THE GT335 competitor 300c SRT8 is going to be cheaper...

[chopstar87]

Well this could be good news or bad news. (hoping good news)

The pricing of the 2012/3 300c SRT8 has been announced - its $66k+ on roads which is cheaper then a GT335 or HSV Clubsport R8.

The 300c has more Power (on the badge anyways: 347Kw & 631Nm) plus more equipment. So hopefully this new competition may get FPV on reducing the pricing on the GT335 and could be a reason behind the $68k driveway price been advertised by FPV themselves.

- the 300c SRT8 ran 0-100km/h in 5sec flat in the WET! so this has serious go in a Straight line.

Some standard Equipment:
-19 speaker 900w stereo (Harman Kardon)
-Heated and Ventilated Front Seats
-Heated Rear Seats
-Heated and Cooled Front Cup holders
-Sat Nav
-Paddle Shift
-Leather
-Keyless Entry
-Adaptive Cruise Control
-Blind Spot Monitoring

More Competition, hopefully means better prices and better Equipment levels and better performance (Panther??)

Is the SRT8 a Threat to FPV GT??

[mcnews]

For sure, perhaps if the looks grow on people a bit.

[XWGT]

I think it has a reputation for poor handling to overcome (which I beleive the new model has improved on significantly), a reputation for poor quality and finish to overcome (no comment either way) and the ugliest looks in history to overcome (seriously.......that front end.....gawdddddddddddd)

But it has a 6.4 HEMI which cant be a bad thing, and a stereo worthy of a G4nG5t4 rapper coupled with heated and cooled seats........

If it only spurs FPV to turn up the boost and intercool the existing V8, then I think its a great thing!

[RASER]

Originally Posted by XWGT

I think it has a reputation for poor handling to overcome (which I beleive the new model has improved on significantly), a reputation for poor quality and finish to overcome (no comment either way) and the ugliest looks in history to overcome (seriously.......that front end.....gawdddddddddddd)

I can handle all that, it is a decades old hand-me-down obsolete E-Class Benz platform after all.

What i REALLY HATE, AND ****'S ME OFF BIG TIME, is selling it in Europe with Lancia badges on it, have Chrysler/Fiat not a ounce of class left?

Great motor in a pile of metal, move on, bring out a new non-gangster model

[Rodge]

Originally Posted by RASER

I can handle all that, it is a decades old hand-me-down obsolete E-Class Benz platform after all.

What i REALLY HATE, AND ****'S ME OFF BIG TIME, is selling it in Europe with Lancia badges on it, have Chrysler/Fiat not a ounce of class left?

Great motor in a pile of metal, move on, bring out a new non-gangster model

You'll have to have patience and i'm not sure they ever had class in the first place to be honest. What they are delivering though is vehicles with basically the same performance and high level's of kit as a Jaguar XFR for a mere fraction of the price. Of course in a "perfect world" they'd look like the Jag too but I think we'll be waiting a while for that to happen

Originally Posted by GT-E

The biggest problem Jeep have in Australia are Jeep AU and their dealer network. But in saying that the Ford dealers do not seem to be much better.

A quick bit of info on the CRD Jeep's, there is a piggyback that can be purchased for EU$129 and improves the power/torque by 30%. The new CRD motor is already great, but apparently even better with the piggyback.

You're not alone. The dealer network in New Zealand is pretty poor too. e.g. we have two Jeep / Chrysler dealers for all of Auckland's 1.5 million population and they're both owned by the same company...based on my dealing with them on the day of the SRT8 test drive I'd speculate they'd be a pretty tough outfit to deal with.

[RASER]

Originally Posted by Rodge

You'll have to have patience and i'm not sure they ever had class in the first place to be honest. What they are delivering though is vehicles with basically the same performance and high level's of kit as a Jaguar XFR for a mere fraction of the price. Of course in a "perfect world" they'd look like the Jag too but I think we'll be waiting a while for that to happen .

Lancia are God

To think that a 300C is in the same class as a Jaguar i think you are dreaming a bit, i doubt a Jaguar buying is going to cross shop a Chrysler product, BMW, AUDI, LEXUS and M.BENZ yes, Chrysler no

Fiat Group have done the best with a old 300C as they can, be interested in the effort they can do on the new generation job, all going to take time, they are getting there!

At the end of the day it competes with similar priced [in USA] Ford's and GM products, thats it.

For this sort of money [here], the new VF HSV is going to be hard to beat, but i HATE the boy racer look that current HSV have, forget Clubsport, call it Bogansport

[Charliewool]

Originally Posted by Rodge

The dealer network in New Zealand is pretty poor too. e.g. we have two Jeep / Chrysler dealers for all of Auckland's 1.5 million population and they're both owned by the same company...based on my dealing with them on the day of the SRT8 test drive I'd speculate they'd be a pretty tough outfit to deal with.

Rodge, curious if you had any follow up "hounding" from the Jeep/Chrysler dealer after your test drive?
Over here a test drive is like putting a hawkers and salesmen "most welcome" sign on your door (and phone) They see the test drive as a licence to pursue you til the cows come home with pressure tactics/once only deals.

[Kryton]

Originally Posted by Charliewool

Rodge, curious if you had any follow up "hounding" from the Jeep/Chrysler dealer after your test drive?
Over here a test drive is like putting a hawkers and salesmen "most welcome" sign on your door (and phone) They see the test drive as a licence to pursue you til the cows come home with pressure tactics/once only deals.

Finding the same thing with Open House days and booked inspections.
Looking doesnt mean you want to buy it automatically.

[Benny D]

dont they also have the 8speed auto? double that of my btr :/

[XWGT]

Originally Posted by Benny D

dont they also have the 8speed auto? double that of my btr :/

No I think the SRT only gets a 5 speed, yet the lower versions get the 8 speed.

[Road_Warrior]

Only the petrol V6 gets the 8 speed.

[bangm001]

I love my fords/fpvs and up until recently have accepted that they are low on technology due to the awsome engines and power they make.

But to stay in the game IMO we are well oversdue of some serious tech toys to keep up with what many people have had for years and with other newer makes such as this one.

I have been for a drive in the new 2012 jeep grand cherekee (TD) and it had bloody everything from electric opening boot (and closing), blind spot indicators, front and reverse sensors, front and reverse cameras, GPS, massive sun roof, heated and cooled seats etc etc. I was very suprised and taken back, my feelings are that it has become very "mercedes like" and alot of the tech from their cars has gone into the chryslers.

What ford/fpv need to do now is take the best of them and make it standard. I always used to think of heated seats as a gimmick. My wifes car has them and I rarely drive my car when we are together in the coldest parts of winter as it doesnt have them! LOL! Soft i know but we now need to catch up a little. We have the engines, now time for some tech toys!

[mcnews]

Agreed, part of the main reason I went GTE over GTP was that the E gets a lot of niceties that should be standard across all models in my opinion, but you can't even get as options in the other models... But still the lack of heated seats etc. and a lot of the nice touches that are par for the course in their price segment in other brands is troubling.

[VICFPV]

Dear FPV

Please take note of the interior option list and lift your game. Or will start losing buyers very soon.
You have a great car in making but need better interior options.

[GTPete]

Paddle Shift... Yes please FPV

[Road_Warrior]

Originally Posted by GTPete

Paddle Shift... Yes please FPV

Surprising they haven't done something with this sooner. The tech is there, and they had buttons on the steering wheel for this purpose in the AU-T series days.

[Rodge]

Yeah I reckon it is a threat. Provided one can get their head around the highly controversial looks, reputation for extremly poor resale values, antiquated 5 speed gearbox and questionable quality control, (some would argue even more questionable than FPV), then there's no question the new SRT8 offers a huge amount of interior kit and technology that's missing in any FPV.

Add to the list the Op presented, Adaptive suspension and Playstation G Force graphics on an 8.4 inch touchscreen, excellent sports seats with proper looking lateral support and so on....

Has anyone got the significant amount of time or stomach for it to go through the SRT8's full spec sheet and detail everything that's there that's not in any FPV, I havn't got either and suggest it would be too depressing.

Cylinder deactivation for increased economy at freeway speeds, a better coefficient of drag at 0.32 are othe rthings that quickly come to mind and they are adding the ZF 8 speed box next year to this model just for good measure FFS.

Thank God for small mercies though, they are just soooooo UGLY I doubt I could ever own one.

[Grunter]

I did Roger. You don't want to go there.

I am and have been quite anti FPV regarding what you get interior feature wise, especially on the GTP and GTE, But damn don't the engines and ZF gearbox make up for it!!

But you can't blame FPV for missing all the goodies. They can only reasonabily work with what Ford has given them.

[stazza]

I reckon it will sell like hotcakes.

Look how crap HSV's look and they sell way too well.

[Rodge]

Originally Posted by Grunter

I did Roger. You don't want to go there.

I am and have been quite anti FPV regarding what you get interior feature wise, especially on the GTP and GTE, But damn don't the engines and ZF gearbox make up for it!!

But you can't blame FPV for missing all the goodies. They can only reasonabily work with what Ford has given them.

Well said.
Copy of my post in the Chrysler 300 thread in the pub section

Rodge Handling looks like it could be better and its a real porker in the weight department.
Car Advice review http://www.caradvice.com.au/181202/chrysler-300-review/

[Iggypoppin']

It all looked good till I saw that face. I just couldn't stomach owning that, for all the good things it has.
And am I blind? No manual option? Going to miss out on sales to FPV and HSV for sure.

[Road_Warrior]

Originally Posted by Iggypoppin'

It all looked good till I saw that face. I just couldn't stomach owning that, for all the good things it has.
And am I blind? No manual option? Going to miss out on sales to FPV and HSV for sure.

Well in my view it looks 1000% better than the last one, the last one looked bloody stupid. And this one has a much nicer interior.

But...that kerb weight? Uhh, yeah.

This is from Chrysler's Australian website. Maybe they made a mistake in doing the lbs/kgs conversion. Then again, maybe they didnt

6.4L V8 SRT8® HEMI® MDS petrol engine 2,307 - 2,424

[I8hsv]

Arnt these things made in Mexico?? Think I'd rather have a Fpv or hsv to be honest American cars Handel like xd falcons I'd have the motor though

[PHawk]

Originally Posted by I8hsv

Arnt these things made in Mexico?? Think I'd rather have a Fpv or hsv to be honest American cars Handel like xd falcons I'd have the motor though

Yep, Comes with a severed head as an optional extra!

[GT 160]

Im a big fan, loved the old one as well even considered one over the GT but the GT won out on $ at the time.

I agree that hopefully FPV/HSV etc lift there game interior wise as that has been my biggest gripe with the GT the interior is absolute pants.

Honestly though to 99% of buyers handling, performance and 1/4 mile times mean jack when it comes to vehicle purchase.

Its all irrelevant on the school, work and grocery run which lets face it thats where most cars spend there lives but you'd swear by reading this forum that everyone drives at 10/10ths everywhere they go.

[monts351]

Just had a look at the SRT8, one thing is certain, even without glasses or contact lenses in that car is very very butt ugly.

[BeansNoMore]

I've just looked at the Chrysler website. Am I missing something but Sat Nav doesn't seem to be standard or even an option. Plenty of other goodies though as already discussed.

[Redrum]

Ugly unless you want to look like some sort of pimp my ride. Also yank cars are really lacking in the quality department... you get what you pay for

[Polyal]

Are you suggesting the quality of a FPV is better than a new 300C?

The older one did get hammered a bit for the interior...not for what it had or what the layout is like but simply the plastics were/are to hard. That was the only real complaint from what I can tell and it is clear the new version has made a massive effort to correct this.

I personally would like the 1st gen styling with the 2nd gen powertrain and interior.

Styling is all to personal. I think its great because it is different...and does stick the finger up. Is it a GT competitor? Well depends on what you prioritize. Some people like HSV's balls out style, some like FPV's subdued styling...all to ambiguous.

Auto GT buyers will defend the GT buy saying that the 300 handles like poo, which unless someone has done a back to back test they cant really justify anyway.

It will give the locals a shake up I think, and thankgod, they have had it to easy for to long. IMO it will hopefully force the issue with "one ford" and get some more tech into our Falcons.

Im tipping there would be a % of GT/GTP/GTE buyers out there who dont track their car, dont even go hunting for a nice bit of road and dont even cae about their FPV drive day..they just want the king of the hill V8 sedan. This would appeal to them because the fact that the GT can pull 0.0001 more of a G on a skid pan means veyr little in the real world...more so in one that is forcing us to drive with Miss Daisy in the back.

[Redrum]

Originally Posted by Polyal

Are you suggesting the quality of a FPV is better than a new 300C?

The older one did get hammered a bit for the interior...not for what it had or what the layout is like but simply the plastics were/are to hard. That was the only real complaint from what I can tell and it is clear the new version has made a massive effort to correct this.

I personally would like the 1st gen styling with the 2nd gen powertrain and interior.

Styling is all to personal. I think its great because it is different...and does stick the finger up. Is it a GT competitor? Well depends on what you prioritize. Some people like HSV's balls out style, some like FPV's subdued styling...all to ambiguous.

Auto GT buyers will defend the GT buy saying that the 300 handles like poo, which unless someone has done a back to back test they cant really justify anyway.

It will give the locals a shake up I think, and thankgod, they have had it to easy for to long. IMO it will hopefully force the issue with "one ford" and get some more tech into our Falcons.

Im tipping there would be a % of GT/GTP/GTE buyers out there who dont track their car, dont even go hunting for a nice bit of road and dont even cae about their FPV drive day..they just want the king of the hill V8 sedan. This would appeal to them because the fact that the GT can pull 0.0001 more of a G on a skid pan means veyr little in the real world...more so in one that is forcing us to drive with Miss Daisy in the back.

Yes. I have yet to see an American built car of any brand be better than any current Australian built car.