillac would be a more fitting comparison. I'd love to see 5th Gear compare a new Caddy to one of the European competitors such as a CTS to a BMW 3-series. I hear the Caddys are real driving machines now.
I think the fifth gear car had the diesel which they said wasn't smooth at all because the price of their test car is near the price of a 5 series and e class. Where as in america this is a class under those european rivals and much cheaper as well with the smoother pentastar engine
I'm trying to be open minded here, but essentially this video felt like 7 minutes of damage control. If you're wondering why your American cars often get harsh reviews by Europeans it's because we have a VERY high standard.
Our cars are more efficient, safer, stylish... You name it, now don't get me wrong I love American Muscle! But what the fuck is this? Who in their right mind is picking a 300C over a similar car from Mercedes, BMW, Audi, Volkswagen, Vauxhall or Ford? Especially over here in Europe?
At the end of the day, us Europeans love American Muscle and you Americans love European sports cars.
But still, there is snow and floods in the UK anyway, so dont try and start an argument which is impossible to loose.
Don,t forget the same car whit the pentastar engine cost here 53.700€.
What people also forgot about is the dumb repairs these Germany cars need that cost an arm and your first born.... The cost of repairing a Germany car vs American alone is why I will stick with a Cadillac ats over a 3 or something that ends in SRT.
In Europe it's a different story, maintenance of American cars is pretty expensive and they need a lot of repairs because they have terrible reliability ratings.
Ok Roman we understand that the Chrysler 300C does not compete with BMW and Audi in the US but in Europe it does on price. So thats unfortunately the competition. So the choice is obvious: BMW or Audi
Wow just watched the review from fifth gear when you said that. They destroyed this car, brutal!
Great review
I love mine but without a doubt, taking any curve over 25MPH and I feel like I'm gonna die. I drove a C-Class and I shockingly the 300 materials felt much higher in quality, but you will never match the driving experience of a German car.
I love this review. Stick it to 'em!
all I have to say is that this is the economical version of the 300, u wanna carve canyons and go fast in a sedan get the srt8 version simple
Where's Nathan man we miss him
Its not a car, its an appliance.
Actually, the only problem with American cars in Europe is the price. They all cost minimum 30% more than in USA.
They also are quoting European pricing. The 300C isn't priced anywhere nearly that high in the US.
You don’t drive a car to a wrong environment. These cars are not for racing in curvy race tracks, this car is designed as a highway cruiser for long road trips
"Horses for courses." A quarter horse would be out of its element in the Kentucky Derby just as those horses in the Derby would be unfit for the work the quarter horse does.
It really is a matter of scale. European drivers are used to a class system, social, economic etc. Americans refuse to bend a knee to anybody, anytime and will do and drive what they damned well please. Outside of city centers and suburban sprawl we have roads which cross counties in about the time it takes to cross many European countries. In truth we are big, think big, live big, drive big and do not like the idea of squeezing our large butts into a cars smaller than some of our golf carts. The best cars are those which identify whatever need they are meant to meet and use the best of any technology available, without regard to its origin, to achieve their goals.
how is this rewiew for european buyers? hes only saying why somebody from the us supposedly might like the car. at least the original 300c looked good. this doesnt.
Well done. I live in the EU for 6 years now and what needs to be said is that it is easier to change the car than it is to change the people's preferences. So take the 300C, give it V8 with the AWD, ramp up rumble to disturb the peace in the black forest and call it the eu model. The thing is that the fuddy-duddy of US is not the same as the one here. No, you don't need to double-clutch the eu model and don't forget that if the Euro reviewer doth protest too much it could be the 300C is too close for German comfort.
I think their good looking cars. I would like for them to boost the horse power up to 300. Seems it should match the name at least. It also looks comfortable to me.
To say the least, we Europeans sometimes get a little one-dimensional when thinking about cars. Thanks for pointing that out; really enjoyed your review.
P.S. this goes to Mr. Dorem: Please check the "list of mountain ranges" in Wikipedia. You're in for a big surprise
The V-6 is a total snooze-fest wheezer and the rear leg room is downright sad. But, it's a nice enough looking car for the money. I would spend a bit more and get a lot more though with another brand. The interior reminds me of my 2005 Buick Lucerne. Now that was a nice highway cruiser!
many europeans really like american cars. but the reason why there are so many critics is that they are way too expensive. for example, in france, a chrysler 300 cost about 62000dollars for a base model(190hp 3liter diesel). which is twice the price in the usa. on the other hand, europeans don t really need such a big car, they are happy in their econoboxes...
I try to avoid highway driving as much as i can , it's so boring, good thing that my ford has an option in the navigation where I can take the backroads :)
In Brazil it costs around 53.000 euros or 72.000 dollars. Thats less than what a BMW 328i or a Audi A5 costs here. When you compare to the 5-series or the A6 it sounds like a joke: the 300c is SO MUCH MORE value for money.
I mean... seriously. Volkswagen set the price of its CC here at nearly 90.000 dollars... are you SERIOUS, germans?! Your cars aren't made of GOLD.
My Dad bought one. The Hemi version. Which is a lie since the new engines are only around 60 percent hemispherical and not a true hemi. ... But... Anyway... I hated it. The power was great !! But the vision out of the car was very poor. It is like looking out of a pill box. When you have such poor vision it compromises safety big time !! . It may look cool, but if you are claustrophobic at all, you will not like being in this car. My mom also hated it. After 6 months on this brand new car, electrical things began to break. Car was traded in on a Mercedes S500 which was a better car safety wise and you could see and drive it well, but it spent as much time in the shop as the 300C. Eventually, it too was traded in for a Lexus RX350. The Lexus has never been in the shop yet.
The only thing that classifies a combustion engine to be "hemispherical" is that the head and piston at top dead center be a polyspherical design. There are other reasons they call it a hemi. Like the crank shafts are interchangeable to Hemis made 50 years ago. Also the Valve covers from the original released in 1953 will bolt right up. They carry Forged and Cast steel, using aluminum heads. This was a first for american production engines in the 1960's; lead by the 2nd generation Hemi. The research and development of the current engine started with the overview of the original and second gen, using the best aspects and fine tuning it, for a modern, more economical, less costly to produce Engine. To understand what makes a Chrysler Hemi a Hemi and not just a hemispherical engine, you must first understand the History of the Hemi.
Patrick Austin
Pat.. Do more Research. There is a Huge Difference between a Hemispherical chamber and a Hemi. Problem is this... , Originally Cryco Copyrighted the word Hemi and implies Hemispherical in the past but not the present. In that lies the problem. Axiomatic.
Just because Ford puts Mustang on their cars doesn't make it a horse. That is the essence that the designers wanted to capture, just like the Hemispherical design is one that Chrysler based their Hemi on. The fact of the matter is a truly hemispherical engine is not a very efficient way to make power, and it is better that they adopted some of the defining aspects of the design and engineered it their way. Never the less it is a great power plant, a bit more of a truck engine than a performance one, but I'm sure the new 6.2 Hellcat will change that. The new Hemi currently being designed is not going to share very much at all with the 5.7,6.1,6.4. Chrysler is setting out to completely reengineer it, again.
Mustang is a Name.. Hemi implies a type.
So, Roman basically agreed what uk shows said.
1. Lancia Thema in europe, besides Chrysler 300c; with v6 diesel costs about 50.000€ and more, or 68.700$. And for that kind of money ppl rather buy very good equiped audi a4 or something european. Cadillac, chrysler, chevrolet are not popular in europe. Ppl see those cars like kia or something less quality. Even lexus has problems, although it is luxury car.
2. Ppl in europe mostly buy cars bellow 35.000€ (like golf, passat, avensis and shit) or under 60.000€ (bmw, mb, audi..prestige).
I think the only European car reviewer that likes American cars is Richard Hammond
I can completely understand Roman's point but I think European press has been fair to its own standard this is it. I know Roman presented the 300C as the us luxurious cruiser for interstates but in Europe it's actually sold as an italian car. Obviously, everyone knows it's not. But still, we don't have the Chrysler/Dodge brand image behind that car, because it supposedly a Lancia. And here is the major issue. Lots of great american vehicles are sold in Europe and fit perfectly the markets (just look at all of the chevy cruze (SW, 5 door and sedan), you'll know what I mean), but seriously rebadged 300C and Sebring convertible? I truly think this is a mistake. This is going to do the same effect as with the new flavia convertible : you'll have a car that is too large to fit Europe, that only comes with automatic transmissions, with poor gas mileage and with a price beyond measure, because this is something most people don't realize but they put dollar-like prices on those car! While Chevys are for instance Worth their value in euros, and this makes them the cheaper fun cars on the market, because they are priced for Americans ;)
Owned a 2013 ,300c for a few months and its a rare sight in the UK , had a couple of minor issues but nowhere near as bad as the piece of junk 2015 Mercedes W212 E-class i just sold , the most unreliable car i have owned and an absolute money pit. The Chrysler is a stunning looking car and turns heads , the italian 3 ltr diesel returns 38mpg(town) to 44mpg (motorway) , and eats motorway miles up . If you purchased a BMW 5 series or merc E-class and ticked the options to bring it to the equivalent spec on the Chrysler , you would pay £20k more for the German cars , because the Chrysler is fully loaded unlike BMW & Mercedes , who will screw you on the factory options. So it doesnt corner as well as a German car , who gives a sh*t , its a 2 ton execitive car , if you want to do the Nurburgring by a Yamaha R1.
Don't get me wrong, I am a big fan of American cars especially the older stuff from the
late 60's - early 70's.. And, I love the look of the Chrysler 300, and the now out of
production Crossfire. You keep saying that the 300 is great in a straight line, this is
one of the main gripes here in Europe. The road testers keep saying that American
cars don't handle well around corners. Maybe if you can sort these issues out, the
car may well get better reviews. Oh, and the other thing people pick up on is the
quality of interior fittings, which they claim are not up to European standards.
In your face European guys Americans like power not speed we haul and work we don't need baby care that care only haul there own weight good review guys
If that looked like the classic 1960's and older I'd like it but its bad minor changed over time so they need to redesign it. If they made a special edition of the classics with everything the same then I'd be happy about the car but i wouldn't worry since I'm not a driver (yet).
Europeans have issues with American vehicles for a number of reasons ,bold styling brand recognition,size ,fuel economy and this includes minor things like the fact there all automatics.the British press has however been very unforgiving of U.S. automakers almost to the point of being snobbish.ford makes good European cars as it has an excellent European division that try’s to understand the market a little more ,the mustang and edge have been relatively successful I think.
Personally I love American cars maybe they can return as market disrupters with long range electric technology ,but for now I think there done.although not completely
There are some more "problems" with American Cars in general:
1. They are - as your already mentioned - usually quite expensive compared to their value.
2. They use overall too much gas - 12.3 combined liters per 100 km (23 mpg) is NOT sufficient for European Markets, since gas prices are much higher (Germany: 7,97 US-$ pg vs. USA: 3,05 US-$ pg premium).
3. They are (since because of taxes etc. being quite pricey compared to US-prices) not that much socially accepted: If you are successful, you buy German cars (maybe British => Jaguar, Land Rover/Range Rover). They just have a difficult image in Europe.
4. They are mostly too cheaply made. GM changes that with their new Cadillac-modellineup, which is great! But overall the cars still have some quality development to do.
5. The sedan-market is not as strong as in the US. Competitors like Hyundai, Toyota and Honda do not offer most of their North-American-cars in Europe - again, because the competition is too strong and for a practical car, most people buy stationwagons.
6. As you, Roman, already mentioned, there is a different lifestyle in Europe. But there are also big differences in driving, the average speed is in Europe much higher, streets are smaller and turns are sharper. These big, comfortable cars are mostly not suitable for the small European roads, parking-garages and traffic. Last but not least has each car to proof itself one way or another on the Autobahn and this really is not the place for a 300C. With diesel-powered six-cylinder engines up to 380 hp German luxury sedans are using less fuel and are faster. Not to mention the resale-value is much higher.
Over all: I really like American cars, if they were socially more accepted, same price as in the US and first and foremost less gasguzzling, I would consider buying one. But the needs and mentality is in Europe so different to the US, that its going to be quite plenty of work for a US-brand to get successful here. But with the new Cadillacs, they are doing babysteps in the right direction.
The engine size alone, is a major turn-off for most markets around the world due to the huge road tax incurred. Why is it the Americans still don't get it ? The car is nice until the cost factor is taken into account.
This car might do better in Europe with a diesel engine, of course a diesel version would be nice in the US too. Why are the Europeans always so concerned how a car performs on a test track? Real road testing is what actually counts.
Because 90% of our roads are as curved as a test track. If you haven't been here it is hard to explain how different the road networks are in the US to Europe.
I'm in Finland & they do sell a diesel version of the 300 which is ideal with such high gas prices.
The only Chryslers I would buy is the 300/charger and durango
The new car is nowhere near as striking as the old one. For years I've tried to get used to it and I just don't like it as much as I do the original. Hopefully, I can get my hands on the 2010 SRT Design model next year.