Pleasantly surprised by this AWD thing

"Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To" (murdersofa)
04/20/2016 at 09:10 • Filed to: None

Just got to mess around with an AWD 2013 Chrysler 300C. I’m not a Mopar but I would 100% buy this over a Taurus SHO. I dunno numbers but it feels much more exciting, makes a better sound, and the interior is leagues better. Chrysler, I am impressed. Maybe the Italians are managing to do something right?

DISCUSSION (32)

Ssfancyfresh > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
04/20/2016 at 09:16

I think the 300 is great. the 300c is a great value. You get a ton of options for a decent price. But I actually prefer the V6 combined with the ZF 8-speed. Feels more responsive.

I don’t know the actual acceleration numbers, but my butt dyno tells me the V6 is the one to get.

Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
04/20/2016 at 09:17

I really like the styling of the new FCA sedans.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > Ssfancyfresh
04/20/2016 at 09:19

Yeah, the 300c suffers from the lack of responsiveness the SHO had, but it makes up with it with that glorious V8 noise and feel.

Bourbon&JellyBeans > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
04/20/2016 at 09:25

The 300 needs a major exterior refresh, in my opinion. It just looks so...meh. Sort of like your run-of-the-mill, default luxury four-door. I don’t think it’d be a mistake to make it look a little more like its little sister.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > Bourbon&JellyBeans
04/20/2016 at 09:29

It’s not as ridiculously overstyled/baroque as everything else today, which is what I like about it. Same with the previous-gen Cruze. Same with the Challenger. They were fairly simple designs without excessive design flourishes

Milky > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
04/20/2016 at 09:36

Wouldn’t this thing be good because of the Germans at Mercedes? Because thats how the old chassis is. With that being said I agree. I like my boats with V8s, not turbo-6s.

Bourbon&JellyBeans > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
04/20/2016 at 09:51

I guess if you are going for anonymous, then this is the car!

JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
04/20/2016 at 09:53

Current Chrysler-Fiat interiors are very nice. The Dart GT is a very pleasant place to sit and spend time, even if it’s not exciting to drive.

Dru > Bourbon&JellyBeans
04/20/2016 at 10:08

I dunno, I like the styling infinitely better than the generation that preceded it. Its conservative, but elegant. I think this one will age much better than its predecessor.

Sweet Trav > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
04/20/2016 at 10:18

It's still slower than a SHO. The lack of response can be tuned out of both motors as they use drive by wire throttles.

jmgadget > Ssfancyfresh
04/20/2016 at 10:36

The new V8 models get the 8-speed as well which makes a world of difference. (no AWD V8 though)

If you elect for the S model you get a 300HP V6 8 speed instead of the measly 292HP on the regular V6 models. (silly Chrysler)

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > Sweet Trav
04/20/2016 at 10:51

Is it? The only comparison I could find compared the 2WD 300C to the SHO and that was back when the SHO first came out. Either way you can’t tune out how soulless the SHO feels compared to a honkin longitudinal V8, even if the V8 is slower (which I would not be surprised if it is)

Flies With Thunderbirds > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
04/20/2016 at 10:56

You can put a hellcat in the 300.

Ssfancyfresh > jmgadget
04/20/2016 at 11:38

Yeah, I didn't know they mated the 8speed with the Hemi. That would be a great combo.

Sweet Trav > Flies With Thunderbirds
04/20/2016 at 12:08

You can make 660 on stock internals with the SHO. AWD will make up the difference. I saw a Hellcat get smoked by an Ecoboost Flex at roadkill nights

Sweet Trav > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
04/20/2016 at 12:20

If it's faster than the 2wd model, it's faster than the heavier AWD model. Plus now you can't even get the V8 with AWD on the new one.

Flyboy is FAA certified insane > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
04/20/2016 at 12:36

The 2015 refresh brought great syling updates and an even more amazing interior.

Kinja'd!!!

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > Sweet Trav
04/20/2016 at 13:32

A big part of the reason the SHO was faster was because it could launch harder because AWD, so the AWD 300 isn’t necessarily slower in a straight line spring than a 2WD one.
I am sad you can’t get a V8 AWD 300/Charger anymore.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > Flyboy is FAA certified insane
04/20/2016 at 13:33

Huh. I didn’t even realize there was a 2015 refresh. TIL.

Flyboy is FAA certified insane > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
04/20/2016 at 13:45

And now both motors have the amazing 8-speed.

Flies With Thunderbirds > Sweet Trav
04/20/2016 at 19:59

But a hellcat makes 707hp stock

ranwhenparked > Flyboy is FAA certified insane
04/20/2016 at 20:16

And you should see what 2015 leftovers are marked down to at Chrysler-Dodge-Jeep-Ram-Fiat dealers around the country. There’s quite a few of them still sitting around, and my God are they cheap. Probably the best value out there right now.

Flyboy is FAA certified insane > ranwhenparked
04/21/2016 at 00:58

Exactly, it’s really great.

yamahog > Flies With Thunderbirds
04/21/2016 at 05:46

Doesn’t count for much when you can’t put it down and get walked by a Flex.

Sweet Trav > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
04/21/2016 at 07:29

The SHO doesn’t leave hard at all. It’s more about the perfectly flat torque curve from 1500 rpm to 5000 rpm where it makes an electronically limited 350 ft lbs of torque. The SHO makes peak torque right off idle, so it accelerates quicker. The 300 and Charger really don’t have any problems putting power down in 2WD. Plus the SHO AWD system kind of sucks in that the rear doesn’t engage until the front slips, its not a 50/50 split the 300/Charger. The front of the Taurus almost never slips and the car launches like a FWD car.