DetN's Burgess Loves the 300C SRT8

Well, he would, wouldn’t he? I mean, if Detroit was going to build a car for Scott Burgess, the 300C SRT8 would be it. Massive horsepower and . . . massive horsepower. Did I mention massive horsepower? What about massive horsepower? “The 425 horsepower instills confidence that few other engines can. Zero to 60 mph in five seconds; less than 12 seconds later and you’re cruising at 100 mph. It blasts off at lights and makes passing anything on the road as easy as stepping on the accelerator.” So, anything else then? “More importantly, for the 2009 model, engineers changed out some of the suspension to give it a smoother ride and recalibrated the antilock brakes and electronic stability program to make it even sportier. Even in the normal stability control setting, which would be the most restricting, the 300C SRT8 keeps it fun. Slam through a corner and the back end twists just enough to remind you how much fun driving can be.” Ah, power slides in a lumbering Yank tank. I’m so there! No really. Of course, no Burgess review of a car he likes would be complete without a chip on the shoulder FU to eco-weenies and Detroit haters . . .

Now I know there are people out there that question any performance vehicle. Why does the world need a gut-wrenching machine that can turn just about any person’s knuckles white the first time they’re in it? I would answer that question with another one, Why did we send a man to the moon? What else are we going to do with a rocket?

Of course, those people have never met Chrysler LLC’s Street and Racing Technology team. They are an incredible bunch, who get up every morning hoping to find new ways to defy physics.

Oh, and all of their projects, including the 300C SRT8, turn a profit. Something I thought Detroit’s carmakers were supposed to do.

They are obviously building cars people want. And I’m one of them.

Well, that’s one.