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Comments
My 2003M is still in my garage awaiting the disposal of my leased 2000M, but I noticed another decontenting from the prior years' models.
The lights by the door handles that go on when you unlock the car are missing. Instead, the entire light casing is red plastic (red and clear on earlier models). Also, someone mentioned the difference in the tinted section at the top of the windshield -- it is definitely smaller and shaped different.
Car manufacturers generally hype the new additional features they have in each new model year cars -- I think they should have to list all changes (additions and deletions) from year to year. When you buy a 4th or 5th year model car, you should expect to get the same car as the prior years, with perhaps some additional new features. You shouldn't have to find out later that some content has been removed.
Now I am wondering what else I may find missing...I just hope it's not under the hood!
Lynn Flowers
McKinney, Texas
I am amazed that a $35M car has a plain old metal rod to prop the engine hood up....the twin shocks on the 300M were a very upscale and useful touch...have they been decontented in the 300M yet? I have to admit, I really can't tell much of a difference in build quality anymore between the upscale car brands and their pedestrian siblings....the build quality in an Accord is every bit as good as the G35...in fact I think the 300M compares well with the G35. What I do like about the G35 is the 4 year, 60K mile B-T-B warrantly. Anyway, when I told the salesman I wasn't going to buy today, his demeanor changed like lost libido.....
Re the FX35/45...I agree it has a "Mean. Getoutofmyway" look, but that doesn't represent beauty to me. Most people seem to like it, but I don't. As I said before, beauty is in the eye of the beholder...
Maybe I'm just suffering from terminal old fartism, but I like the look of my cars to be smooth and flowing (like the 300M!), not chiseled and threatening...
If you are interested in the luxury package, the 2004 models have a luxury package including upgraded stereo, wood trim & steering wheel, chromes, full size spare, moon roof, plus tire pressure monitoring system, etc. I believe this is the only way you can get these options for 2004 -- in one package. The package is discounted $1,100 - $1,200 and there is a $1,000 rebate on the 04's.
Both 03's and 04's have the 7 year/70,000 mile powertrain warranty.
Hope this helps...
The four hundred HP CTS would be nice if you could change the body and the same can be said for the replacement for the 300M. I just might have to go Italian
You know a little global warming might not be a bad idea with this awful weather we have been having ;-)
going from the M to G35- NO tisk tisk . Dont do it , for the love of god.
Actually, I've had alloys on all 3 of my M's and have been very happy with the appearance on all of them. With the new silver 2003M, the wheels almost perfectly match the paint color.
I like my '99 M a lot, but I'm going to start paying more attention to what the other brands have and a lot less to DMC. Glad to hear the discussion of the G35 here and other cars. DMC is going to the dogs, or may already be there. They can keep their 2 ton munster-mobile 300C.
I like the looks of the Crossfire but it should have more power.
Read all about it here: http://www.ptripoff.com/
Plastic Wheels = ANGER
Jon
Regards, Silver
I love my fx and on freshalloy.com there are a couple people who traded M's for there FX and at least one other who has both.
Silver -
Try 101 with 95% humidity down here in h-town
Unfortunately, you are not the only one that is done with "Chrysler". You can count me in as well. I can say that there are a few MoPar fans that I know that are done as well. The Daimler management is not sweet spot for us at all.
But, not to harp on that all day. Robert Lutz did not sell out Chrysler. It was Robert Eaton. I believe he got something like $70 million dollars from the deal, while ~26,000 Chrysler employees got pink slips. You can see one of the reasons why Lutz is at GM right now. I feel that he did not want to work for Daimler, and he left the summer of '98, before Daimler took over.
I know somebody showed a picture of a butane blue 300M awhile ago that had some of the cheapest looking wheels that I have ever seen. Those wouldn't be the ones would they?
I have seen the same cheap looking wheels/hubcaps on the new 2004 Sebring sedan. They are a light plastic gray with the Chrysler badge sketched into the center of the wheel. They don't do anything for me. Plus, the 2004 Sebring sedans don't look as good as the 2002 models - cost cutting.
The 300M was (is) a nice car. I prefer it to the 300C. I think Chrysler and the dealers forgot about it after a while. The 300M Special was a great addition and it was a real sharp looking car, but there was not much of a power increase. The interiors became better over time, but I think they are taking stuff away from them now. The car's time is almost up. What a shame.
It is a shame that Chrysler handled the car (300M) the way they did. They should have continued to make it better. Ie adding the all wheel drive option, performance improvements and additions to, not subtractions from the options. I give credit to Honda and Nisson for their strides in these areas (I just wish they could desing cars as good as the Chryslers) (sorry the FX is very ugly to me a melted version of a 300C). The 300M Hemi C was the last good looking Chrysler to come off the drawing boards. Now they are all (the cars) are starting to look like trucks.
Makes me glad to have my 99 before MB got their hands on it. Just adding the best of the newer M's while keeking the best of the older ones.
Here's the link you were inquiring about:
http://www.manassaschrysler.com/Chrysler/290084_1.html
Scroll down to the window sticker that says "aluminum, chrome clad"-
fastdriver
Saw a nice Pro-Am model M yesterday. From the chrome exhaust I would guess it is a 2001 model. Looked nice.
Regards, Silver
Also applied Rain-X to all windows. Anybody have good results with this stuff?
Silver
The Infiniti FX is on my list. I think it looks great and appears to offer a lot of value. Kinda like buying a G35 with all season capability and a bit more utility. Nicer interior, too.
'21 Dark Blue/Black Audi A7 PHEV (mine); '22 White/Beige BMW X3 (hers); '20 Estoril Blue/Oyster BMW M240xi 'Vert (Ours, read: hers in 'vert weather; mine during Nor'easters...)
Rain-X seems to work very well and I apply it about every other month - but don't let it get on any stickers - it will "dissolve" them.
Thx for setting me strait that it was Bob Eaton and not Bob Lutz that lined his pockets (and his children's children's children's pockets) by selling out Chrysler. Wow, I didn't realize that many people got pink slips--was it truly around 26,000? The top officers of corporations are out of control, and continue to raise their total take as their companies turn in ever poorer performances; unbelievable that our country doesn't curb this somehow.
Regarding Nissan/Infiniti, I agree with the folks who feel Nissan is now the exciting player with the FX, G35, and Z. And, I don't know if others would agree, but I feel the new '04 Maxima that just came out is very attractive; I saw a black SE next to me at the gas station and I couldn't take my eyes off of it. Leagues ahead of the Grand Prix IMO, and similar to the M to some extent. I mean it was sleek, muscular, and sophisticated. It looked so good that I doubt that the upcoming I35 will look better than it. I believe their overall quality is better than DMC, but the dealers, at least some number of them, have a pretty bad reputation. But there must be some decent ones, I would think. There are no more "buy American" options for me that I know of.
Granted the Pacifica is a nice design for its vehicle class. But they may be pricing themselves out of the mass market. The Crossfire is a nice design but lacks the powerplant that the sports car enthusiast desires. The verdict is still out on the 300C but it appears it will attract a different owner than the M. The Charger is a nicely deigned vehicle that will have wide appeal if they price it right.
It's time that Daimler wakes up to the fact that they may soon lose market share in their Chrysler brand. They made a big mistake by slowly decontenting the 300M as if the buyer wouldnt notice. All I know is that for my next vehicle, I will be surveying the entire american and foreign manufacturers and will choose the one that give me style, handling, power, and the best bang for the buck.