I am not the greatest passenger in a car. Maybe that comes from years of my dad swinging his arm back to swat me and my siblings as well as years of being the designated driver for my often-drunk friends.
I much prefer to be in the front behind the wheel, and this is especially true when the vehicle is one where people turn their heads to get abetter look at it.
I felt this way this week when I got to drive the new 2010 Chrysler 300C with a nice big Hemi V8 under the hood.
The first time I drove a 300C a few years ago everyone stopped and stared at it, and parking at Costco for a few minutes drew a number of people to gawk at the new ride.
The appearance of the 300C is one of bigness and brashness, but classy and refined at the same time.
The chopped windows add to this big look, almost hiding the driver, but it does seem like a big car with tons of interior room for both front- and back-seat passengers.
Driving the 300C you feel richer than you may be, posher than you may be and more powerful than you may be. But that is the whole idea of the vehicle.
The size, the look, the Hemi V8 power and the luxurious interior are supposed to make you feel all these things and more, and it works.
This is certainly one car where I need t be driving. I don't want to be in the back, spacious enough as it is, I want to feel the power of the Hemi under my lead foot, and when you drive a car like this, especially in black with silver trim, the only person onlookers will be checking out is the driver.
Inside the 300C everything looks great. The fit and finish is very nice, as it should be for a car of this class. The dials on the dash are finished in a nice white with thin black numbers and the clock in front and centre in the dash. There are touches of silver on the interior as well, on the shifter, console and cupholders.
As the driver I got a power heated seat with several memory settings, and a power pedal means that I never actually have to put my foot down. All I have to do to go is push the power button and as the pedal rises from the floor the car goes forward.
The Hemi V8 power is like soup for the soul, music to the ears and the kaching of cash in your wallet.
This is because at low speeds and load the engine shuts off four of the cylinders making for better gas mileage. However, as soon as you hit the gas, or push the power adjustable pedal button the other four cylinders kicks in immediately. And kick they do. With 360 horsepower under the hood you get going seriously fast, seriously quickly.
The 300C handles nicely and the sheer size of the vehicle really sucks up the bumps and potholes.
All the luxury in the 300C is not kept for the front seat passengers as the rear passengers also get heated seats, heater vents and a pull-down armrest.
Other options included ESP, TC, a remote start, proximity key, TPMS, CD/DVD/MP3/HDD player with satellite and navigation, AUX and iPod input, UConnect hands-free phone and reverse sensors for park assist.
The 300c normally drives in rear wheel drive mode, however, when needed it instantly switches to all wheel drive mode, a mode which Chrysler is starting to add to more vehicles in its lineup.
This 300C will provide you with the power of Gordon Gekko and the feeling of total luxury even if you don't have to pennies to rub together.
Chrysler 300C
4-door sedan
6-speed manumatic
5.7 litre V8
Horsepower 360 @ 6,500
Torque 389 @ 4,800
Mileage: 13.5 l/100 km 21 mpg City 8.7 l/100km 32 mpg Hwy
Price $54,000
