COTY: 300 or Magnum?

[GWAZI]

Imagine you are a writer for a top car magazine...
Naturally, the 2005 LX cars FROM DCX are your top choices...
But...which one gets the award?

Chrysler 300 - The rebirth of the great American sedan and the best value in the near-lux class
Dodge Magnum - Segment busting sport tourer and the most powerful car under $30K

Which do you choose?

[DMAG]

I would most likely say the 300C would get top honors. It really is the true competitor to vehicles costing thousands more and bettering them in many aspects.

That being said, I still want a Magnum.

[E55 KEV]

If I were getting the car for gratis it would be the 300C. It has more luxury features and Xenon HID lights and the Magnum at this point does not.

[BlackMagnum]

The 300C gets the nod, but because it's easy to compare. Large rear wheel drive luxury vehicle with monster engine but good handling. What does that sound like? i think it compares well to the last generation 540i, which cost $60,000. The technology is about a generation behind the Bavarians. It should completely dominate in its price range if people accept the styling. The 300C needs some sort of minor sports package, I think. Something with good tires and a nailed down suspension.

The Magnum is what I'm buying and I feel it might be in trouble. Is it an SUV, a truck, or a wagon? I've said for years that sports wagons will talk people off the ledge of SUV driving, but I don't know if its time, and I certainly wasn't expecting this FROM Dodge, essentially a truck company. I figured such a wagon would appeal to more aflluent buyers and perhaps that would have happened if Chrysler was in charge of this, instead of Dodge.

The Magnum has the worst marketing I've ever seen, aimed squarely at those who want nothing to do with it and ignoring those who might take a chance. Are they expecting people to trade in their Escalades or 325 wagons for this? DROP the monkeys and add some sophistication -- it's got a lot to boast about in the areas of technology and European driving dynamics. If it succeeds, it will be because of word of mouth.

Imagine you are a writer for a top car magazine...
Naturally, the 2005 LX cars FROM DCX are your top choices...
But...which one gets the award?

Chrysler 300 - The rebirth of the great American sedan and the best value in the near-lux class
Dodge Magnum - Segment busting sport tourer and the most powerful car under $30K

Which do you choose?

[DMAG]

The Magnum has the worst marketing I've ever seen, aimed squarely at those who want nothing to do with it and ignoring those who might take a chance. Are they expecting people to trade in their Escalades or 325 wagons for this? DROP the monkeys and add some sophistication -- it's got a lot to boast about in the areas of technology and European driving dynamics. If it succeeds, it will be because of word of mouth.

Bingo! Though, I think DC's marketing people don't equate BMW and Dodge buyers cross-shopping each other. That's why they should have offered the 300C Touring Wagon in the NA market.

[E55 KEV]

IMHO, I don't need any type of commercial to decide my buying choice. Regardless if the spots are silly with monkeys or what. Commercials are to make the product unforgettable and usually sophisticated uptight spots are forgettable. Funny, dumb and stupid spots remains on the brain. Dodge is not about luxury or sophistication - it is about power, speed, getting dirty and blue collar just like the dumb guys always asking "that thing goat a Hemi? Chrysler will not/never exclaim "that thing got a Hemi?" in any 300C ads.

I also believe Chrylser would have a hard time justifying the Pacifica if they also sold the 300 Wagon. That would be two so-called "Sport Tourers" under the Chrysler badge because the Pacifica is more wagon than SUV.

[DMAG]

I also believe Chrylser would have a hard time justifying the Pacifica if they also sold the 300 Wagon. That would be two so-called "Sport Tourers" under the Chrysler badge because the Pacifica is more wagon than SUV.

Good point...touche!

[BlackMagnum]

Yes, excellent point that puts the marketing in perspective. I guess what I'm saying is that I want (and would rather be associated with) a 300C Wagon.

I also believe Chrylser would have a hard time justifying the Pacifica if they also sold the 300 Wagon. That would be two so-called "Sport Tourers" under the Chrysler badge because the Pacifica is more wagon than SUV.

Good point...touche!

[fluxanimator]

I don't have any problem being associated with a commercial containing monkeys. Monkeys Rock!

[BlackMagnum]

Indeed. It's not just the monkeys, it's Bubba and his drivetrain questions that bugs me.

Can luxury come with a 340 hp Hemi? Absolutely.

Redefining the classic American sedan.

Just a couple taglines FROM the Chrysler site for the 300. No monkeys, no Bubbas, just the classic combination of class and performance.

I don't have any problem being associated with a commercial containing monkeys. Monkeys Rock!

[fluxanimator]

I agree that those Hemi guys have gotten annoying. The monkey one was better than some of their other "macho guy" ads though. I guess I just have always found monkeys funny no matter the context.

[E55 KEV]

Don't hate the Monkeys! Most of us spend copious amounts of time "Spanking the Monkey"!

[E8502]

The monkey add was stupid...

I think the 300C would get it. However, would it be possible that they would give it to the "LX Cars" as a pair??

[GWAZI]

Personally, I think the 300 would win for many reasons, but mainly because of DCX's marketing job. The 300 comes out first, has the more conventional body style, follows up on 300M/Concorde sales, and is already being hailed as the great American sedan. All the Magnum has is poor, if any, advertising, questionable niche, no follow up on the Intrepid, and a LOAD of question marks FROM reviews. COTY: 300

PS - I'm suprised no one has pointed out my mistake: the Magnum is officially a "truck." TOTY, anyone?

[fluxanimator]

GWAZI you raise a point. I have not seen magazine reviews for the Magnum. Is this because the 300C is so similar that they lump the two together, or is it that the 300C is coming out first and soon the Magnum reviews will follow?