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2006 Chrysler 300C SRT8 Road Test

Accountants Be Damned

Im convinced there are three kinds of people who make cars: designers, engineers and accountants. The former two often champion the cause of the enthusiast, declaring that cars should be exciting to drive and breathtaking to look at, while the evil pocket-protecting hordes scrimp and save, flanking the helpless product development team on the field of battle (boardroom) with cries of increased profit and lower risk investments. All too often the calculator-wielding hordes win, and those just and courageous crusaders of automotive freedom wander back to their offices, studios and cubicles dejected, left to dream up their next assault on the companys moneymen. And eventually, somewhere, some designer or engineer snaps and says "Thats

Hunkered-down, big, and aggressive, the SRT8 is absolutely amazing. (Photo: Dan Fritter, American Auto Press)

it; Im done <insert expletive here> around."

And when that happens, we enthusiasts have a reason to weep for joy. After all, its moments like these that have brought us such ridiculously wonderful cars as the all-conquering Shelby Cobra, the sinister Buick Grand National, and even the original muscle car, the Pontiac GTO. All were excellent automobiles, and have gone down in history as the most memorable nameplates from their

The AC Ace was transformed into the Shelby Cobra, the Pontiac Tempest into the GTO, the Buick Regal into the Grand National, and now the 300 has become the SRT8. (Photo: Dan Fritter, American Auto Press)

respective manufacturers; but now theres a new addition to that family: the Chrysler 300C SRT8.

Just as the Cobra, Grand National and GTO were all based on semi-sedate production cars, the SRT8 began life as a run-of-the-mill 300C (hardly sedate - Ed.). Already endowed with a healthy amount of V8 thrust from the now-famous 5.7L HEMI engine, the 300C is already a decently quick car, with 340 smooth, quiet horsepower and a

The massive engine does without covers, instead opting to show its huge intake manifold in all its short-runner/large-diameter glory. (Photo: Dan Fritter, American Auto Press)

supple, comfortable ride. In fact, the C is an excellent car that anyone should be proud to own. Its economical, very smart-looking, well-appointed, and has become quite popular (to the point that some say it, along with its LX-based Magnum stable mate, saved the Chrysler Group half of DaimlerChrysler). That is to say, its an accountants dream.

So how is it that a car that began life as an accountant-mobile becomes a shining beacon of ridiculousness? Well, first off, the 5.7L HEMI lump exits stage right, with an imposing

Although much smaller than the old 426 street Hemi, the 6.1L draws on that famous engine for some visual cues, including the black valve covers and orange block. (Photo: Dan Fritter, American Auto Press)

6.1L HEMI replacing it. Boasting 425 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 420 foot-pounds of torque at just 4,800 rpm, the larger engine is a wholly different animal than its little brother, providing a rush of power that has no trouble motivating the 4,160 pound behemoth with ease. For those of you that still remember when cool was measured in cubic inches, the SRT8 boasts a mere 370 cubes of oversquare power, less than even the then-pedestrian 383 lump Mopar fans used to use as boat anchors. Of course, while it may not measure up to those old motors in displacement, it goes without saying that the modern

Even in an almost empty parking garage, the SRT8s engine bay has a magnetic effect on nearby gearheads. (Photo: Dan Fritter, American Auto Press)

go-fast gadgetry contained within the confines of the SRT8s engine bay allows the relatively small (compared to its forefathers) engine to punch above its weight.

A roller cam, sequential multi-port EFI, and high-compression (10.3:1) pistons all sound like the makings of a powerful hot rod motor, but Chrysler supplies all that and then some within the SRT8s HEMI-orange, deep skirted, cross-bolted block, and then tops it all off with a short-runner, large diameter intake manifold feeding the obligatory aluminum heads with that notorious hemispherical combustion chamber.
Backing that impressive powerplant is a transmission thats about as exciting as its name: the W5A580.

A one inch lower ride height, firmer springs and dampers, plus Brembo brakes make the SRT8 a worthy performer when the road turns. (Photo: Dan Fritter, American Auto Press)

A five-speed automatic with Chryslers signature AutoStick side-to-side slap-shift manual feature, its a beefy transmission borrowed from the Mercedes parts bin. Specially tuned for the SRT8s impressive torque curve, the transmissions relatively short (3.59 first, 2.19 second) gearing works in conjunction with the longer 3.06 final drive to supply violent acceleration off the line, while the 1:1 fourth and overdrive fifth gears maintain some semblance of fuel economy at highway cruising speeds. Hence, the SRT8 manages a respectable 20 mpg on the highway, but guzzles 14 mpg in the city; if you can stay off the throttle. Of course, Chrysler didnt neglect the rest of the drivetrain, and everything from the driveshaft to the differential to the axles have been upgraded

A white-faced intstrument panel with a 300 km/h speedo and SRT8 script on the tach sets the 300C and the SRT8 apart. (Photo: Dan Fritter, American Auto Press)

to handle the heavy use and abuse theyre sure to get.

But just beefing up the drivetrain wouldnt have been enough; that powerplant in an otherwise stock 300C wouldnt have been cool; itd have been a death trap. So, the rabid engineers went to work on the suspension, tearing the stock stuff apart and extensively replacing all the weak points with high-zoot (and expensive) performance oriented stuff. Of course, they must have started off small, since any accountant worth his ledger would have had an aneurysm had he or she heard the extent to which the engineers planned to revamp the springy stuff; everything from the springs to steering knuckles were thrown out and replaced. Retuned dampers and harder bushings found their way in to firm up the ride, while larger anti-sway bars work in concert with one-inch dropped knuckles to keep

Also, perforated, or "technical" leather has been used on the steering wheel, shifter and door pulls. (Photo: Dan Fritter, American Auto Press)

the big sedan as flat as possible through the corners.

Top it all off with 14.2-inch front and 13.8-inch rear vented rotors being clamped down on by four-piston Brembo brake calipers under sweet looking 20-inch forged aluminum wheels (themselves wrapped in Goodyear F1 rubber), and Id wager the accountants never even knew what hit them.

But for all the performance enhancements, the SRT8 wears little on the outside to give its performance credentials away. Beyond a singular SRT8 badge on the trunk, a subtle spoiler on the trunk (which actually increases downforce by 39 percent without any increase in drag), and the larger slash cut exhaust tips, theres little else to give it away from the rear, while the front view is actually more similiar to a base-model 300s, with a deeper front fascia outfitted with a chin spoiler being your only two hints at what lie beneath the long hood, since the

So how much does this little DVD player matter in the SRT8s grand scheme of things? (Photo: Dan Fritter, American Auto Press)

rest of the HEMI giveaways found on the standard 5.7L-powered 300C (chrome mirrors, front and rear fascia trim, and door handles) have been painted over to match the body.

Inside, things are a little more sporting, but still only just. Suede inserts embroidered with the SRT8 logo are the biggest giveaway, and do a great job of being both comfortable and supportive, while the steering wheel, shifter, and door pulls are covered in what Chrysler calls "technical" (read: perforated) leather, adding to the sporty feel. Of course, those wishing to fly under the performance radar even more need only fill the back seat with kids (preferably your own), flip up the all-new-for-06 center console mounted DVD player screen and pop in the kids favorite DVD; its your best chance at fooling local law enforcement as to your intentions when you head out on that favorite road.

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