Serendipity

THE FIRST TIME I SAW HER, I thought she was homely. Her rear end was big; her nose was square. She looked beefy to an eye that appreciates sleek. She looked good in black—but so do most. I figured it was all about disguising what wasn’t appealing.

But over time, she grew on me. She did have personality. She was popular—I saw her out on the town often. San Diegans thought she was stunning, so maybe I was missing something.

“She” isn’t a future in-law or my competition for best dressed. “She” is the 2006 Chrysler 300 sedan. (Don’t ask me why we assign boats, motorcycles and cars the female gender, but I consider it a compliment.)

Compared to a baby Bentley from strictly a style standpoint, the 300 has a distinctive presence. It’s square like a box—in an elegant way. It doesn’t look aerodynamic but “dignified.” It took me two years to warm up to it. Now I can finally say I think the 300 looks cool. Like enjoying hip-hop music or wearing glitter shirts to work, it took some time to embrace the style. Today, I like the boxy design, the dominating grill, the big trunk lid and high window frames. Having finally fallen into infatuation, I’m ready to drive one.

Highway 78 from Ramona to Escondido is a winding road conducive to sports-car driving. But I’m on it in the 300C for exactly that reason. This is a real test of handling dynamics, and where I get to be surprised. The rear-wheel drive sedan takes all the twists and turns in stride with minimal body roll or understeer. It’s a joy to drive. The Electronic Stability Program and Traction Control System do an admirable job of keeping the Hemi-powered 300C stable and agile. The handling is competent enough for me to steer with one finger through tight turns at 50 mph and not tumble out of my seat. A five-speed automatic transmission makes undetectable shifts during hard acceleration. All this is powered by a formidable Hemi engine.

A hefty 5.7-liter V-8 with 340 horsepower, the Hemi pushes the 300C from zero to 60 in 6.3 seconds. That, while utilizing a Multiple Displacement System that turns off fuel consumption in four of the eight cylinders when not needed—increasing fuel economy by as much as 20 percent. Hemi V-8 power with decent fuel economy sounds too good to be true.

Wanting a true test of the system, I’m off to Phoenix on I-10. Chrysler claims the Hemi will achieve 25 miles per gallon on the highway. To Phoenix and back, I average 23.1 mpg. Not quite what they claim, but the cruise control is set at 75 miles per hour—faster than most highway speeds. Not bad for a thirsty V-8 pushing a luxury sedan—if you choose the V-8, and if you opt for the luxury.

There are three rear-wheel models: the Chrysler 300, 300 Touring and Hemi-powered 300C. The 300 Touring and 300C are also available with all-wheel. A Chrysler 300 or 300 Touring comes standard with a 2.7-liter V-6 and a four-speed automatic transmission. You can upgrade either one with a Limited package that increases the engine to a 3.5-liter V-6 and five-speed transmission.

The 5.7 Hemi is standard with the 300C, but the lineup tops out with the 300C SRT8 Performance model. It has a monster 6.1-liter Hemi V-8 and 425 horsepower. This is the car that harks back to the racing roots of the original 300, first built in 1955. The profile on this 300 features 20-inch forged aluminum wheels, high-performance F1 tires, Brembo brakes, sport seats with suede inserts, adjustable pedals and racing-inspired interior trim.

For the buyer who wants a 300, there are multiple choices that move the manufacturer’s suggested retail price from $24,200 for the base 300 to $42,695 for the high-performance SRT8. A great value is the model I’ve enjoyed for a week—the 300C priced at about $34,000. Pluses? Horsepower. Handling. Cool styling and a beautifully designed classic interior with dual climate control and heated seats. Minuses? High window frames that make visibility difficult. A big blind spot at the right rear pillar and some oversteer. A glance at the striking instrument cluster on the freeway and you’re hitting the rumble strip.

Still, on a scale of 1 to 10, I’d say the 300 is an 8. So put your sparkle shirt on under your suit jacket, pop a 50 Cent CD in the player, and let the 300 surprise you.

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