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Is The Chrysler 300C More Than Just a Bargain Bin Bentley?
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 18 ต.ค. 2021
- In today's video I drive the Chrysler 300C. Allegedly just a reworked old E-Class, with some dubious interior trim - how did this car achieve worldwide fame despite hardly selling in some markets?
#Chrysler #300C
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A certified hood classic, and there is nothing wrong with that.
Anyone who puts Bentley badges on these needs a stern talking to, have seen it done.
I call these "a not Bentley"
Thankfully these are more likely to have the fridge magnet style ‘4D’ number plates than a Bentley badge nowadays (as seen here). Tragic either way though
I live near someone that has even put Bentley hubs on there's.
I'll see your stern talking-to and raise you an atomic wedgie.
I'd like to have a Bentley and put Chrysler badges on it......just for a laugh.
I love my 300c. Perfect balance between muscle and luxury.
Having had a few lifts in a friend’s Chrysler, and owning a Bentley Arnage, I can safely say there is no overlap whatsoever. The Bentley is like an aircraft carrier on wheels.
In a good way or a bad way?
@@richards9407 sometimes good sometimes bad, sometimes it’s fun piloting a giant, sometimes you want something more nimble. The Bentley exudes quality build though which I didn’t get from the Chrysler. Hope that helps!
@@interestedparty7428 it better for 7x times the price
@@paulj9821 you can pick up a nice Arnage now for £25k. Go on, you know it doesn’t make sense….
@@interestedparty7428 ok but I can pick up a 300c used for 4k, so again significantly cheaper. I personally, would never buy a used Bentley. The cost to replace parts isn't worth it for me. However to each his own.
There was a guy at my gym who used to boast about his Bentley but would never bring it in. He finally did and it was a 300c estate with Bentley wheels and badges all over the place. I honestly have never laughed so much. He asked me how I knew it wasn't a real Bentley. I simply told him "I don't have sh*t in my eyes" that said I do like the 300c when its not been pimped out.
Oh my god I saw one in Blackheath (London) and I nearly wet myself. The driver actually saw me bursting out laughing at him it was hideous and made my day
Wow. You either have to be really stupid and 100% delusional or have King Kong sized nuts to try and pull that off. I love the 300 but to try to pass as a Bentley? 🤣. And at a gym no less!! 🤣🤣! And for what? The 300 can stand on its own merits. Did he have Bentley badges as well?
@@staffy73 yes. Chrome mesh grill with Bentley badge. Badges on the side, tailgate and genuine Bentley wheels.
I'll take Things that Never Happened for $500, please Alex.
I got on the Interstate today in my 2007 300 Touring, and saw what I thought was a 300 with a Rolls grill. Turned out to be an actual Rolls.
I can't help but like the 300C; it may not be a very good car but they stand out from the dreary norm we usually see over here; it has imposing size and a prescence and 40 odd MPG on a run for a car that size is not too be sneezed at either.
JM, kudos for giving us a child - friendly channel for young petrol heads... Never lose your clean class that inspires even the very young... Cheers mate
*For anyone interested in buying one. I own two. A 07 CRD and 08 SRT design. Both 3.0 diesel, both bulletproof. Couple of things, bushings go as they’re so heavy. The actuator on the turbo goes, simple fix. Other than that, big, comfortable, cheap to run and very reliable box and engine. Gets looks everywhere it goes and is a real bruiser on the roads. Great torque and if you map it you can get 0-60 in under 6 seconds. A wonderful car, I’ll never sell either of mine. I’d highly recommend it, you won’t regret it. It’s a so-called baby Bentley, but it’s truly its own machine and identity.*
Bushings go because it's German junk front end design. Second generation the chrysler engineers fix that problem
@@Welcometofacsistube They go in most big cars.
all chrysler 300s have crap bushings no matter the year smae with most dodge vehicles
@@007therealjamesbondSo you have the earlier models; is it just me or do the later models resemble a Lexus saloon 🤔. I much prefer the bold US styling of the earlier models (despite any mechanical snags). Please clarify the 'bushings' wear; are we talking about the steering, suspension, wheel bearings or some other? Thanks in advance 👍.
@@SaxJockey Love the older style grilled. The modern grilled change is awful
Whenever I see one of these on the road I can't help but smile because I always thought they looked so cool
I always wanted a Chrysler 300
I own one and I'm 19 lol I bought my dads 2005 chrysler 300 c with the 5.7 v8 for $1000
Biggest piece of crap you could ever drive...go and see a mental health doctor if you buy one or want one
Chrysler Fiat engines are unreliable they're either blow a head gasket or have rod knocks.
I think it speaks volumes that the one person I know to have owned a 300C also owned an F150 Harley Davidson and then a Lincoln Navigator...
I had a 3.6 V6 250hp 300 Limited trim , one of the best cars i ever owned. contrary to the general belief, it was reliable AF! i put 120K on it (bought it at 40K on the clock) did some of the most amazing road trips NJ- Seattle and Ohio - Montreal to name a few in winter and summer both. no issues with it being RWD in snow. just all around an amazing car.
Even if it broke they r so cheap and easy to work on even a timing belt in the 3.5 v6 is simple to replace
I've the 300c loads of times for wedding . We had a s class merc and a xf and xj aswell. But they all ways wanted the 300c .and ill be honest the 300 c is the best I've driven out of the other cars the looks alone says it for me ive still got my 300c done just 295.000 miles still drives like a dream love it
Wow still running well at 295k. Is it the Diesel or one of the Petrol engines you have?
@@Tom.J.O 30 diesel serviced every 12000 miles 2006 model dark metallic blue
@@littlegazza1430 Same engine as mine. I haven't hit 40k miles yet so by those standards the car will probably outlive me.
@@Tom.J.O you look after her she will look after you lol I've just brought a second hand srt interia for mine
Finally, someone reviewing this! The fact Doug DeMuro (the American) hasn't reviewed this but has 7 videos on the same generation of Dodge Viper frustrates me. Thank you JayEmm!
Don't forget to check the newer model, having owned both a 2007 and a 2013 model, the newer one is night and day ahead of the original! The difference in refinement, quality, NVH, technology, design, features, and on road feel are beyond what you'd think possible between a generation of car.
Shame they were a little behind the competition by keeping this model around till 2011, but better late than never I suppose!
The first gen feel like sitting in a tub of plastic, which look cool from the outside but are really underspec'd even when compared to a 90's Mercedes, having great features such as.. heated seats!.. and that's all. This gen is no where near being a budget Bentley, it's the equivalent of a construction worker in a rented suit.
The later gen is roughly on par with a 2008 or so higher end Merc, Audi, BMW, Jaguar, etc when it comes to luxury features and what not; it's not an S Class per se, but does have heated and cooled seats, heated and cooled drink holders, heated steering wheel and exterior mirrors, rear motorized sunshade, ambient lighting, etc.
Doug's a sell out. When he got into high end exotics only I got bored
@@w.e.s. Doug finally did a 300 review in 2023 because the model was ending. It was a terrible review. He was obviously trying to find something bad to say about it, and came up with not being able to find the heated seat controls (extremely obvious to find), and the doors opening 'too wide' and being difficult to shut - despite the doors having the usual 'notch' halfway point if you don't want to open them all the way. There's a lot of badge snobbery surrounding the 300, and Doug's review was very biased in that direction.
The black version is basically the perfect mobster car.
there was a great article from when this was released (possibly in Top Gear magazine) that described this as Tony Soprano in car form
On the way to the Bada bing
History of Violence, Ed Harris was being chaffered in one and he was a bad ass gangster.
I daily one these in the uk and am 23 and I love it don't care what people think about it just like like driving something a bit different to your typical bmw or vw golf.
Not a big fan of 300C. But I make special exception for 300C SRT8, especially the second-gen with the 6.4-litre V8. Heard one with decat exhaust, that thing made an Aventador sounds asthmatic.
Tis why one sits in my garage
I had a charger srt8 in Nevada when lived there .. was quite a good car. Pretty much the same thing
@@Welcometofacsistube Jealousy activated.... lol... I'd love to have one
Instead its actually one of the worst cars of 2022 lol engine and sound isn't everything kids :)
Great Car 5.7 is good stuff
Interesting how they seemed to call the car the 300C over there. Here in the U.S., it was just the 300 and the C was the top trim level with the 5.7L HEMI. Then of course they introduced the SRT-8 with the 6.1L as the top dog over the C. I always liked these cars and I think the styling has aged well over the years. The 2011 redesign really took them to the next level IMO, especially the interior.
Technically the 6.1s are also a 300C, but everyone just calls them SRTs...
They did call it the hemi c over hear
I appreciate a man that cuts his own hair
Thanks 👍, I cut my own hair as well.
@@Robotron5000Deluxe Same. #3 all over with some scissors around the edges and I'm done.
LOL
This is uncanny. I've been looking at these in the classifieds. For that Tony Soprano vibe. I love the look of these. And you can update the multimedia to get android auto
Yes Android auto was only bit of tech I needed for mine. They're exceptionally well equipped for 10-15 year old cars
This is what I’ve been saying . It’s almost scary , whatever I’m looking at in the classifieds that week James drops a video on it
I was looking at getting one for quite some time, but coming from Lexus interior quality I just couldn't downgrade that much. Any chrysler/jeep of this age has awful interior quality.
I wouldn’t buy one. They are junk
And I'm about to do the same although the ls400 or 430 would be a better car for the same money
Around ten years ago I hired one of these in its Lancia Thema guise and with the 3,6 l petrol engine. I took it from Munich to Innsbruck and back and can't say its performance left anything to be desired. Not shatteringly fast, but it maintained 200 quite happily.
Im that’s because it was a 3.6 😂 car is 4000lbs you need at least 5.7 and trust me it’s fun to drive and fast enough. If not then go for the SRT
@@prettyboiikicks3755 what is "lbs"? Nobody understands that.
@@1258-Eckhart pounds
@@1258-Eckhart a stupid weight measurement.
200 mph???
In black with a sprinkling of StarTech options it looked well. But the build quality quickly fell down under one wolf puff.
Here in the US this car makes sense. It's big enough to command its space on the highway and has the relaxed handling the superslab works with. If anything, I'm rather surprised it sold in Europe given its size to any degree. Much less that people there seem to appreciate, if not applaud it.
I own Chrysler 300C 3.0 CRD for about 15 years is a reliable vehicle . The 5.7 Hemi engine is the most suitable and get good gas mileage combined. Good companion for long distances trip . I definitively buy a new 300C . Overall speaking the 300C is great vehicle.
You had to give Chrysler credit back then for making their cars look so explicitly American, whereas GM's and Fords American saloons generally looked more Japanese-inspired. The outcome of that thought was arguably not always great (PT cruiser), but with the 300C I think it worked particularly well. They definitely displayed some pride about their identity and when you think about it, that's also what characterizes the greatest American classics. Only mistakes with regard to the 300C: to keep it in production for far too long and try to sell it as a Lancia thema in Europe. That was FCA's "contribution" to its story ...
Many people actually like the 300C in Europe or at least here in Finland. I thought it was very strange to sell the newer 300C as Chrysler in the UK but as Lancia in Europe. Lancia is far less known brand and everyone could see it was a 300C. However now all the 300 lovers would be put off by the fact it had a strange Italian brand. They never sold the Lancia version here. Hardly any were imported as used. Meanwhile several newer body style 300s were imported from the US. Just shows that there was still demand for the car and people were willing to get it even after import taxes and with a gas engine. I’m sure they would have sold many if they had sold the newer body style here with a diesel.
Personally, I'm glad the 300 has been kept in production "far too long." With the 5.7L V-8, it is the pinnacle of American gas-powered cars. And since all the effort nowadays seems to be going toward electric vehicles, I suspect gas-powered cars will never get any better than this. It ain't broke. It doesn't need fixing. It's a car that would be very difficult to improve. It just needs to remain in production until electrics become practical for long-distance driving.
@@eriksmith6873 yep, I agree! Proud owner of a 5.7 V8 2020 C. Old school but cool
I own a 2012 300 SRT8, with the 6.4 L gas engine. The transmission is a Mercedes designed unit, the 5 speed W5A580 (called NAG1 when built by for Chrysler) through about 2014 for the V8 and I think also the CRD diesel. The current transmission is an 8 speed ZF designed unit. These are great vehicles, particularly the SRTs.
The srt8 magnums are going UP in value. I have seen some around 30k to 35k
Owning a Chrysler over the long haul is like signing up for long term torture. The corner cutting is substantial and durability can be poor. The chassis is indeed made from the 1997+ warmed over Benz parts and designs. Chrysler made a big deal of that. Overall these are more like "inspired by" than a "bargain bin" version. The deal with cars like this is that they will be pretty satisfying for a while but the weaknesses will emerge before too long and God help you when things start to go wrong. (A 2004 Concorde Limited which was a very appealing near luxury car when new, had 3 camshaft position sensors fail by 70,000 miles, leaving me stranded twice of an evening and the dealer tried to say it wasn't covered by the powertrain warranty because it was not a lubricated part - corporate had to sort that out for them and I did end up getting reimbursed by the head office.) Once they start to get a little age you find them in the hands of people who care more about putting nice wheels on a car than maintenance and you might feel well at home in the less savory parts of a big city. My family had Chryslers for years and they always left one a little disappointed. If you want to see a real barge, find a mid 80s Fifth Avenue to drive in the US. You could be forgiven for thinking they forgot to connect the steering rack fully. But here's something funny about Concorde Limited. The first time I parked next to a CLS 500, I was shocked. Yep, the front end of the CLS was cribbed from Chrysler (hood, headlights, etc.) although the rear was definitely more of an "inspired by" job (like Mercedes finished what Detroit started). In a lot of ways, that is what Chrysler became by the 70s and 80s - inspired by luxury with some 70s flash. It was near premium in many ways but always missed the quality benchmark set by Cadillac, Olds, or Buick. Historically Chrysler made some beautiful cars, however. I always wanted them to deliver what they promised. My mother even had the Plymouth Reliant K. At one point both my parents had 1985 sedans - New Yorker with its cool voice alerts, blue velour, and digital dash, and the Fifth Avenue with wire wheel covers, pillowy red leather, and floaty ride quality. Given how important Chrysler was to the US automotive industry, I always wanted them to make a successful reboot. Now the old Chrysler group really endures because of the importance of the Dodge/Ram product and Jeep, which really was not a Chrysler product at its origin anyway. But if you ever get to see an old Cordoba, you may just find yourself asking, "What IS Corinthian leather, anyway?"
This is really interesting 👍
I remember reading that the starting point for the chassis was the Renault-derived architecture which Chrysler inherited when they bought AMC, like they moved the engine backwards to make it work with RWD. But I don't think it had double wishbones, so maybe that's where Merc entered the picture.
Being in a country that is not the US i had no idea what a Chrysler Fifth Avenue was until reading this. So I googled searched it, and wow, it is big, hideously ugly and completely stupid and I want one! BTW I always thought the 300c was based on the Merc W210 chassis, and if it is anywhere near as shit as the W210 was I would stay well away.
Owning any vehicle is a long term torture....Seems like your generalizing a whole brand based off a concorde.
Quite a story you wrote. However, Chrysler 300C isn’t a bad car in reality. Especially with the Mercedes diesel engine it’s really a bullet proof car. Hemi is reliable too but I have seen several 300C diesels with over one million kilometers. I’m sure they have had to change a lot suspension parts as it was their weakest link. Still who cares? Chrysler suspension parts are ridiculously cheap. This also applies to other Chrysler parts. They’re also quite repair friendly cars too.
What ever you say about the car it is a fantastic car and you can put so many miles on it and it keeps going on and on 👌💯👍
Great name 🥛🐓
Bought my Chrysler 300crd Estate new in 2010 when heavily discounted, cheaper than a basic Ford Focus.
I had a performance chip upgrade increasing power by 30%+ and quicker than a lot of BMW, Audi etc.
Mpg 18-22 local 38+ on a run.
Maintenance main service usually £250-300 as holds a lot of oil and includes mot test.
Flew thru mot's until last year needing a T. R. End.
Covered just under 20k in that time replacing set of tyre's and an alternator due to fuel leak into the bearing which was stopped from happening again with chrysler mod £25.00.
Drives very well still and always gets looks. Only complaint is drivers seat cushion cover in leather cracks, replacement by chrysler £600+ just for base cover but replacement available from usa for £130 plus import taxes.
Check insurance before buying as in group 40 some as high as 45 depending on insurer £350 for 3000mls per annum modified or £5-650 std for 40yr old.
Common faults when buying is suspension as rubber dries out as they age, approx £250 for complete front set of wishbones and tcarms etc. Alternator failure replacements approx from £120, turbo seal replacement kit £30+ labour.
Not an expensive car to use and can be self maintained with simple tools.
Great car for little money, just buy right.
I have two of the 2005s, I modified everything under the hood myself on the 5.7 hemi and it is a reliable car that has taken me across America more than five times. I am a tall heavy guy and this car has taken the abuse and is still running hard.
try putting the booster box around300c 220 bhp to 260bhp on the CRD 300c ok, no 5.7 hemi, but it will snap on the rear end of the hemi for sure.
Having owned a few american cars including Pontiac, Lincoln and a Chrysler 300c with the Hemi engine.
All bought from the sadly now closed Bauer Millet Manchester.
The 300c gave a taste on a Bentley styled car at a sensible price.
Even with the Hemi engine performace was brisk but it was no Mustang V8
The estate body had huge carrying capacity, and as James said, the Black paint
looked good, but way too prone to stone chips.
The build quality was very good, with no rattles, to drive it felt big, and was not at
home on twisty back roads, on the motorway, it was a good long distance cruiser.
Weak spot was the suspension, which always seemed to need work at MOT time.
If you get a chance to try one, i think it will change your mind about USA cars.
do yall people in the uk think Americans in the US can't drive because we drive automatic
@@quanbrooklynkid7776 no I drive automatics by preference the UK has been very slow to adapt to them
@@quanbrooklynkid7776We have been fed the bull that autos are less fuel efficient, less sporty, less versatile. After 40 years driving I finally bought an auto, and wish I had bought one decades ago!
The estate version of this is one of the best looking estate cars in my opinion.
One part of me thinks it's a crime to turn the 300C saloon into an estate, the other part agrees with you; the estate version looks great, and the rear space is terrific.
I have the estate version in dark blue and I don't see the saloon (or the estate obviously) as even close to a Bentley of any age. I love the car for exactly what it is. A big, comfy, lazy cruiser on the cheap. Mine has had the usual turbo actuator and swirl flap motor issues but both were easily and cheaply rectified. (Don't bother with the bypass wire, just clean the swirl flap motor plug with switch cleaner and compressed air.) Nothing else looks like the 300C. Love them or hate them they're a great left field choice.
Be thankful you don’t have Chrysler dealers in the UK. They’d make your favourite McLaren dealership look respectable.
There is nothing skeevier han a Chrysler dealership. And yes, I'm including Jeep and Dodge in that mix. Never again.
As someone who grew up in the back of a Chrysler Voyager, I know all too well the woes of reliability and how often the thing was getting fixed
My mom threatened to Ram (tee hee) her car their showroom windows one time.
We were lucky here in Australia as we got both the 5.7 and 6.1 litre engines, the 6.1 was very similar to HSV Clubsport in performance and was the only saving grace to it's woeful build quality.
Another great review. Nice one James.
V8 Commodore shits on this 😎
..shh , you'll upset Greta Thunberg
And the 6.4 HWP version.
They do hyperspace
You obviously never owned one. Unless they were screwed together in Australia?
I don’t know why but I always had a soft spot for these 90s and 00s American barges. It’s like Snickers chocolate bars. You know they are bad but you still like them anyway.
When Holden shut down here in Australia, the cops were worried that they were gonna struggle to find the meth dealers, without the hotted up commodores driving around low socio economic areas... They need not have feared, a second or third hand 300C is always a safe bet.
LOL, here in Hamilton, NZ the lower tier gang members drive first gen 300Cs. If you see a second gen SRT-8 you know you're looking at someone higher up the ranks - either way give them plenty of space on the road. The really senior members drive Range Rovers and Audis of course, so its hard to tell them apart from the real-estate agents.
@@Beer_Dad1975 The smart ones are driving a Camry.
Can recall watching a video on a drug smuggler, he'd work in a team. There'd be a bait car with an obnoxious driver and flashy car, a spotter vehicle and the product would be in the smuggler's car, a white Camry that follows every road rule imaginable. He'd also be wearing chinos, a polo top and would be clean shaven with a fresh haircut.
@@deanchur Hah! Sounds way to smart for the local thugs - they just want to look the part.
I've seen bread gang videos on here, they aren't catching drug dealers in Oz.
Chrysler is abandoning Australia as soon as they can get rid of the last 40 cars in stock.
I hired one in Montreal, I think it had a 2.7 V6 that we didn’t get in Europe.
It seemed enormous and drove very nicely. The dashboard electronics were spectacularly awful. Apart from that I liked it.
Salutations de Montréal, then. My friend in Kingston (Ontario) has one of these but that's the closest I've ever been to one. I've turned down all offers for a ride but we remain friends.
@@acchaladka Thanks man. A great city. I loved it; the best of French- and English-speaking Canada all in one friendly place. That was my impression anyway. I’d love to return some day.
2.7 V6 was actually available in Europe but that must have depended in which country you were in. Not enough engine for the car but sounds good.
There's one of these for sale for about £3000 down the road from me.
It's been there a while!
If you want the 5.7 look at importing from Ontario gas prices shot up and everyone is trying to get rid of them 3k or less CAD
@thunder prince That’s funny because here in Finland Chrysler 300C holds its value quite well. It’s one of those rare American cars with a diesel engine which means you can easily daily drive them even if you drive a lot. I have seen few of them with over one million kilometers. Some other Chrysler models may be a bit hard to sell especially in low spec. 300C is an exception.
When it comes to American cars. Here in the nordics there’s a significant niche market for American cars. They far more common here than in Central Europe or UK. I guess we just like them more and that snob attitude isn’t our style.
@Dean Unknown They’re slowly killing the 300. Therefore I’m not surprised that you’re not giving it a better grade. I wish they would do same treatment for 300 as they have done for Ram 1500 or Grand Cherokee. Those interiors are amazing.
@@mikojarvinen6273 wow
I had a Chrysler Crossfire drop head. 3.2 V6 Merc engine and running gear. Very underrated car.
Build quality out of Austria is much better than the USA, as we found with our Chrysler Voyager many years ago
I was hoping to see Jay do my car one day. I'm happy now :)
My car too, had mine over 2 years now and still love every minute of owning it
The mis-spaced, Fisher Price number plate shouts 'bell-end'.
Very much true
American cars didn't do well in Australia as well, because the build quality is atrocious. Comparing one of these things to a Bentley is a bit of a stretch!
No one compares them to Bentley's apart from uninitiated passers by who think they look like one and idiotic people who badge them as Bentleys
as my grandma used to say, 'damned with faint praise'.
There are not that many v8 powered RWD 4 door sedans here in the US any more, although that used to be the most popular, along with another fav of mine, the 2 door hardtop.
I like them. I drive a twin, the Charger R/T with the 5.7 v8 and it's great. yea the Mopar's cheaped out on the interiors...they always did forever, but it kept the price down and all the mechanics made up for it cause they were always more of a performer than the competition.
Yeah we visited family over there in the US a couple of years back & I was quite disappointed to see that the cars were mostly Japanese or Korean. With the occasional pick up truck to make up for the lack of V8 soundtrack.
So I live outside the Metro-Detroit area where these things live and die. The amount of clapped-out 300s and Chargers (mostly the V6) here is insane. Seeing a 300C in such nice condition is a rare occurrence for me lmao
Edit:”Shoulda had a V8.” -Ice Cube
It's not a V8 it's a V6 diesel
@@joshjack6127 My mistake! I saw the thumbnail and title with “300C” while at work. The only models in the US with that front fascia, trim, lights and badging are the 300C V8 (a diesel option was never offered). The standard V6 over here had cheaper squared-off headlights, a blander front bumper, cheaper (or no) trim and smaller wheels that were either chintzy chrome or hubcaps.
My friends spouse was an American and when I told him my opinion of 300C he laughed. Here in Finland Chrysler 300C is a somewhat respected car at least among American car lover (there’s a significant niche market). Nothing like it exists in the market. It’s a big tradition American car that’s rwd and you can have it with a sensible diesel engine. The demand is actually so high that I think they’re quite over priced. I would rather get a Cadillac for less money. He shocked me when he said that it’s a ghetto car in the states and treated like garbage. Yet here I have seen the diesel models with over one million kilometers still running and driving fine. People are willing to take care of them because they love them.
@@mikojarvinen6273 same in Aus. Broke ass wannabe and or bogan are the only things coming to mind anytime I see one.
Not that I actually think that about the person, judging someone based in their car alone is nonsense, but I still can't help it lol.
@@Hhh-j8o 300 has more demand on the market than german premium cars similar to its size. Despite higher price tags when new they still bring less money used than the 300. Although that’s probably because 300 is actually an affordable car to own. Parts are very cheap and that doesn’t apply to german cars.
Hmmm the same way the crossfire ‘draws inspiration’ from the SLK 😂
completely different. Chrysler have never claimed that the crossfire is anything other than a reshelled SLK. The 300 is certainly not a reshelled E Class
I love it how he compares the Chrysler with my present car.
Just what I needed.
you're also driving a v6. the v6's are underpowered and mostly nothing but issues. once you get the v8, you'll have a shit ton more fun with the 5.7 since it's the engine that is shared with all of their r/t trims
It’s a diesel V6, he was right at the end. I avoid American cars with a V6. But the V6 in my dad’s F150 was the most durable thing ever.
I honestly didn't know these had any connection to rap and hip-hop culture. I think more of Bentleys, and if you're old-school, Mercs (or if you're even more old school, a '64 Impala I guess).
If you're going SRT8, the Charger looks more aggressive.
It’s more connected to the southern US rap culture. It’s very regionalized according to sound and style
@@slimdiddyd Thanks, David.
Snoop Dogg is a fan which I’m sure did something.
My neighbour had a 300c when I had a Monaro VXR. We bonded over V8s.
Outside of that I don’t know anything about them!
Once you start finding out more about them it goes downhill
i own one, a 2008, the reason why bought one, is i like mopar, also it's about as close as you'll get to a modern day valiant in my opinion, as they discontinued the valiant in the early 80s, i also own a 1968 chrysler valiant, im in New Zealand, the 68 is a V8, the 08 is diesel, wouldn't mind getting my hands a station wagon V8 300, the 08 is my daily drive, 7.5 litres a 100, its actually cheaper than most cars on the road, i find the seating very comfortable, i set it low, bogan style, i like your honest review, you know if you want luxury buy a Bentley, a Chrysler 300c just doesn't cut mustard, it's classic American muscle made for cruising and straight roads, although the 300c can handle corners well, stick to the speed limit of course, ive driven big cars all my life, i know what too expect from a car like the Chrysler 300c it's like driving old school muscle,
These were good cars especially with the Hemi great power and decent fuel economy and not as expensive as a Mercedes, BMW or Audi to own. But I don't get it why they changed the suspension to more "European" on these for the EU market...
They thought on turning the suspension more "Asian" for the EU but then someone reminded them it would be better if the car was more "European" in the EU because for some strange reason, people in the EU tend to like more "European" style things.
I know it is weird but that happens a lot on the EU, people like European style things....go figure, eh?
Always been a fan of these, and the estate version is top of my list if I ever need a hauler...
But you can get a tidy af Jaguar X350 for the same money and that just tickles my fancy a bit more, not to mention how thorough the maintenance & support network is for Jag!
Always liked the design of these, it was always unique. Nice video. Keep up the good work.
I own an 05 hemi 300c. First thing I did was remove the stupid Bentley grille and put the proper o.e one back on. Delete the rear resonators which gives its the perfect sound. its a fantastic car. Cheap to maintain and a hoot to drive.
Speaking as an American who was old enough to remember the big giant cars back in the day; this reminds me of them. Big on the outside, small on the inside. Doesn't handle well. Crappy interior.
Yes as a Brit ,i prefer American cars , they stand out and look cool and offer great value for money, if you want Euro car same spec etc you pay much more. I have a 95 Trand Am, the interior not grear and cheap but it turns heads and sounds great and more exciting to look at than any new overpriced M BMW. Its all about smiles for miles for a more than a few dollars less
You've clearly never sat in one. The interior is absolutely massive, I've never heard anyone ever say they're anything less than cavernous apart from you and JayEmm.
@@gmain1977 As a Finn I can agree with you. American cars just have that something that makes you feel good. They also outperform euro cars in surprising events. For example based on my experience V6 American cars even with something like 3.8 get better fuel economy than many smaller euro cars with 2.5 V6. This is despite the fact euro cars typically have lower official consumption figures. My biggest disappointment is my current Audi A6 with 2.0 20v engine that is not even a V6. It gets around the same fuel economy as Chrysler 3.3 V6 and GM 3.1 v6 got better fuel economy. This is despite the fact my Audi has a much more efficient multitronic transmission.
I'm an American, too, and I have to object. I agree that steering was a weak point on American cars prior to the introduction of rack and pinion steering in the mid-1970s. On classic Detroit iron, you didn't steer, you aimed. But the steering on the 300 is totally up to modern standards, as is everything else. I should know. On my driveway I have a 1963 Pontiac Catalina and a 2011 300C. The video features a first-generation 300, but the second-generation (2011 and up) has a totally redesigned interior that makes better use of interior space. It's a giant by comparison with most sedans sold today, but in the '60s the 300 would have been designated as a "mid-size" car.
As an American I can say with complete confidence that the 300 made no impact on the US rap scene. Very confused by that statement. My guess is the English rap scene made a icon of it there, and for that reason the assumption was they were emulating the American rappers? Not sure. No, rather the rap scene here was all about European cars, Bentleys, Rolls and the Italian exotics. The only real American made car who achieved iconic status in the hip hop culture was the Escalade. And of course any big late sixties, early seventies land yacht GM car.
yep like the Regal from Buick and of course Cadillac
I did my longest drive in one of these - Orlando to Miami to Key West and back (800 miles) in 2009.
It was okay but didn't do anything special, except fit in well in Miami 🤣
Thanks for the video 👍
was it relatively comfortable?
Sadly North America never got the diesel option nor the station wagon. I owned a ‘06 AWD with the Hemi and put 320,000 km on it. Spectacular highway car.
Then bought a second edition 2013 and put 380,000 on it. Even better in every respect especially the interior.
I thought the "c" package gave the car a V8 hemi. I own a 300c fully loaded with the 5.7 and love it. I've never ever seen a "c" with a v6.
It's a shame this isn't the V8 version, I'm actually surprised that this one has a turbo diesel six in it since we don't have those here in the states, though we do have the 3.5 L gasoline version which has 250 horsepower. I have the 5.7 hemi and it's whole different experience for the 300, it makes any deficiencies the car may have worth it, and I hope you get the chance to drive one, and contrary to what Jeremy Clarkson stated on his review several years ago, you can in fact disengage traction control fully whenever you please. All in all, a very nice car for the money, a lot of fun with a V8.
Totally agreed. Evaluating the car on the basis of a wimpy 200 hp engine is just plain wrong.
That wimpy diesel gets it to 60 a whole 2 secs faster than the more powerful 3.5. Torque is what matters for acceleration, not power.
@@boltar2003 I don't recall ever calling it a "wimpy diesel", your reply is irrelevant to my comment. In any case, these are personal points of view, not an argument.
@@bleesal I wasn't replying to you. You might want to try reading the thread first next time.
I’m loving that you’ve tested this!! Not because I want or even like them, but because my mum’s fella has just bought one off a mate of his. It has Bentley badges on it 🙄 and when asked what it was, he said it was a Daimler 🤦🏾♂️. As you can imagine, he’s not too well versed on cars (his previous car was an X-Type). My wife has asked a few times “Is that a Bentley?” Only for me to respond “Nope, just some idiot sticking Bentley badges on an American car that looks slightly like one”. She’s somewhat confused as to why someone would do that 😂
Great video as always though. Keep em coming 👍🏾
I call them "Not Bentley's"
I am also confused as to why somebody would do something like that
@@kevinbarry71 when I see it, I think back to being a 17 year old looking to impress all my friends and whoever looked in my direction. A pale blue mk2 Fiesta 1.1 doesn’t inspire onlookers so I planned to obtain some pepper pot alloys and fog lamps from the breakers to make my car look a little more like an XR2. I feel this what those people are trying to do.
Thing is... just... what's the point?? Everyone in the UK who doesn't know much about cars thinks it's a Bentley anyway. Then the people who do know what it is will just laugh at you. So who are the Bentley badges even aimed at??
Why would anyone post a video with a previous generation car and represent it as the current one? Starting 2012 these cars became very luxurious inside and have an 8-speed transmission.
Bit of a throwback to Rover P5 pethaps but still a good looking motor, especially as a touring
If only...
I have the SRT8, best car I have ever owned. And with an upgraded Android Auto/Apple Car Play Stereo, I have everything I need (except fuel efficiency 😔)
I nearly bought one a few years ago because they do look so cool, especially the SRT. I always wondered what real world mpg is like though....
@@johnj3577 real world mpg, or km/l here in Canada is about 15 to 18 kilometers per liter usually. Pretty bad lol. But I really haven't had any issues with the car and it's an 06 with 200,000km on it. Sucks to drive in winter though.
@@aknoledge 15 kilometres per litre is 35mpg. I'd be happy with that! Do you mean 15 litres per 100km? That's a more believable 15.7mpg.
@@AlexRoebuck yeah that's what I meant. It ranges between 15 and 18.
Love the 300c. Someone had an SRT8 on my street a long time ago and was in absolute awe of it 😅
I had one of these in a dark blue/grey colour with plenty of chrome and lots of upgrades that I did myself. I also originally had 18 inch wheels, then bought 20 inch wheels from SRT model and after that put on beautiful 22 inch wheels. You would expect ride quality to be poor with these massive wheels but it was actually better than with 18 inch ones unless you drive trough a big pothole. On the dash you can access the secret menu where you can time your 0-60 run and I did it in 6.8 seconds before the car was modified. Pretty respectable torque for a big car like that. I loved this car but I found it very unreliable with all suspension bushes wearing out in less than a year, constant problems with a boost sensor leaking manifolds, etc and eventually I had enough of this money pit and bought an old and reliable golf instead
I wonder how many 300c tourings (wagon/estates) are registered in the UK. I know they were sold in other parts of Europe so one probably made it in.
They sold the estate in the UK anyway!
It was sort of in the USA too but just branded as a Dodge Magnum
@@Tom.J.O yep!! As an American I see these fairly often
There are sixty 300cs on eBay UK at the time of posting, and a third of them are estates (including two Hemi V8s!)
My neighbour has a black one. Beautiful car.
Always liked the exterior styling of those (still do) & went to view a 4 year old 5.7 V8 one at a Chrysler dealer about 10 years ago. The low rent interior & the chrome on the bumpers already starting to corrode put me off. Bought a slightly older Merc W211 E500 instead. The later face-lifted 300C just didn't do it for me at all.
The 300C SRT8 is one of the best cars I've ever owned. Parts are cheap considering the performance it offers, which means you don't have to be so scared of something breaking...and can abuse without fearing a 4 figure repair bills.
Might get a 4 figure fuel bill instead though 😎
@@johnj3577 If you live in Europe, yes it will be a 4 figure bill everytyime you fill up.
Exactly right. I'm on my second 300C (which in the US means a 5.7L engine). Reliability has been terrific, and when something does go, it's cheap to repair. It astounds me that so few people see a problem in the hideous maintenance issues endemic to the high-end European performance cars. In the U.S., domestic manufacturers had problems like these in the 1970s and the early 1980s, and it caused many to say "I'm not buying American again." So why is it that people are so forgiving when the same sorts of issues plague BMW, Mercedes, Audi, Jaguar, Land Rover and others?
@@eriksmith6873 I'm from the EU. My mechanic said: "My birthday is coming, buy yourself a BMW". We had one, bought used. Junk of a junk of junk of a car. Always something wrong. He now works in MB dealership and he says they are just the same shit as BMW. EU cars are WAAAAAAAAAAY overrated. My customer from the US said his wife wanted Mini, by BMW. After one year she's cured, having had the car repaired SIX times. There is a problem buying the US car here, because the price almost doubles. German lobbying, so they can sell their overpriced junk here.
When that generation 300C first dropped, it was an instant hit. And yes it was always compared to a Bentley. In fact, I remember someone remarking that it was assembled at the same place as the Bentley. I highly doubt that claim. Regardless, it's nice to see that Chrysler had the resources to have it sold in Europe. Excellent review, sir.✌🏻🇺🇸
Haha, no chance. Bentley hand build all their cars in one factory in the UK. The 300c uses old Merc parts underneath, from when Merc was making rubbish in the early 00s.
Mine (5.7lt ) has a panel afixed stating construction was done at Magna Steyr in Austria (where Jeep etc were also built)THink the confusion comes from that badge saying Daimler.
Apparently the SLK & Chrysler crossfire are closely related
I heard that aswell
More so than the 300 is to an E-class. They are substantially better vehicles than the 300 because they are more mechanically Benz.
Closely related as in.. the same car?
I love my 06 300c 5.7 AWD, it's a blast to drive and can be used year round, especially with maine winter's. I just woolwax it heavy and send it. One of my all time favorite cars along with the 87-93 foxbodys
Performance just adequate ...? This is of a course an opinion to be taken with a lot of salt: if you own a Maserati and a Ferrari amongst others, about 85% of all cars are bound to be 'just adequate'. It is therefore a totally useless fact. I've owned a C300 CRD for more than 2 years now, and I find it really brisk, powerful and simply astounding when overtaking. It reaches 100km/h in 7.3 seconds (tested several times) and goes from 80 to 120 km/h in just over 3.5 seconds. And cruising on the motorway (I don not live far from Germany) at 200 km/h is a doddle! (It goes up to 230 km/h). I wonder what a person who daily drives a Fiesta would have said about performance ...
It is because I have experienced all types and speed of car that I *can* comment.
Somebody who has only driven a basic Fiesta would have no concept of fast so their opinion would not be particularly helpful.
Plus, if you describe this as "astounding", what adjectives are left for cars which actually are quick?
@@JayEmmOnCars I know, and I get that, but it does need to be put in some kind of context, I feel.
And my mentioning the Fiesta was to restate my point: that driver would equally have been the 'wrong' person to correctly judge the 300C's performance.
Your point about 'astounding' is absolutely correct, but to most people daily driving their cars, this would actually be the 'correct' adjective to use.
Anyway, love your vids, and love my 300C ;)
I've recently bought one of these - always wanted one ever since they came out and I'm the same age as JM so was probably just leaving school when they first came out and it was featured on Top Gear. 'This is what the Sopranos would use...as a company car!' Mine is the typical gangster spec - a black saloon with heavily tinted windows but I'd like to be clear it is original. No big silly wheels and not a fake Bentley badge in sight. Personally I like driving it - 3.0CRD quick enough and it's very comfortable. Yes it's a bit boaty but if you want to corner at 120mph flat then buy a BMW. Difficult to do much better for the money to be fair and I decided to snap up a decent one while there were still some around.
Im thinking of buying one, how has yours held up?
Es-ca-lahd...LOL😇 "Gettin' PAID & LAID drivin' an Esca"laid"😎
These were failry common in Germany back during the Daimler-Chrysler days. They look imposing but not as much as an S-Class or a Bentley Arnage does. I wouldn't get the Diesel though, this car needs a bit more horses.
The car is much more impressive with the 340 hp 5.7L V-8. We didn't get the 200 hp diesel in the U.S., but I did take a test drive in a 2.7L V-6 model and found it to be seriously underpowered. The 5.7L motor makes a night-and-day difference.
Don't be put off by the low horsepower the diesel makes as much torque as the v8 and it makes it much lower it feels plenty powerful enough for daily driving.
@@mrkiplingman bang a booster box on the 220bhp version, big help for 60 pound,s and you then have 255 to 260 BHP..🤪
I just wish we got this version here in the US. Thank you.
had a few of these now, last one only paying 2k for and cant fault them, beautiful to drive and will just keep going
I've driven a slightly newer 300 as a rental car. I have to say, I never expected to see one on JayEmm on Cars. As an American, I almost always find American cars unappealing thanks to their cheap interiors, but the 300 was not bad at all, at least for a rental. The rental car was a Touring, to which you alluded in the video, so it had leather and heated seats, even in the rear. It was a relatively okay car to drive - surprisingly well-tuned, if a bit lazy. The engine was a 3.6-liter gas V-6, however, which I found to be perfectly quick enough in that 4000-pound boat of a car. Honestly, not my favorite car, but it was the kind of rental car you want - roomy and not bargain-basement level of plastics or equipment. As far as owning one... meh.
Despite the fact it’s a barge the MB parts supply, the price and Magna build make it a really individual choice. Used as intended, it’s probably a good daily classic in diesel form.
How funny it is to be a small European manual transmission car loving American and watching a European car show touting the benefits of this big American car. Kudos on another excellent video James! It helped me take close look at a car often in traffic every day that never, ever appealed to me. Still doesn't, but a fun and educational video to watch none the less. Cheers all from Charlotte, NC
Even funnier is that I seem to be a complete opposite of you. I lover large American cars and I dislike driving a manual. Nice soft suspension is my cup of tea. Makes driving so relaxing and I live in Europe.
@@mikojarvinen6273 You would love the car selection here in the US. Most cars on lots are big. Cheers
@@justinmaccreery2490 I love the fact you can actually get large cars for a reasonable price. In Europe larger cars almost always tend to be so called premium cars. American cars also tend to be very well equipped.
Thanks for your comment Justin. The only bit of Charlotte I have seen is the Motor Speedway!
I love my 300c Touring awd hemi. I tuned it a little bit to roundabout 400HP. 18 years old and absolutely in a good shape. The only Problem was... I had to REPLACE every single Merc Part. From the 4-matic to the transmission BEFORE tuning. German "Ingenieurskunst" at its best they say...😂
I've seen one or two around, and they seem to have a presence; it certainly created some interest from a resident of Sudbury, which must be the acid test, considering the amount of car exotica they witness on a weekly basis.
It was dire. Anyone in motor trade selling these knew !!! That dash trim woeful. The oily bits weren’t strong. Engine aside. Gearbox was from Merc if remember. Or maybe not. . These were very very curious back in the day they came out.
5spds had NAG1 trans you’re right!
You clearly know jack shit about them then 😂
@@joshjack6127 never did. Never Will. We don’t look into vehicles that aren’t for us. They weren’t the best. By a long Long way. Mechanically
@@zzhughesd You admit you know nothing about them yet you still feel in a position to claim they're "dire". What a shit company you must run 😂
@@joshjack6127 LOVELY !!! Dire is the word. Unreliable ( so they'd come back after sales , no trader wants this ); dashboards resembled plastics from a decade earlier. Not bad looking thing but with a grill to mimic / look like a faux Bentley. Not for many a trader to collect margin on. Estate or Hemi version was better. Money better in other stock. Thanks for your lovely comments. Tho
As an American, I feel compelled to say, I'm sorry we sullied you roads with these complete shite boxes.
Mabey it's a little bit of payback for not letting us in on the fun of the RS Cosworth.
It weird that they don’t sell certain cars here. Our roads can accommodate anything and we will buy absolutely anything.
It’s a modern version of a Rover 3.5 Coup’e!
Tell me I’m wrong!
Compare the two models side by side!
Even the Rover 3500 has it in its DNA!
Said this for years!
The P6’s Predesessor!!! 💪👍
Yup it’s got the Rover P5 / P5B Coupe written all over it ✔️
Always loved the styling of these! Very stately and yes gangster ish lol. I’d love a black one with tints and giant chrome wheels. In a similar way to my blacked out V8 Lexus GS430
Jay do you read minds? Just yesterday I was looking at the 300C out of random curiosity.
Go with the 5.7 hemi 300c if you find one
I owned a full Startech'd up CRD in black, followed by an SRT8 when I lived in the UK, both great cars. Several cars on and also now living in Australia, I own a 2019 300 SRT (you can still buy them here), and my current SRT is a million miles away from the old 2007 model I owned. The interior is now pretty high spec, the dash, upper door panels are all leather, plenty of real carbon fibre and the oh so sweet 6.4L V8 mated to the 8 speed ZF gearbox, plus it has adaptive cruise, lane keeping, AEB etc. In comparison to other marques, still cheap to buy, mine was $77k (£41K), and as supply has almost dried up, after 2 years, it's still worth that now. Nice content BTW, really like your style and clarity.
I just bought one for my chauffeur business. I love the styling very unique. But the main reason these sold well in Europe is the Mercedes 3 litre diesel v6 and merc 5 speed transmission. I would not buy 300 post Daimler era. Heaps of junk. But these are perfect for my business and look fantastic.
What mpg does the 3ltr v6 diesel get thinking of getting 1 do 60miles a day for work
Buddy the Daimler era was much worse than when FIAT bought Chrysler. FIAT actually improved the brand unlike Daimler who just stole the 12 billion from them to fund their Mercedes line.
It's one of those cars I have always liked for being different. Such a shame driving one makes you look like a poor rapper...
I call these a "Not Bentley". Frequently advertised as "with Bentley grille" it is for frustrated people who cannot or will not run to a Bentley.
I walked by one last week and saw it said Bentley and was pretty confused, no idea it was badged as that.
@@TheShinyShow Me too first time I saw one. Even the Chrysler badge looks like the Bentley flying wings..
@@BibtheBoulder The winged Chrysler badge has been around since the 1920s, it owes absolutely nothing to Bentley whatsoever. And people who try to make them look like Bentley's are utter morons!
@@joshjack6127 yeah, the company was founded in 1924. And Chrysler used a completely different badge altogether, more akin to the Rolls Royce emblem until the late 40s. The winged badge didn't appear until the 50s.
Bentley's already had that emblem in 1919.
It’s still on sale here in the US but it’s been abandoned by Chrysler. When it was new it had a bold sinister look, now it’s stale and crusty. Such a shame
@paul Just like your brain
I used to work with a guy who had one, over a decade ago. . . He would rave about the windshield washer nozzles. "Very good nozzles," he'd say. "They have a nice, wide spray. Cleans the windshield very well. . . Everything else sucks, though."
I was under the impression the 300C styling was based on the Rover P5.
it was
Awful car. Was taxied in one on a 2 hour journey. I thought it was crap, mainly from the point of view that as a passenger the interior was so cheap.
The interior is from when the car launched back in 2005.
Black cars are a nightmare to keep clean as you say but at some stage before I bought my current car (black SLK) it was ceramic coated and that keeps it way cleaner than previous black and dark blue cars I have owned. There used to be so many 300Cs around and at a glance they definitely had a Bentley look (the huge grille catches the eye). I wasn't a fan at the time but can see more appeal now (definitely something I prefer to all the SUVs these days).
I worked for Daimler Chrysler UK at the time and the information given to us was it is fully based around the w210 E class chassis
Bentley will be getting repaired while the 300 will be riding. America cars are reliable. On a side note those Bentleys sure are purdy while there costing thousands and thousands of dollars getting repaired but that interior is high quality...
Hahaha good one
Funny guy. Designed to fail after 50K miles.
@@texlad04 Bentley? Those cars depreciation value is crazy.. American cars outlast British cars it's no secret. America's won't buy unreliable cars. Chevrolet is way better than Mopar products I wouldn't but a 300
They mostly get beat to hell because of the price and type of people that buy them 🙄...... but they still get past 200k km.
@@samright4661 if you had owned a series of Chrysler group products you might not call them reliable. The cars are full of cheap parts designed to fail at 50K miles. The engineering is outdated on the sedans. The 200 was an abject failure and the 300 is ancient. The Dodge offerings are fast but ancient with cheap parts. Perhaps comparing to a Bentley is not the right comparison. But is Vauxhaul not better than a Chrysler? I am pretty sure it is. As usual sweeping generalizations are not very helpful. That said, it's worth noting that an impressive percentage of Rolls are still on the road. Good luck finding a 1977 Chrysler that's not serving as a place for weeds to grow in a field. If you want to buy a 300, by all means do so. My friend's 300C burnt a lot of oil, so do check that before you buy.