Wheels - Ghia v 300c v Caprice

[Iphido]

Interesting comparison. Arguably the pick of each brand, but all diffrent yet simular. And they used the V8's.

Fairmont Ghia does quite well, getting 4.5 stars (equal with statesman) yet from the article it looks like the 300c wins yet it gets 4 stars. They love how it drives and its practicality.

But they are right, the Ghia has issues. "Admittedly, the heavily tinselled, shockwave blue Ford looks about as menacing as a French mime artist", equipment levels are poverty and this new annoying wind noise from the front doors.

Fuel economy is interesting, Ghia and Caprice get 15l per 100 while 300c get 18! And they also mention again the ESP killing fun.

Performance figures are:
-Ford 14.8 @ 158 kmph 0-100 in 6.8 and 80-120 in 4.7
-300c 14.7 @ 158 kmph 0-100 in 6.7 and 80-120 in 4.5
-Holden 14.8 @ 156 kmph 0-100 in 6.9 and 80-120 in 4.5

Suprisingly the Ghia isn't much if any slower than the 250Kw hemi or 250kw LS1.

But when is Ford going to fix the Ghia with:
-Optional 18"
-XR ESP programming and a LSD
-Power passenger seat
-Xenon and LED lighting.
-A stereo more in line with the 386W in the 300c or the 420w in the Caprice instead of the 250 pleb system.
-Something more than the bare minium like a auto dimming rear view mirror (standard on every 380 I belive)

I think when I get my BF Ghia, I will have to get XR side skirts and rear bumper, 18" XR wheels, edit (with XR DSC programming and a 250kmph limiter), a LSD, some extra audio gear (more powerful sub atleast, maybe more powerful rears) , Xenon globes for the foggies and LED batton globes for the rest.

Its annoying Ford just doesn't include little bits like that. The basic car has the potential to be great but they lose their way on the last 3-4% of the car.. It could be bundled as a sports pack and be factory fit for <$1000 but costs >$3000 aftermarket.

[Steffo]

I don't understand why they used a Fairmont Ghia against a Caprice V8 and a 300C? They should have used the Fairlane G8.

[Fairlane]

Yeh was an interesting read. They really seemed to give the Ghia (and it did look bad in Shockwave) a thumping in the article but gave a decent rating at the end.

I now they were looking for variety in the article, but wouldnt a Fairlane G8 have been a better match for the Chrysler.

Anyhow Ive gotta admit the 300c is a nice car, I just would have liked to see how a G8 would've have gone against the Caprice mainly.

[Iphido]

Given that the Fairmont Ghia is lighter but was still critised for being slower and they had this to say about the Fairlane..

"Caprice does a better job than the tinselled Ghia (and definately more so than the fuddy-duddy Fairlane)."

The Fairlane I would imagine would be a shade slower again, a shade less better drive and would have got a lot more comments about its fuddy duddy looks. For me the fairlane is flawed simply because of that AU rear glass. If they had given it a more A8 rear glass look I think it could have been one of the sexiest vechicals on the road.

300c did alot better than I thought it would given the comparison off top gear (with the monaro and the Jag). It will be stiff competition. The big flaw with the 300 seems to be rear seat space, man it looks tight back there.

I have to say, in the drivers seat of the Ghia at the motor show, the steering wheel felt awesome, smaller and thicker and the new 8 way seat was a long time comming. I think what wheels was saying, is that if you only drove the thing, and didn't give a toss what other people thought you would take the Ghia.. If you only cared what other people thought you would buy the 300c.

I was thinking a blue for a Ghia, but now I am definately thinking Black or atleast a darker colour.

[Abacus]

Originally Posted by Fairlane

I now they were looking for variety in the article, but wouldnt a Fairlane G8 have been a better match for the Chrysler.

300C $59,990

Fairmont Ghia $57,860

Fairlane G8 $65,405.

I think Fairmont Ghia vs 300C was a fair match.

The odd car out was the Crapice, at $74,390. They should have used a Calais.

I've seen a couple of 300Cs at a Chrysler dealership at Brookvale, in Sydney. They look very, very, good. I don't see how Chrysler can't succeed with this car. Bang for the buck, Ford and Holden are just not in the hunt. Tighten up the suspension a bit on the 300C and its all over. It'll be interesting to see how durability goes.

In my dreams - Mitsubishi goes tits up with the Galant/380 - Chrysler reverses history by taking over the Mitsubishi factory - starts pumping out 300Cs in a wide range of trims to mix it with Ford and Holden - the Big 3 are back, the way it should be. Bliss.

[Abacus]

Originally Posted by Iphido

I was thinking a blue for a Ghia, but now I am definately thinking Black or atleast a darker colour.

The ONLY colour for a Ghia is winter white. With lots of chrome.

[Fairlane]

Christ is a G8 that dear, woops i though they were around the 60.5/61K mark.

[PH47]

Originally Posted by Abacus

In my dreams - Mitsubishi goes tits up with the Galant/380 - Chrysler reverses history by taking over the Mitsubishi factory - starts pumping out 300Cs in a wide range of trims to mix it with Ford and Holden - the Big 3 are back, the way it should be. Bliss.

Damn.. I swear I had a dream like that :P

I'm a BIG fan of the 300C's and i'd love to see them take off here so we see more models later on..

I saw a convoy of them with full police escort heading down the GWH towards sydney a few weeks ago and it was one of the best sights i've seen in ages.. all the colours and variants were there.. about 8 of them all up.. and they look SO good in person!

[Abacus]

Originally Posted by senifx

I'm a BIG fan of the 300C's and i'd love to see them take off here so we see more models later on..

The idea probably has some merit. I'm sure DC could produce the 300 a lot cheaper in Oz than Austria. Take a probable collapse of Mitsubishi, a just reward for trying to sucker the public into thinking a half-baked rework of the PoS US Galant is a "new" car, the ready availabity of a trained workforce, newish factory, and reasonable proximity to Australian, Asian, African and US markets, and you have to wonder why the SA government isn't making tentative advances to Stuttgart now...

Then again, GM is about to give the automotive world a HUGE supply of US trained workers and manufacturing capacity...I guess I can see where DC would rather go for expansion.

[Iphido]

6.1 L 300c sounds even tastier.. 317Kw 569Nm!
20" Wheels! And promises of improved suspension for the driver in you.

Caprice was the odd one out. But in 1 month it will get 6.0L 265Kw engine anyway.

300c looks like a great car, they have one in Chrysler dealership in Parramatta (or so they tell me) and is avalible for test drives. Chrysler is also talking about solid resale (~70% after 3 years) with no fleet discounts and no mass discounting. So if your buying brand new, the 300c is the only logical choice. You'll save thousands come trade in.

The 300c has really caught Ford and Holden napping. The Calais and Ghia models have always been neglected and the Fairlane and LTD.. Well look at the figures.

I hope it spurs Ford into action, otherwise we will all be at the que for the 300c.

[4Vman]

Originally Posted by Fairlane

Christ is a G8 that dear, woops i though they were around the 60.5/61K mark.

At this point in the market its more about luxury apointments and refinement than about outright performance, horses for courses .....

[Steffo]

Originally Posted by Iphido

6.1 L 300c sounds even tastier.. 317Kw 569Nm!
20" Wheels! And promises of improved suspension for the driver in you.

Yes... that thing is tasty!

http://www.fast-autos.net/chrysler/chryslersrt8.html

4160lbs (1891kg) yet it hits 100km/h in 4.9 sec, and 13.2 @ 108mph (172.8km/h)!!! Given some slicks, that thing could probably run a 12 :sm_headba

[4Vman]

The 300c returns 18l/100km v 15 for the others, damn its thirsty.....
DOD its a winner?

[Deadman]

Originally Posted by Fairlane

Christ is a G8 that dear, woops i though they were around the 60.5/61K mark.

I always thought a smarter marketing strategy would have been:

Fairlane Ghia V6 (barra190) / V8 (barra230)

Fairlane T6 (barra245) (instead of G8)

LTD (boss260)

Just my 2c :

[FPV]

Originally Posted by Steffo

Yes... that thing is tasty!

http://www.fast-autos.net/chrysler/chryslersrt8.html

4160lbs (1891kg) yet it hits 100km/h in 4.9 sec, and 13.2 @ 108mph (172.8km/h)!!! Given some slicks, that thing could probably run a 12 :sm_headba

I didnt know 0-60mph was all of a sudden 0-100kmh cause 60mph is round 96kmh. Expect the SRT-8 to hit 0-100 in round low 5's. The guys in america are getting 12's stock, but some people on this board have mentioned that they seem to get quicker times then here, so low 13's is what i'd be expecting. And the SRT-8 is supposed to be underrated in power figures as well.

[FPV]

Also i don't see caprice as a competitor to the 300c and fairmont ghia. A calais would have been a better choice. For whatever reason, wheels seem to love the caprice, last month they were saying the BF was the goods but now it seems to be not as good. I doubt the fairlane would do any good compared to the caprice still, it is a bigger car with hardly anymore features then a fairmont ghia.

[smoo]

Originally Posted by Iphido

300c did alot better than I thought it would given the comparison off top gear (with the monaro and the Jag).

So you take a 'road' test which took place on a beach, of an American car seriously?

At the moment in NZ, the 300C only comes in one trim level for both engines, V6 is at the same price for Ghia and Calais (60k). This will shut out a lot of buyers (like the old man who desperatly wants one), but then again, a 300C with wheels smaller than 18' would look quite lame.

I have already seen quite a few Falcon and Commodore V8 drivers park their cars outside the Chrysler dealer while going in for a look. Should expect their used yard to fill up with more Falcons and Commos soon with the trade ins.

[XRated]

Originally Posted by Deadman

I always thought a smarter marketing strategy would have been:

Fairlane Ghia V6 (barra190) / V8 (barra230)

Fairlane T6 (barra245) (instead of G8)

LTD (boss260)

Just my 2c :

Wash your mouth out! It's an Inline 6!

[tbearz]

Originally Posted by XRated

Wash your mouth out! It's an Inline 6!

deadman's a deadman :gren:

[chevypower]

the 300C article by www.goauto.com.au says they got no worse than 13L per 100 for the Hemi 5.7 even with a heavy right foot. But usually around 12L per 100km. I must say too, that while the 300C has less rear leg room than the Fairlane and Statesman, it has noticably wider hip room, whereas in the back of the WK Caprice, its got more than enough leg room, but a bit of extra width would make it much more comfortable. I think the 300C has a good balance.

[Iphido]

Should expect their used yard to fill up with more Falcons and Commos soon with the trade ins.

Good news for me. Resale on BA Ghias should continue to plummet and save me thousands on a near new Ghia.

[MeestaNob!]

The Ghia (Mont and Lane) really are pitifully spec'ed now. I couldnt recommend them to anyone until they get upspec lighting, power and power everything AT LEAST.

Those specs I would expect from the basic Fairmont.

[Iphido]

Its pretty sad when a mazda six out scores a Fairmont Ghia feature list. Which is a shame because with a few pitiful gizmos the Ghia would really stand out. Ford seem to be deleting features from the Ghia (alloy spare, LSD (was in in E series and early AU cars), full monty audio (below EL quality), Fogs (went missing MKI came back MKII?), only six way driver seat (until BF) when all competitors have atleast 8 way and most(all?) include power passenger etc.

Apparently Falcon isn't getting any goodies until the 2007 Orion. BFII might include monotube shocks, and slightly diffrent mirrors.

[MADDER]

Originally Posted by Abacus

300C $59,990

Fairmont Ghia $57,860

Fairlane G8 $65,405.

I think Fairmont Ghia vs 300C was a fair match.

The odd car out was the Crapice, at $74,390. They should have used a Calais.

I've seen a couple of 300Cs at a Chrysler dealership at Brookvale, in Sydney. They look very, very, good. I don't see how Chrysler can't succeed with this car. Bang for the buck, Ford and Holden are just not in the hunt. Tighten up the suspension a bit on the 300C and its all over. It'll be interesting to see how durability goes.

In my dreams - Mitsubishi goes tits up with the Galant/380 - Chrysler reverses history by taking over the Mitsubishi factory - starts pumping out 300Cs in a wide range of trims to mix it with Ford and Holden - the Big 3 are back, the way it should be. Bliss.

Fairlane Ghia in V8 form is $64761 so may as well have ran a G8. Caprice shouldn't be there. Just another case of comparing whatever they could get their hands on.