| Among the most discussed and highly praised | | | | Satin Jade Pearl (think |
| new vehicles on the | | | | |
| | | | charcoal gray) exterior and interior.At |
| road, the Chrysler 300 offers sedan fanciers | | | | night, the simply designed, stylish |
| sophistication, power and a | | | | instrument control faces are backlit |
| | | | |
| lot of luxury -- all packaged about as | | | | an attractive light green. Additionally, the |
| nicely as feasible. It's as if the | | | | dual-material steering wheel -- |
| | | | |
| heavy-duty tankers of yesteryear have been | | | | it's light tortoise shell with a |
| given a modern-day | | | | leather-covered bottom half -- all add up to |
| | | | |
| makeover.Gone is the sluggish, gas-guzzling | | | | give the driver and passengers a serene, |
| reputation of cruiser sedans. Instead, | | | | luxurious experience.The ride quality further |
| | | | complements the high praise, including a Best |
| the new Chrysler has gone upscale and | | | | |
| elegant as if the terms sleek | | | | |
| | | | Buy recommendation from Consumer Guide. My |
| and sturdy and dutiful and cruising family | | | | vehicle did have |
| sedan are no longer mutually | | | | |
| | | | increased wind rush at higher speeds. But |
| exclusive.My test drive for the week was the | | | | it's a small issue, particularly |
| 300C. It featured a 340-hp, 5.7-liter | | | | |
| | | | considering the vast standard and optional |
| Hemi V8 with a five-speed, automatic | | | | features.Among the standard features: Halogen |
| transmission. The combination is | | | | projector headlamps, fog lamps, |
| | | | |
| frighteningly powerful, which I | | | | heated front seats, tilted power steering |
| embarrassingly discovered on a few | | | | wheel with radio controls, tire |
| | | | |
| occasions.At one intersection after a city | | | | pressure monitoring system and |
| traffic, low-speed errand run, I stopped at | | | | rain-sensitive windshield wipers.More than a |
| | | | dozen option packages are available, with my |
| a stoplight. When the light changed, I | | | | test drive |
| barely touched the accelerator | | | | |
| | | | featuring the Sound Group II ($635). It |
| and off I jettisoned, tires screeching.On | | | | included AM/FM radio with |
| other occasion, I equally quickly bolted | | | | |
| through heavy traffic on the | | | | cassette with a six-CD changer, 368-watt |
| | | | amplifier and seven Boston |
| freeway. Chrysler claims the vehicle has the | | | | |
| 9.0-second results in the | | | | Acoustics speakers. The high-intensity |
| | | | headlamps and headlamp |
| standard 0-60 test, and there's little to | | | | |
| question the claim.The Chrysler 300 is | | | | washer added another $695, a rear-seat video |
| available in four options with my 300C model, | | | | system (untested) |
| | | | |
| | | | contributed another $695 and SIRIUS |
| second only to the SRT8 in standard and | | | | satellite radio with one-year of |
| optional features, size and | | | | |
| | | | service added another $195. With a |
| performance pedigree. With its 20-inch | | | | destination charge of $675, the |
| wheels and 6.1-liter engine, for | | | | |
| | | | 300C's total price is just under |
| example, the SRT8 boasts of a 0-60 mph in | | | | $37,000.That amount puts the Chrysler 300 |
| 5.0 seconds.The point: The Chrysler 300 -- | | | | into the mix with a good cross |
| whether the base, AWD Touring, 300C or | | | | |
| | | | selection of vehicles. For its combination |
| the flagship SRT8 model -- will get you to | | | | of power, comfort and style, it |
| where you want to go, and it | | | | |
| | | | would be hard to argue against it as a top |
| will do so with a quick bolt of speed and | | | | choice.2006 Chrysler 300: The Weekly |
| then quietly cruise down the | | | | DriverSafety features -- Dual front airbags |
| | | | (other airbags available)Fuel Mileage |
| freeway at ease.The Chrysler 300C will also | | | | (estimates)-- 17 mpg (city), 25 mpg |
| get you where want in extreme comfort. The | | | | (highway).Warranty -- Bumper to bumper, 3 |
| | | | years/36,000 miles; |
| front and back seats are spacious, and the | | | | |
| leather-trimmed seats are | | | | Powertrain, 7 years/70,000 miles; Corrosion, |
| | | | 5 years/100,000 miles; |
| handsomely coordinated with the | | | | |
| silver-colored instrumentation and | | | | Roadside assistance, 3 years/36,000 |
| | | | miles.Base price -- $33,325.James Raia is a |
| wood grain panel trim and console. In my | | | | freelance writer, author and publisher in |
| instance, the presentation was | | | | Sacramento, |
| | | | |
| further enhanced by a distinguished-looking | | | | Calif. |