Chrysler 300M

alta_300m

The stock colours the supplier uses for the PT Cruiser Laser Etched Plaques can be viewed at the following link:

http://www.ptdoityourself.net/ptdiyspecial.html

uxca300m did ask the supplier if there are other colours available that would go better with the beige. What do you think of the Gold on Black?

I also think Black on Gold would look nice, but we will have to wait to see what the supplier has to say. Laser Etching is a unigue process and is subject to availability of the background blank. Currently it appears he only stocks the silver and black backgrounds.

300michael

Here we are all taking off are badging and lettering on the exterior and adding it to the interior.

300michael

for your inputs. I posted them at http://community.webshots.com/user/my300m_ On page 2. For $30 each I will not be out much if one gets trashed.

300michael

I was just suggesting that by going to a larger size wiper it will increase your visability. My going to the larger sizes gives me total window clearing edge to edge. Of course you can get just replacement blades.

bigmike5

Spoiler--I got mine thru my local Ziebart Dealer and it cost $300 installed. The dealer raved about the quality of the paint on the spoilers from Dawn Enterprises and I have to agree. It had an absolutely flawless finish and matched the paint exactly. Took him 1/2 hour to install. It is elegant and understated. Check them out at www.Dawn-ENT.com. There are lots of styles and sizes out there, but I like the rounded corners and edges on the Dawn spoiler. The dealer model didn't impress at all. Some have 3 posts, some have 2, I don't know if any for the M have the light bar in the spoiler, mine doesn't, but the one I got for my wife's 00 Eldo does. Its all a matter of taste, like so many things.

fuzzywuzzy

Going on a road trip next week. FL-NYC-penn-NYC-FL. I'm renting a 300M! Hopefully it's not beat up. Gee wonder if I can remember how to "drive" one

uxca300m

I'm still chuckling a day later :-)

silverbullet4

Thanks, Mike. That confirms my understanding of the stock setup. I have replaced the OEM filter (with another OEM) and noticed a little smoother response.

Re Bikes: I have a nice Italian Basso road frame with Columbus SL tubing and Shimano Dura-Ace components and retro sewup tires on aero rims and bladed spokes. Great road bike. 12 years old and only had to replace trashed wheel rims and chains twice. The Dura-Ace reliability? The rear index shifting cable replaced after 6 years. That's it!

Silver

uxca300m

I phoned Ira to-day(PT Warehouse) and talked to him about these labels. I asked him about a brushed gold background and he called the supplier while I was on the phone with him. It would appear that they will be available. He will let me know tomorrow for sure. In the meantime if you want to order the silver or black wing/Chrysler emblems go to his site at http://www.ptwarehouse.com/index1.htm

In the order form use VISORSV-05 for the silver back ground or VISORBK-5 for the black background and VISORGLD-05 for the gold background if it becomes available. These are the part numbers we came up with to differentiate from the PT Cruiser emblems. Ira advised me that his web site is undergoing an update and that the new numbers will eventually appear so go ahead and order. Only $16.00 per pair U.S.A.

alta_300m

Great Job Mike, hopefully this will satisfy most people. I know it will me! I will go ahead and order the Black on Silver for my Grey interior today (VISORSV-05).

If somebody wants to trial order the Black on Gold (VISORGLD-05) to see how it matchs up with their beige interior please go ahead.

Everybody please be aware that this is a new product that the supplier is producing so there is not a guarantee that everything will be perfect the first few orders.

sdmike2

Great job guys! I'm going to order a set of the brass colored ones for my sandstone interior. I'll take pictures of course.

Glenn - Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery! I can't wait to see how it looks on Franchesca. Oh, by the way, there's a popsicle box on your front porch with stuff in it. It's not a bomb, it's Zaino.

sdmike2

I spent the better part of the day over in Carlsbad in a successful trip to scope out the 300M meet. I visited the dealer lot and BOY WAS IT PACKED. There was hardly room to walk because of all the cars. I went in and talked to one of the sales managers (not our contact, who was out today) and he said that whenever they have an event they move all the new stock from out front to the back to make room. Their view is "whatever gets people in the door"....whether it's a bunch of beautiful Ms or other cars out front. Looks like we have a home, folks.

I also visited a couple of local hotels and got good response from the Carlsbad by the Sea Holiday Inn. She's willing to do a non-block rate for the 15th and 16th at a block price because they're not real busy. Those traveling from out of town will be happy to hear that the hotel will be only $109 per night...practically free compared to normal pricing on the SoCal coast. I also traced the "parade route" and found some great views but not likely any parking availability on the weekend. At least we'll see some nice ocean views along the famous Hwy 101.

If you needed more incentive, the meet location and hotel are right next to Legoland California. Bring the family! More information as it develops!

Mike

glennbp

We all you a debt of gratitude for doing the legwork and scoping out the meet area. Sounds like it's really going to be great! I'll try to talk the wife and kid into going since they haven't been to Legoland. Thanks for delivering the Zaino... Francesca feels prettier just knowing it's around! I ordered the visor plaques in black. It will be interesting to compare yours and mine when they arrive.

lflowers

I just found an interesting link. You can use your Palm handheld for an OBD device!

http://www.auterraweb.com/

Lynn Flowers

McKinney, Texas

sdmike2

You'll want to do Legoland when you have nothing else planned. Like any other amusement park it gets pretty crowded on the weekends, and you certainly don't want to pay $35 per person to spend a couple hours there on a Saturday evening.

Hey, I went over to our meeting place and tried to find that gold M (to card it) but no luck! Rats. I'll have to keep trying. Oh, and Blonda, I wasn't able to find that M up by the auto park. I'm pretty sure I had the right street (the light after the BMW dealer...the road with all of the automotive places), but no luck.

beach15

Okay, here's what we bought tonight at Wal*Mart for $3.



But, we have a problem again (a shocker). They replaced some switch for the wipers yesterday and they were working correctly again until this morning. Go out, turn the car on, let it warm up, and turn the wipers to the first notch. Nothing. They shifted up about an inch, and froze. Turn the dial back and forth, and they start to work. This is getting quite old!

Oh yeah, and also, two weeks ago, I found that the trunk was leaking. It leaked for two days down the right side and into the tire well, then stopped and was bone dry for a week. We thought it was a fluke. Then tonight, guess what, soaked! It rained off and on through the day and my mother said she checked but it was dry. We go to the store, come out and when the trunk is opened, the carpet is soaked down the right side and into the well.

Yeah, most of the back end was hacked off, that is, except for the right side. And, it's leaking on the right side. I try to tell them this, but no matter what I do, "It's because of the wreck." Okay, maybe, but why is it coming from a spot that the shop never actually touched? Hmm?

And, when I've been cleaning it on the weekend, the weatherstripping has shrunk and pulled away on all the doors, and has pulled apart on the bottom on one of the backs, again!

I'm telling you, this car is nuts!

beach15

Hey guys, take a look at the new Grand Prix!

http://www.detnews.com/2002/autosinsider/0202/07/b02-409747.htm

http://www.clubgp.com/forum/

I must say, I really like it. There's something a little funny about the front and the rear spoiler looks wierd, but as a whole it looks great. And the biggest improvement, is the interior! All that el-crappo shiny and hard plastic grabage is gone! We'll just have to see what the production version ends up like though.

(The M still has a little bit nicer lines though!)

sdmike2

Get a metal tool box. Put rocks in it. Drive to a quary and point the car at it. Put the tool box on the gas pedal. Cram the car into to gear and jump out of the way.

beach15

Funny! Now, if my mother was having one of those 5 minute crazy episodes...

sdmike2

wow. that club has over 9000 members! Where did you see the interior and rear pictures?

sdmike2

February 13-18 at the convention center. Local dealers have $2.00 off coupons (price is $7 instead of $9) good for the weekdays only (13, 14, 15, 18). If anyone's going give me a holler.

Oh, I just LOVE driving Big Red into DC dealers and seeing their faces. They're never quite sure why the car is different because the changes are subtle....little noisier, little more exhaust pipes, little more tint, little less lettering...heh

Mike

glennbp

I was planning to go to the show on Friday the 15th. If that works for you, let's get together. I really want to see the Hemi C in person even if they don't place it in production!

sdmike2

You workin that day or playing hooky?

lonestarsled

Check these out, note the shifter handle! And who was it that stole the 300M headlights! Tell me Chrysler designers are not cutting edge.

http://www.c5forum.com/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic&f=7&t=000164

GP still to "Batmobile" for me.

sdmike2

I like it! I agree...some of that stuff came right off the 300M. However, it will take a heck of a lot for me to get over my general ill feelings about Pontiacs.

sdmike2

Ok..here's a page with information on the meet. Doc, put a link to this page from the club site, will ya? Maybe instead of the email link change it to "for more information and to reserve your place, visit the meet information page at

http://www.ritchiefamily.com/sdmeet.htm

300michael

Very nice job on the site

300michael

Nice front end and side profile. I see a little of the Hemi C in the center dash though. But the interior looks like 10 different designers each got a section of interior to design and didn't comunicat to the other designers their intentions. The back is ugler then the 300M (Pontiacs seem to have the worst rear ends in all automotivedom)too bad, the super charger is a nice touch.

300michael

Chryslers need an OB III model not the II. Very had and expensive to find.

scotian

Better than what they have now, but still ick.

bigmike5

Man from the front and side that is a close copy of the M styling. Never have liked the fixation that they have with orange lights in the interior, and those little circles for air vents suck along with..is that a "faux" hand brake?? The shifter looks like the new one I just got. Pontiacs have always been one of my best friend's favorites, but I have seen too many with trany problems [not seen with Olds, Buick or Caddy] to take them seriously as a possible purchase. Like the color of the paint and the HP.

Great work on the plaques. I am going for either the silver or black--can't decide which right now.

kosh_2258

My bet is one of two things:

1. One of the joints in the wiper mechanism is damaged and is binding up from time to time.

2. There is a dead spot in the wiper motor. This is less likely since the the wipers move off park when turned on.

Pop open the hood when they are stuck and listen to the motor to see if it's humming or buzzing. If it is then the mechanism is probably binding. If not, then the dead spot is likely.
Try giving one of the arms a light tug forward and see if they start working that would also indicate a binding mechanism.

lflowers

In the pics of the GP interior, it looks very small inside. I like the exterior looks MUCH better than any previous GP (hard to believe the same division designed the Asstek!), but the interior looks cramped. I believe I'll keep my M, thanks anyway.

Lynn Flowers
McKinney, Texas

sdmike2

You guys know if the black on gold plaques are available from the supplier yet?

mikeyjohn

I'm waiting also to see if the plaques come out with the black on brushed gold. I can't say that I like the other colours because of my interior. Good luck on your meet that you are organizing, it looks like that it could the best ever. Why not contact DC and see if they will help sponsor, especially if you have the show and tell on a dealers lot?

sdmike2

Have you heard whether the plaques are available in our color yet? When I read the posts I get a little confused, with one person saying wait and the other saying go for it.

As for the meet, I think it'll be great if we get some cars there. Right now we have 8 yesses, which in 300michael's experience means 4 cars. Not nearly enouth to make it noteworthy. I DO know that those 4 are for sure though....me, glennbp, 300michael and blonda. If my buddies glenn and blonda don't show I'm gonna hunt them down. lol!

http://www.ritchiefamily.com/300m.htm

mikeyjohn

I am also confused about the posts, so I will wait until I hear they are in. If you can arrange for one of the US cargo planes which are transporting Cdn troops and equipment to Kandahar from Edmonton Alta to take a sidetrip to SD Cal. with my M and possibly alta 300M, you can count me in for the meet. LOL. I would love to attend.

sdmike2

If you wanted a little warm weather and some R&R I'm sure we could find you a place to ride "shotgun" if you flew in.

sdmike2

The autoshow is open 10am - 10pm on Friday. I have to pick up my inlaws at the airport at 8:30, so if it works into your schedule maybe we go in the late afternoon in separate cars. That way I could hang around downtown until their flight gets in. If you'd rather go in the early afternoon that would work too...I'd just have to make two trips. I'd give us at least 3 hours...if we hustle.

blonda

Don't you guys see it?...that's the Olds Alero body except for the grill, headights and some minor changes. Guess they wanted to keep that design around when they ax the Olds brand.

glennbp

Late afternoon is fine. I may take Susan with me as she likes to look at shiny things. (Not necessarily cars!) Anyway, then we could grab a bite downtown.

blonda

Got your email about the route for the drive. I'll think about it over the weekend and get back to you. You definitely don't want to go north though.

Did you make up a special flyer re: the meet for your "M hunting" yesterday? If so, why don't you email it to me. Maybe I can slip one on that M w/flames next week.

sdmike2

I was just armed with a handful of club windshield cards with "club meet in San Diego 3/16. Email me at mritchi1@san.rr.com for details!" on the back. I also had the tri-fold club information flyer that I was going to use as well. Since there is now a web page for the event you can put that there instead of my email address. If I get time later today I'll turn it into a flyer and send it to you.

Thanks for the help!

Mike

scotian

We're being dissed in the Dodge Intrepid discussion! :-)

alta_300m

From what uxca300m mentioned in his post in his discussion with the supplier, the supplier said it should not be a problem, but would have to CONFIRM! so far he has not confirmed that he can do it for sure. uxca300m (Mike) did say you could go ahead and order, part number I think is VISORGLD-05. If it is not possible for the supplier to do black on gold I am sure he will get back to you. Remember to include email and phone number on your order.

mickeyJohn - hey I am in on the transportation to the meet if it can be arranged! LOL Just make sure they have good tiedowns in the planes I'd hate to scratch the paint!

drpixel

First, thanks for the compliment, Mike....got rid of the speedometer member counter, and replaced with a more easily updated digital odometer. Each number exists as a separate graphic, so its better than messing around in photoshop and masking, resizing, flattening, etc....
sd Mike: no problem with ading the link to the page. I DID notice at the bottom of YOUR page a disclaimer:

All images and content Copyright 2001-2002 by Mike Ritchie. All rights reserved.

hmmmmm...where did that Carlsbad graphic come from, hmm?..... if you need anything else, shoot me an email and I'll what I can do.... another thing, you mentioned above your email address as: mritchi1@san.rr.com, while my spreadsheet shows it as:
mritchie@san.rr.com (no 1 after your name...) whats the story?

I'd also suggest you give the dealer some flyers to keep around for when new owners by an M. I think I mentioned this in an earlier email, but there is a pdf file on the club site for the wipercards in case you've run out.

Doc

kosh_2258

Well, we can say that we seldom have the administrator visiting us and telling us we're being naughty. LOL!

Back to the car talk!

sdmike2

lol! That's my standard footer. I'll change it and give you credit for the graphic. I visited the dealer hosting the event and the one in Escondido and dropped off club tri-folds and dealer discount program applications. The Escondido dealer says "yes", just had to get the right guy to sign it. The other dealer needed to leave it on the service director's desk. I found the cards on the site but it took a little while. You should put a link to them back where the application/tri-fold PDFs are to make it easier.

I too like the look of the club site. Awesome job. However (and this is picky), isn't it time to update some of those links at the bottom of the home page?

Oh, on the email thingy. I have about 10 e-mail addresses, 3 or 4 that I use regularly. The mritchie@san.rr.com is my "friends and family" e-mail address where I try to minimize spam by not giving it out on the web. The mritchi1@san.rr.com is the one I use when I sign up for stuff. It's spam heavy, but at least it gives me an address to use when I don't want the other one circulated. I also have mike@ritchiefamily.com, plus I get anything else sent to my domain to any incorrect address (which goes into junk@ritchiefamily.com). I also have a hotmail account that I don't check, and a yahoo account that I don't remember the password for. lol. Sooooo...the answer is...any that you have will work fine.

ruski

First of all I used to drive a Grand Prix GTP for 3 years so I know a few things.

It may look a bit like Alero, but it is bigger than Alero. Also current GP design came out before Alero. It would be more correct to say that Alero looks like GP.

The GP displayed at the Chicago auto show is not exactly the "next" GP. It only shows where the design is heading. For the most part, the showcar is heavily based on the current shape.

I don't think the headlights look anything like 300M, but the grille does.

Overall I think Chrysler did a better job designing 300M than Pontiac I prefer the current design of the Grand Prix's front-end.

And they swiped the 300M's white face gauges with chrome bezels.

ruski

Riviera had Goodyear Eagle GS-A tires. I think starting with the '96 model year. I know '95 had different tires but now sure which ones.

Eagle GS-A's were very quiet but actually cornered pretty well.

Hey only 12,000+ miles on your CL-S? And you have had the car since when?

I already have 4,000 miles on my TL-S, since November. That's commuting 30 miles each way.

Still miss my 300M.