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It has me lusting for one more than ever, but make mine Magnesium...and with a Hemi!!
They had a Scion xA at a GM test drive event this past weekend that I went to. I wanted to drive it, but it was getting really hot out, and we were getting hungry. After eating, my friend's stomach acted up, and I started getting a headache (damn GM food! ;-), so we just got in line to drive a Hummer H2, and then called it a day.
I was curious to see how it drove, though. They also had an Aveo there. Smallest thing we drove was a Matrix, and while small cars aren't my thing, it's a decent little car. They had a Maxx there as well, but we just drove the regular Malibu. I'm 6'3", and had no problem fitting in it. It feels like it has a bit more legroom than the previous Malibu.
You also really have to put your foot in it to get it to move. It's not like a lot of older cars where you just pop it into gear and it'll lunge forward under its own power. This thing won't idle. About the best analogy I can think of is trying to start off in a car with the parking brake still partially on.
They really don't let you drive that fast on these courses, and with the Hummer, Corvette, and SSR, they have an employee ride with everybody, to keep people from getting too stupid. Most we might've gotten up to was about 25 mph.
They had a little obstacle course set up that was kinda fun, though. The first part put you on an embankment that tilted you either toward the driver's side or the pasenger side, depending on which side you went on. The lady with us said that the driver's side was steeper, so I took it ;-) We were tilted over so far that I started getting worried that we'd tip! I know realistically, that was probably impossible (they wouldn't be THAT stupid, to set up a course like that...would they??), but being inside that thing when it tilted seemed much more extreme than just watching other people drive them on the embankment, while we waited in line!
Then they had this part with alternating craters on either side, so you could see how the suspension takes the bumps. And the last thing was a steep hill. It was a pile of dirt and gravel, maybe 10 feet tall, that you drove up and over, kinda like the first hump on a kiddie coaster or something. Now THAT was kinda fun!
I'll admit, it was fun, but I just don't get it. Even if I had the money, what the hell would I do with the thing? If I were going off-roading, seriously I think I'd try to just get an old Ramcharger, Jeep, Bronco or whatever, that was a little rough around the edges, and I wouldn't cry whenever it got mud on it or a scratch!
Sunday, a local BMW dealer brought a new 545 to our autocross, and let a few lucky souls take it around the course. I didn't get to drive it, but I did ride along. It had the sport package, which gives you an incredible combination of ride and handling. With some of our better drivers at the wheel, it was turning in respectable times despite carrying four people. The consensus among those who drove is that "active steering" works very well. I still can't wrap my mind around the shape or price tag.
I've also seen a light green 300C a couple of times around here. That's a car that says, "Yeah, I'm an American car, got a problem with that?" And it's good looking enough to carry it off well.
Those are unattractive and not very Porsche-like. They had good reasons for going to water cooling but it's part of the Porsche look to have a smooth front, not gaping holes up front.
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
This guy had been driving an '02 or '03 Ram pickup with a 4.7, just RWD, and complaining about fuel economy! I think he has about a 40 mile commute each way. If I were that concerned about economy, I think I'd get an economy car, but I guess even going from that Ram to a Hemi C, he should see a pretty big boost, especially since his commute is mostly highway.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
A new Hemi C would be nice, but so would no car payment! Damn I hate being practical (i.e., cheap) sometimes!!
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
I'd also imagine that Shaq doesn't drive Dodges and 20 year old pickup trucks! ;-)
The headliner's made out of a material that's kinda durable looking, like indoor/outdoor furniture, but I just don't find it that upscale looking, although I like the fact that they covered the inside of the A-pillars with it, as well.
As for ride comfort, well, it's pretty obvious this car is set up for performance, and in general you can have a smooth ride or great performance, but rarely both at the same time. Anybody raised on a cushy full-sized 70's or 80's car, and prefers that kind of isolation, will hate it. In contrast, the 300C feels kinda police car-ish, although I don't mind! ;-)
And this car really reinforces the fact that you should never go on what the published legroom is. The 300 and Magnum are only rated at 41.8" or so in front legroom, which is actually LESS than the Intrepid, 300M, etc that they're replacing (42.2"). But actually sitting inside one, it feels like there's much more stretch-out room.
Andre, time to start rationalizing. You make a payment now, so buy the 300 and keep the payment similar, and it's like getting a new car for nothing. Just ignore the fact that you extended the term 5 years.
FOr the armrest, shouldn't be too hard to get a little pad of some kind to pamper your forearm. And if the blond hair bothers you, get a dark colored interior.
If you need any more help overcoming weak objections or rationalizing, let me know. It's one of my strong points (particularly with other people's money).
At least drive one for yourself. Can't really get a full picture just riding in one.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
I think mine's gonna be Magnesium. Either that, or that light jade green.
Oh yeah, I just found out something of interest, as well...the supplier of the sunroofs for the 300 has run out! My office lead, who has the touring edition, lucked out and got one with a sunroof, but the guy who just got the 300C ordered his, and they had to call him back and tell him their supplier ran out of sunroofs! He asked them who their second source supplier was (he's good at technical talk like that) and the guy just went "uuuuuhhhh..."
I think he said it would have taken a few months to get one with a sunroof, so he just decided to take it, anyway.
I hope the sunroof thing doesn't hurt their sales too much!
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
One was black, the other silver. The black carried the lines better, I thought.
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
Front and back just don't jibe.
Anywho, in the last day, I saw my first Chrysler 300C (black with big chrome wheels, in a dealer's lot) and a Cadillac SLR (??-the new two-seat convertible). Nice looking car, but I almost didn't notice it cuz it looks so much like the CTS except shorter.
Also spied the first Scion XB on the road, it was heading the other way on the freeway so I didnt get too good a look, it was a red-orange color. This car just might be on my short list of used cars to look at in a few years.
Entirely accidental, but good timing. Not that I like the trucky look myself.
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
I hope that the upcoming Charger is more than just a 300 with a Magnum front-end grafted on. But I think I'd prefer a 300 with the Magnum's nose to a 300 with the nose it came with!
Also saw a dark blue 2005 Toyota Matrix (new grille and taillights)
This one was unusual in having no badge on the trunk, I think it was a 530i or 525i 'cuz there were only a single pair of pipes coming out the back and the wheels were no bigger than 16". That type of debadging is popular in Europe but you don't see it much in the status-conscious USA.
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
-Jason
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
Regards... Vikd
I'm also seeing a lot of Cadillac SRXs and, for some reason, Chevy Impalas around here lately. However, the new Chrysler 300 doesn't seem to be that popular in this area. When I was in PA a month ago, I was seeing quite a few of them, but not here.
-Andrew L
Also saw alot of Mazda 6 station wagons on my trip to Virgina last weekend(I wonder if Mazda is selling them to rental's or people are buying them as a low budget alternative to an SUV.)
Also seen alot of Mazda 3's(this car may not be as hot as the 300C but its close.) I am a huge Mazda fan and I haven't seen people go crazy over a Mazda product like this ever. I;m like this car is hot but its a Mazda. Usually don't crazy over buying Mazda. People are going crazy over the 3 though.
I guess Andre 1969 should be thrilled at the the way the new Durango and 300C are selling. I think its Chrysler finally is doing something right.
I like it. A whole lot. Too big for my personal tastes, but if you feel the need to do the big sedan, this is the one to do, IMO.
;-)
LHS and 300M.
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
2005 Jeep Liberty