2005 Chrysler 300 Review

So there I was, back in the early 2000’s just minding my own business, when I saw this captivating 2005 Chrysler 300 parked on the side of the road. The car was so shiny and new-looking and had so much street presence, and I couldn’t help but admire it. I had no idea what it was and thought with it’s tough looks it must be some sort of high end expensive luxury car. It’s not every day that you see a car like that driving around the city.

The design was really impressive and modern for back in 2005, and as I peered inside I discovered that the interior is super stylish too. As I delved into doing some research online back then I found out it came with all the latest features packed into this American cultural icon. Once I recognised it, the 2005 Chrysler 300 kept popping up everywhere in tv shows, online, in hip hop music videos, you name it and it was the car to be seen in. So what made this car so amazing and such a cultural hit, read on and we go into depth on everything you need to know.

The 2005 Chrysler 300 is a completely redesigned rear-wheel-drive flagship sedan that takes the place of the Concorde and 300M. The 300 represents a dramatic new path for the corporation, departing from the cab-forward design philosophy championed by Chrysler in the 1990s.

Chiseled and manly excellent looks, a strong V8 in the 300C variant, a lengthy list of safety features, and an abundance of luxury and performance for the money. Here is what got our attention.

Table of Contents

Originally, the number 300 in 2005 Chrysler 300 referred to the vehicle’s horsepower. However, it is not just the name that appears to be familiar. The car’s appearance, feel, and overall demeanor reflect another period, giving modern features and quality.

When you slide behind the leather-trimmed steering wheel, you’ll immediately note the gauges have a somewhat vintage appearance. The enormous round dials have metallic trim rings, white faces with black numerals, and the font of the numbers conveys an old-world elegance.

There is also a good deal of luxury, but the 2005 Chrysler 300 is what they refer to as a premium vehicle. Defined, the Chrysler 300C is a car that lacks the luxury of comparable Audi or BMW vehicles but offers more luxury than one might expect from a Chrysler vehicle.

The 300, particularly the top-of-the-line 300C, comfortably outperforms the rest of Chrysler’s lineup, notably the 3.5L V6 engined 2005 Chrysler 300 Limited and 2005 Chrysler 300 Touring models. The question is which vehicles not manufactured by Chrysler compete with the 300C.

If you look at the pricing alone, the automobile is weird at best, but the story gets even more interesting when considering the available 2005 Chrysler 300 V6 powered models. The 2005 Chrysler 300 SRT8 traditional rivals include the Buick Park Avenue Ultra, Lincoln LS, Pontiac Bonneville GXP, and the Lincoln Town Car.

However, upon closer inspection, the 300C provides:

A 300-plus-horsepower V8.
Rear-wheel drive.
Ample interior room.
Avant-garde exterior style.
A relatively comfortable interior for about the same price as a loaded VW Passat or Toyota Camry.

The bottom line is that the 300C outperforms every other car on the market in terms of performance, value, style, and that elusive “it” factor. To create a fair comparison to the impressive C, you must examine vehicles such as the BMW 545i, Cadillac STS, and Lexus LS 430, all of which cost up to $20,000 more.

As corny as it may sound to assert that the 300C is unmatched, it is true somehow. The previously mentioned Buick Park Avenue and Lincoln LS are swiftly discounted. In contrast, the others attract a premium that might easily cover the cost of your teenager’s first car and a pretty decent one at that.

While the 300C appears to be a reasonable deal, the test is in the driving experience. And this is where the “is it old or new” question comes into play. While the 300C is modern, it has an unmistakable old-school feel behind the wheel, and we mean that positively.

The long hood is one such relic. It lends the vehicle a substantial feel. As with earlier American automobiles from the 1950s, 1960s, and even the 1970s, the driver is acutely aware that this is a large piece of machinery, and parking lots should not be taken lightly.

Our test vehicle lacked the optional rear parking sensors, but we believe they would be well worth the money. If you’re accustomed to speeding into the mall’s parking lot at roughly 30 mph and then swinging into a “small” space with little room to spare, you’ll need to reconsider your parking philosophy.

Additionally, the car’s short overhangs make it difficult to gauge your proximity to another vehicle or, for example, a parking garage support post.

Driving The 2005 Chrysler 300

On the open road, the car keeps its old-world appeal, as there is always a lot of traffic. Acceleration is also a bygone period. Today’s cars can go from 0-60 mph in a matter of seconds, but the journey isn’t necessarily pleasant.

The current 2005 Chrysler 300 Hemi engine in the 300C (and the Dodge Magnum) uses cylinder deactivation to “switch off” certain cylinders when traveling to save fuel.

The 2005 Chrysler 300 SRT8 comes with a Hemi V8. It has a 5.7-liter engine with 340 horsepower and 390 lb-ft. However, a hard squeeze of the accelerator brought forth accidental laughs from several of our editors. The five-speed automatic shifts smoothly.

We occasionally wish a downshift had come sooner, but the transmission overall is excellent and nearly undetectable. The self-shifting technology is terrific, but the car isn’t as manual as an Audi or BMW.

Thankfully, the old references fade away when you corner the C. While there is some body roll when cornering at speed, it is handled well enough to qualify the C as sporty. A little rough on more demanding terrain or freeways with expansion joints, but we’re sure that underlying rigidity offers the car good handling.

It’s no Corvette, but the huge vehicle handles well, though not precisely like a BMW. Is it because its underpinnings are German-made? Maybe, but we can’t argue with the results. The automobile has good handling, a smooth ride, and a quiet cabin.

The ABS is subtle when used, and the brakes are solid and responsive. Our only gripe with the car’s overall driving qualities is that we’d like to hear more exhaust sound. At idle, the V8 burbles outback.

The doors have a very solid, and very little engine noise (or any noise for that matter) enters the cabin. Sure, Chrysler does this to maintain the car’s premium image, but a little more rumble would highlight the 300C’s powerful Hemi engine.

2005 Chrysler 300 Interior

As previously said, the inside is an exquisite fusion of old and new. The leather is plush, an area Chrysler has until now disregarded, and the materials have a premium look and feel. While we’d prefer to see the center stack trimmed in genuine aluminum or another metal, we’re the first to concede that the metallic-looking plastic is the most convincing alternative we’ve seen in any vehicle.

The spherical knobs are accented with chrome rings, an elegant touch that adds to the car’s antique appeal. While the navigation system is integrated into the stereo, it could benefit from a larger screen. Another minor criticism is that several stereo capabilities are controlled via the navigation system’s LCD screen, and the controls can be unintuitive.

Both the front and back seats were extremely comfortable, with the rear seats receiving specific acclaim for their generous legroom.

However, given the car’s overall luxury level, we discovered that the back seat lacked any features that would extend the opulent setting beyond the front seats.

2005 Chrysler 300 Price

Values are based on 12,000 miles driven per year, with no color or options selected, the prices range from;

Rwd 4dr Sedan (2.7L 6cyl 4A) – Trade $714 – $3202
Rwd 4dr Sedan (5.7L 8cyl 5A) – Trade $1,096 – $4,405
Touring Rwd 4dr Sedan (3.5L 6cyl 4A) – Trade $779 – $3,550
Touring AWD 4dr Sedan (3.5L 6cyl 5A) – Trade $830 – $3,542
SRT8 Rwd 4dr Sedan (6.1L 8cyl 5A) – Trade $2,736 – $9,282
AWD 4dr Sedan (5.7L 8cyl 5A) – Trade $1,104 – $4,506

Conclusion

Chrysler has raised the bar for domestic full-size sedans. America should have been creating cars like these years ago, and even though we think the 2005 Chrysler 300 is a little late, its aesthetic, affordability, and construction quality disgraces the competition.

Alfio Capicollo