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Also saw two 300Cs on road this weekend -- the look may just grow on me.
I have personally seen two 300's (NON-C's) vanilla and magnesium in SF with plates and they looked like a rentals.
I saw a nice silver 300C in an Oakland, CA dealer lot about ten days ago and they were asking $8,000 over MSRP. I assume it's still there because the dealer left a message for me over the weekend.
BTW, I participated in the Art of Driving event over the weekend and got to test drive a 300C on Treasure Island (old Naval Base) on a course and down some wide-open streets.
The marketing guy in the car was pretty cool and he let me jump on the accelerator and brakes as well as race through the super twisty "course". I have to say that the car was flawless--considering what it is. Great power, auto stick is fun, and solid like a tank. The reviews in the mags are very accurate and this car will not disappoint.
I was having so much fun that I forgot to turn off the ESP which would have changed the test drive but I got a goods idea of the car (BLK-C on order) I'm going to receive.
I'm biased as I currently drive a 1986 woody, LeBaron convertible--let's just say I'm looking forward to the upgrade.
As for Police units,Chrysler interior materials and their cars in general(Intrepid)don't really have what it takes to last while in duty at this time.
The Acura TL in my opinion isn't comparable to the 300.It is said Acura products are built better for one thing while holding high residual values when for sale pre-owned.
However,I love that Chrysler is putting out a rear wheel drive car that is pretty cool looking and causing a lot of kafufle.The C version is quite the hot rod.I am sure Chrysler made a good move because I know rear wheel drive is on a comeback.What's old is new again.The same with clothing and dance music!
DD
I got on the throttle today and boy it takes off, I didn't turn off the ESP traction control I'm trying to some of my money out of the self sealing conti's. On the freeway it takes a second but you can feel the steady pull of the engine. How do I adjust the seatbelt height?
the only reason there aren't more intrepids seeing police action is because chrysler virtually abandoned that market for a large number of years. has nothing to do with an intrepid supposedly being inferior to a crown vic or impala...
now that the LXs are coming on-line...there will be a smoking police version. and it's already being pitched to some high profile departments. in a few years it'll be just like the 70s when chryslers ruled law enforcement...
It may well be a winner in any case, but as you likely know, the LS is selling at a substantial discount. And my guess is that 300C-s will not be discounted much - for a while.
Cheers,
- Ray
LS owner . . .
FINALLY! An honest answer. So I thought.
I notice this morning that my dealer's online inventory is showing three 300Cs. Oddly enough, two of them have VIN numbers that are only a digit or so different than my ordered vehicle. Hmmmm. I feel a backlot fact finding mission coming on.
I wonder why it is that the left hand doesn't seem to know what the right hand is doing? You aren't the only one who has received info like this from DC. Are they really that inept?
fastdriver
This car looks really interesting.
Thanks.
I remember seeing an incentive for former Chrysler lessee to lease a new product with a $1000 rebate, this could now be extended to owners.
At any rate they say there is no specification on the model or year.
BTW, to charlesf1, where were those dealers in So Cal selling for MSRP? Do you have name and #?
It rides real smooth, didn't get to take it over really rough stuff though. Over the roads I drove it was nice, smooth and solid. Soaked up whatever bumps came its way. It handles well for a car its size, but the steering is too light compared to what I like. It's not a "turn the wheel with your pinky" 70's Caddy steering or anything, but not as heavy or weighty as I think steering should be. The car does handle well for a 2 ton+ vehicle, but does have some body lean. However, for a car its size I think it does fine. BMW 5 series owners are going to be dissapointed. You're not going to mistake it for a MINI or a Porche 911 going through the slalom, but for a big car it does well.
As far as noise, I thought it was very quiet. Not Lexus LS430 quiet, but very hushed. About the only noise that came through was the motor at WOT and that sound I appreciated. The engine sounds nice without being loud.
Anyway, that's my initial thoughts from a fairly quick drive.
However, recently production has slowed down. Seems our bankrupt state can't afford to feed the inmates, so they have released many of them...
The car is so solid feeling -- the way the door handles feel, the way the door shut. Could be an illusion, but it feels so "crafted." I had to lower the seat to make it feel more like my Avenger.
With regard to steering feel, I wonder if it will be possible to get an underdrive pulley from Mopar, which would give you a bit less boost. I like some weight to the steering!
Even if my ordered car isn't there, their inventory (which could very well be wrong) shows a black 300c with the EXACT same options as the black one I ordered. I have also found four others that are pretty darned close elsewhere in the Valley.
If they can't put keys in hand, someone can.
Hey Tom2: I've searched a couple of dealerships over here in the central valley and they all have a minimum of a $4000+ markup. Absolutely no way I will pay that ridiculous amount. I thought they would have learned from the Pacifica.
"Christine!! Now I clearly remember... Didn't know there were personal issues with the hosts."
LOL....Figured you'd remember if I mentioned a "few" details. I have no problem with the hosts, but some seem to have a problem with me. It's just not the same as it used to be.
Maybe emale will have more info for you. He seems to know a FORMER Chrysler engineer who says the drifting is normal.
fastdriver
Otherwise it's a ploy to make you feel like you got a bargain if you are able to negotiate them down to MSRP.
This is not going to be a limited production niche vehicle. They plan to make and sell hundreds of thousands of 300 models.
In a matter of weeks, there will be plenty to choose from at no markup and well below MSRP.
People who pay even MSRP now will be sorry when they try to sell theirs in a few years when brand new ones are selling for invoice minus a hefty rebate.
Now that nonsense I wouldn't put up with.....I urge you to call Parts & Service and get the number to your area's regional business center. I believe there are now five. Don't ask your salesman for it, get it from another source.
A quick word on the Loyalty Discount....It's not a rebate, it's a discount being passed on from Mopar to the dealerships. You won't be getting a check in the mail, you may simply be a pass-through having to sign something to have the dealer reimbursed for giving you that discount up-front.
Oh yeah, I just saw some sales figures for the 300, at http://www.autosite.com. For March, the first month it was available, they sold 2,234 units. And I don't think it was out for all of March, was it?
Picked them up at Sams Club if I remember right.
"What exactly... do you guys mean by "drifting"?"
With Christine, it wasn't exactly 'drifting". It was like someone was under the hood pulling the wheel to the left. As SOON as you let go of the wheel, the car went right towards the Jersey barrier! Didn't matter if you were in the right hand lane, the middle lane or the passing lane!
Some cars seem to be missing from the March sales list at the site you listed above. Don't see any info for the Pacifica? Do you think all those 2,234 YTD 300 sales were to individuals?
fastdriver
Aaaaaaaaaahahahahahahahahahahahahaha....sweet.
This place sure got busy now that the Opening Night is getting closer. 28 new posts for today...!
My Audi has On*star -- at first, I thought it would be a "nice to have" but not something that I could really endorse.
Time (about 2 years) has changed our perception about On*star.
We would probably only consider a car that had telematics (we are not hung up on the brand, On*star, that is).
So, on a very nice Saturday and Sunday afternoon of late, we started down the test drive road -- this is new for us, since we have "almost blindly" just ordered Audi after Audi after Audi and leased them virtually sight unseen -- about every 18 to 30 - months for nearly 3 decades!
We looked at the C class Mercedes, the 3 series BMW's, the CTS and CTS-V Cadillacs (and some discussion with the dealer about the upcoming STS), we drove three Audis (A4, S4 and A6) even though we know the new A6 would probably be the one for us, from the Audi family -- heck, we even drove two Cayannes and tried to drive a Touareg and an R32, but the dealership was closing.
I also went to the Chrysler dealer to look at the Vanilla 300C with all options (excpet AWD) -- it was a presold car and I could not even get in it.
Anyway, my wife and I are, to be clear looking for two new cars -- ones that will complement each other.
The Chrysler 300C (estimated to be $40K with AWD) is, I am shocked to relate, actually worth discussing in this long list of possible cars -- this is a first as far as I am concerned to even consider a Chrysler in the same sentence as an Audi A6 or the "potenal suggested" by the new Cadillac STS-AWD.
So, we have decided, AWD a MUST HAVE, stick shift a like to have, but not a deal breaker -- and now for the final might need to have -- telematics. The Mercedes we looked at all had TeleAid (Mercedes and BMW share this service, apparently like Audi, VW and GM share On*star).
So, where is TeleAid in the 300C -- this seems like an oversight. Is it really there, or did I miss something?
Of course, even the $90K Cayenne doesn't have it either -- this year -- but apparently will next (2005). The 300C is already a 2005 and it doesn't seem to offer telematics.
This is confusing.
Is there any info from anyone on this board about this subject?
Thanks.
P.S. I got a "book" in the mail yesterday which was an entire Road & Track magazine except that it was devoted entirely to the 300. Having had one of these babies -- a 1963 model -- this magazine brought back a lot of fond memories. My '63 could burn rubber with the best of 'em.
This new 300C appears to be a major bargain -- assuming the quality is there!
Since the 300 is all-new, I'm sure that most of those sales are to individuals. I doubt the rental fleets would be snatching them up just yet, like they do with Grand Marquis GS'es. I'm sure a few of the cheaper models might end up in the fleets though, because there's going to be some demand for them. And I'm sure some of them are ending up as corporate cars for execs and such. I doubt they're going into police duty yet, although I heard that the county I used to live in had an order in for 60 of the Dodge version!
Also, as for sales, even if the 300 ends up being a total dud (I don't think it will, though), it's going to see good sales at first, just because it's something new. Same thing happened when Chevy launched the "bathtub" Caprice for 1991. It saw sales about 20% ahead of the more squared-off '90 model, although I have a feeling that the '91 was an extra long model year. But sales on that sucker fell off fast, once everybody who wanted to be first on the block to have one had already bought one.
I have to admit it would be nice to be able to have my car remotely unlocked should the embarrassing event of a lockout happen. But, fortunately I live in the Phoenix area, so if your keys are locked in the car, you can bet it's gonna be unlocked by some courteous yet oddly tattooed stranger any moment.
You can pick it up later in Puerto Vallarta.
BTW, no idea on the telematics. I hadn't even thought about it, even with On-star riding shotgun in our Tahoe. But I'm not big on gadgets, the Navi just sits there on the Audi while the tunes roll, LOL!
So, it is useful if you travel in remote areas with weak cell signals.
Most people lock their cars with the keyfob now, so it is less likely to get locked out.
Please pay attention to where your keys are before you lock your car doors.
just to clarify...
the new 300's front suspension was designed to produce very limited amounts of understeer...and thus it appears to be more susceptible to drift vs a suspension with more understeer dialed in. apparently if this drifting is perceived as a problem by the customer...chrysler will have the parts to fix the so-called problem. now whether or not all LX cars coming off the line will be changed to the new suspension geometry, i'm not sure...
Anyway, I was impressed. If you'd pulled all the badges from it, there is no way in a million years I'd have guessed it was a Chrysler.
Thanks....
DD
Drove it 25 miles to work and parked it. Haven't looked at the book yet. So far its beautiful and the reaction is tremendous from my co-workers. One said it was the most beautiful car they ever saw.
If anyone has any questions let me know.
This is the first out from my dealer and one of the first in the Long Island area I'm sure. My salesguy said the managers and sales people were asking if I could wait a couple days to take it.
He told them no.
Good luck to all of you waiting.
BTW at 63 it was running about 2000rpm, I hit the gas and shot up to 4000 and 85 mph effortlessly.
It will be interesting to see how the sales turn out between these rear-drive cars.
One thing with the Panther platform (Town Cars,Vics and Grand Marquis)is their large client base isn't apt to change in a vehicle.They like big simple cars.This isn't speaking for everyone but a lot of Panther platform customers are like that.Keep it simple.
I see 300's every single day on trucks in transit.They are pretty cool and I hope you guys buy one.
Cheers!
DD
BTW, I did catch a rumor, and it's only that, that there was a concern with the 300C models about some fuel line running too close to the exhaust, so they held the C models in storage until they deemed the problem to not be a problem.
Dale48- Congrats! But uh, why are you at work? You've got miles to log and engine to break in! Get out of that cubicle buddy! Go scare some Beemer drivers.