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MSRP - $51,000 +
Dealer Invoice - $45,000
Rebate - $4,000
Dealer Rebate - $2,000
Dealer Holdback - $1,000
Net cost to me - $38,000 delivered to VA.
If you want to see what I'm missing go to Ebay Motors, item #1874488049. I hate Chrysler even more!
cvp
Drive = I'm such a loser
Now this will surprise you, even with all the problems I've had I still like the LHS for the same reasons I bought it. It's just now that I'm ready to move on I can't because of $hitty resale value. Live and learn. I get my bonus in April, if Crest has any Caddys left, I may bite the bullet and eat the 8 g's.
Now here's the real reason to jump. Go look at Car and Driver for December 2002. Turn to page 158, ah the 0-60 times. Let me see;
DTS = 6.4 sec
300M Special = 8.0 sec
Mustang GT = 6.3 sec
BMW 330i = 7.3 sec
TL TypeS = 7.6 sec
RSX TypeS = 7.8 sec
G35 = 7.1 sec
Altima 3.5SE = 6.3 sec
Here's my favorite Lincoln LS V-8 Sport = 6.7 sec
Imagine the fun of hunting these sports cars and sedans in a true american luxo-yacht. Did I mention the 425 watt stereo and heated rear seats?
300M special at 7.2
TL type S at 6.7
LS v8 at 7.2
Did I mention the ultra-sonic rear parking assist and rain sensing wipers?
When we got our 01 LHS she said we had to put a spoiler on it so it would not look like a grandpa car.
Since she's had it for a year now and has gotten so many compliments on it her opinion sure has changed. Now she wants to know how long she can keep it. She wants to "Drive it forever"
I ordered that one as it fit the lines of the car so well.
I did not like the factory one and the local custom parts store had another I did not like.
I did disconnect the original third brake light as it seem to much with the led's in the spoiler.
I love to park next to other LHS and Concordes just to show off the spoiler :>)
http://www.california-dream.com/images/99chrylhs73l.jpg
Hey Fedlawman, you still out there? This sure would help you go faster chasing those bad guys.
Also added these wind deflectors, they are not stick ons but fit into the window channel so that the chrome around the window still shows. The tint is a lot lighter than the picture so they match the windows very well
http://www.weathertech.com/store/vehsearch.asp?make_id=12&veh_id=163&year_no=2001&veh_opt_choice_id=&item
http://www.ptwarehouse.com/accessories/interior/visor.jpg
Although not shown on their web site
they will make them up in a rectangular shape with rounded edges at
2-3/4" X 5" that will cover the sticker on the LHS/300M visors.They are available in silver background with black letttering,
black background with gold lettering or gold background with black lettering.The following catalogue numbers are not
shown on the web site but are what you should use if you want to order them.
VISORSLV-05 for silver background
VISORBK-05 for black background
VISORGLD-05 for gold background
If you are driving a Concord, Sebring ,Intrepid T&C or Neon and want these just measure your labels to make sure
they will cover the stickers on your cars.
You see what they look like for the PT cruiser and also place your orders at the following site.
http://www.ptwarehouse.com/index1.htm
They cost $16.00 U.S. a pair
I don't think I need a wing.
I found out a few weeks ago that my LTD is speed limited to 105 MPH...Boo Hoo!
I like the airbag warning covers, nice touch, upscale.
fedlawman,
I agree with you, if you just found out your limiter stops you at 105, you don't need a wing. I knew my top speed within days of purchase. After the 1,500 mile breakin of course.
valhs
Also - reading someposts about people having problems. My '99 LHS has had a fuel pump replaced (twice - dealer didn't install it correctly 1st time), body control module replaced, fuel sensor replaced, window switches (yes plural) replaced, trunk still leaks, fuel gauge replaced and I think there were even more - all before 3 years of age.
Even after all that I still like the looks and ride when it runs well...
after 18 trouble-free months.
He has had wonderful service from his OEM Goodyear LS tires & repleced them with a 2nd set after a bit under 50K miles. I had great service from those same tires on my previous sedan (a Dodge Intrepid). Other well-spoken of alternative tires for the LH cars are Yokohamas (approx $100 ea) and Michelins (several types ranging from $100-$250+/tire).
I agree fully that ALL the automakers (foreign & domestic) do not do nearly enough to police bad dealers. It costs them sales!!!!! At least with Chrysler (or Dodge) you can just go to another dealer for service, which may be impossible if there is but a single
Acura/Infiniti/BMW/MB/Volvo/VW etc. dealer in your area. I have personally witnessed episodes of HORRIBLE treatment of friends at some of these "captive audience" dealers. Choose your car dealer as carefully as your car!!!!!
Don't forget that depreciation has become a real hit for ALL cars recently with the proliferation of cheap leases/0% financing/rebates on new cars. If you don't believe me, check out how the 'blue books" have changed on late model BMW 328i's and MB C240's since they've started offering entry level leases on these babies.
Jon
Has anyone considered wider tires? Can anyone recommend another wider size?
I have had my 99 lhs cinamon glaze for three months. Love it! It is a unique looking car!
cvp
Part Two tomorrow.............
$75 towing - covered
$75 diagnostic - covered
$70 sensor - covered
$27 install - covered
Total saved - $247
They would've also covered a rental car too! So far they've saved me over $550 and at the rate that these Chryslers break down I will have recovered my investment in the extended warranty by the end of the year!
Chrysler = poor quality
1sourceautowarranty = love
SOME day you'll look back on all of this and wonder........ HOW did I do it!! I know. Been there, done that!
fastdriver
http://home.attbi.com/~beesh/Lhs-grill.jpg
It makes any grille look like a POS.
I think it would be a better choice than chroming the original.
The original may be to busy looking chromed.
The guys on the 300M board went with Billet grilles first and are now working on mesh grilles to replace the billets. You may want to contact them for some friendly helpful advise on what material they used and where the got them.
0-60mph LHS 7.5 vs. 7.7 300M
0-120mph LHS 32.7 vs. 35.7 300M
Both 15.7 in 1/4 Mile however LHS is going 89 vs. 88 for the 300M
The LHS also handles better .80g's vs. .79g's for the 300M
Even though the LHS is nearly 10 inches longer, it weighs 30lbs. less than the 300M.
The only option available on the 300M which is not available on the LHS is the autostick. This is a major source of headaches for owners with major reliability issues. Having said that, both vehicles are reliability and resale nightmares, but that can work to your advantage. My guess is that you find a slightly used 300 or LHS in the neighborhood of $12,000. Not bad unless you paid sticker - $32,000. My advice for you is to take the money you've saved and invest in a quality extended warranty. I have 1 source auto warranty and they haven't failed me yet. Two fully covered service visits, rentals, diagnostic, towing, parts, labor, nearly bumper to bumper coverage - they're great! jmho
IMO, these two cars are so nearly identical that you should choose whichever one you prefer based on looks, condition, price, trim, or whatever other preferences you have.
I'd think again! Don't want to see a fellow CT-ite get stuck!
fastdriver
LOL...... Should have read my bio a LONG time ago! Every word is the truth! Oh well- live and learn. Get the Lysol out.
fastdriver
Here's one for ya. I just had a tire go down on me the other day. After inspection I noticed a nail imbedded in the tread. Bought the plug kit and pulled into my garage for repair. After jacking the vehicle I cleared the trunk to get to the lug wrench. As soon as I pulled the cover off of the spare I noticed a musty smell. It was dark and even with the trunk light it was hard to see. After returning with a flashlight I couldn't believe my eyes - nearly 6 gallons of water swimming in my spare tire well (well literally). I say 6 gallons because it nearly filled my wet/dry shop vac. Because I had transported products packed in ice over the past few weeks I explained this away as melt off from the ice. This all happened about 2 weeks ago. Well tonight I have another tire go down, another nail. Not my month for tires. Same drill, clear trunk, take off cover......you gotta be kiddin' me! More water!? Sure enough, not as much, but about two gallons of water in the well. I'm clueless now. I haven't transported ANYTHING after the initial discovery, so I'm wondering what the heck?
This is where fate comes in. I see you answered heidigreenlaw about her purchase descision, sage advice I might add, but mine was funnier. So I say to myself, I've exchanged stories with fastdriver now on 2 or 3 occassions but never checked his bio'. So tonight I check. At the bottom is a section called "here's what I've been saying" along with the sections "LHS", "300M", etc. So I check 300M since I rarely go there anymore AND WHAT DO I FIND.......Your last post #22996 on February 8th, 11:25 am in the 300M section regarding a TSB on "WATER AND/OR DUST COLLECTION IN THE SPARE TIRE WELL TRUNK FLOOR". Fate, destiny, who knows? That just blew me away and I had to share.
Needless to say another trip to the dealer:
Repair body seam
Replace truck matting - moldy
Replace spare tire cover - moldy
Replace jack, spare, lug wrench assembly - rusty
Chrysler stinks, their lack of quality, resale value, customer service and overall dealership experience give them a well deserved last place finish in the domestic car market. I will NEVER make the mistake of buying a Chrysler product again!
It's a shame, because their cars are, imho, some of the best, if not the best looking cars on the road. After changing about 3 transmission in a Dodge Caravan, ES and having to deal w/ flaking, chipping paint, I said, "No more". Chrysler of course took the pathetic course of action and stood behind nothing. So, Chrysler is a joke... too bad unwarry consumers fall prey to them.
Btw, the same crappy transmissions that have been failing for over 15 years are still used in their vans today; you figure it. Good luck w/ your situation.
Thanks for listening.
http://www.detnews.com/2003/autosinsider/0302/14/autos-85317.htm
Suggest all read it and be aware.
Miles
Cause was a loose clamp and the left lower hose entry into the bottom of the radiator. The fluid was being thrown up onto the engine when driving, causing "smoke". Simply tightening the clamp solved the problem. It's probably a good idea to check and tighten all engine compartment clamps if your LHS is a couple of years in service.
Good Luck.
Will take care of it the next semi-warm day!
went to a dealer and saw a beautiful '99 LHS...69K..no nicks..scratches..interior bful...sound system(nice..but not awesome)..altho i'm a stero nut so maybe i'm picky...
rode excellent and heard no noises..tire noise seemed to be high tho...read this forum and now if all over would check the tire brand..they had at least 50% wear left in treads...
ok to bottom line...dealer started with the 12k sticker price and now $10,500...and i think he'll go to 10k even...it looks like i should go with a extended warrenty for sure...what is a reasonable price and time frame for extended warranties..never looked at them before...but this does seem like a big bang for the buck car...love the color...champagne i think...thx
T
Exactly the model and color I have, bought in April '98. In spite of quite a few original problems, I have enjoyed mine, now at 49.5K miles.
Yes, an extended warranty is a good idea, be prepared to spend close to $1500, with that kind of mileage, but it may be worth it. The early '99 models have had some problems, but by 69K, a previous owner should have fixed them. By early, I mean that the car was built in 1998 prior to 1999. Check the door label, driver's side for date of build.
Early '99's had neither 100K coolant nor ATM IV (4) tranny fluid. If you buy, suggest you have both the coolant system and tranny flushed and replace the fluid with those discussed above. Your dealer can tell you which is installed. Matter of fact, suggest you make your deal contingent upon the dealer doing that for you as part of the price since both fluids are not cheap.
Price sounds reasonable, though, especially at 10K. Kelley's shows them in my area (No. VA) running about $8500; suggest you check Kelley's for prices in your area.
The stereo was one of the few original options, other than 5 chrome wheels and moon roof. Standard stereo was a bit weak, but the optional 300w Infinity blasts out the music in a very good range of sound. You might find one in a junker and replace the sheaper unit, tho optional package also has 11 speakers vs the 9 of the cheaper unit.
Hope someone put on good tires since most people got rid of the OEM Goodyears for balance, out-of-round, and ply problems. If it rids well over 40MPH, doesn't pull to one side or other or if the front wheels don't vibrate under braking, you should have a good one. I have Michelin XRM Pilots installed; they're great.
Need any other info, e-mail me at mileshoover@adelphia.net.
Miles
The other thing you should have the dealer do, if it's a Chrysler dealer, is run the car's VIN through their computer to see what kind of warranty record it has. Just a thought.
fastdriver
will do gents...the dealer price here..bluebook is 12k...the private party price is 10k...talked to an auction guy..and there going for approx 9100 wholesale with about 40k miles...
the auction guy is the one that told me 10k would be good price as it is a "clean" car from the outside...i'm not sure if it is early or late '98..but i'll have the dealer run the VIN for service record...thx for the ideas..i must have the average stereo...i see i have an infinity speaker on the driver's door...but only 3 simple adjustments...bass...midrange..treble..
tim
Even if it had the "upgraded" stereo, you wouldn't like it anyway if you're an audiophile. Never heard the regular stereo, but the upgraded one was nothing to write home about compared to the BOSE found in Nissan products.
If it's the Infinity upgraded model, you would have two "triangular" shaped speakers on the front doors, right next to the glass. If you click on my name above, I MIGHT have some pics of them somewhere.
fastdriver
still dealing on the '99 LHS...referenced above..got my dealer to finally give me a good trade in for my '97 explorer sport(hate it)...so i'd pay about 4000k after trade for the lhs with 69K...it does have infinity speakers by the window so maybe it is upgraded..anyways..
this was a local car bought and serviced by this dealer so i had "all" of the service records..and maintenence records...serviced very regularily..geesh..she even had it washed and cleaned all the time by the dealer..minor things i noticed were the hose tightening things..and the trunk open/close function...all fixed...the big thing was 2 transmission modulators...approx $350 per time were fixed..
now the kicker..i decided i was gonna buy it but wanted to take it for one more day to see if i truly liked it...well...check engine light went on..and i thought it was the transmission modulator...dealer called me today and said 4th gear is gone...they will replace the entire transmission and are still offering the same deal..btw..they will also be replacing all the tranny and coolants to tne newer fluids(that was before the tranny went out)...
so how would the new tranny be?..i suspect this is a good thing having it all replaced before purchasing it...let me know what you think?
thx
tim
I'd be tempted still to buy the car. I had the same tranny problem on my '94; had the tranny replaced around 35k and drove it to about 120k until buying my present '99 in April '98.
Since the car is an authentic 'cherry', my opinion is go for it.
Good luck!
Miles
www.caranddriver.com/xp/Caranddriver/dai/20030312_dai_chrysler_se- dans.xml
The NHTSA on March 12, 2003 has opened an investigation on the 1999 & 2000 LHS,300M,and Intrepid for a throttle sticking problem.
Given the "contamination" you report, I'd ask a dealer to check the system/engine for oil leakage into the coolant (as in a broken head gasket or whatever). Or if you can do a cylinder compression check, it should give you a clue.
I have my LHS serviced at a local Texaco Fastlube which didn't have that fluid available, so I would take a jug, previously bought from Mopar, along with me when getting the car serviced. This last week, Texaco had it in stock but charged a few dollars extra to top off the fluid reservoir; whereas the green stuff is included in the service price.
Miles
Then, seriously clean the top edge of the windows to get all that stuff off the edges. Likewise, clean inside the weatherstrip thoroughly. What is happening is auto car washes fluids and/or heat are oxidizing the stripping onto the glass. If you make a practice of doing this about once a week or two, you should have no further trouble.
The weatherstripping is probably tighter than on most other cars or of a material that oxidizes easily. Chrysler supposedly had the supplier correct the mixture for making this stuff from about 2001 onward.
-----------------------------------------------
Chrysler supposedly had the supplier correct the mixture for making this stuff from about 2001 onward.
--------------------------------------------------
According to the posts on the 300M club site the problem has still not been corrected. Owners of '02 and '03's are also reporting the problem.
I just make sure to crack all four windows once a week to break the seals on my '01. 18 months old now and no problems just the black marks at the top of the window that I clean off about once a month.