Chrysler 300C SRT-8 | Spotted
Enter the recession in style with 6.1 litres of all-American V8 glory
The V8 saloon isn’t long for this world. We’re all familiar with the new Mercedes-AMG C63 by now, which has an engine half the size of before to cram in more electrical assistance, while BMW has been busy slapping the M badge on its EVs that, the cynic could argue, prepares us for silent M3s and M5s in the not-so-distant future. Possibly.
But unless anything radical happens and the Government steamrolls every existing gas guzzler in Britain out of existence, the V8 will live on through for many years to come through the classifieds. And, best of all, eight-cylinder saloons can be picked up for absolute peanuts. E90 BMW M3s, W204 C63s and B7 RS4s can all be had for around £20,000, or not far off the price of a new Vauxhall Corsa. Those are the usual suspects, anyway, but what if you’ve got a hankering for something with all the V8 goodness of a German Q car with the questionable plastics of a mid-noughties American barge? Then you’ll want one of these: the Chrysler 300C SRT-8.
In all seriousness, this isn’t as ridiculous a proposition as it sounds. The cost of running a 15-year-old V8 from one of Germany’s big three won’t be cheap, especially if bits start to go wrong. The 300C, on the other hand, is a far more solid alternative. That big 6.1-litre Hemi engine under the bonnet may be rudimentary and it’s nowhere near as hi-tech as the eight-cylinder blocks of its German rivals. But, in the highly unlikely event something goes pop under the bonnet, the chance of you being handed a bill containing many zeroes is miniscule. Can’t say that for many European cars, can you?
It's easy to give American V8s like this a hard time because, historically, US car makers manage to extract meagre outputs from high-capacity engines. True, the 431hp on tap from the 6.1-litre V8 in the SRT-8 isn't a huge specific output, but the the C63 of the time made 451hp from 6.2-litre W204 C63, and nobody complained too much about that. The Chrysler is quick, too, covering the 0-60mph dash in just 4.9 seconds while filling your ears with thunderous V8 tones in the process. And although the chassis was left virtually untouched over a standard 300C, the SRT-8 was never intended to be a proper driver’s car. Nope, this is all about waffling along and chugging fuel while looking like a complete thug.
Chrysler managed to sell a handful of SRT-8s in the UK on the basis of them being considerably cheaper than the German alternative. Step inside the 300C, however, and you’ll notice where some corners have been cut. It’s wonderfully basic and hilariously plasticky, though the GT-like front chairs look rather comfy. Plus, you get sat-nav and very basic digital readouts between the analogue dials; an impressive amount of kit for a mid-2000s saloon. And doesn’t it look mega? The 300C design has aged wonderfully, looking just as mean today as it did 17 years ago.
Just like it was brand new, this SRT-8 comes in just below the equivalent M3 and C63 of the era. How does £17,995 sound? Serious money for a car without the brand appeal that comes from a German manufacturer, but it’s a very tidy example with only 54,000 miles on the clock. And as an ownership proposition, it’s unlikely to give you any headaches for many more years to come. Until it comes time to fill the thing up, of course.
SPECIFICATION | CHRYSLER 300C SRT-8
Engine: 6,059cc V8
Transmission: 6-speed automatic, rear-wheel drive
Power (hp): 431@6,200rpm
Torque (lb ft): 420@4,800rpm
MPG: 20
CO2: 335
Year registered: 2006
Recorded mileage: 54,000
Price new: £41,000
Yours for: £17,995
I just wish that petrol was a bit cheaper though, because I've always struggled to afford to run a V8 petrol as a daily when I've tried. Both the X5 4.8iS/E92 M3 hurt my pockets fuel cost wise for sure.
Guessing flat plane crank as it sounded very old school muscle car. I never heard it pedal down, but I would imagine it's very good.
I just personally get sucked into the engine with these, but I couldn't ever actually see me buying one 9f these though. Too many other tasty alternatives I think.
I just personally get sucked into the engine with these, but I couldn't ever actually see me buying one 9f these though. Too many other tasty alternatives I think.
18 grand as you say gets you a lot of XFR or you are into some nice Mercedes stuff.
Used to work with a guy who for all the world was like the archetypal smartarse IT bod, long hair, Farah slacks, big belly, Heavy Metal T shirt, smoked roll ups, massive key chain, mobile phone in a holster and he had one of these, a diesel one and whenever I see one I see that nugget and his ilk. That and "Baby Bentleys", Hen Do limos and crap spec rental ones I have had in the US.
Just something very offputting about the 300C, as really it looks ok and I should be all over this, just something iffy image wise, lumped in there with Crossfires and PT Cruisers, and whatever other stuff was sent over.
Not slow, but would get murdered by a lot of stuff nowadays, 0-100 mph in 11.2 and a 13.2 second quarter, maybe not the point but not that quick in the scheme of things these days, a BMW M140i would be as quick or quicker.
Not a flat plane crank to one that suggested it. Engine is able to make nearly 500hp with simple bolt-ons and a tune.
Granted I would take the risk with a XFR or XJR instead for the added luxury inside.
I just personally get sucked into the engine with these, but I couldn't ever actually see me buying one of these though. Too many other tasty alternatives I think.
The wrong choice of words for definite!
Granted, these do look well 'ard and 6.1 litres gives some bragging rights. Not £18k's worth though.
Certainly one of those cars that you can spend many happy hours thinking what else you could get for that sort of money - my vote would be a BMW 6 series Grande Coupe 640i. Still individual, but better in just about every way.
I don't buy the idea that these would be much cheaper to run than the equivalent AMG.
It's all Merc W211 stuff underneath anyway, so it's likely to have most of the same running gear parts wearing out. And the AMG engines aren't the worst for major failures, so not a huge reduction in costs there. Plus parts and specialists are liable to be harder to find than the German cars - for all their faults, the sheer number of 'premium' German cars on the road means that resources to fix them are plentiful.
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff