People Just Don't Know

[Humongo]

I guess I can't expect everyone to be an automotive freak like me and everyone else on this board. However, I'm starting to get a little disappointed. It seems that our everyday 300 breatheren (no one on this board) and the automotive public have absolutely no idea what the C-SRT8 is.

Yesterday, no joke, I had two discussions with people who you would think know yet had no clue. On the way home I was taking surface streets and encountered two dark blue 5.7 300c's. The first one I did not get a chance to talk to but he was very interested in the car you could tell. He was pulling up, looking over, and leaning forward in his seat to spy the car in his mirrors, etc.

The second one was also eyeing my car very hard. We were side by side at two lights in heavy traffic and he was checking it out the whole time. Finally, at the third light he rolls down his window and quizzes me. He wanted to know if I had installed a body kit on the car and lowered it. He also wanted to know where I had the larger exhaust tips installed because he liked the look. You should have seen his face when I told him my car was factory original and that it came with a 425 HP 6.1 liter Hemi. I then proceeded to give him an exhibition of acceleration between lights. At the next light he wondered why he had never heard of the car because he was an "enthusiast". Whatever dude.

Since I keep my foot inserted in the throttle body, I cannot pass a gas station. While I was filling up a customer in the next lane walks up and tells me how much he admires my car. He says he's been researching them for three months and he's about to buy one. He says he's been trying to find somone that owns one so he can get their opinion.

He asks about gas mileage and I tell him it's pretty bad but what do you expect for a 10.3 to 1 compression engine with 425 ponies that weighs 4,160 lbs. He looks puzzled. He asks about the ride and I tell him it's a bit more stiff than a regular 300c but nothing to complain about. At this point he stops me and asks if we're talking about the same car. I tell him I'm talking about the car right in front of you. He's like but you're talking about 425 horse power and stiffer suspension than a regular 300C and that's what I thought we were talking about. At this point I take him to the rear of the car and show him the SRT8 badge. I then proceed to pop the hood and show him the mammoth beast 6.1 Hemi. He says, "I had no idea these even existed!" I asked if in his research he had been to the Chrysler website and he confirmed. I asked if he had ever seen a selection for SRT8 and he could not recall.

AAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHH!! !!!!!!!!!

[srt8danno]

I feel your pain. I’ve said it several times already. People think I have a base with a body kit, tricked out rims and an engine upgrade……..sure why not. Oh well, guess it just makes us that more stealthy. This past weekend I did have someone that actually knew what I had. Asked if those 85 more horses made that much of a difference…….maybe a little bit I said!

I hear they’re going to upgrade the badging with something like this for 07

[tbyrne]

I don't see many SRT-8s in this area and also find that alot of people don't know about this model. That's good in a way. Makes their look more interesting when they see how fast this "brick" really is!

A few weeks ago I saw an SRT-8 coming up in the lane next to me. The wheels looked more aggressive in the mirror and they were dark. That's all that I had to see to know what kind of car it was. Dark wheels.... brake dust! That means the 6.1 is being used to turn them

[KillerC]

Originally Posted by tbyrne

I don't see many SRT-8s in this area and also find that alot of people don't know about this model. That's good in a way. Makes their look more interesting when they see how fast this "brick" really is!

A few weeks ago I saw an SRT-8 coming up in the lane next to me. The wheels looked more aggressive in the mirror and they were dark. That's all that I had to see to know what kind of car it was. Dark wheels.... brake dust! That means the 6.1 is being used to turn them

Its also amazing how many people think that all 300s are called a 300C. So many people think all 300s have a HEMI engine and cost around 25k. I cant even count the numerous times I have to explain the difference.

[kevenj]

Originally Posted by KillerC

Its also amazing how many people think that all 300s are called a 300C. So many people think all 300s have a HEMI engine and cost around 25k. I cant even count the numerous times I have to explain the difference.

That is partly Chrysler's fault - - I remember their TV ads showing a loaded 300C on the screen, then down below the print said "Chrysler 300 - Starting at $22,900" or some such number. Then in the REAL fine print that nobody could read it said "300C model shown MSRP $36,XXX"

[kevenj]

I don't have an SRT8, just a 300C - - but I had a guy tell me a while back that he really liked my car, just too bad that Chrysler's are FRONT WHEEL DRIVE!.... I nearly choked as I explained that there is NO WAY I'd be owning it if it was Wrong Wheel Drive!

But it is really amazing how clueless people are in general; I work in a Napa Auto Parts store where our business is split between retail and wholesale. It is amazing to me how many people have NO IDEA what year their car even is. And I'm not talking a year off - - I'm talking like 5 years off! Or back in the early 90's when many cars still had 3 speed automatics and a 4 speed automatic was optional I was always amazed that the guy that had been driving his car for 5 years didn't know whether he had a 3 speed or a 4 speed! When asked, they'd usually look at me funny and say something to the effect of "I just put it in Drive".......

Oh well I guess we all can't be "car guys".

[E55 KEV]

Since I also also own an odd and limited production Mercedes I have gotton all of the same examples mentioned. However, I think all the above examples can be said for all any car especially a factory tuned or limited edition cars. Hell, there is some guy with a Expedition Eddie Bauer getting the same from another or future owner of an Expedition. Whether you drive an AMG, SRT, M, S, R, V, Z06, SE-R, SVT, SHO, EIEIO, GT, GT-R, SS, TRD, Redline, Speed or WRX someone with a similar car will not know about every model. I bet some of you die hard SRT guys can not identify all the above factory tuned or sport option cars?

[SRT8PMP]

yeah, i think a bunch of people that aren't "in the know" write them off as pimped out 300's.

in fact today i had a guy in a pimped out maxima messing with me a bit, and the roads were a bit wet so i proceed to hang the ass end out of about 45 feet in first gear.

when he passed me he made a motion that was like "oooh, i'm scared" and i was thinking "you certainly should be"

[vvv90]

Yeah it sucks....It happens to me too, but then once in a while a get someone who out of the blue sees me in a parking lot and says. "SRT-8 eh? How do you like it?" There's ignorant people out there and people "in the know" alike.

We can't honestly complain about the vast amount of 300's out there. If people weren't buying the $22k ones there wouldn't be enough market share to spread to make our 300C SRT-8's so affordable.

[vvv90]

Originally Posted by E55 KEV

I bet some of you die hard SRT guys can not identify all the above factory tuned or sport option cars?

That's so true....I still have a hard time understanding all the different models and packages for Porsche's. Every site like msn autos or yahoo cars only lists two or three different cars and I KNOW there's more things available.

...Audi's too....R4, S4, RS4, W12, V8 n/a, V8 Turbo? I dunno what each has....I do know I'd race any of them win or lose.