2016 Chrysler 300C Review Rental - The Best Money Car Can Rent - The greatness is not always universal. Being a great sprinter does no...
The greatness is not always universal. Being a great sprinter does not make a great marathon. In fact, with the size in one direction often make a fatal flaw in another. If you need proof of this, just pick the closest Greek tragedy and read.
The same can be said to be of rental cars. The qualities that make a car rental does not necessarily translate into a great driver daily. That said, after four days in Northern California, I am prepared to withdraw the Chevy Impala from its perch as the best car rental price can buy (or rent) you.
The 2016 Chrysler 300 C is the best car rental in the world.
I almost did not have the opportunity to find out. When I arrived at San Jose International late Wednesday night, the Emerald Aisle looked bleak. I walked up and down the almost empty garage several times, and had almost resigned myself to a Camry SE when I saw the Phantom clone turn the corner, freshly washed and ready to return to work. Ahhh, yes.
The black on black 300 was perfect for my mission weekend, much of what kept me to be with people who make more money in a week than physician makes in a year. The 300C looks, smells, feels, and - most importantly - readers as much money
My 300C RWD came configured as most of them are :. Almost all the features you ever want are standard on the C, including heated and ventilated seats, leather double roof hatch / sunroof, and Uconnect 8.4 touchscreen. The only option I wanted was unfortunately absent: the option for the 5.7-liter Hemi V8. However, the standard engine 292 horsepower Pentastar was more than enough, as you will soon learn.
I asked a lot of my standard FCA during the weekend, several features along the legendary Pacific Coast Highway with stops in Santa Cruz, Carmel, Monterey and Half Moon Bay. The 300 has shown much of jurisdiction here, offering a pillow-top driving quality to accompany the panoramic views. The interior is simply better than it has a right to be, especially considering the age of this platform. Seating is firm and supportive, with enough built setting to suit both my 5'9 "and 6'2 my brother" frames. Although RWD bump in the middle of the cabin reduces the usability of the back seat two adults and one child short legs, leg, shoulder, and head are fantastic. In fact, if you are lugging along a photographer in the back seat, there is more than enough for him / her to work, as seen here.
Now I know what you think; Bark, are you really doing 111 miles per hour on the 17 Mile Drive in Carmel while listening to "Time For Me To Fly" by REO Speedwagon?
The obvious answer is ... may be .
the real answer, unfortunately, is not .
I switched the speedometer in kilometers per hour because my father had reprimanded me for doing 67 on the PCH in another photo. my new dear sister-in-law was posted to the Facebook earlier in the day, so we thought we'd have a little fun with him
(Note to self: the idea of my father " fun "and mine differ radically)
Regardless, it was an opportunity to 300C to show he could really handle cornering power
Newsflash: it ... can not. In no way, shape or form.
In fact, pushing the car through corners all incredibly nervous that my older brother in the passenger seat, and not without reason. The same suspension that makes the 300C so fun to drive at highway speeds, it is somewhat more spirited driving treacherous. Any kind of surface change causes big Chrysler to rebound as the ass of Kim Kardashian in a video at home. The Pentastar has no problem pushing the weight of the 300C by apex, but the combination of lateral grip and the soft suspension makes the destabilizing bends.
This is the part where you have to decide, as a driver and owner of a car, what kind of driving experience you would like. Both sedans have today ridiculously suspensions "sport", with spring rates than the border of insanity. Sure, you get a more planted feel cornering, but you get the fillings of your teeth knocked out with each bump in the road the rest of the time. In a world where every car must be subject to some ridiculous tests of comparison style of shooting with drivers wearing devices HANS and three-point belts, it is no wonder that OEMs Saddle their medium sedans and large, with a suspension geometry more suitable for the track street.
I welcome the fact that the 300C is leaking these judgments, and lets just excel in driving style that most drivers will almost 100 percent of the time in such a car. If you want a large sedan, powered Pentastar with a sports suspension, I am convinced that the seller of your local dealer Chrysler / Dodge / Jeep / Ram / Fiat will direct you to the charger.
However, if you want a large American car driving actually like a big American car, well, my friends, the Chrysler 300 C is for you. It is the point that I could go in all kinds of figures and sales data and statistics and comparisons, but let me tell you a story instead.
I was suddenly forced, against my will, driving the 300C my room at Marriott Monterey Jack and Santa Cruz hotel Danger Girl, then return to San Francisco on Saturday night. (I was also forced to accept a free NY Strip Steak in downtown Bob in the Omni.) Every second I sit at the dinner table, despite being in good company (meaning my steak), I was dreading the two hour drive back. I was exhausted, and I knew how the reader would be downright dangerous in the dark with nothing less than my state of mind most alert.
My dear readers, let me tell you this. I do not have worried. The 300C is the easiest car in the world to drive. It requires no effort beyond the occasional flick of the wrist. The delicious pairs of automatic eight-speed transmission with the Pentastar to provide smooth, quiet road by car without stress - and an observed 32 miles per gallon, too
I arrived safely and securely my destination, delivered. the car to the valet, and slipped into the quiet sleep with a smile on my face.
The only minor drawback I had with the car was that drivers oncoming kept assuming I brights on. I flashed at least a dozen times a night, and not in a good way. I suspect that my rent, despite only having a thousand miles on the clock, may need some minor adjustment of the lighthouse.
would I thus driving the 300C every day? I do not know. I probably would not - at least not this version of it. I want the 5.7-liter V8, at least, and I'd wanted an SRT-8 trim with the 6.4-liter brute. But the good news? I can actually get the 5.7, and only about $ 3,000 more. This trim 300C rental can be done after incentives for less than $ 36,000, and the Hemi always gets you the door for less than $ 40,000.
Can you think of another car that makes you all this, and looks this good, for that kind of money? I can not either.
So for that reason alone, the 300C will be on my shopping list in February next year. And while I can not buy it, if I ever see on the line rental again, you can be damn sure I'll rent it.
[Images: Bark M. and Danger Girl]
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