| Among the most discussed and highly praised | | | | Jade Pearl (think |
| new vehicles on the | | | | charcoal gray) exterior and interior.At night, the |
| road, the Chrysler 300 offers sedan fanciers | | | | simply designed, stylish instrument control faces |
| sophistication, power and a | | | | are backlit |
| lot of luxury -- all packaged about as nicely as | | | | an attractive light green. Additionally, the |
| feasible. It's as if the | | | | dual-material steering wheel -- |
| heavy-duty tankers of yesteryear have been | | | | it's light tortoise shell with a leather-covered |
| given a modern-day | | | | bottom half -- all add up to |
| makeover.Gone is the sluggish, gas-guzzling | | | | give the driver and passengers a serene, |
| reputation of cruiser sedans. Instead, | | | | luxurious experience.The ride quality further |
| the new Chrysler has gone upscale and elegant | | | | complements the high praise, including a Best |
| as if the terms sleek | | | | Buy recommendation from Consumer Guide. My |
| and sturdy and dutiful and cruising family sedan | | | | vehicle did have |
| are no longer mutually | | | | increased wind rush at higher speeds. But it's a |
| exclusive.My test drive for the week was the | | | | small issue, particularly |
| 300C. It featured a 340-hp, 5.7-liter | | | | considering the vast standard and optional |
| Hemi V8 with a five-speed, automatic | | | | features.Among the standard features: Halogen |
| transmission. The combination is | | | | projector headlamps, fog lamps, |
| frighteningly powerful, which I embarrassingly | | | | heated front seats, tilted power steering wheel |
| discovered on a few | | | | with radio controls, tire |
| occasions.At one intersection after a city traffic, | | | | pressure monitoring system and rain-sensitive |
| low-speed errand run, I stopped at | | | | windshield wipers.More than a dozen option |
| a stoplight. When the light changed, I barely | | | | packages are available, with my test drive |
| touched the accelerator | | | | featuring the Sound Group II ($635). It included |
| and off I jettisoned, tires screeching.On other | | | | AM/FM radio with |
| occasion, I equally quickly bolted through heavy | | | | cassette with a six-CD changer, 368-watt |
| traffic on the | | | | amplifier and seven Boston |
| freeway. Chrysler claims the vehicle has the | | | | Acoustics speakers. The high-intensity headlamps |
| 9.0-second results in the | | | | and headlamp |
| standard 0-60 test, and there's little to question | | | | washer added another $695, a rear-seat video |
| the claim.The Chrysler 300 is available in four | | | | system (untested) |
| options with my 300C model, | | | | contributed another $695 and SIRIUS satellite |
| second only to the SRT8 in standard and optional | | | | radio with one-year of |
| features, size and | | | | service added another $195. With a destination |
| performance pedigree. With its 20-inch wheels | | | | charge of $675, the |
| and 6.1-liter engine, for | | | | 300C's total price is just under $37,000.That |
| example, the SRT8 boasts of a 0-60 mph in 5.0 | | | | amount puts the Chrysler 300 into the mix with a |
| seconds.The point: The Chrysler 300 -- whether | | | | good cross |
| the base, AWD Touring, 300C or | | | | selection of vehicles. For its combination of |
| the flagship SRT8 model -- will get you to where | | | | power, comfort and style, it |
| you want to go, and it | | | | would be hard to argue against it as a top |
| will do so with a quick bolt of speed and then | | | | choice.2006 Chrysler 300: The Weekly |
| quietly cruise down the | | | | DriverSafety features -- Dual front airbags (other |
| freeway at ease.The Chrysler 300C will also get | | | | airbags available)Fuel Mileage (estimates)-- 17 mpg |
| you where want in extreme comfort. The | | | | (city), 25 mpg (highway).Warranty -- Bumper to |
| front and back seats are spacious, and the | | | | bumper, 3 years/36,000 miles; |
| leather-trimmed seats are | | | | Powertrain, 7 years/70,000 miles; Corrosion, 5 |
| handsomely coordinated with the silver-colored | | | | years/100,000 miles; |
| instrumentation and | | | | Roadside assistance, 3 years/36,000 miles.Base |
| wood grain panel trim and console. In my | | | | price -- $33,325.James Raia is a freelance writer, |
| instance, the presentation was | | | | author and publisher in Sacramento, |
| further enhanced by a distinguished-looking Satin | | | | Calif. |