I have to admit I have always enjoyed the company of women with lots of attributes to ensure comfort and pleasure, but also with an extra degree of raciness to provide a touch of excitement, and these are attributes I unsurprisingly also apply to my choice of cars.

It was therefore with some satisfaction when Border Cars of Carlisle was keen to provide me with car of presidential proportions which would not be out of place in a cavalcade speeding up to the White House.

The car in question turned out to be the Chrysler 300C CRD SRT Design in subdued accountant grey, a monster of a car at 16 and half feet long and 6 and half feet wide.

Moreover, I lay a pound to a penny you would think it was a Bentley, due to is size and imposing honey comb mesh grill which is not a lot dissimilar to Derby’s best.

The two acronyms stand for Common Rail Diesel and Street and Racing Technology; Design indicates a higher level of bling such as bucket seats, the grill and body cosmetics.

Chrysler has had a very chequered career since 1925 and eventually went under in the late 1990s when Mercedes stepped in and Daimler Chrysler was born, though the complications of current ownership are far too difficult for this simple brain.

The important thing for the 300C is that it is based on a previous Mercedes E-Class to which Chrysler fitted a new body, underpinnings and blessed with a Merc-sourced sweet and powerful V6 diesel.
The 300C has a classic three-box profile, its length enhanced by the illusion the high and narrow window line gives.

The front box contains the V6 3-litre diesel and the rear one has a large boot which will carry a month’s Tesco shopping, though you will have to use two parking bays because it is so long when you do.

Were I to blindfold you and sit you in the central section driver’s seat and then unveil you, I again bet you might think you were in a Bentley because the dash layout is very similar, right down to the centrally-placed small clock, though the one in the 300C is not an expensive Breitling.

However, if you think this is a big family car you would be mistaken if you and her-in-doors had eschewed prophylactics after two brats because the two rear seats, like the front ones, are huggy buckets and a third person would be decidedly uncomfortable, particularly as there is a large, central transmission tunnel.

So, take it that the 300C is definitely an executive limo rather than a big Mondeo.

And that central tunnel means the Chrysler 300C is blissfully rear-wheel drive as I found when I floored the throttle on the loose which resulted in pleasing rear-wheel spin and a bit of a power snake down the lonnin! Okay, I’m a hooligan!

As the 300C also sits on tractor-size 20-inch alloy wheels with low-profile wide tyres which would not look amiss on an F1 car, and as it hits the scales at nearly two and half tonnes, I reckon driving in snow would be an interesting experience, though it also bristles with handling technology and safety equipment.

Despite the elephantine size and weight, the V6 diesel is a lively performer which can get the 300C to 62mph from rest in 7.5 seconds and rush on to over 140mph due to 376 pound foot of torque at 2800rpm plus 215bhp of power. For it size its emission rate of 215 g/km is excellent and its combined consumption of 35mpg is also impressive.

However, if you share my love a brute power, you could go for the 6.1-litre hemi V8 SRT8which will rocket you to 62mph in 5 seconds and onto 168mph for which Border Cars tell me they supply spare underpants as part of their customer service!

On the road, the diesel is so well insulated it is near silent except when really thrashing it when it is bit more audible, but the 300C is built for gobbling up motorway miles, so with cruise control on and a truly awesome entertainment system to complete the calm and serenity, I could happily go all the way to Cote d’ Azur in one hop.

However, as owners are more likely to be using our Cumbrian A and B roads I was pleased to find it handled the twists, turns and increasing potholes with aplomb.

The only problem came when parking, though thankfully there are sensors as there is no way I could see the end of the bonnet or boot!

The 300C is one heck of an imposing and extremely comfortable car which got many jealous looks, so as long as you have a garage big enough it makes a very sensible buy for aspiring executives and 2.2 families.

It is a far more economical choice than certain German offerings at twice the price and helped by the Border Cars’ discounts of over a staggering £8,000 off list price, the 300C is a bargain because you get a look-alike Bentley for only about £19,000 to really make your neighbours feel gutted and pretend you are the Chief Executive!