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One week to decide: Keep my M for another year or buy new TL or G35X? End of year deals, low finance rates in the face of rising rates and a desire to have a new car vs. I still enjoy my M and it's paid for!
'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...)
My wife had "MY CINN" for her cinnamon glaze 2001 M before she totalled it. I'm not sure if she had another hidden message beyond the color of the car...
I have "QK SILVRM" on my 2003 bright silver M. Most people misread it and ask me what it says, but that's O.K. -- at least I can always remember my plate number without looking it up!
Now, if we could just find something not taken for her 2003 saphirre blue M...
Yeah, this forum has really cooled off! I'm currently trying to take advantage of end of year end deals and financing on a new car, but our rides don't seem to be too popular trade-in wise...
If I can't strike a deal by Jan 1., I'll probably just keep enjoying my M for another year. No lose situation to me!
I know the 300c is doing very well, but it's just not the car for me. I'm looking to go a little smaller and the styling doesn't do it for me. Sorry your M got nailed, hope it comes home better than new...!
I'll post the results of my shopping. Oh yeah, went to Mohegan Sun a couple of weeks ago. I feel good about all the money I donated to the Native American scholarship fund...!
You out there, fastdriver?
'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...)
This board, at one time the most active on Edmunds, has been wonderfully informative and fun. I wish all the member a Happy, Healthy and prosperous New Year (and their families and cars). I'll still be a participant here, but as my M fades from my life (I make the switch on Monday), so does the activity on this board.
I hope my M ends up with a loving owner who will treat it as well as I have and drives it well past 100,000 miles!
Enjoy each and every day my friends...
'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...)
My other half has expressed interest in buying my Special and getting rid of her '04 Accord EXV6. She loves it. I'm hoping she will actually buy it, that way my baby will remain in the family. Otherwise, you guys might see it for sale in Autotrader or something. Maybe <gasp!> EBAY!
I really am sad to trade the M. It still looks and runs great! But, I just have a feeling something expensive to fix is going to happen sooner than later.
I'll enjoy my final 3.5 days but cleaning it out this weekend will be bittersweet. I'll still be lurking around here, not sure if fastdriver, fuzzywuzzy, bushpilot or doc pixel are anymore. Man, i was addicted to this thread for a long time.
Happy New Year!
'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...)
It's true that activity dropped way off on this board. I think many that used to hang here are now hanging on that other board.
HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL MY FELLOW M LOVERS. May the New Year bring you many more happy miles and smiles in your M.
EZ
I'm looking at my M out the window now. What have I done!?
'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...)
While I'm at it, Happy New Year to all of you! I love my 300M and its styling is flat-out superior to the 300C.
Merry (late) Christmas and Happy New Year. Haven't been here for a while, am not sure if you guys even remember me. Feels good to see some familiar faces such as (02owner, laurasdada, tayl0rd, intrepidspirit, and bikmike5 <~~of course!). To tell you guys the truth, I haven't really been involved with my 300M since the purchase of my 05 Audi A4 1.8T CVT. That car is awesome, but I still have to tell you that the 300M is another story. The way it drives (performance aspect), handles, and overall interrior comfort is just unlike any other car! I sometimes take it out, drive it around, and it still attracts a bunch of eyes. Always keeping it polished, feels good to have a great car park next to my A4. We still use the 300M everyday, my mom drives it to work but now I save mileage on it during long trips. So while the A4 is running, the 300M is resting (of course, it should, since it's so special after all). Having two Front Wheel drive cars, I'd still say that the quote "Real cars don't power the front wheels, they lift them" still and only applies to the 300M! I just wish they could've continued making the car and not discontinued it, ohh well...at least we have one! Well, anyways, I'll see you all around. Have been very busy, but I'll check back soon!
The procedure starts by wet sanding the lenses with 1500 grit sand paper. This cleans all the crazing and surface yellowing off (It scares you a little because the lens turns white!) Next, I used 3M Plastic Cleaner (a rubbing compound) to get most of the sanding marks off. I follow this with the 3M Plastic Polish. The lights look pretty good at this point. I then used some high quality Turtle wax to protect the lens in the future.
I still need to do my fog lights but they are much easier to get off. While I had the lights out I replaced the low beam lamps with Sylvania SilverStar lamps. I have used them on other cars and like the results. I wish they had the 9005XS available for the high beams. I have seen some others mention modifying the mounts to us the standard right angle lamps but I don't see how.
I now have 84,500 miles on my 300M and still love driving it. The only problem I have now is the evaporator is leaking and I will be looking at getting that replaced this Spring (not looking forward to that bill!)
I hope that my new TL doesn't read this, might get and inferiority complex!
Only two days left. Sigh...
'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...)
'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...)
I have a 2003 M that I purchased 21 months ago and I have only 9,200 miles on it. My wife's 2003 M has about 14,000 miles. At this rate I figure I will still have my M 10 years from now!
Both of us are on our second M. My first was a lease and my wife's first was totalled due to an oil pan collision with the road...
A year ago we leased a 2004 Crossfire and we share it. It's a lot of fun and saves the miles on my real true love (at least in cars), my 300M. Barring any unforeseen circumstances, I truly expect to have at least one of our 300M's for at least 10 years!
I gave myself a really good New Year present. It was a gorgeous Saturday (has been for the past few days). The other half and I were out-and-about with nothing in particular to do. During our breakfast I said, "Hey, let's go up to Monroe. I want to see if they have a Mustang GT I can listen to."
She said, "I thought you were done looking for cars? What about the Audi?"
I said, "I know. The Audi is a done deal. I just need to leave the deposit and we'll have it in a few months."
She said, "Okay. Maybe we can find some shops down there that sell..."
We went to Dale Jarret Ford. They had two red ones and a bunch of V6s. Told the guy we were looking for a Freestyle, which we were (a very nice vehicle, BTW), but I wanted to just hear a Mustang GT. Salesman says, "Sure. Let me grab the key."
I turn the key.
The V8 rumbles to life.
I look over at her.
My eyes gleam and I grin literally ear to ear.
We go for a test drive and I love it even more. It's exactly the experience I've been looking for all along. We hit the freeway and I'm doing 105/110MPH in seconds. It only felt like about 70MPH.
It was red with a beige interior and 256 miles on it. I ended up buying the one off the showroom floor. It was red with red/black interior and "aluminum-look" trim on the dash. Only had 4.6 miles on the odometer.
Long story short, I get to keep my Special and get my kicks when I need a fix. I'm really happy about that.
My girlfriend drove the Special home and I followed her. As she drove by in the parking lot, I thought, "Man, I never realized how good looking my car is! I'm glad I get to keep her." Just the day prior I was feeling bad about taking her out of state to get the A6 4.2 and leaving her there (girlfriend bailed on buying it).
So, my garage now has:
2005 Mustang GT
Red w/ red/black/silver interior
Premium Package
Not sure what else, but who cares.
5-SPEED, BABY!!
in addition to:
2002 300M Special
Black w/ light taupe/slate gray interior
RB1 Navigation w/ Sirius
Girlfriend's garage is still sporting two Accords.
Congrats, Tayl0rd, on the new toy! '05 is starting with quite the bang for you! And you're right, the 300M is still a beauty. Mine, however, was going to need some TLC I believe. Something up front didn't feel or sound right. It could be a simple alignment or something more $$$. I was guessing $$$, so I decided it was time. Good deal, low financing and a great new car.
To those on this forum that had less than a 5 star experience with their M, I've always felt bad for you. For the rest, as interpidspirit wrote above, you know how I feel.
So, Happy New Year. Peace, Love and Understanding. And a more benevolent Mother Nature, hopefully. Whatever your ride, enjoy!
I'll still be lurking. It was a GREAT RIDE!
'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...)
What always amazed me was that this car, which performed magnificently and was a tremendous bargain to boot, somehow escaped the eye of the general car buying public. But for those of us that made this journey, it was a wonderful experience (at least it was for me)!
When I go shopping, I still find myself looking back in the distant parking spot (where it won't get door dings) and admiring my shiny zaino-ed 300M. It's still the best looking sedan on the road today...
TL good, M still missed. But a little less...
'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...)
Non-Nav auto (Boston area 128 commute every day. Tried for a month in a 5 speed Saab, a bit of a pain. I'm old...).
This is my second Acura ('88 Integra), my Dad traded his '02 TL for an '04 and my bro has both a TL and an MDX. No stranger to our family, Acura. And not a bad thing to say about 'em!
Parked next to a white 300M at work today. I'm continually haunted by ghosts...
'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...)
I had a premonition that I'd have serious buyer's remorse if I had traded my Special for the A6 4.2, despite how awesome I think the Audi is. My baby has just as much luxury as any luxury car out there. (I still can't get over that no other luxury car [S-class, 7-series, etc.] has a dimmer switch for the vanity mirrors!) Don't get me started on all the STANDARD features the 300M had that still aren't standard on the upper crust cars.
Alas, I think the biggest draw for me to get a new car was my longing to have a V8 again. When I was looking at the luxury cars, the V6 versions weren't even an option. I didn't test drive a single V6 except the new RL, which I found lacking in the oomph department and sound. In spite of its 300HP, it still didn't feel that much quicker than my Special. The ride quality was on par with my Special, but all that's another story.
When you stop and look at what I was actually longing for, the Mustang was the only logical choice. I wanted that V8 torque and a throaty exhaust note. IMO, a Mustang GT has the best sounding V8 in the business. The manual transmission just made it all the more sweet! That was still a compromise that I would've been making had I gone with the A6 4.2.
I think it really was fate that got me into the Mustang (this is my second one, BTW). I had just closed the deal on a fantastic '05 A6 4.2 a couple of days prior, but just had to find a GT to see/hear.
Once I found one, it was all over. Keeping my Special and getting the Mustang GT was the only no-compromise solution all along! A Vette would've been SUPER nice, but I have kids.
My girlfriend has quickly found why the 300M is the 300M! :-) Upon sitting in the Mustang and looking around, she started asking where all the goodies were when she couldn't find them! LOL I was finally able to explain to her that despite my new Mustang having every option, it's still basically just an engine with a car attached to it. I do have to say that I had forgotten how nice auto-dimming rearview mirrors are! I think I'll reserve night driving for my Special! :-))
On the SRT-8 with the 6.1 hemi, they claim the price will be more reasonable than they made the Crossfire SRT-6. Wish they put that hemi in the M. Zowie would that have been nice.
Hopefully, the "novelty" of the TL won't wear off. I feel, in limited driving, that it has a much smoother and better delivery of power than the M. Also, 90% of the time it was me and my lonesome in the M so I was even considering buying a coupe (and a Mini!). But I do haul two kids to the bus stop every day (as well as soccer, swimming, parties...you know), so four doors just makes my life easier. I was considering buying a toy (used Boxter, Honda S200 or Lexus SC430?) and keeping the M. Probably shoulda. And as I mentioned earlier, like the M, the TL is not lacking in style or ammenities!
My wife keeps reminding me that the M was just a car, that I can't apply human traits to it. I still can picture it sitting on the Acura lot as I pulled out, alone, wondering where I was going without it. Heartbreaking. Wife just doesn't understand. To her, car = appliance.
I'm not denigrating the M in anyway. It has set the standard for future cars to live up to.
'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...)
Blasphemy!!
I still think I may keep my 2000 M when I go for a new car in about a year. I figure it would be worth about $6k by then as I will have over 100,000 miles. So as long as it is running ok, I will probably just keep it to keep the miles off my new car--very possibly a 300C.
Your 99 probably would have brought about $7-$8k if you sold it directly to a private party.
You mentioned that you had a noise on the front end. I have a noise on my front end as well. But since the steering still feels tight and the shocks still seem to work ok, I think its related to sway bar end links or sway bar bushings. I don't think its a seriously big job to fix.
Guess I'll never know! (fortunately or unfortuantely?).
Since my M at 67,000 miles was worth so little on trade, I was very close to keeping it at least another year (it was still worth a lot to me!). It couldn't be worth all that much less a year later, with another 12,000 miles. But the deal I got was fairly close to the "best scenario" deal I had in mind when I began shopping, based on trade in value from NADA.com and kbb.com. But as I know, those were "on paper" values and the market I was dealing in wasn't coming close to those deals.
Hope your M continues to treat you right. If you can get $6K for a Chrysler with 100,000 miles, grab it!
'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...)
As true as that may be, it still just seems like a slap in the face with the 300M. Each of us that owns/has owned one knows that it's worth so much more than even what they charged for them new. It's terrible that the 300M has to take such a beating on resale just because of Chrysler's other products.
Over the two years that I've been participating in this forum, I can't recall reading a single incident where a 300M left its owner stranded; except when intrepidspirit's wife busted her oil pan, but that was to no fault of the 300M. There were the electrical bugs in the earlier model Ms, but that's to be expected with a brand new model. (Have you taken a look at the new RL forum lately? Seems like problem after problem. Most of it electronics.) The 300M was one of, if not the, most reliable American cars on the road, so there's no reason we should take such a hit on resale. The best way to get a fair value is to sell it privately. A dealer is going to sell it for $4K+ more than what he will give us for one, anyway.
My M goes in next Wednesday for the wiper module replacement. Back went into some spasms on Tuesday morning and killed the week for me. Couldn't get in her to drive her to the dealer and they couldn't pick it up at my home, they had a guy out sick too. At work today but not loving it at all. It sucks getting old.
You are so right! Actually, it might even be $5-6K...
You are also right about my wife's oil pan problem being her fault rather than the car's, but my 2000 M did leave me stranded @ 35,000 miles (just before lease turn in). The main computer died and was replaced under warranty.
"Each of us that owns/has owned one knows that it's worth so much more than even what they charged for them new."
Right again! My wife's replacement 2003 M is loaded -- PHP, upgraded interior & stereo, chrome wheels, moonroof, etc. It was listed @ $33,350 and she purchased it as a dealer demo (5,000 miles) with full remaining warranty for $23,350. My 2003 M (moonroof, full size spare) was purchsed new for $25,740.
I honestly believe that we could not have gotten the quality and amenities in any other car at anywhere close to the prices we paid for these cars!
My M NEVER failed to get me there and always in comfort, style and speed! :-) It is a crime about trade-in, but I don't think it's just Chryslers. As one salesman confided, they consider just about every domestic model a "dog" when it comes to trade-in. Also, I think with the second generation LH cars, for the first time I can remember, Consumer Reports started "recommending" Chryslers!
Just think if they had put a Hemi into our Ms...although with FWD, maybe not?
Years ago I sold a 1992 Mercury Sable (co. car I bought cheap from the company) to a large used car dealer for $6k. Went back to the dealer a week later and there was my Sable on the lot for $11,995! Probably sold it for $10k+. They say the money is made at the buy, not the sell. I believe it.
Didn't take my TL out in the snow yesterday, but I've read some pretty poor reviews of the OEM tires I've got and snow...
'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...)
You must not have read my posts. I lost the tranny at 50,000 miles.
I bought a loaded 04 at closeout last spring with it's $4K rebate and while a resale was only a slight concern to me as I typically run my autos well over 100Kmi(the dealer assured me these Ms retain their value despite my concerns knowing the new 300C coming had to impact that)here is what I see from the latest Kelly book:
Extra clean $23,650 (that has a $450 deduct for extra miles, despite us having only 8K mi in 10 mons?)
Clean $23,300
Now I know that is retail which I am sure I'd have to knock another $1K minimum off to get myself but I don't consider that too bad for something I paid just over $24K to get. AHHH, but no intentions to sell it, not for at least 6-8 more years. And not one problem in 10 months. I am toying with buying the extended max care warranty as DC is now offering all your money back if you never use the warranty, but sorta hard to convince myself to part with over $900 for good quality so far. We still are gahgah over the interior comfort and room. Maybe one minor gripe is the engine does not seem to warm up real fast in the winter which can be well below zero in So MN, but so far the FWD Michelins are doing good on the ice and snow (I don't think I will try it out tomorrow night when we are supposed to get our first big snow 6+ in of the winter, better night for the Jeep). Net: I agree with you on the point I think you are making for quality and value.
I'm really enjoying the quiet ride and very smooth and abundant delivery of power! THe only preliminary negative are the tires (sound familiar, Goodyear Eagle LS fans?). They appear, as Tire Rack reviews point out, to stink in the snow. Lots of TC & ABS so far. The LS on my '99M treated my ok, traded it with two of the original Eagles still mounted. I'll see how the rest of the winter goes.
And yes, I still miss the M. Now that it's gone, I seem to be seeing more and more on the roads. As I said, I'm enjoying the TL, but maybe I shoulda kept the M a year longer. Oh, well.
'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...)
I'm trying to decide if I should purchase this 1999 Chryler 300m. It has 35,000 miles and it cost 11,900. I have read on the boards that alot of people have had many problems with steering, the car shutting off on highways and other stuff. I am supposed to buy it tomorrow but now I am thinking that I might wind up buying a big headache instead. I need a car for work. I do alot of highway and city driving. Is this reliable?
Thanks