4-20-2007
2006 Certified Used Chrysler 300C
by Dave Stall
2006 Chrysler 300C Heritage Model has nostalgia, power and luxury
This week, I test drove a certified used Chrysler 300C from DCH Auto Group in Temecula.

If you've never heard of DCH Auto Group, it's been around for more than 30 years and even appeared on the cover of "Time" magazine as dealer of the year. That's because DCH does the right thing. The car I tested is one of the examples of its very large certified used vehicle fleet: an "inferno red" 2006 Chrysler 300C Heritage model with the very popular Hemi engine.

What really makes this 300 stand out is that it is certified, which makes it a bargain in price as well as value. My tester came loaded with A/C, power steering, power windows and door locks with keyless entry, tilt and telescoping steering wheel and cruise control. It has a fantastic  Boston Acoustics Premium sound system that has AM/FM/in-dash CD /cassette/MP3.

You also get four-wheel disc brakes with ABS at all four corners, traction control, leather interior, power front bucket seats, rear spoiler to give it that sporty look, premium alloy wheels, factory alarm system, fog lights, memory and heated seats up front and dual exhaust.

That's just a sample of what you get when buying this 300C. The significance of the 300C, if you don't know, comes from the late '50s and early '60s when Chrysler used numbers and letters to separate its powerhouse vehicles from the rest. The emblems on the fender and the front seatbacks are reminiscent of days gone by.

So there's a little bit of nostalgia when rumbling down the road thanks to the Hemi under the hood. Hemi stands for the hemispherical cylinder heads that get more horsepower out of the engine. Chrysler used it back in the '60s and early '70s at NASCAR and was disqualified when Chevy and Ford cried foul. Chevy and Ford didn't have an engine that would compete so they were banned along with the Superbird Winged racecars.

One thing I can say about Chrysler/Dodge is horsepower has always been its bread and butter. This '06 300C gets 17 miles per gallon in the city and 25 miles per gallon on the open road. That's not bad for an engine that produces 5.7-liter 340 horsepower and 390 pound foot of torque. (You haven't even seen the SRT8, another Hemi that puts out 425 horsepower and 420 pound foot of torque.)

There's only one transmission available on the 300C and it's a five-speed electronically-controlled automatic transmission that provides a very smooth shift at all gears. So when you put the pedal to the metal, make sure you have both hands on the wheel. But the 300C is really a luxury car with a lot of horsepower. If going out to dinner, movies, or concerts is what you enjoy, you can drive up in this beauty with no problem.

Safety is a very important feature on Chrysler products. The 300C has front and side airbags for the driver and passenger, crumple zones surrounding the occupants and child restraints for the kids in the backseat. The 300C achieved the five-star crash rating from the NHTSA.

I didn't like the low cut glass in the doors and windshield. There are some overhead stoplights that you have to lean over to see. But for the style and looks the 300C has, I wouldn't change it for anything. Plus, today you can get a killer deal on this 300C. Just drive up to Temecula to see Sales Consultant Earl Jewell. Tell him you're interested in road testing this 300C (stock No. P0448). Or call him at (951) 676-0010.

Next week, I'll review an Audi from Audi of Escondido.