is the 300C a marketing nightmare / dream ?

[Murphy The Cat]

I'm particularly curious as to what other people drove befor they got there
300C. I have a diesel so that is where the main of my interst lies, but please feel free to pitch in with your thoughts.

The Chrysler 300C - A marketeers nightmare or dream.

Chrytsler in the UK have never had a "prestige" large car to top off the range so have not been able to rely on previous customers replacing like with like, neither have they had a progressive range of cars (i.e 3 series to 5 series to 7 series) for customers to step up to the 300C. So Chrysler had to attract "new blood", so here are a few things that I have come up with that made me curious as to the marketing of the car.

In no particular order.

Its an American car, and the motoring press in the UK hate American cars, besides which no American car has ever broken into the UK market properly (except mabye Jeep)
It is very distinctive.
It weighs 2 tons.
It is longer than a Toyota Land Cruiser and wider than a Range Rover.
It outperforms a Audi A8 diesel Quattro
It costs the same as a Mid spec 3 series 2lt diesel, but is more spacious that a 7 series.
For the same money as a X type diesel, you have something that will out perform an XJ diesel.
Your sister company has a similar product for (at least) 50% more cash.
The CO2 figures are pants.
It's tyhe same price as a 1.9 lt Diesel Saab 9.5
The top of the range Vauxhall Signum diesel is actually £1000 more than a 300c and isn't as well equipped.
The goverment is trying to turn "joe public" into large car haters.
I'm getting 36.2 mpg from Arnie.
Why make the grill the big marketing tool, when the first thing a lot of people do is change it.
Actually create a waiting list for the car (fantastic, there's nowt like anticipation)
create an image of strength & safety (to attract 4X4 drivers ?)



I'm sure that there's more, but thats a few for going on with.

But back to the original question.

What car did you have before your 300C and what were the 3 biggest influences on your purchase.

Previously I had a Rover 75 Diesel Tourer and my 3 biggest influences were.

1) looks
2) fantastic value for money, esprcially bang for my buck
3) different from the normal car dross in the UK.
I can't claim performance because I ordered my car 9 months before they became available in the UK

MTC

[Just]

Hi MTC

Well, its a long story (sorry) for me. I am currently driving a Mondeo 2.0 Petrol company repmobile, no choice, I inherited it from my boss about 3.5 years ago. Prior to that I inherited his 1.8 Mondeo. Don't get me wrong, excellent handling, durable & well screwed together, the old shape 1.8 was actually more refined at speed than the current 2.0 (a bit higher geared).

I would have opted out of the company scheme then, but the politics being what they were.....

Anyway, I suppose (people tell me) I've always been a bit individual when it comes to cars. My dad ran Volvo 240s when we were kids, and I decided (hugely unfashionably) that I fancied running one as an impoverished student! 24 mpg on 4 star is no fun on limited funds, but this thing was absolutely mint & I quite liked it.

Then I graduated & started a temporary job in car sales while looking for something more permanent. Someone traded in an E28 BMW 5 series 525i, and I couldnt resist it, I'd always loved the shape, I got it for peanuts. When I started my first permanent job - still driving the BM, people (mostly jealous I think) used to say "when are you giving your dad's car back to him".

Anyway, after this its been limited choice company cars, but I always kept the 525, which I still have to this day 13 years later and was running every Summer (until this year when the 300c will probably satisfy that need).

If the 300c has anything like the character, comfort, ride, handling & responsiveness of the old 525 (which from experience so far it does & much much more) then I am one happy guy.

Don't worry, the 525 isn't going anywhere, I'll probably still have that in 20 years time.

Back to your questions.

3 influences

1) Shape & looks - loved this since first seeing one in Las Vegas (at night) on Summer hols.
2) (equal) Diesel, Diesel, Diesel - thank goodness for the stuff, and the fact that the engines these days are so good & efficient even at 3.0 litres (for you guys over the water - liters).
2) (equal) Price - probably equal with the above, I can just about afford it!

Thats enough from me, I've probably used up about a month's allocation of space on the site!

Just

[taylormotorsports]

I drove a 2003 Hummer H2, a 2002 Escalade before that, a 2001 BMW 325 convertible, before that a 2000 BMW Z3. As you can see my taste in cars varies greatly.

My top three influences on the purchase of my 300C:

1. LOVED the look of the car--when I first saw it, I thought it was just a concept and if they did build it, it would be a $45-55K vehicle.
2. Loved the fact there was a myriad on custom pieces avaiable to my individualize it.
3. The peformance of the car impressed me as well and helped seal the deal.

[LSV1970]

As student I drove a Ford Fiesta 1300S (1980) and a Ford Fiesta 1.4i CLX (1989).
When I began to work I bought an used Oldmobile Cutlass Ciera SL 3.3L (1991). I keept this daily driver for 8 years and up to 230'000km.

In between I bought a new 2002 Camaro Z28 LS1, for the week-end. 10 months before getting married...

At the end of 2004, I was a dad with 2 kids and it was impossible to travel anymore with wife's car (Alfa Romeo 147 1.6L Twin Spark 120HP). The Olds was used only in Switzerland and at this time wasn't able to stay safe without ABS on (p.e) italian highways (they were quick...).

I needed a new car: Cadillac CTS-V (LS6 5.7L) wasn't exported, the 3.2L too small for my taste, Cadillac STS was at the end of the story, no need for a 4X4, Mercedes V8 were too expensive for me and The 300M was just replaced by the 300C and came up with a new V8... after 2 spin at the dealer the deal was made.

I own my 300C for 10 months new. Everything is fine (13'000km).

I spoke lately with the dealer who told me that the main problem for sale is the size. The man wants it and the woman tells she won't drive that monster in town.

I'm a true US-cars enthousiast but I considered anyway other cars at the time: BMW 330i Stw, Mercedes C230K Stw, Mercedes E350, Volvo V70R. I kept my way with "different cars" especially with strong engine.

It was just sad the the SRT8 was not exported early 2005. I don't think about trading this spring or I should sell the Z28 too and there's not market for it (it's one of the 9 sold in 2002 out here). For a modded musclecar it's worse...

[mathijskok]

Originally Posted by Murphy The Cat

Previously I had a Rover 75 Diesel Tourer and my 3 biggest influences were.

1) looks
2) fantastic value for money, esprcially bang for my buck
3) different from the normal car dross in the UK.
I can't claim performance because I ordered my car 9 months before they became available in the UK

MTC

I exchanged a top of the range Landcruiser for the 300.

And I did so for all your reasons (in the same order), but I like to add
4. Performance
5. Because I am so incredibly cool.

[Bones Brigade]

Hi,
The last three cars I owned before the 300C CRD were a 911 (993) Carrera 4S, a 911 (993) Carrera 2 and an BMW X5 3.0d.I never liked the X5, it was too unsporty to drive and always felt like a truck.
Other american cars or cars with american technologies were a Corvette C3 in the mid eightees, and a few years ago an ISO Rivolta GT from 1967 with corvette engine and transmission.

Best regards from Luxembourg
Robert

[Murphy The Cat]

Originally Posted by Bones Brigade

Hi,
The last three cars I owned before the 300C CRD were a 911 (993) Carrera 4S, a 911 (993) Carrera 2 and an BMW X5 3.0d.I never liked the X5, it was too unsporty to drive and always felt like a truck.
Other american cars or cars with american technologies were a Corvette C3 in the mid eightees, and a few years ago an ISO Rivolta GT from 1967 with corvette engine and transmission.

Best regards from Luxembourg
Robert

Hi Robert

You're obviously a man who likes his cars.

Sorry to be nosey, but what were the three most important things to you when you ordered/bought your 300c ?

MTC

[Bones Brigade]

Hi MTC,

The most important thing was that there are not much around,
the second was the challenge to make it look really good and unique after doing some modifications and make it behave sporty, the third one was the economic factor.You can drive a really nice and unique car without putting much gasoline in and the engine power and torque makes it a good all day driver.

Robert

[John Johnson]

Robert,
I saw this as your caption.I thought you might enjoy this registration plate.

JJ

[Murphy The Cat]

Originally Posted by John Johnson

Robert,
I saw this as your caption.I thought you might enjoy this registration plate.

JJ

Hi John

I guess that i don't need to ask you about pic posting problems ?

MTC

p.s. do you need an aircraft hanger to store all of your vehicles ?

p.p.s did you give the Startech SD6 / warranty situation any thought.