Thanks much for the info. I didn't even know they made "value line" cheaper pads; I'll make sure I know what I'm getting. And the info on the sensor prices was very helpful too; I'm going to check the McKinney site now. Man, it pays to talk to others; it seems some of the dealers try to soak you on parts for their own brand of cars!
Interesting post on the brakes. I suppose there's a chance our Ms have the same kind of brakes--is that right? Depending on how this plays out we may need to take corrective actions--definitely don't want the brakes to light up!
LOL........"DC will probably issue a fire extinguisher to each unit as a fix."
Hey, sounds reasonable to me! If you click on the different links in that article that ottowrkr provided, it gets very interesting. Chrysler representaives were present when they tested TWO Intrepids and they BOTH had flames coming out of the front wheels when the test was done.
Chrysler's response- the police didn't follow the break-in period when they received the cars! Aside from the fact that the police requirements were for PURSUIT vehicles to be ready for the road the day they were delivered, what would not breaking in the brakes properly have to do with them catching fire? Wouldn't they just become warped or something from hard braking and cause the steering wheel to shimmy? Fire, that's something else. Who knows. I'm no mechanic. I'm sure someone out there knows more than I do.
Mostly all police pursuit vehicles have heavy duty brakes no matter who makes the car I think.
I wonder if the exteme heat is melting the brake lines? Race cars use braided metal lines. I believe the fluid can get so hot it actually can boil. I hope we learn the cause of the problem.
Intrep-When I drive around town to different DC dealers and see Pacificas stuck everywhere there is an empty patch of grass, it's easy to figure out that their marketing sucks! They will be in a panic when the lower end models start hitting the lots and people opt for a 32K model instead of a 42K model. Maybe my HealthSouth stock will be a $6 a share by then and I can sell it and snap up a high end one at a bargain!
Bluesky- Although I haven't had them installed yet, I bought a set of EBC Greenstuff brakepads from TireRack.com. They are supposed to produce very little dust and have high heat tolerance and stopping power while at the same time going easy on the rotors. I did a lot of research on them before I bought thema nd there are a lot of good reviews from mags/users/dealers for them. I'm going to put on drilled/slotted rotors at the same time (and I haven't bought them yet) so that's what I am waiting on. I'll tell you a pad to avoid and that's the Carbon Metallic Performance Friction pads. Their stopping power isn't great, and they grind horribly about every other day (and have been since the day they were put on). I put a set on my wife's Venture at the same time, and we had them removed and replaced with another brand after a few thousand miles. They were that bad. I know that they used to be all the rage on police cars and I had had decent results with them in the distant past but their quality has gone sharply downhill. Here's a link to the Greenstuff pads: http://www.tirerack.com/brakes/ebc/greenpads.jsp
Fast, I predict that the proper English gentleman, Mr. Eberhart, will be eaten alive by the U.S. market, sooner rather than later. IMHO the LX is dead on arrival, however the sebring replacement may indeed be a nice vehicle that will sell. That is Mr. Eberharts only hope, as neither the Jeep Liberty nor the Pacifica are hits. Sales and Marketing heads are dependent on their companies product; the millions that they are paid is largely a waste of good money IMO; good products usually sell regardless of them. The fact that he worked on a Christmas eve and cut his honeymoon short may have impressed Chrysler management, but won't impress any buyers. Pardon the acerbic tone of my note but I'm sick and tired of these multimillionaire executives at companies who are bleeding their employees to the bone (if not outright firing them) while overseeing the downfalls of their companies and lining their own pockets in an obscene manner. And when their performance becomes too horendous to ignore (i.e. Mr. Schroer who was recently "resigned" and who hired Dion), their contracts include golden parachutes with millions in stock options. Only the worker bees have "pay for performance" plans, but even the best work cannot overcome some of the idiocy coming down from the top. OK, off my soap box now.
Dustin, thx for the info and link on the Greenstuff pads--I'll look into them. That's an interesting sounding name, "greenstuff"; sounds kind of like, well never mind.
Seems as if there isn't a market for the Pacifica. They are just sitting in dealer lots, not selling at all. My dealer has over 35 in stock now, used to be 10. Maybe it resembles too much of a station wagon. They do seem nice up close, though I've never driven one. I'm not sure if marketing is the problem. I think its too much money for a DC wagon. One that won't hold its value, just like the 300M.
It will be interesting to see if the Crossfire does well in sales. They are advertising it as being 'German built' in hopes to attract potential MB buyers that can't afford the real thing I guess. I do like it, but DC should of opted for the supercharged engine instead of the somewhat lame 215hp engine. I guess DC doesn't learn from thier mistakes. The 300M should of had 300HP from the start, then maybe it would of stayed around longer. It will be a shame to watch it go. I guess the Pacifica will disappear even quicker.
On the net I checked out the biggest dealer in L-ville on Crossfire availability. They had one, in black, and I happened to notice that they had 20 Pacificas listed, virtually all with high end $$ numbers. Had just a couple of M's. Gonna be some great deals on Pacificas soon, and some really great deals when the 2004.5 300C thuds into the showrooms.
My dealer has a red one, which I like alot(price is 35k). One other dealer has a white one but they won't list a price, don't care for it in white though. I have not seen a black or silver one yet.
Couldn't agree with you more. I feel sorry for hard working people like ottowrkr and wire2. As far as I'm concerned, the Pacifica is a "fancy" station wagon,ugly and way overpriced. The Crossfire is under-powered and also overpriced. The new 300 coming down the road is also UGLY and overpriced also. If they think people are going to pay in the high $30's to low $40's for a Chrysler product that doesn't hold its value, they'll need more than Dion and Joe Eberhardt!
I think the original Razorstars on the 1999 M were the absolute best rims I ever saw. Now as I look at the Crossfire, I think the one thing I don't like about the exterior is the wheels. I priced the 18 & 19" tires at Tirerack and the Michelins Pilots are going to be $325 rear and $285 front. Ouch...I couldn't find the cost of the Crossfire wheels at the Wyckoff parts site and didn't feel like calling them. But I would guess at least a thousand if you wanted to change to some other 18 & 19's in a more desireable pattern. I think I'd have to try to get the optional A/S Conti tires [tho I've never tried Continental tires before] over the Michelin Pilots that are not so good in snow, and might require a set of winter tires. Depending on winter and wear that is going to be an expensive set of rubber to replace when they have to go.
it seems that 300M is a red headed stepchild that they don't want to even sell anymore. There were only two (one of them Special) stuck all the way in the back of the lot collecting a lot of dust.
There was a black Crossfire on the floor. Nice. $35K on the sticker. But next to the sticker there is another home-made sticker saying that this is a limited production car and it subject to market demand.
Also checked out the Pacifica. Didn't drive it but sat in it and climbed everywhere. I liked it a lot. Their lot for FULL with Pacificas. Maybe that's why they didn't have room for any 300Ms.
BigMike (or anyone); are the '99 standard wheels different than future years? I have a '99 w/chromed razorstars; it never dawned on me that other years might be different. If they're different, why did they change? I'm very happy with the wheels; still look great, no signs of wear, and can inspect pads w/o taking off wheels which I love!
Dustin. I called up Tire Rack expecting that I would order the Greenstuff. But the person I spoke with felt that ceramic pads would be more appropriate, because the ceramic brake pads have superior cooling and resistance to heat than other materials. He stated the main advantage of the GreenStuffs was their low dusting, which you also get with the ceramics. The greenstuff pads were $89 (plus 8.50 shipping/handling), while the Satisfied Pro (Ceramic) was only $57. I haven't decided yet but I'm leaning towards the ceramics. Here's a link on ceramics from tirerack. http://www.tirerack.com/brakes/tech/why_ceramic_brake_pads.html
BTW, are the Greenstuff' made in the UK? I saw that they won an award or 2 in a UK auto publication. Also, I'm wondering how good the OEM rotors are. Mainly, I'm worried how large of a heat sink they provide; this is one area where many manufacturers don't really provide a quality product. The Pro-Stop Power Slot Rotors have caught my eye. They list for about $90, and use the "slot" technology which provides the gas escaping advantages of drilled rotors while at the same time not reducing square inch stopping area so much. Wish there were specs available on their heat absorbing/dissipating capabilities.
Part of the reason (just part) that there are so many cars on the lots is that the dealer business model is dead, corrupt and promotes high costs of doing business - the later spelling death in a down market where price competition and cost control reigns. I am ready to buy the Infiniti G35 Coupe "NOW" and I have tried to get a price for the G35 Coupe over the internet from the two local dealers so that I could go in and close the deal without being pitched ad nauseum. All the dealers do is reply and say "come on in"....duh, what good is shopping for a car on the internet then? Oh, but the upscale dealers give you their internet salesman's cell phone number to distinguish themselves. Every dealer wants to be the first and last, or the last, to pitch to you. In truth, the only thing a dealer has to offer is his geographical franchise rights to sell a particular car. They add no other value. None. Nada. Toyota is unfortunately also saddled with wholesale middlemen SE Toyota in Jacksonville and SW Toyota in Houston - these two middlemen add $1500 to the price of every Totyota CAMRY sold in the SE and SW states....price it on their website and you will see..(it's a holdover from when the CAMRY was made in Japan - Toyota can't get rid of them!). Sadly, the car manufacturers must deal with their own business model Frankenstiens. Why, why, why does it have to be so hard and take 4 hours to buy a car?
Walk into a Chrysler/Dodge dealership and you'll see nice-looking Rams, hot Sebring convertibles and handsome Sebring and Stratus coupes and sedans, "best-styled American sedan" 300Ms, "the styling will never age" on the sporty Intrepid, and the new distinctive Pacificas and Crossfires. Go Daimler Chrysler!!!
They are actually Autobytel it appears. Again, all they do is send my data to the same local dealers as all the others....the dealers won't quote a price...they just send out e-mails saying "come see us"....what's the point of even attempting to buy a car "over the internet"?....it seems to be a fiction designed to make you feel like you're getting a good deal when the internet guy at the dealer is just the "fleet sales guy" with a new business card that says Internet Sales Specialist on it.....I suppose with all the investment in bricks and mortar, the dealers have to make you come inside and suffer through it all. Buying a house is easier!
My experience purchasing a Concorde last year was pleasant, though I did spend an hour at the local dealer. But rather than seeking bids, I provided a realistic but low ball price I was willing to pay based on Edmunds and other pricing advice. The local dealer wouldn't meet that price, but the internet dealer did (surprize, I guess my offer wasn't THAT GOOD). I did have to travel 80 miles and spend about 30 minutes completing the transaction and picking up the car. But definitely where I wanted to be price-wise. In comparision to purchasing a house, actual values of new cars are much more definite, so in theory and practice it should be easier versus a new or used "unique" home. Good Luck!
Tell us how you like your Concorde after you get to know it better . What other cars did you consider (just curious)? And why did you end up with the Concorde? Also, what trim level do you have? LX, LXi, or Limited?
with Carsdirect, you have a choice of either going to a dealer or having Carsdirect do a complete operation and delivering the car to your doorstep (or to the nearest dealer)
Bluesky - The "Razorstars" were only on 99/00 model M's. They changed over to the 10-spoke style on the 01/02's and now have the chrome cladded plastic style on the 03/04's. I think it's just their way of changing things up and making the model look a little different w/o making any significant changes.
300M... In weekend newspaper advertising over the past 2-3 months, you would not know the 300M existed (in the LA area). I purchased my new 2003 300M in April even though my lease was not up until July. The 2003's appeared to be in relatively short supply at that time and I couldn't see dealers offering discounts on 2004's when my lease ended -- they had over a year to sell them as current models. With all the heavy discounting taking place today, there has been nothing on the M, so I feel I made the right decision to purchase early.
Pacifica... Heavy discounting has begun on the Pacifica. Pacificas with MRSP of $32K+ are being offered @ $26,999 (incl. rebate)-- all in stock. One dealer had a loss leader over the weekend -- a well loaded model with MRSP of $35K+ @ $27,999 (one only).
Crossfire... One dealer has 7 in stock and is selling @ "no mark-up on MRSP"...
Yes, after the first year [99] they played around with the Razorstars. The 99's were kinda concave with a flat disc in the center. The later years were more convex and had a rounded disc in the center. The nice thing about the flat discs was that you could add the Chrysler medallions [part #4805455-AB @$15.08 each from Wyckoff Chrysler off the net] very easily to the flat surface and they would stick perfectly giving a little nicer appearance to the wheel.
"One dealer has 7 in stock and is selling @ "no mark-up on MRSP"..."
Mmmm.......wonder who he knows in Auburn Hills or what connections he has! ;-)) I thought dealers were only getting one each? Any markdown from MSRP? Glad your duo seem to be holding up okay.
ruski & laurasdada-
I was thinking of both of you this past Saturday. Went to a wedding reception at Cobb's Mill Inn in Weston, CT.
Ruski- I was on the Merritt parkway for the first time in a long time. Much less traffic than I-95. Road smooth with MANY new trees planted along the sides and the median. Why, I have no clue. There are more than enough trees now. LOL... delivering cars to your doorstep sounds good to me. With Christine, service at my doorstep would have been better for me! LOL.....
laurasdada-
I think we had spoken of Cobb's Mill a long time ago. Still nice. Food great. It's been there for at least 40 years that I know of. BTW- we have NO budget in this poor state. Do you think you could pay a visit to you know where to bolster our coffers. The millions we get now every month just don't seem to be enough for the Gov. and his crooked friends that are falling by the wayside with all these investigations for payoffs! Happy to hear that your M is holding its own too. Hope it stays that way until you're ready to trade.
Yes, the "dynamic duo" are holding up very nicely, thank you! I trust your Acura is holding up just as well. Changing to bright silver metallic takes a lot of pressure off the car's exterior appearance. Nothing shone like the inferno red as you know (candy apple red in the case of Christine), but dirt showed very quickly and the slightest door ding stuck out like a sore thumb. The silver (Zainoed) shines nicely and it's much easier to keep clean!
The dealer with the Crossfires bought out an existing Dodge/Chrysler dealership maybe 6 months ago. In that short time they have become a 5* dealer. They customize PT Cruisers (painted flames, etc.) and have car exhibits on site including the owner's customized BMW. They are definitely trying to appeal to the younger crowd and their name is -- get this -- "Jammin'"! I don't know how they got to be a 5* so quickly or how they got 7 Crossfires, but I suspect they are selling a lot of cars!
I was in CT/NY in second half of June. Drove on the Merritt. Got stuck in really bad traffic a couple of times (at one point there were 3 accidents ~1 mile apart)
But I-95 is definitely really bad - driving from Milford to Guilford took me forever. And it was not even rush hour.
Hey did you see that cell tower near the Mobil station near where the Hutch ends and Merritt starts? (Mobil station is in the median) - they made that thing look like a pine tree but it is so obviously fake.
Some of the really sharp curves on the Merritt are gone. It is much safer, but not as much fun.
5K off of MSRP for Pacificas? I wonder if they'll start to move now, or if the DMC marketing is so far off that they still can't sell them. Chrysler is supposed to be profitable this year, according to Dieter. Time will tell...
Thx for info on the razorstars; it's interesting trivia. One thing I like a lot is the chromed look. Funny, when I first saw the 'M I didn't like the chrome effect with it, but now that I have them (they were on the car I wanted) I love them. Must be one of the shiniest wheels on the market, no?
Has anyone upgraded to higher quality rotors? If so, I for one would like to know your experience with it, and if you felt it was a worthwhile upgrade for either braking performance or appearance (some are coated and don't rust and have silver cadmium coatings). Don't know if anyone is interested in this, but here is one of the ones I'm considering: http://www.powerslot.com/prostop.html http://www.powerslot.com/platm.html I'm going to run about another 3-4K before replacing them...I'm leaning towards Satisfied Ceramic Pro pads, also.
LOL.... "Jammin" and he drives a customized BMW?? Why not a Mercedes?? LOL... Like they say- ONLY in CA! Guess you have to update your bag of "tricks/gimmicks" these days to sell cars! :-))
Speaking of the "dynamic duo", you know there was nothing like that RED! Combined with the Zaino, it was ALWAYS a head turner! I even used to turn around and look at my own car when I parked somewhere! :-))
Speaking about the CL-S- you know all about that damned "perceived reliability"- how everyone thinks that Honda and Toyota are the best built cars around. Well, after only 27 months and 24,300 miles I had my very first problem. I had to get a new transmission. Way back, Honda had sent me their extended warranty for the tranny because my car fell into the batch of CL's that had tranny problems.
Seemed to happen very quickly. I started to notice something different about the way the car was shifting. It was time for an oil/filter change and tire rotation/balance anyway, so I called the dealer and told him that I thought my car was joining the ranks of other defective Cl's and would probably need a new tranny. I told him that I would also need a car to drive. The earliest that I could bring it in was a week later. Dropped it off after work on June 19th. They gave me a 2003 Acura TL with 5,000 miles on it to drive and told me that my car would probably be ready the following Tuesday, June 24th. I had to make sure to tell them NOT to wash the car. They always want to do that. They told me if there were any problems, just stop back. Also received one of those customer surveys in the mail. Filled it out quite differently that the ones for Christine. Imagine, they fixed it right the first time and as far as I can see, didn't leave out any nuts and bolts! ;-)) Only about 15 more months on this lease. Have no clue what will be next. Honda is not making the 2-door Cl anymore. Coupes aren't big sellers. Too bad because not everyone needs 4 doors.
ruski-
That traffic on I-95 from Milford to Guilford is getting to be like that EVERY day! Almost as bad as rush hour on I-95 in West Palm Beach! They are widening the highway to 3 lanes starting in Branford. If you think the traffic is bad NOW, wait until they start expanding the Q-Bridge to 12 lanes or whatever they have planned! Glad I don't have to cross that to get to work.
I thought the Merritt didn't seem as "curvey" as it used to be, but since I'm rarely on that road, I wasn't really sure. The lanes did seem a little wider. Didn't get as far as the Hutch, but they have a cell phone tower like that in West Palm Beach right off I-95. I THINK it's somewhere near Okeechobee Blvd. or in that vicinity. I remember reading about it in The Palm Beach Post.
Hope it's sunny and warm there because it's raining here and supposed to continue until FRIDAY!
Sorry for the long post. Hope it doesn't interfere with all the messages that come flying into this topic. ;-))
Bluesky--Been there done that. Save your money. I have found very little difference between the slotted [but not cross-drilled] "higher" performance rotors I added and what was OEM with the car. And I think the ceramic pads are probably better than the carbon metallics I got. But I was nouveau into brakes at that time.
I haven't been on the Merritt in quite some time. I really enjoyed that twisting, beautiful two lane drive. I grew up thinking it was the norm to come to a stop, look for an opening and GO FOR IT in order to access a highway! I hope they haven't removed all its character. Exit 41, that was mine...
I95? Yuck. I commuted from Westport to Stamford/Greenwich for a few years. I would often take Metro North just to avoid the frustration (and danger) of that road. Still have to deal with it here in Mass in it's incarnation as rte. 128...
Cobbs Mill Inn, another name from the past. Such a beautiful spot. If I'm ever in Weston again, I'd like to take the evil wife there. I think my last visit was for a good friend's wedding rehearsal dinner (Vinny Zero, are you out there???). Good to hear the food is good too as for many years you went there for location/ambience more so than for the food!
Fastdriver, as far as my semi-regular visits to my old home state, I was recently asked not to discuss such matters here. Oh well, to each...
I have had the "new car itch" a lot recently. However, as several of the models I'm interested in were new for '03, I'll wait at least 6 more months. I don't want to take another chance on a first model year car. Still, after 49 months and 49,000+ miles, my '99M is still looking and running pretty darn good. It will be really hard to replace it. However, if I win the Lexus SC430 from the raffle I've entered, then I'll keep the M for winter driving! Yeah, I can afford that! It's been nice having no car payments on the M for the last year. Unfortunately, big payments for the evil wife's RX300. Again, how did she get a Lexus???
Just felt like ramblin' a bit. Now back to our regularly scheduled program...
'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...)
Fastdriver - your tranny too? I am glad it didn't fail in traffic. It's nice that they give you a nice loaner. When my tranny failed, I got a rental Dodge Stratus.
Thx for the info BigMike. However, it may be a good thing that your rotor upgrade made little difference; maybe it means the OEM brakes were already quite good. Back in the '99 Car & Driver comparison test, the M's brakes were rated as some of the best of the bunch; much better than the '99 Acura TL (the TL-S since has upgraded stopping power). Now if I had an Acura or Honda I would definitely sink some cash into brake components as they were rated poorly. The 2 weak points of Honda/Acura that come to my mind right now are 1) below par brakes and 2) some of the cars have an odd smell. Other than that their recent entries seem to be very good.
More brake trivia: In a Y2K test of the Hawk HP Plus brake pads, C&D showed a significant improvement (they also tested a number of brake upgrade components by manufacturers such as Brembo). Those Hawk pads have serious stopping capability, and only run about $130. But realize that along with that added friction comes added heat and warpage and possibly dust and wear. Since the M already stops quite well with its larger brakes, I think the ceramics are a good trade-off since they cool quicker, have less dust, have a smooth quiet action, and should cause less warpage. I'm not trying to improve braking distances; too many negatives associated with that metric, particularly considering that the car stops well enough already.
As a last note, drove a different way home and noticed a lot of Jeep Liberties on a Chrysler lot. I suspect they're not selling well either, like the Pacificas, as I don't see many on the road. But who knows.
I guess the perceived reliability was just a perception! At least it was only one problem -- but what a problem! Hopefully it will be the only one...
You are right about "Red and Zaino"! I used to do the same thing after I parked it -- turn around and admire its brilliance! Some people have told me they liked the red better. One person told me they liked the silver better than the red -- it looks more classy...like a Mercedes. I told him if I wanted a car that looked like a Mercedes I would have bought one! LOL...anyway, I like the silver, it just doesn't attract attention like the red did.
BTW, that "Jammin" dealer has 40 Pacificas on his lot amongst the 550+ new Chrysler/Dodge/Jeeps currently in his inventory...
The local 5* says that they can't get Crossfires in fast enough. They got 4 in a couple of weeks ago, and three sold before they were even unloaded from the truck! Get this: they're charginf a $5K premium (limited availability upcharge, I think they're calling it) and people are going nuts to buy them. He said the dark colors look bad because of the chrome surround on the windshield, bt it doesn't stand out as much on the lighter colors, and those are more popular. Pacificas everywhere there, too.
Rotors-
I am looking at the following companies for rotors:
I have never believed that slotted or drilled rotors would be of any benefit to the everyday driver, but I don't think they would take away performance either, and they tend to be of a much higher grade steel and are usually better machined and balanced, so I think that there is benefit as long as they can be found at a reasonable price, which some of these are. They look cool too, but I prefer function over form if I can't have both!
Has anyone found a really good price on this kit? Everywhere I look (including the local AutoZone which can get it next day) it is going for about $224. Just wondering if anyone knows of a better price.
If anyone is interested, a company called AutoSport ( www.autosportcatalog.com ) makes a custom fit sunshade for the 300M. Search on part number 97313. They have another custom one htat's a bit cheaper, but it rolls instead of folds up, and doesn't appear to be as high in quality. From the selection of items and the layout of the catalog, I'm pretty sure that this is a division of Griot's Garage. I ordered the sunshade and case today and I'll report on the quality when it comes in a few weeks from now.
Hi all, I just did a 4 wheel brake job myself on my 99 with 82K, now it really stops well. I put the value lines on it (cost was a factor)and took off the Performance Friction brakes (way too much dust!)I do have 2 questions though, I have the chrome razor stars, and I cant get the &*&^%^ dust off the wheels, what can I use to take it off, there has to be a polish or cleaner that will work. And second, even before I did the brake job, I noticed that the parking brake was not holding as well as it used to, but the shoes looked fine. How is the parking brake supposed to adjust itself, in reverse like other cars, or is there a manual adjustment?
They're so hot in St. Louis, they're invisible. Not one on the road since they were introduced. Guess corn farmers don't like them too much....Chrysler sales way down.....Shrimpy has a problem.
Dustin, you're going to make your already hot car smoke! A couple of comments; I don't know much about rotors but I do know that the aftermarkets don't always use better steel. For example, the Power Slots start with manufacturer OEM rotors, then apply the slotting and cadmium plating. They tout this as superior to some of the aftermarkets who use cheaper steel or manufacturing supposedly. So my advice would be to look into the issue of some particular brands, even if you have to call them on the phone, before you lay down a lot of cash. BTW, let us know how it all turns out. An let usknow about the sunshield also in terms of fit, quality, and function). The M windshield is so big it's not easy to find one that fits it well; I'd be interested in a high quality one.
Pster, would I be correct to assume that "Shrimpy" is a DMX executive? Perhaps Dieter what's his name? Or is that some Mid Westernr slang that we Easterners have not a clue about? Also, what's your source for stating that Chrysler sales are way down? Can you give the numbers? By the way, if you don't mind my asking, do you hate DMX after your horrendous experience? In any event, I'll bet your G35 will be very reliable. Glad you're getting the coupe; it's beautiful while the sedan just is not attractive for a near-luxury vehicle. More on a par with a camry or accord.
Fast & Intrepid, you guys have good taste in color; the red and silver or both very nice I think (although I prefer the darker grey even better than the silver). But don't you both change colors with each car? I know I always do. I assumed everyone does, except for the blackophiles who must really love it to put up with it! Once was enough for me regarding black; never again!
Reybeast, I'll check my manual some other evening on the parking brake adjustment procedure; don't have the energy tonight.
Want to mention that there's a new CTS that gets parked on my street; it's a beautiful dark shiny grey. But I'll tell you, the brake dust is quite bad on the fronts; glad the M's pads are not nearly so bad.
Comments
Some bad news for DC' police car fleet
http://www.newschannel5.com/news/investigates/brakes.htm
Thanks much for the info. I didn't even know they made "value line" cheaper pads; I'll make sure I know what I'm getting. And the info on the sensor prices was very helpful too; I'm going to check the McKinney site now. Man, it pays to talk to others; it seems some of the dealers try to soak you on parts for their own brand of cars!
LOL........"DC will probably issue a fire extinguisher to each unit as a fix."
Hey, sounds reasonable to me! If you click on the different links in that article that ottowrkr provided, it gets very interesting. Chrysler representaives were present when they tested TWO Intrepids and they BOTH had flames coming out of the front wheels when the test was done.
Chrysler's response- the police didn't follow the break-in period when they received the cars! Aside from the fact that the police requirements were for PURSUIT vehicles to be ready for the road the day they were delivered, what would not breaking in the brakes properly have to do with them catching fire? Wouldn't they just become warped or something from hard braking and cause the steering wheel to shimmy? Fire, that's something else. Who knows. I'm no mechanic. I'm sure someone out there knows more than I do.
Mostly all police pursuit vehicles have heavy duty brakes no matter who makes the car I think.
fastdriver
http://www.detnews.com/2003/autosinsider/0307/16/b01-219295.htm
With decisions like this, how can they make a profit?
http://www.detnews.com/2003/autosinsider/0307/16/b02-218972.htm
fastdriver
I mean, I have taken my M beyond legal limits and didn't notice anything wrong with the brakes.
Silver
Silver
Up and coming star?? Hope he's not "5-STAR"! ;-))
http://www.detnews.com/2003/autosinsider/0307/17/a01-220286.htm
fastdriver
Bluesky- Although I haven't had them installed yet, I bought a set of EBC Greenstuff brakepads from TireRack.com. They are supposed to produce very little dust and have high heat tolerance and stopping power while at the same time going easy on the rotors. I did a lot of research on them before I bought thema nd there are a lot of good reviews from mags/users/dealers for them. I'm going to put on drilled/slotted rotors at the same time (and I haven't bought them yet) so that's what I am waiting on. I'll tell you a pad to avoid and that's the Carbon Metallic Performance Friction pads. Their stopping power isn't great, and they grind horribly about every other day (and have been since the day they were put on). I put a set on my wife's Venture at the same time, and we had them removed and replaced with another brand after a few thousand miles. They were that bad. I know that they used to be all the rage on police cars and I had had decent results with them in the distant past but their quality has gone sharply downhill. Here's a link to the Greenstuff pads: http://www.tirerack.com/brakes/ebc/greenpads.jsp
Dustin, thx for the info and link on the Greenstuff pads--I'll look into them. That's an interesting sounding name, "greenstuff"; sounds kind of like, well never mind.
It will be interesting to see if the Crossfire does well in sales. They are advertising it as being 'German built' in hopes to attract potential MB buyers that can't afford the real thing I guess. I do like it, but DC should of opted for the supercharged engine instead of the somewhat lame 215hp engine. I guess DC doesn't learn from thier mistakes. The 300M should of had 300HP from the start, then maybe it would of stayed around longer. It will be a shame to watch it go. I guess the Pacifica will disappear even quicker.
Couldn't agree with you more. I feel sorry for hard working people like ottowrkr and wire2. As far as I'm concerned, the Pacifica is a "fancy" station wagon,ugly and way overpriced. The Crossfire is under-powered and also overpriced. The new 300 coming down the road is also UGLY and overpriced also. If they think people are going to pay in the high $30's to low $40's for a Chrysler product that doesn't hold its value, they'll need more than Dion and Joe Eberhardt!
fastdriver
My impressions:
it seems that 300M is a red headed stepchild that they don't want to even sell anymore. There were only two (one of them Special) stuck all the way in the back of the lot collecting a lot of dust.
There was a black Crossfire on the floor. Nice. $35K on the sticker. But next to the sticker there is another home-made sticker saying that this is a limited production car and it subject to market demand.
Also checked out the Pacifica. Didn't drive it but sat in it and climbed everywhere. I liked it a lot. Their lot for FULL with Pacificas. Maybe that's why they didn't have room for any 300Ms.
Dustin. I called up Tire Rack expecting that I would order the Greenstuff. But the person I spoke with felt that ceramic pads would be more appropriate, because the ceramic brake pads have superior cooling and resistance to heat than other materials. He stated the main advantage of the GreenStuffs was their low dusting, which you also get with the ceramics. The greenstuff pads were $89 (plus 8.50 shipping/handling), while the Satisfied Pro (Ceramic) was only $57. I haven't decided yet but I'm leaning towards the ceramics. Here's a link on ceramics from tirerack. http://www.tirerack.com/brakes/tech/why_ceramic_brake_pads.html
BTW, are the Greenstuff' made in the UK? I saw that they won an award or 2 in a UK auto publication. Also, I'm wondering how good the OEM rotors are. Mainly, I'm worried how large of a heat sink they provide; this is one area where many manufacturers don't really provide a quality product. The Pro-Stop Power Slot Rotors have caught my eye. They list for about $90, and use the "slot" technology which provides the gas escaping advantages of drilled rotors while at the same time not reducing square inch stopping area so much. Wish there were specs available on their heat absorbing/dissipating capabilities.
But definitely where I wanted to be price-wise.
In comparision to purchasing a house, actual values of new cars are much more definite, so in theory and practice it should be easier versus a new or used "unique" home.
Good Luck!
If you haven't checked this site yet -- it's well worth the time (a lot to read though).
http://www.carbuyingtips.com
Bluesky -
The "Razorstars" were only on 99/00 model M's. They changed over to the 10-spoke style on the 01/02's and now have the chrome cladded plastic style on the 03/04's. I think it's just their way of changing things up and making the model look a little different w/o making any significant changes.
In weekend newspaper advertising over the past 2-3 months, you would not know the 300M existed (in the LA area). I purchased my new 2003 300M in April even though my lease was not up until July. The 2003's appeared to be in relatively short supply at that time and I couldn't see dealers offering discounts on 2004's when my lease ended -- they had over a year to sell them as current models. With all the heavy discounting taking place today, there has been nothing on the M, so I feel I made the right decision to purchase early.
Pacifica...
Heavy discounting has begun on the Pacifica. Pacificas with MRSP of $32K+ are being offered @ $26,999 (incl. rebate)-- all in stock. One dealer had a loss leader over the weekend -- a well loaded model with MRSP of $35K+ @ $27,999 (one only).
Crossfire...
One dealer has 7 in stock and is selling @ "no mark-up on MRSP"...
"One dealer has 7 in stock and is selling @ "no mark-up on MRSP"..."
Mmmm.......wonder who he knows in Auburn Hills or what connections he has! ;-)) I thought dealers were only getting one each? Any markdown from MSRP? Glad your duo seem to be holding up okay.
ruski & laurasdada-
I was thinking of both of you this past Saturday. Went to a wedding reception at Cobb's Mill Inn in Weston, CT.
Ruski- I was on the Merritt parkway for the first time in a long time. Much less traffic than I-95. Road smooth with MANY new trees planted along the sides and the median. Why, I have no clue. There are more than enough trees now. LOL... delivering cars to your doorstep sounds good to me. With Christine, service at my doorstep would have been better for me! LOL.....
laurasdada-
I think we had spoken of Cobb's Mill a long time ago. Still nice. Food great. It's been there for at least 40 years that I know of. BTW- we have NO budget in this poor state. Do you think you could pay a visit to you know where to bolster our coffers. The millions we get now every month just don't seem to be enough for the Gov. and his crooked friends that are falling by the wayside with all these investigations for payoffs! Happy to hear that your M is holding its own too. Hope it stays that way until you're ready to trade.
fastdriver
The dealer with the Crossfires bought out an existing Dodge/Chrysler dealership maybe 6 months ago. In that short time they have become a 5* dealer. They customize PT Cruisers (painted flames, etc.) and have car exhibits on site including the owner's customized BMW. They are definitely trying to appeal to the younger crowd and their name is -- get this -- "Jammin'"! I don't know how they got to be a 5* so quickly or how they got 7 Crossfires, but I suspect they are selling a lot of cars!
But I-95 is definitely really bad - driving from Milford to Guilford took me forever. And it was not even rush hour.
Hey did you see that cell tower near the Mobil station near where the Hutch ends and Merritt starts? (Mobil station is in the median) - they made that thing look like a pine tree but it is so obviously fake.
Some of the really sharp curves on the Merritt are gone. It is much safer, but not as much fun.
Thx for info on the razorstars; it's interesting trivia. One thing I like a lot is the chromed look. Funny, when I first saw the 'M I didn't like the chrome effect with it, but now that I have them (they were on the car I wanted) I love them. Must be one of the shiniest wheels on the market, no?
Has anyone upgraded to higher quality rotors? If so, I for one would like to know your experience with it, and if you felt it was a worthwhile upgrade for either braking performance or appearance (some are coated and don't rust and have silver cadmium coatings). Don't know if anyone is interested in this, but here is one of the ones I'm considering:
http://www.powerslot.com/prostop.html
http://www.powerslot.com/platm.html
I'm going to run about another 3-4K before replacing them...I'm leaning towards Satisfied Ceramic Pro pads, also.
Speaking of the "dynamic duo", you know there was nothing like that RED! Combined with the Zaino, it was ALWAYS a head turner! I even used to turn around and look at my own car when I parked somewhere! :-))
Speaking about the CL-S- you know all about that damned "perceived reliability"- how everyone thinks that Honda and Toyota are the best built cars around. Well, after only 27 months and 24,300 miles I had my very first problem. I had to get a new transmission. Way back, Honda had sent me their extended warranty for the tranny because my car fell into the batch of CL's that had tranny problems.
Seemed to happen very quickly. I started to notice something different about the way the car was shifting. It was time for an oil/filter change and tire rotation/balance anyway, so I called the dealer and told him that I thought my car was joining the ranks of other defective Cl's and would probably need a new tranny. I told him that I would also need a car to drive. The earliest that I could bring it in was a week later. Dropped it off after work on June 19th. They gave me a 2003 Acura TL with 5,000 miles on it to drive and told me that my car would probably be ready the following Tuesday, June 24th. I had to make sure to tell them NOT to wash the car. They always want to do that. They told me if there were any problems, just stop back. Also received one of those customer surveys in the mail. Filled it out quite differently that the ones for Christine. Imagine, they fixed it right the first time and as far as I can see, didn't leave out any nuts and bolts! ;-)) Only about 15 more months on this lease. Have no clue what will be next. Honda is not making the 2-door Cl anymore. Coupes aren't big sellers. Too bad because not everyone needs 4 doors.
ruski-
That traffic on I-95 from Milford to Guilford is getting to be like that EVERY day! Almost as bad as rush hour on I-95 in West Palm Beach! They are widening the highway to 3 lanes starting in Branford. If you think the traffic is bad NOW, wait until they start expanding the Q-Bridge to 12 lanes or whatever they have planned! Glad I don't have to cross that to get to work.
I thought the Merritt didn't seem as "curvey" as it used to be, but since I'm rarely on that road, I wasn't really sure. The lanes did seem a little wider. Didn't get as far as the Hutch, but they have a cell phone tower like that in West Palm Beach right off I-95. I THINK it's somewhere near Okeechobee Blvd. or in that vicinity. I remember reading about it in The Palm Beach Post.
Hope it's sunny and warm there because it's raining here and supposed to continue until FRIDAY!
Sorry for the long post. Hope it doesn't interfere with all the messages that come flying into this topic. ;-))
fastdriver
I95? Yuck. I commuted from Westport to Stamford/Greenwich for a few years. I would often take Metro North just to avoid the frustration (and danger) of that road. Still have to deal with it here in Mass in it's incarnation as rte. 128...
Cobbs Mill Inn, another name from the past. Such a beautiful spot. If I'm ever in Weston again, I'd like to take the evil wife there. I think my last visit was for a good friend's wedding rehearsal dinner (Vinny Zero, are you out there???). Good to hear the food is good too as for many years you went there for location/ambience more so than for the food!
Fastdriver, as far as my semi-regular visits to my old home state, I was recently asked not to discuss such matters here. Oh well, to each...
I have had the "new car itch" a lot recently. However, as several of the models I'm interested in were new for '03, I'll wait at least 6 more months. I don't want to take another chance on a first model year car. Still, after 49 months and 49,000+ miles, my '99M is still looking and running pretty darn good. It will be really hard to replace it. However, if I win the Lexus SC430 from the raffle I've entered, then I'll keep the M for winter driving! Yeah, I can afford that! It's been nice having no car payments on the M for the last year. Unfortunately, big payments for the evil wife's RX300. Again, how did she get a Lexus???
Just felt like ramblin' a bit. Now back to our regularly scheduled program...
'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...)
Fastdriver - your tranny too? I am glad it didn't fail in traffic. It's nice that they give you a nice loaner. When my tranny failed, I got a rental Dodge Stratus.
More brake trivia: In a Y2K test of the Hawk HP Plus brake pads, C&D showed a significant improvement (they also tested a number of brake upgrade components by manufacturers such as Brembo). Those Hawk pads have serious stopping capability, and only run about $130. But realize that along with that added friction comes added heat and warpage and possibly dust and wear. Since the M already stops quite well with its larger brakes, I think the ceramics are a good trade-off since they cool quicker, have less dust, have a smooth quiet action, and should cause less warpage. I'm not trying to improve braking distances; too many negatives associated with that metric, particularly considering that the car stops well enough already.
As a last note, drove a different way home and noticed a lot of Jeep Liberties on a Chrysler lot. I suspect they're not selling well either, like the Pacificas, as I don't see many on the road. But who knows.
You are right about "Red and Zaino"! I used to do the same thing after I parked it -- turn around and admire its brilliance! Some people have told me they liked the red better. One person told me they liked the silver better than the red -- it looks more classy...like a Mercedes. I told him if I wanted a car that looked like a Mercedes I would have bought one! LOL...anyway, I like the silver, it just doesn't attract attention like the red did.
BTW, that "Jammin" dealer has 40 Pacificas on his lot amongst the 550+ new Chrysler/Dodge/Jeeps currently in his inventory...
Rotors-
I am looking at the following companies for rotors:
http://www.raceshopper.com/sp_chrysler.shtml
http://www.stainlesssteelbrakes.com/vehicles/project/9/
(includes pads and I already have EBC Greenstuff pads which I believe to be much better quality than those listed)
http://www.ricambisport.com/index.asp
I have never believed that slotted or drilled rotors would be of any benefit to the everyday driver, but I don't think they would take away performance either, and they tend to be of a much higher grade steel and are usually better machined and balanced, so I think that there is benefit as long as they can be found at a reasonable price, which some of these are. They look cool too, but I prefer function over form if I can't have both!
Pster, would I be correct to assume that "Shrimpy" is a DMX executive? Perhaps Dieter what's his name? Or is that some Mid Westernr slang that we Easterners have not a clue about? Also, what's your source for stating that Chrysler sales are way down? Can you give the numbers? By the way, if you don't mind my asking, do you hate DMX after your horrendous experience? In any event, I'll bet your G35 will be very reliable. Glad you're getting the coupe; it's beautiful while the sedan just is not attractive for a near-luxury vehicle. More on a par with a camry or accord.
Fast & Intrepid, you guys have good taste in color; the red and silver or both very nice I think (although I prefer the darker grey even better than the silver). But don't you both change colors with each car? I know I always do. I assumed everyone does, except for the blackophiles who must really love it to put up with it! Once was enough for me regarding black; never again!
Reybeast, I'll check my manual some other evening on the parking brake adjustment procedure; don't have the energy tonight.
Want to mention that there's a new CTS that gets parked on my street; it's a beautiful dark shiny grey. But I'll tell you, the brake dust is quite bad on the fronts; glad the M's pads are not nearly so bad.
http://www.detnews.com/2003/autosinsider/0307/24/autos-226435.htm