From: Andy Mikonis <r41hp@xxxx> To: joebril@xxxx, chrysler300@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: Re: [Chrysler300] Chrysler news from California Date: Tue, 6 May 2003 08:05:26 -0700 (PDT)
Hi Joe, thanks for the update. I've made a couple visits to the front lines recently myself, and want to add a couple thoughts.
I attended the New York Auto Show and saw the beast in person, but if we can get past the styling for a moment, it's hard to argue that performance is back at Chrysler.
I've driven a few Ram pickups with the so-called HEMI engine, they are very fast and lots of fun.
Last week I went to Road America and drove a bunch of new cars (all different makes) around the track, including Viper, Crossfire, and Neon SRT-4. This was my third occasion to drive a new Viper, it has more power yet it's WAY easier to drive than the old one. Big improvement. The Crossfire was really a surprise. I drove the automatic, and yes, it does get to 100 mph very fast, and handles great. However, it's pretty cozy inside - I'm 6'4'' and my hair was touching the headliner. Neon SRT-4 217-hp and turbocharged = very fun. Fastest car you can buy for under $20K (yes, that's $19,995!) I got to take it home for the weekend, despite its cop-bait yellow paint and the boy racer wing on the trunk, I LOVED it.
Yes, I'm stressing the positives here, but good things ARE happening over at Chrysler. Styling is a matter of taste, raw performance numbers are not. I think we can be proud.
One last comment: the "300C" uses steering and suspension parts from the E-Class Mercedes. I took an E500 around the track. I swear I drove it as fast as the Corvette Z06 (probably says something about my driving!) What a car. The 300-whatever will be a lot different, it's bigger and heavier for one thing, but what a base to build on. Add the Hemi, and wow, it's going to be a hot car.
And hey, you won't be able to see what it looks like on the outside while you're driving it!
Andy
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