Chrysler 300M

travmn

ok, so this isn't a "real" dilemma considering other things going on lately, but, it's my own little personal one. In the past few weeks, i've missed having a stick shift more than ever. reason why, i have no idea. my old car was a stick, and i was hoping the auto-stick in my 300m would satisfy the lazy side of me as well as the gotta go fast side of me, but it just doesn't seem to be working. so now i've been teasing myself looking at possible other cars ( stick-shift of course ) including the lexus IS300 ( hmm, there's that 300 again ), bmw 3 series, and that new mercedes coupe. All are basicaly the same price as a 300m ( but a lot smaller ). the IS300 was a real treat to drive and has a nice appearance ( one of those love it or hate it cars though ). Handling was superb, nice setup, and fairly quick, and a very "interesting" interior. the bmw and benz are both nice cars, but they are bmw and benz. So here I am, driving a nice car already ( already at 40k miles though ), wanting a new one, but not sure. ahh well, sorry for ranting guys, but if u got any opinions, let me know.

ottowrkr

very close to this on the frontend....... http://www.chrysler.com/experience/concept/img/concept5_p1.jpg

sdmike2

Consider a low mileage 528i or 540i with BMW's nice 6 speed manual tranny. The 540 gives you a fast V8 versus the V6 in the 528. The 5 series bimmer gets you closer to the size of the M, although not quite there. You can probably get a nice 98 or 99 in the 30s. Here's an example:

Bimmer

sdmike2

I hope not.

fuzzywuzzy

Gee I had that problem too. But then I got my 5 speed manual Explorer to help that problem

I also test drove the manual IS300 last weekend. Only one the dealer had, & it was a very used test mule. Had 1200K miles on it, & it was a very nasty yellow(I hate yellow!) I really did like it alot though. The manual is way faster then the auto. The Lexus is small to, so it can be thrown around a bit more then the big 300M, & fit's into those small mall parking spaces I loved it. In fact I would buy one, if it wasn't for one MAJOR thing. I can't stand those stupid gauges!!!! They get me dizzy! I'm also at 41K miles on the M, I'm changing what I look for in a car. So in a few months with car prices dropping, who knows??

sdmike2

You getting my emails to your GTE addy? I haven't heard back from you.

russklass

I solved my stick-shift craving by buying a Mazda Miata 12 years ago. I still have it...only 23,000 miles.
The Miata is the most fun-for-the-buck of anything on the road, and there are a lot of good used ones out there at bargain prices.
Good luck, whatever you do!

sdmike2

How time flies. I remember when those little suckers first came out. A lot of people paid a pretty hefty premium over MSRP to get one.

russklass

"How time flies. I remember when those little suckers first came out. A lot of people paid a pretty hefty premium over MSRP to get one."

Not me, Mike!
I paid list, $17,250, which was the first and only time I ever paid MSRP.
Now I would have to pay more than that, PLUS my '90 for a new one. Go figure!

phases78

i have to drive thru many a blockades at work, and EVERYONE i have to stop and show my ID too comments on the car, EVERYONE, never fails..

and today, i was pullin in to a parkin spot the same time a guy in a mercedes was pullin into the spot next to me, so when we got out he was in awe talkin about my car. askin me all kinds of questions.. i told him he had a sweet ride too and he just blew the comment off and kept on about the M. he said he was gonna trade in his car for an M within a couple weeks. ahhh, what a car....what a car..

http://phases78.homestead.com/300m.html

phases

300michael

Finally got a call back fro PIR for us to have the meet there would be roughly $4,000.00 (yes, I said four thousand dollars for the day. The break down is $3,500. to use the track, We would have to have emergency services at $75. an hour. $350 for fire department personal. We would also have to purchase a $3,000,000. (that is Million) insurance policy, that is not included in the above figures. And that was the least expensive of the tracks. I talked to some of the local malls to use there lots and they wanted at least a million dollar policy, incase someone hit our cars. The whole clubs 300M's combined don't equal a million dollars. But have no fear I stll have a couple of aces up my sleve.

sdmike2

Amazing what lawyers have done to us (sorry Denver..heh). Everyone is worried about liability. Oh well, just find a place with a big parking lot that won't be busy on a Saturday. Maybe a community college or something like that. I would guess that we'll hang out for a while, ooh and ahh and take pictures, and then go somewhere for a snack. We don't really need anything fancy.

denverm

Hey, no need to apologize. I don't do personal injury or product liability litigation, and I agree that it's gone too far. Whenever anyone gets hurt, there has to be someone else to sue, which triggers all this defensive stuff. One example that strikes close to home: those UGLY warning stickers on our sun visors. See what I think of them: http://www.btjdesign.com/300m/visors.html

300michael

So what did you plance over the do not stick hands or feet under the lawnmower, and do now stick your head into the engine compartment or don't operate the vehicle while under it stickers???
To me personally I would sue the guy that hit us in the parking lot not the Parking lot. Besides what is the differance between our cars sitting in the lot while we are shopping in the mall and if we are standing by our cars in the lot?
Not all lawers are bad, just some of them. Kind of like used car salesmen.

denverm

LOL, but I don't care how ugly my lawnmower is!

drpixel

Friday in NYC......still very strange down here....the air downtown by the Bank is still smokey smelling, but a new smell is in there along with it.....very strong police AND military presence today, which is spooking me out, but I feel safer knowing they're all around.

On to a puzzle, which MAYBE some of you can help me out on, being the fine, methodical folks we are. The included message below is from another of our NEW international members--Magiel Venema- from the Netherlands--cool, huh?
His membership information stated that he has a Dark Sapphire Blue 1 9 9 9 300m! I know youse guys (and gals..) are a tad more up on this stuff, but even I know that DC didn't start using the Dark Sapphire Blue color until the end of model year 2000. My hunch is that its REALLY a Steel Blue color, as he stated in his message. since I want to complete his membership package, I don't want to send him a membership card with the wrong color on it, so can SOMEONE give me a hand on this? He included his VIN number..and also mentioned he's had his 300m since 1998 (?)...did DC release the 300M in Europe first?....inquiring mind(s) want to know!
regards from smokey Noo Yawk,
Doc

============================Magiel's Email==============================
Dear Glenn Beije (the dutch way!),

Thank for your welcome e-mail!
My 300M is officially from 1998 (maybe they were earlier in Europe than
in the US). The license was first issued on July 2, 1998.
The VIN is 1C3HEB6G4XH208192, maybe you can decode it.
I would love to join the chat room, but 10 pm EST is almost 03.00 am
here!

I am looking forward exchanging views with other 300M cars. I will write
Daimler-Chrysler Netherlandsa about the club. I do not think there will
be that many 300M's in our country.

Very soon I will send a couple of pictures of my 300M.

Regards,
Magiel Venema
==========================end of Magiel's Email===========================

drpixel

My wife Linda has solved THAT problem. My garage is so full of 'stuff' that all I have is a path from the garage opening to my den door. One of these days I'm going to rent a dumpster and throw EVERYTHING out! Only recently I got rid of about 20 years of National Geographics. Most of the stuff in the garage is from departed relatives, and while I can understand wanting to keep some of this stuff, its gotten completely out of hand!

type to youse L8R,
Doc

fuzzywuzzy

I have a 2 car garage. But half was converted into a libary, the other half is filled with the washing machine, & stuff in boxes. The M has to park outside all the time

drpixel

for those of us are 'data-heads'. As most of you know, I placed a new counter on the Club home page. Since the new counter was added on July 12th:
* the site has been 'hit' 11,575 times with 5506 unique hits
(I am not clear on what a unique 'hit' is. I am trying to find out..)
* We are averaging 196 total daily hits, with an average of 8.17 hits per hour
* 68.87% of hits come from Internet Explorer, with version 5 taking 55.6%
28.5% is from Netscape, version 4
* Majoity of daily hits ocurr between 8:00am and 1:00pm
* Operating systems: 44% Window NT, 39.5% Windows98, 6.8% Windows95, Mac 6.1%, HP-Unix 2.7%, WebTV .68%
* Countries accessing our site: U.S., Portugal, Canada, Netherlands, Switzerland, Latvia and France
End of data.

300michael

The vin # states the it is a built in USA by Chrysler Corp, it is a Chrysler, it is a passanger car, it is a 300M, it is a 99 with the 3.5L.
No color code in the vin # The paint code is located just about the vin # on the center row. You need this to tell the exhact paint porceedure. or he can check the paint code in the door sill.

sdmike2

Doc. It can probably be a couple of things. First, "hits" often includes graphic hits as well as page hits. If that's the case, then "unique hits" might be page views. If your stats package treats "hits" as just page views, then "unique hits" may be unique user sessions....and if you divided unique hits into hits you'd get the average number of page views per user session.

topdavis

I had the Goodyear 17" tires that came with my car. After 5,000 miles I realized these tires are horrible for the 300M. I waited until more tires came to the market in the 17" range. At first I was going to buy a set of Continental's or the Michelin's, but I ultimately decided to go with the Yokohama Avid T4's. I think the great reviews from owners of the tire convinced me to give them a try. I had never owned a set, so why not give them a whirl?

Compared to the Goodyear's, these tires are incredible. I have tried them on the same winding roads I drove with the Goodyears and the improvement is extremely noticeable. There is absolutely no squeal when cornering like there was with the Goodytear's. The ride is still comfortable and I think a little quieter. They grip great from a 'jack-rabbit' start - no screeching tires. In turns with the Yoko's there is no drift in the turn. The car stays solidly on its line. Thus far I have been pleasently surprised by the Yoko's and would recommend them to 300M users. Even better, the price for them is great, $87 a piece from Tirerack.

scotian

Or if the IP of the viewers is logged, it might be a count of the different IP addresses that accessed any of the site.

scotian

You didn't have to go and do that! Thanks!

(The Chrysler 300M Enthusiasts Club just sent me 100 postage stamps to compensate me for the clock faces I've mailed out. Hopefully I can put them to use soon, as I have a few orders to fill.)

Again, Thank you!

sdmike2

Now that's just cool.

rogor2k

You are most welcome. 'Twas the least we could do.

sdmike2

You at risk at all with the announced layoffs?

rogor2k

I'm more than at risk. I'm a steenking contractor!! Got any room at your house?

intrepidspirit

The 300M was out in 1998.

I leased an Intrepid on Memorial Day weekend in 1998 and the 1999 300M had just arrived at the dealer's lot...caused quite a stir -- I was still trying to get used to the eye-catching styling of the new Intrepid at the time...it was a good time for Chrysler...

drpixel

the Doctor will be one of your next customers--but I need the url for your album to make my selection. Maybe then, at the next East Coast Chrysler 300m Enthusiasts Rendezvous 2002, I can qualify for the MINIMUM number of 'mods' <*wink*>.

The link below takes you to a satellite image of Ground Zero. Da Fed is the orange-roofed building about mid-image. Why not PAINT a target on the roof, too?!

Doc

http://www.spaceimaging.com/IKONOS/WTC0915_2.JPG

drpixel

Message from Magiel Venema of the Netherlands with a code (?) maybe about paint color?
Also thanks to all for responses on unique hits, etc.....
~~~~~~~~~~~~~response from Magiel~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dear Glenn,

There are a lot of codes, so I had to pick one: MDH 051409?

Regards,

Magiel

traley

Has anyone ever heard of these people?
My father is looking for an extended warranty for his Cadillac.
Also, what is the name of that website that compares extended warranties?

scotian

http://albums.photopoint.com/j/AlbumIndex?u=1280646&a=9486000&f=0&sp=1&showall=true

bigmike5

I think I have a 99M Catalog at home, and will look up the colors offered for the 99. I will post on Monday if I find it. I got my 99 on 27 Jul 98.

sdmike2

I checked out www.warrantydirect.com when I bought my M. Looked like a good company with good contracts.

sdmike2

Here is a document containing DC color codes as well as other mfgrs. They should have been the same for 99. You can see in the chart that Inferno Red (mine) is code PEL. Sapphire Blue is PBW, and Steel Blue is PBQ. Tell your new member to look for one of those codes on his door tag.

http://www.fss.gsa.gov/pub/auto/01color-charts.pdf

fuzzywuzzy

I'd be carfull with those guys. They sent me many advertisments that I didn't request to get extended coverage. I had 2 used cars, & they kept sending me these advertisments. They had the exact year, model, & color of the used car. I didn't give this info to them, so I don't know where they got it. I had to call them to stop sending me stuff. They also didn't research 1 of my cars. It had over 100K miles, so it was not elgiable for any sort of extended warranty. They seem a little fishy to me.

http://www.warrantygold.com

http://www.chryslerwarranty.com

http://www.meltonsales.com

are good ones.

ruski

I don't think that even steel blue was a 1999 color

jj300m

The MDH code mentioned above is the production datestamp; 051409 translates in to a May 14, 9:00AM production date.

Paint codes for these cars are typically letter-letter-number, like PS2 for example.

traley

Thanx. I have Warranty Gold for my M..but my pops seems to think they are a bit overpriced.
I will check out those links.

fuzzywuzzy

Well, maybe......
I went with a co-worker today to pick up his new car. It happend to be an Acura RL. I looked at a TL-S, & CL-S while we were waiting. Brand new 2002's in silver with black leather. No NAV system though(I hate them anyway) I'm sorry, but I wish this car was out when I bought the 300M. It would be mine now I understand why fastdriver is so happy. Didin't test drive them, but got too look & sit in them. Nice cars. They both have little rear seat room, but then again, I never have anyone back there. The trunks are large. Not 300M large, but hold thier own. It's weird, I have such a better seating position then in the M. I barely had to touch the seat controls. The prices are comparable to the 300M. Maybe a $2500 difference. The dealer also told me they expect some discounts in the next few months to help sales. Since the Attack sale al over have been down, & with the market the way it is rigth now, Acura, & most other manufactures will have to offer some sort of discounts. I'm sorry to but in with the TL stuff. But recent events, have just killed my view of the 300M. It's a good car, but many others are out now, that are = or better. These weren't out in 99, or 00. Chrysler better wake up!

fastdriver

Dr.-

My infamous Christine was built in April of 1998. I leased it on June 17, 1998. They were available in 98. Can't help you with the color. Not sure where I put my 99 brochure.

Thanks for the space image site. It's incredible. WHY is that image SO clear and the images of these terrorists at bank ATM's and airport metal detectors so blurred? Cheap technology? Being a few feet away from a camera should give us a clear picture- no?

fastdriver

tnsc_300m

hi folks, our good friends at edmunds has a page with 99 300M info including interior/exterior colors under its used cars pages.

check the link below.

http://www.edmunds.com/used/1999/chrysler/300m/4drstdsedan/options.html?id=lin0064

fastdriver

fuzzywuzzy-

Now you know. If you were impressed with just sitting in it, you should have driven it! ;-)) You wouldn't believe it. 8,600+ miles and only TWO dealer visits for oil/filter changes and a tire rotation and balance for a grand total of $46.00!

You're right- not as much room in the rear seat, but I hardly ever have anyone back there either. That was no factor. Trunk is deceiving from the outside. Quite roomy inside. Didn't you like the way the seats just hold you? Granted, not as many bells and whistles as the 300M, but you can't have everything. Next visit, drive one. Interested in your opinion.

fastdriver

sdmike2

It's all about $$ Those satellites have multi-million dollar camera systems in them. What you normally see from ATMs or the local 7-11 are frame captures from cheap VCRs and cheap cameras.

sdmike2

I was going to buy a TL until I discovered the M. I went with the M because of some of the features (2 remote-linked seat memory positions) and the size (needed 3 car seats in back). Nice cars

fastdriver

sdmike2-

Thanks. That's what I figured- $$$. Maybe it's time to upgrade those other cameras!

fastdriver

sdmike2

Yeah, let's point the Hubble towards the ATMs!

ruski

have been surpassed by TL - 2002 TLs also have the memory seats. I am not sure if they are linked to the key fob though or to the mirrors (for example, my wife's Lexus RX300 has memory seats that are only activated by the button on the dash and are not linked to the mirrors and that kind of sucks)

fastdriver

sdmike2-

Thanks. That's what I figured- $$$. Maybe it's time to upgrade those other cameras!

fastdriver