[s-cars] S-car vs Chrysler 300 (not a race story)

[Dave Forgie]

Yesterday I had to make a trip by car that I would have normally flown
in the winter (400 km one way for a 2 hr meeting).  Since it was on a
mountain freeway,  I decided to spare my S4 the rock chips and
windshield dings from the gravel and rented a car instead.  I got a
Chrysler 300 - but not the hemi (that's a 300 C) -  but with the 250 hp
V6.

The car is very solid with a ride similar to my Eibach/Bilstein equipped
S4.  Wind noise at 130-140 kph (80 - 87 mph) was lower than my S4.  CD
system sound was okay but it obviously wasn't the premium sound system.
My Audi/Bose system is better.  The leather seats were very firm (car
only had 2300 km on it) and the seat controls were similar to ours.  I
got used to the low windshield quite quickly but hated the rear view
mirro (too small, rear window is too small too).  The S4 has better
visibility.

Engine was so-so.  With the 4 spd lock up auto trans it whispered along
in cruise mode.  Going up the mountain passes, it would eventually kick
out of 4th and go to 3rd and then you would really hear the engine.  If
you really got into the throttle, the engine noise was more like rods
knocking than a gusty V6 sound.  Several times I floored it in 4th to
accelerate and there was a massive "turbo lag", i.e. nothing happened
for a second or so - the it would kick down and go.  "Apparently" they
have a speed limiter on these babies at 185 kph (115 mph).  If
comparison to the limiter on the S-cars, it was very "soft", i.e. at 185
it just stopped accelerating no matter how much more I put my foot down
- yet there was no jerking or anything (not like "the wall" of our cars
at 208 kph - if you still have the speed limiter installed).

At an average speed of 115 kph (71 mph) over 368 km (228 miles) I got
25.5 miles per Imp gal. (21.3 miles per US gal).  So, its a bit of a gas
pig.  Not surprising since its shaped like a brick.  I wonder how much
worse the multi-displacement hemi could be fuel economy-wise could be.

Bottomline:  I would consider buying one (I've has lots of Chrysler
products starting with a 55 Dodge and ending with an 85 Dodge Diplomat
cop car) BUT, you know what?  My 12 year old 1993 S4 is overall still a
much better car in all regards, even at 176,000 km.  I think I'll keep
it.  ;>)

Dave F.