300C's as beautiful as in the ads

Pfft. I'm reasonably-to-closely familiar with Imperials from '58 through '83, and I don't see any of 'em in the 300C.

I work at a large medical facility. The doctor's parking lot that used to be filled with Land Rovers, Mercedes 500 classes, Porsches, and H2s is starting to sport quite a few 300Cs. I mentioned to one of the surgeons that the torsion bar rear suspension on his Mercedes 500G was pretty cool (a new take on an old idea), and he asked, "What's a torsion bar?". And if you talk to any of them about their 300Cs you'll immediately be told they're, "Mercedes with Chrysler badges". Now try and find a doctor with dirt under his/her nails or a lot of points on their licenses (gross generalization I know). Ask one about powertrains and they'll wonder what Amtrack has to do with cars. They buy for style, prestige, and the Jones's approval. Obviously they think the C fits that bill.

Again, it's all so subjective and many people are influenced by the magazines and the Jones'. Since a lot of car folks are also motorcycle folks, some examples: Mid 80's Suzuki Madura 1200; walked away from a V-Max and got lots of favorable looks from pedestrians but every bike mag complained about the looks/styling so it died after only 2 years. Another Suzuki example; current DL1000 V Strom. Bike of the year and/or in the top three for the last three years by all the mags, but not without mentioning how ugly they look.

BTW, I like the Cs. I still have the '89 New Yorker Landau I bought new because it still works really well at getting me down the road. Also a DL1000 V Strom because it does everything and I'm the only kid on my block with one.

Jay