A/W: 2015 Chrysler 300

[kevm14]

http://autoweek.com/article/car-reviews ... dailydrive

I still think this is a nice looking car, though there are a few details that put it a little too far toward the rapper-mobile category. Which I guess is the sedan alternative to the Escalade. The CT6 will come soon enough. Not the same class of car as the 300, though, and will probably be Escalade money.

A/W makes it clear here:

That’s largely because, on a continent full of front-drive Chevy Impala, Ford Taurus and Toyota Avalon competition, the 300 and its Dodge Charger corporate stablemate remain unique among mainstream American sedans.

That's right, this is a competitor to those cars. And I'd probably choose it over all of those cars, at least if I had to drive it. But that's all BS. This size of car is dominated by the Chevy SS, at least if you value performance and driving enjoyment. Yes, even in a large car. That's like what I've stood for since I got into cars.

For other folks, I can understand why the 300 is so popular.

[kevm14]

This is not a bad looking car (300S).

[kevm14]

Chrysler says 300 owners have the broadest demographic spread among those buying any of its vehicles, based on age and income. That might explain a price span exceeding 50 percent from the least expensive 300 to the most expensive.

The current Chrysler 300 increased sales nearly 50 percent over its four-year run. Through its final year, it has expanded Chrysler’s share of the large sedan market 2.5 percent, as that market as a whole was flat. And in our estimation, the 2015 300 is substantially improved.

The Platinum interior is indeed premium--here the Baby Bentley thing might legitimately apply. The matte finish, open-grain wood is excellent, and liberally applied. The leather dash and console are good, and the quilted door panels, great. The C Platinum is definitely a class above standard, and maybe above anything in the class. The front seats are roomy, but not the most supportive. You’ll want to move and wiggle every so often to get the blood flowing and inhibit numb cheeks. All 300s are quiet and tight. It’s obvious they’ve been building this car for a while. Panels and seams match better than in any Chrysler product we’ve seen.

The 2015 Chrysler 300 can be a comfortable, stylish cruiser, a bit of a muscle car or a top-drawer old-guy car (that’s a sincere compliment). It’s versatile, in a fashion, and it can even be invigorating.

Do I want it?

If you want a rear-drive American sedan, the options are limited. The Chevy SS is an outstanding car, but it’s engineered to appeal to a fairly hard-core buyer, not particularly engaging to behold and priced to limit volume. It also originates in Australia. The Chrysler 300’s FCA stable mate, the Dodge Charger, is—well, it’s a Dodge. There’s no French-stitched, Poltrona Frau Faligno leather in a Dodge.

The Chrysler 300 is unique. In a market increasingly subdivided to satisfy every possible need, the machines themselves can actually get harder to differentiate. "Unique" is one of the highest compliments we can pay. Long live the 300.

Yeah this is as good as the 300 has been since 2005, for sure.

[kevm14]

C/D: http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/201 ... e-a-review

This is basically a straight up Impala competitor, but with RWD. I would argue that regular people don't care about RWD vs FWD which is why I don't really think GM would sell a lot of down market Chevy SS's if there was a V6 version. A more direct competitor, by architecture, would be the Hyundai Genesis.

[bill25]

The Impala will sell better in snow states. People (non-enthusiasts) are still terrified of even the thought of driving a RWD in the snow again.

I wish they made a RWD 8 cylinder Impala, or any 4 door sedan for than matter priced in the low 30s like the Camaro. I get that the SS is great and worth 45K, but that prices most people out. I don't understand how you can have a performance RWD coupe 8 cylinder for 33-34K, but can't make a sedan for the same price. In almost all car companies you pay more for the coupe.

Weird.

[kevm14]

Because if you want a sedan that is modestly priced, you want something practical. Which means you want FWD and whatever 250-300hp FWD sedans that are floating around are just fine for those folks.

But here's a Bill comment that I just had. How about a mid-$30k Chevy sedan that is mostly sport and not much luxury? And a little more expensive Buick that is more luxury than sport? Then Caddy does it all (for more money). If we talk in terms of real platforms, sure, I'd love to see essentially the resurrection of the B-body (call it a Caprice) that takes on the Charger, and a Buick (call it a Roadmaster) that takes on the 300. Both can use Alpha (would need to be stretched and decontented).

But I don't know if that would outsell their current offerings even if I'd personally like them better.

[bill25]

I think that makes a lot of sense.

Also, maybe since the SS is 45K, and pretty decked out it should have been a Buick? Maybe called it the GS instead of the SS.

If that was the case, they could have had a stripped version for the Chevy Brand that was 35K and called that the Caprice. And as stated, if the SS platform is phased out/replaced, go to Alpha?