Chrysler 300C - Monument to America
A decorative giraffe lives on one of the sites near Krakow. And there would be nothing special in it if it were not for 5 meters in height - and this already attracts attention. What does this have to do with this? Well, a black station wagon parked in front of my house this week. And it wouldn't be anything special if it wasn't over 5 meters long, didn't seem to be armored, and didn't look like a US monument.
Cars from abroad have always amazed me. I am impressed by the uncompromising nature of their creators. When they create a sports car, they get a flat flounder with an engine from a truck. When the minivan is to be built, the segment on wheels is on the way. If it's an SUV, it has a US wall map on its grille. So I wasn't shocked when I received the Chrysler 300C Touring for testing and found room in the trunk to move a small magazine, and there was enough room in the cabin even for a hypothetical two-meter burger eater with parameters of 200cm and 200kg. . This car is exactly what a station wagon designed abroad should be - powerful. You can eat a 3-course dinner on the armrests, the steering wheel would fit the handles on the steering wheel of a large ship, and when I drove this car along the tram tracks, the tram behind me did not drive me away with a call, as the driver was sure that there was a new one in front of him purchase of Krakow IPC.
The silhouette of the car means that no one can pass it indifferently. Of course, not everyone is satisfied with the shape of the body with brick aerodynamics, but the magnetism of its silhouette attracts the eyes of both opponents and supporters of this almost 2-ton machine. This is largely due to the fact that the wagon version can be classified as a rare exotic. Although it has been offered in salons for several years, it is not easy to find it on the road. What makes customers reluctant to take this model? Looks more intimidating than attractive? Price? How does this car take kilometers? I have a week to check and explain this riddle.
The 300C Touring is without a doubt a unique car. A huge chrome grille, large headlights, huge wheels with high-profile tires, a long hood that breaks into the car interior on the move and requires another 50 centimeters for braking. Everything about this car is huge: 5,015 meters long, 1,88 meters wide, the wheelbase exceeds 3 meters, and the trunk volume can be increased to more than 2 liters. Only the side windows are small, which, combined with their darkening, adds "armor" to the silhouette. This narrow strip of windows gives the impression that the roof is falling on the heads of passengers, but in fact this is not something to be afraid of - the effect of small side windows is achieved by raising the "waist" of the car, and inside the ceiling is high enough, even for large passengers. There will be plenty of space inside, each of the 4 seats will comfortably accommodate passengers of any size. There is also a fifth place, but because of the high and wide central tunnel, the place in the middle of the rear seat will be rather uncomfortable.
Already at the first contact with the car, its uncompromisingness is felt: everything in it works with thoughtful, systematic and at the same time decisive resistance. Handles can be taken with a full fist and pulled with full force - including from the inside. The door seems to weigh a hundred kilos, and it tends to open to its full width when you open it (watch out for nearby cars under the supermarket). Umbrellas are asked to be adjusted with both hands - so they resist. Even smaller components like window controls are decent pieces of plastic, just the right size. I won't mention the power steering, which seems to be non-existent when parking, although I got used to it over time (maybe the previously tested car had too much help?).
The interior could illustrate the encyclopedia's slogan "solid". It's the same with the word "luxury". This is clearly not the level of German competitors, but you will not regret it when the interior is filled with chrome, leather and wood. The watch is backlit with a bright green glow that does not strain your eyes. The central part of the console is decorated with an analog clock. The optional 7-speaker Boston Acoustics audio system with a 380-watt amplifier, 6-disc changer, hard drive, and USB input also makes a good impression (I like the Chrysler approach: classic is classic, but modern media should be). Chrysler, unfortunately, does not pay due attention to the selection of certain finishing materials - at least for cars produced for the Old World. The plastic shows the 300C's American origins, as does the clunky design, of which the airflow control panel is the best example - I know the classic and retro styling has been a big influence here, but those plastic knobs look...cheap. In addition, the analog control of the air conditioner makes it impossible to use the "mono" mode. Well, at least everything is simple and clear. However, it takes a while to get used to the placement of the cruise control - the switch was located too close to the turn signal knob and on the first day I was known to toggle the cruise control instead of turning on the turn signals. The turn signal stick is overloaded with functions, and under the right hand ... there is nothing. Thus, the right hand remains free and can be safely waved to the audience watching the car.
The on-board computer is located between the tachometer and speedometer and informs about the average fuel consumption, range on the tank and other important information for fans of statistics. However, if you are fed up with conveniences and gadgets, you can disable some features. Don't like how the mirrors dip a bit when shifting into reverse gear? Press OFF and the problem will disappear. Are you annoyed by the squeak of parking sensors? It's over. Does the seat leave when you get out? Enough of this! Automatic central locking at 24 km/h? Hang! And so on.
A few more words about parking sensors: it works up to 20 km / h, and its displays are located under the windshield and in the ceiling lining above the back of the rear seat. The place at the back is not accidental, because the display located in this place is visible in the mirror, so you can follow the view behind the glass and the colored LEDs.
The standard equipment of the car leaves nothing to be desired, but the discerning buyer can get much more by paying extra for the Walter P. Chrysler Signature Series package. It features a skylight, high-quality leather and wood trim, door sills, 18-inch wheels and LED lights. Then the promotional PLN 180 exceeds PLN 200. A lot of? Check how competitors demand a car with this equipment. On the other hand, competitors' machines do not depreciate as much as C after a few years.
It is also worth mentioning the method of hanging the tailgate. The hinges are set far from the edge of the roof so that the door can be opened even when the rear of the car is against the wall. A convenient solution is also the automatic opening of the central lock when the driver approaches the door, as a result, after a few days I forgot where I had the key. But I had to have it in one of my pockets, otherwise the engine start button wouldn't bring the three-litre V6 diesel to life.
218 hp engine and a torque of 510 Nm allows the car to accelerate to 8,6 km / h in 100 seconds. It is worth adding that we learn about acceleration only by the arrow of the speedometer. The mass and design of the car perfectly hide the real speed, and the engine shutdown is exemplary - the engine is not audible even at low temperatures immediately after starting. Disabling ESP on snow causes the rear wheels to spin almost instantly. Repeating the same on dry pavement is not a problem for this drive. The engine is economical: on the highway, fuel consumption fluctuated around 7,7 l / 100 km, in the city I managed to drop below 12 liters.
Riding 300C around the city requires getting used to the weight and dimensions of the car. Luckily, you can't complain about the turning radius and it only takes a minute to get used to it. I think that the stripe slalom does not match the image of this car, besides, the “rubber” steering wheel does not contribute to sharp maneuvers. Suspension comfort is sufficient, but this is more due to the dimensions and weight of the car than the suspension itself, which transfers bumps into the car's interior too easily. At the beginning of the test, I also had doubts about the brakes - not so much about their effectiveness, but about how they feel. Measuring the force applied to the brake rarely translated into actual braking rate, and I had to brake several times by leaning back in my seat to stop the car in time.
Alley Krakowska, Yankee, finally the last light and a long straight. I gripped the steering wheel tighter, pressed the gas pedal to the floor and ... nothing serious happened. After a while, the five-speed gearbox understood my intentions and reduced them, the tachometer needle jumped higher, the car began to noticeably accelerate, but not at a rocket pace. The car delivered much more interesting impressions when ... I released the gas pedal. Well, at that moment the car showed that it was used to swallowing kilometers along the highway and after acceleration it was better not to disturb it. On momentum, this car can go through polygames, and it does just that - in silence and with a feeling of smoothness and even inertia. Just right for routes!
The combination of the experience of automobile concerns in Germany and the United States has brought interesting and even controversial results. Based on the Mercedes E-Class (W211) platform, Chrysler combines an uncompromising American car design philosophy with technology from the oldest automaker. So it turns out an interesting mix: American and extravagant in image, technically German, almost profitable in price, average in terms of investment, slow in sports, too big for parking. Do I need to play something in this mix, because the 300C is such a rare guest on the roads? Or maybe it's Chrysler's plan, a recipe that ensures that only people who appreciate its best features and are ready to proudly sail along our winding roads, stand out from the numerous squadrons of German or Japanese-made ships, will sit overboard. wheel of this car.
Pros:
+ solid interior
+ attractive appearance
+ high build quality
+ great wilderness
+ powerful and economical diesel engine
Cons:
– the suspension does not isolate well from road irregularities
– price or drop in value may be lower
– problems with finding parking in the city
– the steering system is not very informative
