What color is the steering wheel on the light gray interior? I drove one the other night, but I can't remember for the life of me.
I hate gray steering wheels, and the catalog shows black, but I don't think it really is. Arrghh... a black dashboard looks so much better than gray. Give me a black dash with a tan interior, and I'd be happy as a clam.
Here's a quick fix--buy some cheap rubber mats in a matching color! You completely save the fresh carpeting and factory mats underneath, and you can take out the rubber ones at any time, scrub a little, hose off, and they're as good as new.
That's how I keep the carpet in my Caddy, my dad's Buick, and my mom's Avalanche spotless all the time. Helps a lot if you ever go to sell or trade the car then too--you don't have nasty stained carpeted mats to try and hide.
In former days I was involved in the used car business, and several times encountered cars or vans that had pristine factory floor mats over the carpet then a set of very nice mats to protect the factory mats, and in two instances, a third set of mats on top of the second set.
My own preference is to use factory mats in winter, and no mats at all in summer. I paid for that original carpet, and I want to see it, I want to use it, at least during relatively dry weather. I don't care if it gets stained. That's what carpet cleaner is for.
What color is the steering wheel on the light gray interior? I drove one the other night, but I can't remember for the life of me.
I hate gray steering wheels, and the catalog shows black, but I don't think it really is. Arrghh... a black dashboard looks so much better than gray. Give me a black dash with a tan interior, and I'd be happy as a clam.
Using one set of mats to protect another?! Might as well stick the factory mats in a storage unit sealed in plastic to make sure it never gets dirty. If your covering them with another set of mats, what is the point of having them in the car at all?
I have the light gray/jade trim & I bought some inexpensive clear heavy rubber mats. I still get to enjoy my interior but it is protected also. Easier to clean also, because I can just take them out & hose them off when they get dirty. I have the magnesium 300c & I saw it with the medium gray (it looked like dark gray) interior & it was too dark for me & it had no contrast with the magnesium.
I never use my factory carpeted mats. I usually order a set of factory rubber slush mats and put them in instead of the carpeted ones. At resale time, I put the original carpeted ones back in and they are new, so the whole interior looks really nice. I always sell my used cars myself and usually get full NADA retail as they look great and I maintain a complete service history for the buyer that covers everything I did to the car over the 5-7 year period I had it. I think that carpeted mats are a joke. They trash out just like bare carpeting would. Why even have mats unless they actually protect and don't get all trashed out themselves?
<<<What color is the steering wheel on the light gray interior?>>>
The upper part of the doors, instrument panel, steering wheel on my 300C is dark slate gray, almost black. The lower part of the entire interior including seats and carpet is light slate gray, what you might call off-white. Very attractive and pleasing overall. A challenge to keep the carpets clean, but worth the trouble.
Is it possible that DC found a problem on their own and are trying to fix the problem without letting the public know about it? I mean come on...who really expects DC to send a statement to the dealers saying that the roofs leak or shorts out and can start your car on fire or something. Doesn't "Temporarily Unavailable" and "Restricted Ordering" still make you feel confident about what you bought? Has anyone taken theirs through a high pressure car wash?
For everyones sake I hope that they are actually installing an auto open/close or active ventilation system. Personally I think this would be the ultimate feature.
If you saw My Big Fat Greek Wedding, you'll know that this mat talk reminds me of the scenes where the couch is shown and it it covered with clear plastic. In other words I, for one, found it hilarious! My carpeted floor mats, are the exact same ecru color as the carpet. The mats, @ 30K miles have been cleaned professionally twice, vacuumed at least every couple of weeks. They look "almost new."
Does Chrysler use "cheap" carpet in the new 300C?
Why cover it up -- I know, I know, to each his/her own. But I remember my parents put wall to wall carpeting in their house and promptly put clear plastic runners over at least 60% of the surface -- and we're not even Greek!
Is this due to poor carpet materials or "tradition?"
I'd vote for putting my feet on the carpeted floor mats and NOT covering them up -- unless the carpet is really flimsy.
No offense to anyone, for, as I noted, my parents did the same thing -- although we did not go to clear plastic on the "good sofa" -- we just weren't allowed to sit on it! Ha!
With gas prices going through the roof, has anyone tried using regular (87 octane)? What kind of computer/engine damage could it do? What about voliding warranty? Thanks!
It has nothing to do with the size of engine. Higher octane fuel has a slower flame front, which combats pre-ignition (also known as knocking or dieseling). Premium gasoline is required in many engines with high compression ratios.
The 5.7 Hemi does not have a super-high compression ratio (less than 10:1), so 87 octane is apparently acceptable, however, I suspect that the computer will reduce your spark advance to compensate. This will cut into your performance just a wee bit, so 89 octane is recommended.
Contrary to the old ad campaigns, higher octane fuel does not help you get better gas mileage (unless your engine is designed for it specifically, and won't run well otherwise). The federal government forced the oil companies to discontinue making these claims because there was no supporting proof.
Wow! Are you sure? Sorry to be a bit cautious. I just called Chrysler this morning and the lady looked up the moonroof issue and it said in her computer that the availability is to be determined. But maybe they have not updated them yet. Could easily happen. Even if Chrysler found a problem with it and we all have to wait then I can deal with it. I guess they would not be able to afford offering this car eventually without a moonroof. I am sure there are lots of people who do want it.
It is possible that there was a delay with the moon/sunroofs because of crash ratings. I know that the Honda Pilot is not offered with a "celestial" roof from the factory because it would lose its 5-star crash rating.
Chrysler may have put the "celestial" roof on hiatus to figure out where to reinforce the body so that the car would maintain its crashworthiness with the big whole in the roof. I would be interested to know if the people who get a 300 with a "celestial" roof later this year have the same size as the early buyers.
The rule of thumb has been that if the engine requires Premium, the cost of using a lesser grade of fuel over X period of time would be greater than if you had simply used the fuel the engine was designed to use.
Most engine management computer programs do in fact attempt to compensate for lower grade fuel by retarding the spark -- sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't.
Even when it works, the issue can be lower power from the engine.
Now, I don't know the exact way this works, but the spirit of what happens is that the engine managment system and the driver tend to compensate for the lower power by using more fuel -- most of the time pre-ignition is no longer an issue.
It is also true that, generally speaking, the higher the compression ratio, the higher the octane requirements.
Once again, I am unable to comment on the exact way this works, but FSI (fuel stratified injection) engines -- like the new 3.2 V6 Audi engine -- have very high relative compression -- 12:1 or higher -- but do not require premium.
I read the how and why but I am way too far away from my comfort zone to even begin to explain it.
But, if the manual says use regular, mid grade or premium, just note that the usual effect of using lower fuel grades is INCREASED cost, not decreased.
This is off topic... For those of you that have HID headlights, are both the high and low beams HID? I would for sure want to add them as I already plan on replacing the fog lamps with them. I have found... that by replacing the standard incandescent bulbs with LEDs (turn signals, brake lights etc.) make a very stunning visual difference. Now I'm not talking about replacing the lamps to make it look ridiculous... just the old slow and dim bulbs.
The only other thing I can imagine wanting to do to the car would be to replace the treads and rims. 1) the performance difference over the conti's would be crazy and 2) it would give it a style thats a bit more my age. Now I'm not talking about 22's with spinners.... More like a clean aggressive sporty look. Closer to a Brabus rim package.
Speaking of Brabus. If they produce modifications for the SMART car... wouldn't it be sensible to assume that they would produce one for the 300c? 400hp and 490lbft of torque? <que drooling homer sound fx>
~mnmat (just boosted his anticipation level by another 80%) ches
How is it possible to have XM satellite radio in the 300C? I'm interested in the 300C fully loaded with nav etc... but don't want sirrus. However, it seems I have no choice if I don't want a seperate module for XM? That really stinks that they are forcing consumers with Sirrus. It's more money and I get it for only $6.99 I think as an additional radio. Not $12.99!
Since they may become unavailable as time goes on, I usually buy a replacement set of mats as soon as I get the car. The factory mats are much better when they are the ones with provisions to keep them from sliding and bunching up.
Thanks crispiegee for the 300 vs GTO information. The 300 is the car many of us really want, and have wanted for some time, but until nobody made it. I agree on the noise - for a time I had my car quite loud - it was fun setting off car alarms, but the noise really wears on you.
Then I might be better off buying my own (high, low and fog). For instance, I could equip my current vehicle an 02 ford explorer with high and low beams for $150. The 300c should be same and additionally I could swap out each other set of bulbs (right and left brake light, right and left turn, right and left reverse and the front turn signals) with high visibility LED's for $25 a set. Total cost for a stunning set of lights on this car would be $300 (the extra $50 comes from some parts to drop the voltage down to a level where your car wouldn't think it had a light out (you know when your turn signals blink fast...)) All this for a little less then half the price of one pair of HID's from the manufacturer.... Keep in mind these prices were from www.piaa.com but I know I could find them cheaper elseware.
That was pretty incoherent what you wrote, but why don't you want Sirius? My household has a vehicle equipped with XM and a vehicle equipped with Sirius. I love XM AND I love Sirius, but I have to give the knod to Sirius. There's a lot to be said for NO COMMERCIALS! And that, alone, is worth the extra premium over XM. And, I might be wrong, but I think Sirius now has more channels than XM. It seems like it to me.
If you're into Rock, Sirius is for you; SIXTEEN CHANNELS OF IT!! That's a bit excessive in my opinion, but to each his/her own. I'm more into R&B/Hip-Hop; of which there are only 8 dedicated channels, but Sirius Hits 1 and a few other Top 40 stations play that genre as well so it's no biggy. Both services provide stations that cover the decades (40s, 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s [XM also covers the 90s and Sirius bunches 40s and 50s together on channel 5 (Golden Oldies) and the 90s are covered on channel 9 and/or 10]). Both have plenty of news and entertainment, but Sirius has more. If you're a sports guy, Sirius has more sports and has just been named the official carrier of the NFL, on and off season. I believe it will also carry NASCAR.
At any rate, I think Sirius has more content than XM. If it makes you feel any better, I, too, wished I could get factory XM in my car. But after having Sirius, I don't think I'd have it any other way.
has little to do with safety ratings in the Pilot, more of a packaging issue. Concern is potential lost sales if the Pilot offers too many "luxury" features, it might take sales from the upmarket MDX.
Assuming the HID lights that are desired are Xenons, I read that the cost of adding Xenon lights would be prohibitive -- I have no clue the cost to go to Bi-Xenon lights on the 300, but I imagine it would be quite expensive.
Are people finding cost effective ways to convert to HID's or are the costs as detailed over the past couple of years in auto magazines still the rule?
Prediction, Chrysler will either offer Bi-Xenons as an option or they will become standard whenever HID is checked off.
There seems to be confusion over HID vs Xenon. The Xenon bulbs are just regular bulbs filled with Xenon gas. The HID (High Intensity Discharge) system is completely different. Rather than a regular bulb, there is a HID lamp and a ballast (think warehouse or street lights). HID lamps and parts are expensive - I was at a Ford dealer when they told a woman that fixing the burned out / nonfunctional light on one side would be $900! One way to get better light is to simply upgrade to brighter bulbs. They need more power than the stock wires can supply, so when you do so, you also need to add relays (switched by the stock circuit)and heavier wires to feed the bulbs through the relays.
Not to stray too far off topic, but crash ratings is what was told to us by the dealer as to why the Pilot doesn't offer a "celestial" roof, and, IIRC, the MDX doesn't offer one, either. In such case, I stand by the belief that it [roof not offered in Pilot/MDX] has to do with crash ratings and could very well be the hold up for a roof in the 300. Afterall, when you cut a huge hole in the roof, you have to deduce that you're compromising structural integrity.
Besides, the only difference between the Pilot and MDX (besides exterior) is, literally, trim pieces.
HID and Xenon are the same thing. It's a bulb filled with Xenon gas and glows blue-white hot when an electric spark is arced between the two electrodes inside. There is no filament inside a Xenon bulb. Xenon is not a regular bulb.
fmmcsi, you're confusing standard Xenon/HID lights with projector beam systems. Projector beam and "regular" Xenon bulbs are totally different, but both use ballasts. (Kind of an oxymoron there. They can't be totally different if they both use ballasts! :-))
Projector beam Xenon/HID systems are quite expensive. I'm going to rue the day if one of the projectors on my 300M Special fails.
I want this car but EVERYONE tells me never ever buy a car in it's first model year. What do you think. If I wait about 8 months would a lot of minor kinks be worked out even though I will be buying a 2005?
You and I have the same ideas about a great car. I like performance, but I also like a great looking and luxury ride too.
If you want even more performance, there will probably be some nice aftermarket options in the near future. I hope Corsa makes an exhaust for this car. They already make one for the Hemi trucks. Perhaps the car will benefit from a better intake - who knows. But this car will likely have some fun intake and exhaust options sometime soon.
The last pair that I purchased was 4 years ago and they were $98. only the little bulb needed to be swapped out. No re wiring, just the bulb swap and I'd have to say it was EASY. All I did was pop off the plug, remove the weather proof cap and the bulb twisted right out.
Just like a halogen bulb...you can't touch the bulb with your bare hands. It has to be handled with something pretty sterile like a paper towel/tissue or a very clean rag. This is to prevent any oil residue from getting on the bulb which will drastically shorten its life span.
The bulbs currently listed for the pacifica (from piaa) are the H7's which run $80 for a pair. So $160 for HID's which could be installed in under 15 min.
Personally, I think much of that thinking is archaic. Yes, that was true in the 70's and 80's, when quality was at an all-time low.
The competition nowadays is such that every auto company MUST get the car right the first time, lest they lose all of their buyers. Although there may turn out to be a quirk here or there, I doubt that it will amount to much.
But I do recommend that you wait until after next week. That way, I can order mine and not have to wait for them to build yours!
The bulb swap is not real HID, but it is an improvement over the standard lighting. An inexpensive way to get some improvement and a simulation of the HID "look" without having to drop the big bucks to get true HID.
I think there IS a gamble on getting the first year of any new model. I base that on my family experience. My parents bought the 1996 Chrysler Town & Country when it was the first model of the then new body style. I waited until 1997. I have had a virtually trouble free experience and they have had a number of things that had to be resolved. I gambled and bought the first year of the new GMC Envoy for 2002 back in the summer of 2001. It has been a fine vehicle, but I have had a number of small, irritating problems that the 2003 and beyond owners have not had. I am going to be buying a GM extended warranty before the regular warranty expires for the first time ever in my car owning days. Let's face it, if you buy the first year you are an unoffical Beta-Tester! So far, I have seen nothing that would discourage me from going ahead with buying a 300C now, but if I do so, it will be with eyes wide open to the potential hazards of such a choice.
I have a blk 300c 1300+ miles now sound group II, protection group II. I just had the windows tinted this morning 20% rear and the 4 sides 35%. I think it looks great! Dark in the back and lighter up front. I'm in Ca, so its illegal to do the fronts. I think I will get away with it because the light through the windshield makes the fronts look lighter. I saw a 3rd speaker on the rear deck while in the shop, it looks like a small woofer. I can't hear it when I fade the music to the rear I only hear low bass in the front of the dash.
mileshoover - where are you getting your walnut kit? Are you installing it yourself or having it done? If you are having it done, what is the price (if you don't mind sharing).
Just came back from my offical test drive of the 300C and first thing's first... 1. As of midday today, the orders for Moonroofs are NOW in effect. Chrysler is not saying why the hold, but they are accepting moonroof orders :-)
Second, I am just echoing what's been said here about performance, ride, comfort, smoothness, suspension, etc. I'm just thrilled with this car and drove the Magnesium 300C with a kool aid smile. It's as impressive in local streets and highway. I was doing 70MPH without even feeling it... it felt like 45MPH at most. Talk about interior space... WOW!!! I'm 6'5" and I couldn't have been more comfortable.
This car is truely unbelieveable and I'll be putting my order by end of May. 5-6 wks for delivery.. I can live with that.
PS- Yes, car did drift to the right a bit, but knowing there's a replacement kit for it, I'm not concerned. Another thing, didn't feel a thing when car's MDS was changing from 4 to 8 cyl and viseverse.
HID bulbs are filled with Xenon gas, but they don't have any filament (no little tiny spiral inside). Instead there are a catode and an anode and there is a constant spark burning between them.
Also there are regular bulbs filled with Xenon gas, they are cheaper, sometimes brighter, and more annoying. Those are HID wannabes.
After a cradle adjustment, my 300C is much improved, but still drifts to the right a little bit if I let go of the wheel. My dealer said that Chrysler told him that the kit to fix this issue will not be shipped until July. The dealer suspects that it is something they are still working on.
I just called my dealer here in LA and he didn't know anything about the lifted restriction.. my order is still on hold and he was under the impression that the hold was "until the next model year" which made me crap my pants. He said he has 18 people in the same boat as me..
he also said he has ordered 300c's with the same equip list as those of us waiting w/o the moonroof in case anyone can do without it, he said he'd have no problem selling them if the original order guys didn't want 'em.
In addition.. he said the reason he couldn't/wouldn't add the sunroof later was because he can't give it the same safety certification that the factory can because of the side airbags.. something to do with the deployment triggering and the different body reaction with an aftermarket hole in the roof..
So what did you exactly buy? My problem is that you need a seperate pad for this don't you? I would think it's not so neat as it would be with everything in one system. IE: nav, raido, cd and sat?
Sorry for being incoherent...after trying to read all the messages and trying to figure out how to post a new subject......
As far as XM... are you aware that they are 100% commerical free for the last several months?
If I've been an XM customer for the last 2 years and already have 2 xm's with them under the family plan... why would I want to pay $12.99 for a new system to learn etc.. when I'm very happy with XM?
I am planning to give an order for the 300C fully loaded.. It will come down to the color of Magnesium Pearl or Satin Jade Pearl. I'm in South FLA... Which would you think would be best?
Any tips on where to order?
Also, I would assume that I have no bargain power when ordering?
Wow, next model year... Strange. Hopefully we will soon find out more. And hopefully it is good news. If that one dealer was able to order them with moonroof again then maybe your dealer has not been updated yet. But then again, could be the other dealer who is at fault. Still a big mystery I guess. I hope we will get the car this summer... with a Chrysler moonroof.
I also had Clear Armor paint protection film in Mountain view Ca, "cleararmorinc.com" put on my blk 300c. 3M makes and warranties the clear film that goes on your paint surface to help protect from rocks, chipping. The stuff is not cheap almost $1000. for the product and application. They cover the front of the car with the stuff, the paint behind the door panels, door sills, lip of fuel door, door edges, and so on. I think it will keep the car looking new and you can barely see the film even on black. I think they did a great job. I'ts cheaper than re-painting or lots of rock chips on a painted bumper and vulnerable surfaces.
just in case anyone is interested...cars built with FACTORY moonroofs/sunroofs aren't simply regular roofed cars with a hole cut in them. moonroof equipped cars have extra reinforcement built around the sunroof so that roof integrity/strength is maintained. thus vehicles equipped with these open air holes have just as strong a roof as their holeless counterparts...some even more.
Comments
What color is the steering wheel on the light gray interior? I drove one the other night, but I can't remember for the life of me.
I hate gray steering wheels, and the catalog shows black, but I don't think it really is. Arrghh... a black dashboard looks so much better than gray. Give me a black dash with a tan interior, and I'd be happy as a clam.
That's how I keep the carpet in my Caddy, my dad's Buick, and my mom's Avalanche spotless all the time. Helps a lot if you ever go to sell or trade the car then too--you don't have nasty stained carpeted mats to try and hide.
My own preference is to use factory mats in winter, and no mats at all in summer. I paid for that original carpet, and I want to see it, I want to use it, at least during relatively dry weather. I don't care if it gets stained. That's what carpet cleaner is for.
stephen
What color is the steering wheel on the light gray interior? I drove one the other night, but I can't remember for the life of me.
I hate gray steering wheels, and the catalog shows black, but I don't think it really is. Arrghh... a black dashboard looks so much better than gray. Give me a black dash with a tan interior, and I'd be happy as a clam.
Might as well stick the factory mats in a storage unit sealed in plastic to make sure it never gets dirty.
If your covering them with another set of mats, what is the point of having them in the car at all?
The upper part of the doors, instrument panel, steering wheel on my 300C is dark slate gray, almost black. The lower part of the entire interior including seats and carpet is light slate gray, what you might call off-white. Very attractive and pleasing overall. A challenge to keep the carpets clean, but worth the trouble.
stephen
For everyones sake I hope that they are actually installing an auto open/close or active ventilation system. Personally I think this would be the ultimate feature.
Does Chrysler use "cheap" carpet in the new 300C?
Why cover it up -- I know, I know, to each his/her own. But I remember my parents put wall to wall carpeting in their house and promptly put clear plastic runners over at least 60% of the surface -- and we're not even Greek!
Is this due to poor carpet materials or "tradition?"
I'd vote for putting my feet on the carpeted floor mats and NOT covering them up -- unless the carpet is really flimsy.
No offense to anyone, for, as I noted, my parents did the same thing -- although we did not go to clear plastic on the "good sofa" -- we just weren't allowed to sit on it! Ha!
Okay, back to your regularly scheduled program...
:-)
Thanks!
Normally, on larger engines, because of combustion and massive fuel/air mixture; it's required to use premium fuel.
Though I can't speak on the 300C (yet), I can speak out of experience with 8 cyl.
Anyone care to share?
The 5.7 Hemi does not have a super-high compression ratio (less than 10:1), so 87 octane is apparently acceptable, however, I suspect that the computer will reduce your spark advance to compensate. This will cut into your performance just a wee bit, so 89 octane is recommended.
Contrary to the old ad campaigns, higher octane fuel does not help you get better gas mileage (unless your engine is designed for it specifically, and won't run well otherwise). The federal government forced the oil companies to discontinue making these claims because there was no supporting proof.
Chrysler may have put the "celestial" roof on hiatus to figure out where to reinforce the body so that the car would maintain its crashworthiness with the big whole in the roof. I would be interested to know if the people who get a 300 with a "celestial" roof later this year have the same size as the early buyers.
Hmmm...
Most engine management computer programs do in fact attempt to compensate for lower grade fuel by retarding the spark -- sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't.
Even when it works, the issue can be lower power from the engine.
Now, I don't know the exact way this works, but the spirit of what happens is that the engine managment system and the driver tend to compensate for the lower power by using more fuel -- most of the time pre-ignition is no longer an issue.
It is also true that, generally speaking, the higher the compression ratio, the higher the octane requirements.
Once again, I am unable to comment on the exact way this works, but FSI (fuel stratified injection) engines -- like the new 3.2 V6 Audi engine -- have very high relative compression -- 12:1 or higher -- but do not require premium.
I read the how and why but I am way too far away from my comfort zone to even begin to explain it.
But, if the manual says use regular, mid grade or premium, just note that the usual effect of using lower fuel grades is INCREASED cost, not decreased.
The only other thing I can imagine wanting to do to the car would be to replace the treads and rims. 1) the performance difference over the conti's would be crazy and 2) it would give it a style thats a bit more my age. Now I'm not talking about 22's with spinners.... More like a clean aggressive sporty look. Closer to a Brabus rim package.
Speaking of Brabus. If they produce modifications for the SMART car... wouldn't it be sensible to assume that they would produce one for the 300c? 400hp and 490lbft of torque? <que drooling homer sound fx>
~mnmat (just boosted his anticipation level by another 80%) ches
Thanks
Thanks crispiegee for the 300 vs GTO information. The 300 is the car many of us really want, and have wanted for some time, but until nobody made it. I agree on the noise - for a time I had my car quite loud - it was fun setting off car alarms, but the noise really wears on you.
If you're into Rock, Sirius is for you; SIXTEEN CHANNELS OF IT!! That's a bit excessive in my opinion, but to each his/her own. I'm more into R&B/Hip-Hop; of which there are only 8 dedicated channels, but Sirius Hits 1 and a few other Top 40 stations play that genre as well so it's no biggy. Both services provide stations that cover the decades (40s, 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s [XM also covers the 90s and Sirius bunches 40s and 50s together on channel 5 (Golden Oldies) and the 90s are covered on channel 9 and/or 10]). Both have plenty of news and entertainment, but Sirius has more. If you're a sports guy, Sirius has more sports and has just been named the official carrier of the NFL, on and off season. I believe it will also carry NASCAR.
At any rate, I think Sirius has more content than XM. If it makes you feel any better, I, too, wished I could get factory XM in my car. But after having Sirius, I don't think I'd have it any other way.
Are people finding cost effective ways to convert to HID's or are the costs as detailed over the past couple of years in auto magazines still the rule?
Prediction, Chrysler will either offer Bi-Xenons as an option or they will become standard whenever HID is checked off.
Besides, the only difference between the Pilot and MDX (besides exterior) is, literally, trim pieces.
fmmcsi, you're confusing standard Xenon/HID lights with projector beam systems. Projector beam and "regular" Xenon bulbs are totally different, but both use ballasts. (Kind of an oxymoron there. They can't be totally different if they both use ballasts! :-))
Projector beam Xenon/HID systems are quite expensive. I'm going to rue the day if one of the projectors on my 300M Special fails.
If you want even more performance, there will probably be some nice aftermarket options in the near future. I hope Corsa makes an exhaust for this car. They already make one for the Hemi trucks. Perhaps the car will benefit from a better intake - who knows. But this car will likely have some fun intake and exhaust options sometime soon.
Just like a halogen bulb...you can't touch the bulb with your bare hands. It has to be handled with something pretty sterile like a paper towel/tissue or a very clean rag. This is to prevent any oil residue from getting on the bulb which will drastically shorten its life span.
The bulbs currently listed for the pacifica (from piaa) are the H7's which run $80 for a pair. So $160 for HID's which could be installed in under 15 min.
The competition nowadays is such that every auto company MUST get the car right the first time, lest they lose all of their buyers. Although there may turn out to be a quirk here or there, I doubt that it will amount to much.
But I do recommend that you wait until after next week. That way, I can order mine and not have to wait for them to build yours!
I think there IS a gamble on getting the first year of any new model. I base that on my family experience. My parents bought the 1996 Chrysler Town & Country when it was the first model of the then new body style. I waited until 1997. I have had a virtually trouble free experience and they have had a number of things that had to be resolved. I gambled and bought the first year of the new GMC Envoy for 2002 back in the summer of 2001. It has been a fine vehicle, but I have had a number of small, irritating problems that the 2003 and beyond owners have not had. I am going to be buying a GM extended warranty before the regular warranty expires for the first time ever in my car owning days. Let's face it, if you buy the first year you are an unoffical Beta-Tester! So far, I have seen nothing that would discourage me from going ahead with buying a 300C now, but if I do so, it will be with eyes wide open to the potential hazards of such a choice.
mileshoover - where are you getting your walnut kit? Are you installing it yourself or having it done? If you are having it done, what is the price (if you don't mind sharing).
Ken
1. As of midday today, the orders for Moonroofs are NOW in effect. Chrysler is not saying why the hold, but they are accepting moonroof orders :-)
Second, I am just echoing what's been said here about performance, ride, comfort, smoothness, suspension, etc. I'm just thrilled with this car and drove the Magnesium 300C with a kool aid smile. It's as impressive in local streets and highway. I was doing 70MPH without even feeling it... it felt like 45MPH at most. Talk about interior space... WOW!!! I'm 6'5" and I couldn't have been more comfortable.
This car is truely unbelieveable and I'll be putting my order by end of May. 5-6 wks for delivery.. I can live with that.
PS- Yes, car did drift to the right a bit, but knowing there's a replacement kit for it, I'm not concerned. Another thing, didn't feel a thing when car's MDS was changing from 4 to 8 cyl and viseverse.
I'm estatic... okay, I'll shutup now! :-D
Also there are regular bulbs filled with Xenon gas, they are cheaper, sometimes brighter, and more annoying. Those are HID wannabes.
stephen
stephen
he also said he has ordered 300c's with the same equip list as those of us waiting w/o the moonroof in case anyone can do without it, he said he'd have no problem selling them if the original order guys didn't want 'em.
In addition.. he said the reason he couldn't/wouldn't add the sunroof later was because he can't give it the same safety certification that the factory can because of the side airbags.. something to do with the deployment triggering and the different body reaction with an aftermarket hole in the roof..
Still waiting ....
Thanks
As far as XM... are you aware that they are 100% commerical free for the last several months?
If I've been an XM customer for the last 2 years and already have 2 xm's with them under the family plan... why would I want to pay $12.99 for a new system to learn etc.. when I'm very happy with XM?
It will come down to the color of Magnesium Pearl or Satin Jade Pearl. I'm in South FLA... Which would you think would be best?
Any tips on where to order?
Also, I would assume that I have no bargain power when ordering?
Thanks
I think it will keep the car looking new and you can barely see the film even on black. I think they did a great job. I'ts cheaper than re-painting or lots of rock chips on a painted bumper and vulnerable surfaces.