There's something to be said for finding a bargain that really pays off. Whether it's an item of clothing that your friends think cost far more than it actually did, or finding a long-lost film in the bargain bin section of a shop for pennies, the warm feeling of satisfaction is a welcome one. Certain cars fall into this category too, especially if you're buying used. Chrysler, Hyundai and Skoda all offer fantastic cars for very little money.
I own the Hyundai F2 Evolution Coupe which is so rare I constantly bolt to my window to make sure no-one has decided to give it an impromptu test drive. It has 155bhp from its 2 litre engine, more curves than Kelly Brook and a suspension and aerodynamic package designed by Peter Stevens, the man responsible for Ayrton Senna's championship winning McLaren F1 car and the super car of the same name. It has leather seats, CD player, electric windows, electric sunroof, lambs wool carpets, racing dials, ABS, ventilated racing brakes and special alloy wheels.
New the car cost £19,995. I managed to pick up a super-low mileage used version for £1,500. For me it's the greatest bargain I've ever managed to procure, although there are two downsides. Firstly the car handles brilliantly in the dry, but as soon as the road surface becomes even the slightest bit damp, the rear end spins faster than a roulette wheel. The second downside is that no matter what this car can do, a big reason for the minuscule price tag is because the 'H' on the bonnet doesn't mean Honda, but Hyundai, which as my girlfriend eloquently put it "means it's made in a sweat shop".
Admittedly in car bore circles, owning a Hyundai is as respected as George Bush's tenure as the world's most important man, but to the everyman, my Coupe turns heads and the assumption is that it must have cost a fortune. Arriving at my school reunion in it, I had girls that had always been too pretty and popular during school draping themselves over me and the car too. In summary, it's a cheap car made in a sweat shop with cheap materials but somehow it's come out looking amazing and with real drivability. A bargain.
If the Hyundai has the bargain coupe market wrapped up, then Chrysler may very well have the bargain executive market sewn up with the 300C. The best way to describe this car is what my family thought it was when I turned up in the test car. There were a few mentions of Rolls Royce, one of Mercedes and two for Bentley. Far from the vast sums of money needed to buy any of the aforementioned, the 300c starts at £27,000. I promise there are no zeros missed off that figure.
The Chrysler is unmistakable too and has real road presence. The 300C is one of the most unmistakable cars on the road, with its gigantic front grill, reminiscent to that of a Rolls Royce, chunky styling, huge wheels and flared wheels arches. Chrome adorns the door handles, boot lid and accents other key areas of the car which gives it a real sense of the epic.
The dimensions of the car certainly are epic, yet despite this the car is surprisingly agile. Grip is plentiful and allows for the type of driving you'd normally associate with a sports saloon to be rewarded. Despite the sporty handling, ride quality is excellent, making the Chrysler outstanding on motorways - definitely the venue of choice for an executive saloon. It must be said that the car's proportions do hinder it considerably in city traffic or when trying to park so even though it's a bargain to buy, consider where you'll be driving most often.
The gigantic bonnet houses one of two engine choices. The most popular is the Mercedes-sourced 3 litre CRD turbo diesel, attached to an automatic gearbox, although for those who enjoy filling up with petrol, a monstrous 6.1 litre V8 SRT-8 performance engine is option two. To maintain the symmetry on the options list, there are just two trim levels, standard or the muscle car inspired SRT-design variant which maintains the car's luxury feel but with added attitude.
Costs had to be cut somewhere and much like my Hyundai, the Chrysler's interior looks stylish, but is made of low grade materials. Even if you were blind, there'd be no doubting you were sitting in a sub-£30,000 car. The interior is redeemed with rear legroom which is simply massive and makes the car's exterior proportions seem sensible. You'll also find more gadgets as standard on the 300C than from any rivals which in my book more than compensates for cheap interior plastics. Remember the bargain price of £27,000 is for a new 300C, any used Chrysler that appears will save you even more.
Pete J Ridgard is a writer and a car enthusiast. He currently writes for the automotive industry. Here he discusses Used Chrysler cars.
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