Chrysler 300M

bigmike5 · October 2003

Phases--Are you back at Ft.Campbell? I thought you were getting out when your hitch was up a few years ago? Did you get called up to go? I am still at Knox. If your at Campbell still, I may be down your way again on an inspection next year. Glad you made it back ok.

fuzzywuzzy · October 2003

I had 2 sets of Toyo T1S tires on another car & LOVE them. They are great sticky quiet summer performance tires. If you don't need all season, or have winter tires the Toyo's are nice. The wet performance is outstanding also.

phases78 · October 2003

yup im back at campbell

my time isnt up tho, not for a few more months, i came home now to clear, everyone else will be tehre a full year $:\$

pster · October 2003

The "have to open the front door to get the back door open" on the Element is too big a hassle....it would have been my wife's car anyway. My 300M is making some really weird noises in the engine bay now....I'm just not going to worry about it until something breaks, again. Sounds like the cooling fan motors or possibly A/C compressor is failing, again. Otherwise the car still drives nice and I continue to be totally impressed with the lack of rattles and the like at 60K miles. Still a tight car for its age.

scottjohnson · October 2003

I put Toyos on my M earlier this year, but I went with the TPT in the original size. Supposed to be an all season tire with good wet handling. Haven't had much driving in wet yet but it is like driving a new car compared to the OEM Goodyears. My only complaint is they were $$$, nearly the same cost as Michelin Pilot Sport A/S. The Yokos are much cheaper.

cinquita · October 2003

In short I was just talking about the lousy stereo system in my 2004M my 99 was great. Can't live w/it as is & know zip about radios/speakers etc. Reception has alot of static and overall radio/cd sound is lousy, may as well listen to the traffic. Don't care about 11 or 9 speakers (11 was really only 9 they now admit per intrepidspirit) just want to listen to some tunes again. I don't know whether it's the speaker system or the stereo equipment. Dealer/Chrysler admit zero knowledge or concern. What you have for sale - $$$ ??? Have knowledge on connection match? Tryed a switch at dealer to stereo w/equalizer - no match. I know this subject is getting old - but I'm not giving it up. I can't get no Satisfaction.

cinquita · October 2003

Thanks for the info - I'm sure they did know - figured I wouldn't. I didn't - but I do now.

cinquita · October 2003

Although I'm new to this, I too wanted to thank you for your service and welcome your safe return. My younger son just graduated AF Basic and is in Tech school right now. He expects to hear this week on his assignment, has heard rumor he's going oversees.

phases78 · October 2003

thank you for your welcome

its very good to be back! what job does your son have, if ya dont mind my asking..

ruski · October 2003

I went to a Chrysler Route 2003 test drive event in South Florida, in the parking lot of the Marlins ball park.

They had Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep areas.

I spent most of the time at the Chrysler area.

They had a pretty tight course laid out with cones, plus a little drag strip with a stop sign at the end - first you are supposed to floor the gas pedal then floor the brakes and try to stop at the stop sign.

First I drove automatic Crossfire. Not bad. Actually it looks better to watch when someone else is driving. From a driver point of view it is very nice but could sure use some more HP.

Then I drove a 300M special two times. Most people drove it like a granny. I drove it like it is meant to be driven and made the Chrysler reps nervous in the passenger seat.

I think I liked 300M Special better than the Crossfire. It was easier for me to maneuver around the cones. Maybe because I am very used to 300M.

pster · October 2003

"I can't get no Satisfaction." And you never will. Take the car to an auto stereo store and have them replace everything. Box up the OEM radio and mail it to the Shrimp man in Detroit with a thank you note. The 300M has been decontented into oblivion. The decontent engineers are already working on the Pacifica.

lflowers · October 2003

I had my new Pirelli PZero Nero tires installed last week. So far they feel quite similar to the high performance Goodrich GForce KDW tires they replaced, but I've only driven them on dry pavement at local street speeds here in San Diego. However, I'm currently waiting to hear about a long term contract job in the Boston area, so I may get a chance to experience them in lots of weather conditions soon. They do handle well in the conditions I've driven them in so far and they are very quiet.

bluesky999 · October 2003

Lflowers, I was just curious what size Nero's you got. I noticed they don't make 225/55 17s. Also, did you buy them at a chain? Just wondering what they cost retail--if you give the px let me know if that included flat fixing plan. I'm considering going to my local guy and asking him to special order them, as he doesn't normally carry them, but I don't want to pay an arm and a leg either so I may go w/Conti Extreme Contacts, which were rated similarly to the Neros but i know I can get. To anyone considering the PZeros, make sure you get the new model w/ the Nero designation. The old plain vanilla Pzeros are not rated nearly as highly as the new model.

lflowers · October 2003

The Pirelli PZero Neros I bought are 245/45-17's.
I have after market 17 x 8 wheels. I've been told that 245/45's are too wide for the standard M wheels, but there are some forum members who have used that size on stock wheels,
I bought mine at Discount Tires (I've shopped at their stores for years, always with satisfactory results). I paid $800 for 4 tires, including road hazard warranty and lifetime balance. Most Discount Tire Stores will repair any flat free, even if your tires were not bought from them.
By the way, I've heard horror stories about the noise generated by the Conti Extreme Contacts and
I can vouch for the quietness of the Pirellis.
Lynn Flowers

bluesky999 · October 2003

Lflowers, thanks a lot for the info. I though the Extreme Contacts were supposed to be quiet also; but I don't remember exactly so I'll try to verify what you say with the ratings. I'm leaning towards the Neros, but I'll have to check if the sizes they have are recommended as safe for the stock rims. Anyway, thx again. Good to know that Discount Tire does a good job.

Ruski, so you made the sales rep nervous; I'll bet. I hope if he was the bothersome type you really made him pay the price. I can remember one time many years ago when I was the boy-racer type, and I took a car for a spin, thinking I was testing it as needed to be tested for what was important to me. When we got back to the car lot, I said to the gray haired rep, I hope you don't mind that I tested the whole car, including it's pickup. I still remember his reply, which was "that was quite interesting, particularly when we went through the red light at 75". It dawned on me then that the light had been quicker than I had calculated, and I probably had the elderly fellow holding on for his life, but he was too polite to say anything to me, and I was just seeing if the car was indeed fast enough for me. Ahhh, old memories.

blowbyu · October 2003

Thanks for the info.

The impact was on the Driver side door. I am assuming he was talking about replacing the pillar between the front and back door, and the pillar between the front door and front quarterpanel.

I would like my car back, but I don't believe it will ever be the same again. I finished paying the car off last December and was planning on keeping it at least until my extended warranty ran out in a couple of years.

I have asked the insurance company to have a specialist go take a look at it. They have not gotten back to me yet with any estimates.

ottowrkr · October 2003

blowbyu - so you need new A-post and B-post's. Yikes , like I said I sure wouldnt want that car back after the changed those two posts. Lots of cutting and welding needed to do that repair.

ruski · October 2003

those were not sales reps, they were empoyees of the marketing firm hired by Chrysler to showcase the performance of cars like Crossfire, GT Cruiser, 300M Special, etc. Driving fast was part of the game. This was NOT on the street. This was done at a huge parking lot, with the road course layed out with cones and it included an improvised drag strip (again, flooring the gas pedal and then hard braking was ENCOURAGED by the guy in the passenger seat)

Did you actually read my post?

ottowrkr · October 2003

hey some guy in the Acura TL site is slagging the M . lenscap "Acura TL" Oct 27, 2003 9:56am

why must someone who has never owned an M tell someone else its not a good car ? I was so tempted to post something but I'm sure I would have sad some not so nice things .

bluesky999 · October 2003

Ruski,

You called it a "test drive event", so I assumed it was an even sponsored by dealers. You didn't say anything about a marketing firm. And when you said the Chrysler rep in the passenger seat was nervous, I thought you meant the Chrysler dealer rep. Also, you did say you made him nervous, which was what my post was about. I read it fully, just didn't understand it I guess.

beespecial · October 2003

"why must someone who has never owned an M tell someone else its not a good car ?"

Because ignorance won't stop some people from speaking what's on their little minds.

The 300M is a great car and I would, and did, choose it over an Acura.

vacman1 · October 2003

Same reason I bought a 2004 M instead of an Acura. Just as nice a car (if not nicer), plus better value to boot. Anyone that knocks an M has never driven one. I test drove a TL in 2002 and thought it was overpriced then.

As far as people perceiving that a "Honda" is somehow superior in construction or design - they are only fooling themselves. In fact, compared to the earliest Hondas, the newer ones are in fact junk, because they are now made in the U.S. if you apply his logic. If manufacturing a car in the U.S. is what causes a problem, then Honda can expect to see their problems increase as they make more stateside.

You might also ask the Honda nut where the engineers that designed the car were educated. Odds are, even if they live overseas, many of their "top" guys were U.S. educated. Or does that guy think that is just a fallacy as well???? There's a reason we have a lot of foreign engineering students here ...

vacman1 · October 2003

I'm not sure why you hate the stock stereo in the M? I got the 9 speaker infinity and think it's great. Possibly it's perception on what you listen to at home? Do you have a really nice setup there?

I have the nav/sat radio package in mine and never have any troubles with reception. The only complaint I might give you is that some songs with heavy base and a lot of things going on simultaneously (mostly newer alternative rock - isn't that mostly noise anyway??) tend to vibrate the crap out of the front speakers. But any of the techno, jazz, classical, rock, classic rock etc. comes in just fine. Hell, I hardly use a CD player now at all.

vacman1 · October 2003

tayLOrd: I can't speak for XM (lol I almost spelled it SM) radio but I LOVE Sirius! Tons of programming options, crystal clear and NO COMMERCIALS!! Not sure if the monthly fee is higher or that much higher than XM, but did I mention Sirius has NO COMMERCIALS????

It's funny, but on ocassion, I find myself tuning into talk radio, just to hear someone speaking - as they would in A COMMERCIAL! It keeps me grounded that I'm still listening to a radio.

P.S. Now that I have a sat radio, I doubt I'll ever be happy with a normal AM/FM again. These things will be the death (or at least the evolution) of the typical radio station that you know today!

tayl0rd · October 2003

I believe you've got me confused with someone else. I never said I don't like the stereo.

Thanks for the response on Sirius, though. I've been trying to find someone who has Sirius that could give a "review" of it. My girlfriend has XM in her Accord and I love it. I want to make sure Sirius will be as enjoyable before I plunk down the cash to get the Sirius tuner for my RB1.

vacman1 · October 2003

Yup. You're right - got u mixed up with cinquita.
My bad.

And yes if you love XM, I think you will really love Sirius due to no commercials.

fastdriver · October 2003

ottowrkr-

Just ignore him. You know how those Acura people are anyway. They think they have all the answers! LOL....

Hope all is well.

fastdriver

ottowrkr · October 2003

Bob , yeah I hear you . You at least can comment as you have had both . My buddy has a 3.2 TL , its a nice car but the paint on it is awful , my 94 Trep has better paint on it ( thats my buddies words not mine) . He has had small things go wrong with it , no tranny issues but he says sometimes it shifts really bad ? maybe its on its way out .

ruski · October 2003

I got a 2002 3.2 TL-S after my 99 300M lease ended.

I want my 300M back!!!

bluesky999 · October 2003

Otto,

I'm interested to know what was wrong w/the paint on your buddies 3.2 TL. Orange peel, un lustrous finish perhaps? I assumed all the manufacturers had their painting processes down pat, especially I thought the Japanese manufacturers would. As an aside, the paint and clear coat on my metallic candy apple '99 M is the best paint job I've ever had on a car. A couple of times I've had people approach me (strangers) and say how they really like my car, and they've been really surprised when I tell them it's a '99. The paint is really like new other than some scratches and hood dings, which is saying something for a car w/78K.

fuzzywuzzy · October 2003

Acura's paint is just very thin. My CLS has so many little nicks from everyday use & I only had it for 9 months/12K miles. The 00 M I had, had none over a 1.5 years & 40K miles. My aunt has an 02 yellow mustang & that paint looks & feels tons better then the Acura. I've been told to expect this from every car maker in the near future due to the EPA mandate that auto paint use more water bases. Acura is just so far ahead of the game it's showing up on their cars first.
On the M bashing I can understand where he's coming from. I don't agree though. The M is a great car for what it is. The Acura has the name, but poor quailty is right on since most of them are made in the USA. Quailty control is out the window now. Dealers by me are worse then the DC ones. I loved my M & would have kept it if I could.

laurasdada · October 2003

Hello, All:

Got my Autoweek yesterday, a small picture of the 300C (and Magnum). The C (imho) is just not getting any prettier! Especially compared to the M. Maybe in person...?

Going to NE Autoshow next week. Wonder if the 300C will be there? Probably not. Supposed to be in the 70s tomorrow here in the Boston area. I guess my '99 Platinum beauty gets a bath!

dukeofdallas · October 2003

Took my '99 w/ 90k in for oil change, seat bolt recall, and check-up today. They say, need a brake light ($20), due for tune-up ($250), both drive belts cracking ($160), struts leaking ($460). Don't know what maintenance schedule they are using but mine says 100k for the tune-up. And $250! Isn't a tune-up just changing the plugs and wires in this car. I knew I needed struts, can anyone recommend a website to check for strut prices? Also, can I upgrade to PHG-type struts w/ no problems?

phases78 · October 2003

bet you werent expecting to hear all that! if i were you i would just do it. after asking them what tune up they are talking about. if they are rounding up to the 100k one, sayin you need that cuz you may not make it another 10k, well then id do it.

im thinkin to get the phg struts it would cost more, but i dont think it would be a problem. not to sure though.

sorry i cant be of much help!

bluesky999 · November 2003

Here's what I would suggest for the maintenance, although admittedly it's not for everyone. First, realize that you have to manage the process; nothing gets done on your car by anyone unless they tell you exactly what they're doing, you understand and want it, and you agree to it. At dealerships and other places, if you don't manage it you'll be skinned alive at times.

First, to fully know what is recommended maintenance wise, check your owner's manual or buy a LHS repair manual, which although costs $100 it explains everything. I would suggest in addition to pricing parts out on the internet just pull outyour yellow pages and quickly call about 5 places for prices over the phone. Ordering over the web you'll probably escape taxes, but the shipping might be expensive. I simply buy the parts I need, usually at a local parts store or Dodge dealer, and I've found a local garage who will do work for me when I bring him the parts, for a very reasonable rate. It's not unusual for me to beat the dealer's prices by 30-50%, and often I get better parts put in than he would use, such as upgraded ceramic brake pads, bosch spark plugs, etc. As for the web sites you requested, a couple I've used in the past are www.alldiscountautoparts.com and www.chrysler-parts-dealer.com. TireRack.com is great for brake components and tires and advice and online ratings; they may have struts also. You can also just go to Google and do a search on discount and auto and parts and chrysler. Note: Pep Boys has really poor prices in my book. Also, call a few local dealers for prices on the OEM parts you want. I've found that one particular Dodge dealer near me is about 20% cheaper than the local Chrysler dealerships for OEM parts.

I thoroughly enjoy maintaining the car and keeping it running crisp and looking great for many years. Never did understand the allure of paying high lease prices and changing every 3 years; wouldn't satisfy my inner mechanic, even though I could afford it if I wanted to.

wire2 · November 2003

All LH cars have been painted with water base paint since '98.

>...paint looks & feels tons better then the Acura. I've been told to expect this from every car maker in the near future due to the EPA mandate that auto paint use more water bases. Acura is just so far ahead of the game it's showing up on their cars first.

bluesky999 · November 2003

I've managed to misplace my owners manual, and was wondering what size tires are acceptable by Chrysler for the 99-00 razorstars. Not sure, but I think the original tires were 225/55 R17. I have the full repair manual, but it doesn't have it.

silverbullet4 · November 2003

Duke, you might want to do a little test first. You are welcome to drive with me around my neighborhood and see what the ride is like with PHG. I had to replace my rear struts (one was bent) and I used Monroe Sensa-trac(?). My kid says it rides nicer in the back seat now. I do think the rear end is a little higher now, but no proof. It seems like the springs would determine that. Headlight level bubbles are ok.

After two tries at machining the OEM rotors I replaced them with Brembo. Magic!

Good luck, Silver

ottowrkr · November 2003

Fuzzy , you hit it right on the head. His paint is very thin. The whole car looks like it has been sandblasted and its an 2003 . You should see the stone chips . The car is black (mistake #1) and it looks like &%#@ .

dukeofdallas · November 2003

Presto! Nice magic trick Pat.

That's very sound advice bluesky. I definitely believe in managing the process. I very rarely let the dealership do any actual work on my car. I like to use them to diagnose the problems and then I choose who to take it to based on what I perceive the complexity of the repair to be. Dealership service departments are bandits w/o guns. A good example are the 30/60/90k mile services recommended on most cars. You pay a ridiculous amount of many for a bunch of stuff you don't even need.

Silver, I guess just swapping PHG struts in up front wouldn't really make my car handle like a PHG. With only an estimated 6 months left w/ the M I guess I'll let cost be my guide.

silverbullet4 · November 2003

Duke: I believe there were differences in steering effort/turning ratio??, stiffer suspension parts, different front rotors. I bought a car with PHG to get the better brakes. The unlimited speed controller was not an issue for me since I want to keep my drivers license.

easyrider300m · November 2003

So Ruski and Fuzzy , who both used to own Ms and now own Acuras , both would like to have their Ms back. Now that says a lot for our cars. I know I love my 2000M and have about 60k on it now. Even Fastdriver, who owns an Acura and raves about it, still vistits this board. I think he still loves the look and features of the M and misses all the looks he got, but he had a lemon and bad service and says he wouldn't buy another one. Even Beach who now owns an Avalanche still visits this board although he had complained of problems with his M, many of which were caused by a bad accident. But he still raves about the looks of the M and sound like he would eventually buy another if he had the chance.

So even those who have traded the M for another brand still seem to have a love for this special vehicle.

fuzzywuzzy · November 2003

I didn't get rid of my M though because I didn't like it. I loved it. Just didn't need such a big car, & I had huge payments(first new car)

ruski · November 2003

my 300M lease ended and I could not find a good deal on a new 300M. All the dealers in the area were acting like salesholes. A very nice Acura dealer gave me a lease deal on a TL-S that was hard to turn down twice. So I figured, let me see what these Honda fans rave about.

Now, I can't wait for my TL-S lease to end in 2 years.

Yes TL-S is a nice car and has a lot of power. When new. And when it is in the mood.

For some reason I now occasionally get beaten by Camrys. The other day an Integra pulled away from me. I get pretty crappy fuel economy. And the tranny bucks and burps. And to top it all off I can't get a peace of mind thinking about when the tranny is going to fail again.

And I have rattles inside the TL-S.

easyrider300m · November 2003

glad to hear you guys still like the M and may eventually buy another one. I wonder if fastdriver still is raving about his Acura CL? He had many minor problems with his M but got no satisfaction from his so called 5* dealer. I have had only one small problem (door lock actuator) with my M once my warranty expired well over a year ago. It is running fine as I approach 60k miles.

fastdriver · November 2003

easyrider300m-

Yep- STILL love my CL-S even with the replaced tranny. Everything else works like it's supposed to and hasn't broken, fallen off or stopped working in the 32 months that I've had her. Gas mileage still in the 20's around town except when I want to hear that sweet roar from the dual exhausts! The only thing I miss about Christine is that Candy Apple Red Zaino shine. I think I get as many compliments about the CL's looks as I did with Christine. Must be the color and that Zaino shine! :-))

Enough said. If I get off topic this message might get deleted too!

fastdriver

beespecial · November 2003

20 days till my 1 year anniversary of adopting my M.
Wife loves the M too but thinks I'm obsessing over it...swears I'm going to wash the paint off.

probably am obsessing but don't care...

It's just so much fun to drive and looks so darned good! I'm looking forward to driving this car a looooong time.

easyrider300m · November 2003

anyone attend the New England Auto show? Is the C on display?

marek7 · November 2003

Chrysler stand is such a shame. No C, no new magnum, not even SRT. Bored reps did not even know that production version of C was already shown to public (one of them did not even know that such a car existed, seriously!).

You can find brand new 2004 platinum edition 300M though. It has this special cheap plastic panels painted in silver. Chrysler is not even with the Mercedes anymore but very close to Kia stand instead.

New Acura TL was really sweet; wish Chrysler went this direction (6 speed, brembo, ESP etc).

beach15 · November 2003

Yep....I'm still here and say something every couple of months. We still have the Avalanche, and after almost a full 1.5 years, not a single issue at all other than a cracked mirror because of some ice. It's so nice to have a vehicle that never acts up and has never even had a rattle, anywhere!

I actually am not around the Av as much lately, because I've been driving the '93 Cadillac Fleetwood daily. All white with heated red leather seats--what a beauty! Plus a 350 V8, RWD, and huge interior and body! It's because of this silky road monster and my father's '92 Buick Roadmaster LTD that I like the new Magnum and 300C so much! A sporty, agile, relatively light weight sports sedan like the 300M is awesome, but there's just something special about a low-slung, RWD, V8-powered luxury sedan that makes me tingle. I just wish they wouldn't be so stupid and put a 2.7 V6 in such a heavy RWD car....it will probably have 0-60 times in the 15 second range! Even the 3.5 isn't all that snappy, but would be a good base. That, and I think the top Hemi model should be a little closer to $35-36k and not $40k. Other than that, I plan on driving one as soon as they arrive and maybe buying one in a couple of years.

I still really do miss the 300M though, even lately. I hated the road noise, rattles, and vibrations the car had, but it was so gorgeous and so awesome on the road. To this day, I still think it is, without a doubt, the best looking sedan out there...especially the front end. I'd take a new graphite or black '04 Special in a minute, but I'm not sure what I'd get rid of for it! I really, really missed the M on Sunday when there was an '02 parked beside the Av after church. Kind of dirty, and was Lt. Almond over Sandstone (yuck, yuck!), but had every option, including PHG (I could tell from the tires) and sounded awesome when the lady started it, even though it had the plain single exhaust.

Hmm....maybe I'll still buy a used Lt. Cypress over Pearl Beige (love that color combo. and year!) '00 in a year or two!

Chrysler 300M

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