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Chrysler 300M

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Comments

  • no1trustno1trust Member Posts: 151
    Big, safe humungous SUV after having that accident in the M?
  • 300michael300michael Member Posts: 1,815
    At http://community.webshots.com/user/my300m_ There are two sections. Some are duplicuts.
  • sdmike2sdmike2 Member Posts: 2,909
    It's nice re-living the event again. Thanks again for coming out. It was great having you and the family there. Glad you made it home safe and sound too. :)

    M
  • beach15beach15 Member Posts: 1,305
    Once again, I can see that I'm not well received on this board! Keep guessing though on the vehicle!
  • easyrider300measyrider300m Member Posts: 1,116
    I figured it out--its a Chevrolet Suburban---or else a Blazer---and it comes with a free set of earplugs--(no rattles)
  • 300michael300michael Member Posts: 1,815
    I sincerly hope your family enjoys your next vehicle half as much as I enjoy mine. Good Luck.
  • sleepymwsleepymw Member Posts: 65
    hello folx! i've been very very busy since my last poke into the hall! hope all is doing well.

    i've been thinking of trading my M in for the special. but i've got a few questions:

    1. what's the fair trade price for a 2000 M. i've got 40K on it. and in excellent condition.

    2. what's the fair purchase price of the M special.

    3. Is this the last year chrysler is going to make the M? if not, will there be a big difference in next year's model?

    4. when would be the BEST time to buy so that you can get the best for your trade and buy?

    5. someone said to me that one should NEVER buy the last year model of a car that you don't have much value in cars that are the last of the model series.. is this true?

    special hello to Roger, Russ, Mike, Doc, and if i forgot anyone that i chat with on the M site hello to you too. :)

    Sleepy
  • beach15beach15 Member Posts: 1,305
    Thanks. I still think the 300M is one heck of a great car, we've just come to realize it's not exactly right for us as a daily vehicle. What we're getting is almost perfect in this regard.

    no1trust- No, not a Navigator. That's a little too pricy and a Ford product. Nice luxury boat though.
  • cmyers300mcmyers300m Member Posts: 206
    Been a long time since my last post! I do read this board often, just don't always have any input. Goodluck to you Beach15...I just thought I would put in my 2 cents about the 300M...I have had my 2001 M for over a year now. I've had no problems, no issues, no rattles. In fact, this is becoming my most reliable car to date! My last 5 cars were of Japanese make, good cars but not 100% reliable. To be honest they weren't half as FUN to own as my 300M! Nonetheless, I can understand what it's like to have problems with vehicles. My wife's 96 Caravan has given us woes since the day we bought it, and I think SDMike2 had similar gripes with this van. I still believe it can be a luck of the draw when it comes to buying a car. I used to say [non-permissible content removed] cars were perfect, they're not! Again, I'm not bashing them or any other car. I believe a person should drive whatever makes them happy, however sometimes that can take a while to find. Anyways, I guess I've babbled on enough. Hello to everyone out there, happy motor'in! I hope the rest of you are enjoying your M as much as me!!!!!!

    Later, Chris
  • alta_300malta_300m Member Posts: 54
    I agree with everything you said. I am extremely happy with my M. I have never been so excited and proud to own a new well built car as I am with my new baby. The M is a great fit for me performance, luxury, size and great looks to boot. Out of all the vehicles I have owned this is the best one and the only one that I have had absolutely no regrets about buying even with the price tag of $40,000 Canadian.
  • sdmike2sdmike2 Member Posts: 2,909
    Hi guys! Welcome back! Don't be strangers for so long next time.

    Sleepy -

    Check Edmunds used car area for what they call True Market Value (TMV) pricing on your car in its current condition. Also try www.kellybluebook.com for retail and wholesale price estimates for your area. You might also want to check the local paper AND www.autotrader.com to get an idea of what your car might sell for. For 300M Special price estimates also check Edmund's TMV, but make sure to run an estimate through www.carsdirect.com. I found that I was able to get my car (01 Inferno Red) for $500 less than their quote, but they're sure to give you a very good price compared to what you might find if you stroll into a dealer unarmed. You might want to read up on the "not-so-special" though. If you're happy with your '00 there are ways to dress it up real pretty and improve performance instead of taking the depreciation hit and shelling out money for a new car.

    There will be an M next year (03) based on what we know. It will be the same platform as the current car. The 04 will be very different. I wouldn't worry about buying the last model year of a car, but rather the first model year. The plant usually has all of the bugs worked out just in time for a car to be discontinued. :) As for the best time to buy a car??? How about 11pm on the last day of the month right before the end of the dealer's fiscal quarter or year end?? :) But seriously, the best time to buy a model is when next year's model comes out and the dealers try to move last year's stock off the lot. For the 02 that probably means you'll be waiting until November.

    Hope that helps!
  • sdmike2sdmike2 Member Posts: 2,909
    Someone in my neighborhood is doing very well for themselves. As I was passing the local middle school a guy was dropping off his kid in a gorgeous hard-top bright yellow Viper. *sigh*
  • hayneldanhayneldan Member Posts: 657
  • hayneldanhayneldan Member Posts: 657
    It's a Nissan Altima.
  • silverbullet4silverbullet4 Member Posts: 449
    Mike, glad you didn't have more injury or damages. I have also had a washer hose burst (inside the house). Fortunately there is a trapdoor in the floor which allowed the water to runoff somewhere beside the dining room hardwood. We just got a new washer so I am not worried about the hoses yet. The armored hoses are a good investment, though. Just beware that some hoses that look like metal braid are, in fact, plastic! Speaking of hoses, I was having some work done on an old company car (Olds Omega)and happened to look under the hood while the engine was running. The upper radiator hose was blown up like a football! I was lucky that I spotted it before being stranded somewhere on the lone prair-ree in July.

    As lflowers mentioned, lots of rain here this week. The Silver Bullet could not be more shabby looking. Good for the emerging new growth in the lawn, though.

    Silver
  • cmyers300mcmyers300m Member Posts: 206
    I might have some insight on your leak problem. I too once had a leak in a 95 Maxima, exact same spot. What it was is the sunroof drain pipe, I believe there are three, had come off. When that happens, all the rain that normally drains to a runoff tray to a drain pipe ends up in the headliner, then drips on you! Another cause can be a clogged sunroof drain as well. Of course, if you don't have a sunroof then I'm completely wrong!
  • silverbullet4silverbullet4 Member Posts: 449
    Sweet! Thanks for the pics.

    Silver
  • lflowerslflowers Member Posts: 155
    Thanks for the comment. I hadn't thought about the possibilty that my leak might be from the sunroof. This is the first car I've owned that had a sunroof. I think I'll just take it in and let my dealer try to figure out where the water is coming from. I hope they continue to perform as a 5* dealer should.
    I'll post the solution to the problem when it's identified, in case anyone else encounters a similar problem.

    Lynn Flowers
    McKinney, Texas
  • blondablonda Member Posts: 542
    Any of you seen the Dodge Caravan commercial where the teenager pulls up in the van to pick up his date and the girl's father asks if it's his van. Then the father says "I used to have a van" and they show a flashback of to him and his girlfriend in the 70's dancing around a panel van. Next thing you know the kids are driving off in a Viper and the girl says..."I can't believe Dad let you take the Viper." Pretty funny.
  • blondablonda Member Posts: 542
    Okay you camera experts. I took some pictures with my new camera in "auto" mode and downloaded them onto my pc. They are not only hugh size wise, but also file size. I'm looking through both the software manual and camera manual and must be overlooking it -- am I saving them wrong (I used jpg)? or is there some setting on my camera? (I have an Olympus C700 Ultra Zoom btw) to make them manageable?
  • jona57jona57 Member Posts: 194
    I seem to remember reading in one of the Detroit papers that the van/Viper commercial was one of those "suggestive" ads (like the one on Concorde- the one where the original dialogue suggested that the girl was named Concorde after where she was conceived- the ad was later "toned down"). Anyway, the van/Viper commercial originally had some flashback seen of the father and his girlfriend IN the van. Apparently, DC felt that was too racy following the uproar over the original Concorde commercial. Too bad, since great commercial always push the envelope.

    Jon
  • jona57jona57 Member Posts: 194
    beach15

    Keep in mind that the used car sales market in general is relatively depressed now after a couple of years of high new car sales figures. In addition, the car's previous accident history will need to be disclosed.
    Good Luck!

    Jon
  • psterpster Member Posts: 293
    Alas, the 300M does have a transmission problem and it can't be wished away. I posted a few days ago about the loss of the first gear at 40K miles. I just got the bill: $1100. Five Star dealership could not diagnose the problem in 3 hours of testing. They said they called Chrysler's tech center and the problem was determined to be a broken valvebody within the transmission. Part failure. $400 part, $615 labor. They claimed they had never seen this type of failure before - no TSBs, they wouldn't cover it as the car was beyond 36k mile warranty. This is my second transmission failure in the last 6 months, after two failures of the driver's side window assembly. I LOVED this car.....for it's first 39K miles. I took a calculated risk in paying $30K for a Chrysler, but the love affair I am afraid is over. The designs are superb, but the mechanical execution is still not up to world class standards and I can't bring myself to prepay for fixing failures (i.e., extended warranties) as I intended to sell the car at 60K miles. It never got that far. Too manny expensive repairs has lost this once loyal customer (4 Chryslers in 15 years). P.S. I am very suspicious that the 300M transmission is not robust enough to handle the engine to which it is mated. I babied this car. No hard or dusty driving. Never on a dirt road. Tires rotated every 6k miles. Oil changes every 3-5k miles.
  • mikeyjohnmikeyjohn Member Posts: 365
    Am I missing something here? Is this the second time in 6 months that you have a tranny problem? If so shouldn't this failure be covered? In Canada we have a good faith policy where the service manager of a dealer has some leeway on warranties, and can show good faith in repairing cars after warranty has expired, as long as it is within reason and not as a result of abuse. I would really be upset if it happened to me, but I have had nothing but good luck with all my dealers over the years.
  • cmyers300mcmyers300m Member Posts: 206
    I'm with Mikeyjohn. That tranny problem most certainly should of been covered under the powertrain warranty, or at least the dealer should of ate the cost! My dealer guarantees all work done for 12months/12,000. If it was only 6 months ago, that dealer should fix it free. I would fight that one. I would try to get DC to pay for it! Sorry, it just stinks that the dealer would take you on this.
  • beach15beach15 Member Posts: 1,305
    Went to look at another "vehicle" today and get the price, and was offered $17,600 for the car after about 10 minutes. It was in the mid 40's and pouring too--the best weather for our M! With all the mositure, the plastics and other bits expand and there are no rattles. Also, the car rides silkier and the slight front end vibe is less noitcable. So far, each dealer has taken it out for a short spin too, just getting in and driving w/o much inspection of the outside or inside. So, being in an accident doesn't matter because no work done is visible at all, other than 1 or 2 odd seams in well hidden places of the trunk, a place neither dealer has looked at either. And, the vin doesn't show anything from what we know.
  • sdmike2sdmike2 Member Posts: 2,909
    You need to disclose that the car was an in an accident.
  • sdmike2sdmike2 Member Posts: 2,909
    All digital cameras have settings for image size and resolution. I take my shots at 640x480 in "fine" mode, and get file sizes of around 160k. If I shoot in 1280x960 mode my file sizes get obscene. My guess is that you're shooting in LARGE mode and high resolution.

    I'm just reading about that camera at www.megapixel.net. A 10x optical zoom! Holy cow! I also love that you can adjust the sensitivity up to ISO800 for taking pictures in dim light. That's a heck of a camera you have there lady!
  • 300michael300michael Member Posts: 1,815
    usually an accident will show when they do a more through check at time of sale. Keep an eye out for disclosure forms.
  • 300michael300michael Member Posts: 1,815
  • sdmike2sdmike2 Member Posts: 2,909
    This from megapixel.net:

    For still images, 4 sizes are available, selectable from what has evolved into a
    somewhat confusing system of uncompressed and compressed formats:

    1600 x 1200 (TIFF, JPEG SHQ, or JPEG HQ)
    1280 x 960 (TIFF, or JPEG SQ)
    1024 x 768 (TIFF, or JPEG SQ)
    640 x 480 (TIFF, or JPEG SQ)

    All image sizes can be recorded in either a standard TIFF format (no compression), or
    in JPEG. At the highest resolution, the least compressed quality is SHQ, followed by
    HQ, while the greatest compression is applied using the SQ image quality.

    ****
    Your smallest file sizes will bet at 640x480 in JPEG SQ mode. 640x480 in TIFF mode will provide you a very high quality 640x480 image, but a pretty large file size too. My guess is you haven't found where to change the file size yet.
  • nc300mnc300m Member Posts: 24
    Anyone have trouble playing copied CD's in their stock CD player? Mine works fine but when I put a compulation CD in it skips and act like it does not want to play it at all.
  • sdmike2sdmike2 Member Posts: 2,909
    I have the upgraded cd changer on my '01 and it loves the CDs that I've burned. I just make sure to use decent CDs and it doesn't have any troubles. Good luck! Sure would be a shame to spend $12 just to have Staind - Break the Cycle playing in the car. :)
  • psterpster Member Posts: 293
    The last transmission problem I had 6 months ago was a different problem. That's my problem: too many different problems. I asked the dealer to cover some of this cost - they said no way "it was past 36k miles and I had not purchased an extended warranty". Screw them, they lost Chrysler a life long customer. They even charged me $100 to diagnose the problem. They would not reduce the cost. I have no problem with the dealers service dept. making a profit, they'll just have to make if off someone else from now on. Shortly, I begin my search for a car to replace the 300M. Considering a used Lexus LS400.
  • glennbpglennbp Member Posts: 327
    Make sure you're using high quality CD-R's and that you have "finalized" them with whatever CD burning software you're using. Also, CD-RW's will not play properly or at all. I am using Maxell CD-R pro discs and Windows XP's own burning software and have had no problems at all.
  • glennbpglennbp Member Posts: 327
    Hi Scott - Received the "Momo" clock face today and promptly placed in the clock. It looks terrific! I'll get some photos this weekend and post them. A huge Thank You for your skill and efforts!!!
  • fastdriverfastdriver Member Posts: 2,273
    pster-

    Well, like they say, you can get a bad one with any make. I understand your frustration. Look on the bright side, at least you had 39,000 happy miles. Some of us weren't so lucky from day one.

    Good luck with whatever you buy. Be careful of those Japanese cars. You know what they say- boring, bland looks, no pizazz, BUT, AH, RELIABLE! ;-))

    fastdriver
  • fedlawmanfedlawman Member Posts: 3,118
    Personally, I leave the camera at it's highest resolution setting and resize it after it's on my PC's hard drive.

    I use MS Photo Editor (It comes with MS Office)for all my editing and filing.

    If you have MS Office and want more instructions, drop me an e-mail.
  • ruskiruski Member Posts: 1,566
    even Japanese cars have problems -

    - there are lots of failing transmissions on Acura TL-S and CL-S, some of them failed and needed to be replaced 2 times!

    - Toyota has admitted that they have an engine sludge problem with the 3.0L V6 engines - those engines go into the Sienna minivan, Lexus RX300, and a few other cars.
  • tnsc_300mtnsc_300m Member Posts: 76
    Hi folks, I've heard from our long distance club member and had sent along the well wishes several folks here sent.

    I asked about giving out his email address he has access to to which he replied:
    "Its no problem giving out this address, the more the merrier i always say lol. and hey, thanks for lettin edmunds know whats up! that email was darn great!! tell em all i said i really appreciate it and of course ill get with em as soon as i get back, and there welcome to email me if they like!"

    So with that taken care of, here it is for those of you who'd like to send your wishes along personally.

    haywood.pettigrew@us.army.mil

    I'm sure he'd appreciate hearing from the 300M folks back home.
    Cheers, and see you in the chat room tonite.
    tnsc300m
  • achanceachance Member Posts: 106
    Those of us who've raised daughters FULLY understand giving the hairy-handed little punk the Viper.
  • cmyers300mcmyers300m Member Posts: 206
    My last car was an Infiniti J30t, it was a decent car until I hit 45k. I then had to put over $2000 in various repairs. Then there's Honda. My wife's best friend went through TWO brand new Honda Accords that left her stranded due to engine failure. All the dealer would do is offer a new one after much complaining but added that they had no clue what was causing it and Honda was 'aware' of the problem. So again, ANY make can give you problems. As far as Lexus, yes they are nice, but my co-worker has a RX300 that he took back to the dealer 13 times before they corrected his fuel delivery problem that was leaving him stranded over and over. Hey, let's be honest here....we'll all just keep trying new cars till we find one we like and one that won't let us down. Mine just so happens to be a 300M!!! My first American/Canadian made car in 16 years and I LOVE IT!
  • mikeyjohnmikeyjohn Member Posts: 365
    I still think you are letting DC off too easy. I would be screaming at the moon and to anyone who would listen.

    As this is the first day of spring, I,m reminded of an old poem which I will recite.

    "Spring has sprung, the grass is riz!"
    " I wonder where the birdies is!"

    I always liked this poem, well to-night we are having the coldest night in known history, the Temp. with windchill will be -40 that's both equal in celcius and farenheit. We have lots of snow
    and my M is a mess. So much for global warming. Happy Spring everyone!!!!!!!!
  • fastdriverfastdriver Member Posts: 2,273
    tnsc_300m-

    Thanks for posting phases e-mail address. I have just sent him a note.

    jster-

    I'm with mikeyjohn
    - GIVE EM HELL! I had a 94 Infiniti J30 too and never had a problem with that car either OR ANY other car listed in my profile except Christine and a 1980 Olds DIESEL! Christine had more repairs than ALL those cars put together. Until DC gets on their dealers, I see no improvement in sales. People aren't going to spend good money to listen to their feeble excuses when you have a legitimate problem/complaint.

    fastdriver
  • cmyers300mcmyers300m Member Posts: 206
    Sorry to hear about the COLD weather. If it makes you feel any better, we're getting some of the Canadian blast tomorrow here in Ohio. Low of 16. To me, that's cold enough for Spring. I don't know how you do it up there, your blood must be as thick as molasses!
  • sdmike2sdmike2 Member Posts: 2,909
    I've decided I have 10W-30 blood. The guys up north must have 5W-20. ;)
  • no1trustno1trust Member Posts: 151
    Not necessarily... G35 looks pretty good IMHO. Infiniti's customer service is up there w/Lexus. Wish Chrysler's service was better: I'd feel a lot better about an M purchase. Love Lexus service, but IMHO their cars ARE bland.
  • drpixeldrpixel Member Posts: 256
    Mrning from "sunny" Noo Yawk!
    300Michael: Nice pix of the Carlsbad meet. I snagged the group shot, and with your permission would like to put it up on the club website (reduced somewhat in size...) for all the gang to see. Would like to see some pix of the neon wire 'lit' up. Still waiting for Target to send me a notice the Blue wire is in! Respond with an okay re: pix to my home email at
    GBeye@att.net
    okay?
    sdmike2: how was the dealer's reaction to seeing all those happy M'ers in his parking lot?
    L8R,
    Doc
  • psterpster Member Posts: 293
    I liked the 300M. My complaint is solely with having spend that much money at 40k miles on a transmission problem. And I am sick and tired of hearing the Chrysler Dealer tell me "you should have purchased an extended warranty". I told them they needed to fix theri transmission problem. My car is a 1999 and other than a few people on the internet boards, I doubt many 300M owners have over 40k miles yet. I am sure others will have tranny problems before long. I refuse to believe my two problems were "unique". I hope all the best, but if you start feeling hard or extended shifts, watch out. Yes, all cars can break down, but not all cars break down at 40k miles. I'm going Japanese.
  • stevenw300stevenw300 Member Posts: 90
    Thanks to the Enthusiasts Club for the B-Day Card.

    Decision time coming in May. Either exercise my option to purchase my leased 99 300M PHP with only 20,000 miles or ? She has been relatively trouble free. A few annoying rattles but otherwise no complaints. I drove an Audi A6 2.7T this weekend. A fantastic car but not in the budget. Ah decisions - decisions.
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