Indeed, I am in Central Florida and light seems to come on whenever there is a 20+ degree drop in temperature overnight -- which is rarely. When it warms up the light usually goes off by mid-day.
A friend of mine has a new Chrysler Town & Country minivan and he said the tires are nitrogen filled. He says he thinks it rides a little better (recovers from bumps quicker) and the tire pressures are always the same cold or hot. Doesn't nitrogen expand? :confuse:
Contrary to the folks that believe in snake oil and other magic say, nitrogen is just as subject to the ideal gas law as is oxygen or even good old air (which by the way happens to be over 78% nitrogen, go figure).
I agree with SHIPO - I have heard the same wonderful things about Nitrogen its power to increase gas mileage. However, I only let the dealership touch my ride... so whatever is in those tires -- air, nitrogen, bad breath or methane; I still see the tire pressure light come on whenever there is 20 degree change in temperature here in Orlando.
What does your pressure sensor read for each tire at normal morning temperatures for you? Check with a dial type pressure guage at each valve (I found that the slide type I was using was inaccurate and I was not filling the tires to the correct pressure: too low so that my warning light was also coming on in cool mornings). Once I got the right pressure in, no more lights in the morning! :shades:
I also carry a dial type pressure guage in my glove box and threw away all my junk slide types. Cold inflation pressure is exactly 34 psig at all four corners. Normal (hot) driving brings the pressure up to 38 to 40 psig according to the sensors. When I recheck the pressures with the dial guage the sensors proved to be accurate. I get a low pressure alarm from the sensors at any pressure below 30 psig. The tires I am using are Michelin Latitude P255R55-18 and the normal recommended inflation pressure is 30 psig, with a max load pressure limit of 44 psig. The tires are run flat design, so they already feel a little on the firm side at low pressure. They are very good tires and I strongly recommend them to anyone considering a good replacement for the OEM supplied Continentals.
You are correct. This air vs. nitrogen controversy has been going on for a long time now. I have heard that the Indy and Nascar race teams have been using nitrogen for a long time. I also heard that the Corvette comes from the factory with nitrogen filled tires. Gas expands and contracts with temperature changes and the pressure changes. Why nitrogen? I really don't know. Why not helium? (maybe your mileage would increase! LOL!
I actually just got my chance to drive a 300 extensively this past weekend, and must admit - I was surprisingly impressed with the car. It's a nice large car, rear wheel drive which handles infinitely better on dry ground, and is smooth, easy to drive, quiet and very sweet to drive. And this was just the basic one - I'm sure an SRT-8 would be even more fun. I'm a fan now - I like these as well as the Grand Marquis which has had this market alone for some time since the New Yorker went FWD and until the 300 debuted. Nice job, Chrysler - but you can feel the Mercedes inspiration in the car - and that will be gone now.... Who knows if Chrysler will ever get another new car out now.
Chrysler and Mercedes are still working together.the Next gen Chryslers will have a powertrain design by both Chrysler and Mercedes.I think Chrysler has one of the better cars out there,but got a bad rap years ago that wont go away.I've ben driving Chryslers products for 38 years,and hope to keep buying them,till I can't drive.I have a 06 Charger SXT,and a 08 Jeep Liberty,and love both products.
Chrysler was making fine vehicles before the merger with Daimler, during it, and since the partial separation, too.
4 Owned by me now: 1. 99 Intrepid with 130,000 miles. (Great 3.2 L 24 valve V6 engine and 4 speed autostick, I like that tranny's mode of function better than the Mercedes designed 5 speed in my: 2. 2006 300C (admittedly the most pleasant to drive and runs fast) and in 3. 2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee.
Both of the Mercedes designed trannys had the leak from the 13 pin plug that inserts into it. Fixed under warranty.
I'm not sure what 4 speed auto is in my 4. 2001 Cherokee (125,000 miles), but I know it has the 4 liter AMC straight six. Another great, if antique, engine. :shades:
I may be wrong - just making an assumption that the non-car company who owns Chrysler now will bleed the company for all they can, then sell off the body parts. The 20% stake Mercedes held onto was just to make the deal work, like an owner carry-back sort of - not a statement of future investment intentions. Hope I'm in error, but I haven't seen anything new since the sale - just noticed several models have been cut from the lineup.
Exactly. Someone hasn't been looking if they haven't seen any new products come from Chrysler since the new owners took over.
There's the Dodge Journey, the new Dodge Challenger and a new generation Viper. The new generation Chrysler and Dodge RT minivans are night and day compared to their predecessors. A new Ram truck, that was introduced at the Detroit auto show, is due out in the fall.
The Chrysler Aspen and Dodge Durango hybrid-powered vehicles will appear this fall. The vehicles will share the exclusive two-mode hybrid system that Chrysler developed in conjunction with Daimler AG, General Motors Corp. and BMW AG. The system will provide a more than 25 percent overall fuel economy improvement for those vehicles—and nearly 40 percent improvement in city driving.
"Within the next few years, we will offer mild-hybrid technology on other Chrysler vehicles,” Nardelli said.
Several models are being discontinued, in part because they were actually competing against each other. Dealerships are being consolidated to offer the full line of Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep products at every location.
Somehow there is immediate bias to lump everything that Chrysler has done wrong and therefore everything they have done is considered wrong. All the manufacturers make mistakes, every single one. And all have had hits. For Chrysler the hits have been the minivans, 300, Ram, nearly all the Jeeps and there may be others. Where they haven't been able to come up with is in competition to Accord/Camry/Altima. I suspect that a Sebring or Avenger is as good a car as those, but there is immediate bias toward the Camcords. My family owns a 2004 Accord. It is nice enough, but even it has had recalls and problems (more than my Intrepid, 300 or Grand Cherokee).
Journey has been getting good reviews and folks love those minivans. I think the minivan will come back to replace the SUV as the family car of choice. Expect to see more Caravans and T&Cs.
Back to the topic: Should I consider trading our 2006 300C for a 2008 or 2009 due to the unlimited power train warranty? Fact to consider: I drove my last car for 17 years. :confuse:
You like to keep a good car for a long time. I think if you can afford to do it, get the new car with the lifetime warranty and be happy. If economics are a bigger concern, you might consider keeping your 2006 300C and buying an extended warranty for it. However, in my experience, I have purchased several of these extended warranties and they never really paid out anywhere close to break even. One warranty cost me $1700.00 and I had one $300.00 claim (of which only 178.00 was covered). What I have decided to do is forego any extended warranty and just depend on the quality and durability of the car I buy. I don't buy "baseline" stripped models, and I upgrade to better engines, transmissions, packages when possible. You get more car in the long run, and I have not had a problem with my 2006 300C's (I have two Heritage Editions) other than the tiny transmission oil leak that was fixed on both with a 50 cent O-ring. I cannot justify buying an expensive extended warranty (or trading off a perfectly good car) because I am afraid of potential repairs. Instead, I can set aside what I would have spent on the warranty or the cost of trading up, and use it to fix what ever breaks after the 3 year/36,000 mile warranty expires. So far, I have never had to spend more than a couple of hundred dollars on repairs on my 1999 and 2004 300M's and didn't trade them off until they were approaching 100,000 miles. If you really think you are going to need a lifetime warranty because this is going to be your last new car, I would opt for the new car. It is just hard for me to imagine myself keeping a car for 17 years. My first car was 14 years old when I got it, and I had it for 3 years... I usually keep a car for between 6 and 10 years maximum, but it depends on the mileage. I get a little worried about major repairs when a car nears 100,000 miles. It is hard to justify putting a new engine/transmission in a car with that many miles on it unless it is a collectible or classic. (Perhaps the new Challenger?)
When you said you buy the upgrade model,that is more reason to buy the extended warranty.The more the car has the more chance that it will need repair.I have the Extended warranty on a 08 Jeep liberty with the unlimited powertrain.There are alot on parts that are not included in the powertrain.Plus I have the extended warranty on my 06 Charger SXT,of course the Charger has the 3/36 warranty.I think its good insurance,there are all kinds of modules that control mostly everything.And you can negotiate the price on the warranty.
Cool is right on with the extended warranty comments. With few exceptions, claims rarely exceed or equal the premium/cost of the policy. Extended Warrantys are just insurance policys, and if the warranty costs $1700, unless you have an engine or transmission failure, most other repairs will not come up to that. If your car has enough problems to equal the cost of the warranty, you should probably get rid of it anyway. It's not going to be serviceable long term. YMMV, but the reports I've read all state the same thing - that you are generally wasting money on EWs.
I paid $800 for the Max care warranty.It wouldn't take much to get that back on one repair.A transmissiom job is about 1500,that alone would be worth it.Plus any computer would cost some good change.I'll stick with the extended warranty.I read alot of people on this forum as well as others where they would benefit if they had the warranty.I bet you have life insurance.With your logic you shouldn't have that either.
I agree with you. I purchased an EW in December '07 my 300Limited w/Touring Package was 22 months old with 35K and so many factory upgrades and creature comforts. I thought it was my best bet for the price! While I have not had any major problems. I will tell you when my UConnect decided to stop working and I could not take hold conference calls in my car it was a huge inconvenience. It took my local dealership 4 attempts (2 new rear view mirrors) to finally repair it and that was under the original warranty. I thought to myself I am not trying to shell out any additional money for car drama. :P besides basic maintenance!
Why, they are both insurance.Same as health insurance ,some people have it some don't.EW is like getting health insurance on your vehicle.If you think you will never have a problem with your car,don't buy the EW,but I never have seen a car that didn't have a problem.The perfect car hasn't and I don't think ever will be built.
"There is no correlation between life insurance and an extended warranty."
You've gotta be kidding. The life insurance company is betting that you won't die before the policy runs out, and the EW insurance company is betting that your car won't die (or suffer a significant number of expensive illnesses) before the policy runs out. I fail to see the difference. :confuse:
I never have seen a car that didn't have a problem.
Au Contrare, xtec - I have had SEVERAL cars that never had one problem - just to name a few: admittedly, I didn't drive these 100,000 miles, but I did drive them for several years and a fair distance with NO problems whatever, and well beyond their warranty period.
1984 Thunderbird - 66,000 miles, no problems 1994 Mercury Cougar - 44,000 miles, no problem 1997 Mercury Mountaineer - 24,000 miles, no problems, 1998 Mercury Mountaineer - 50,000 miles, no problems, 1999 Lincoln Navigator - 66,000 miles, no problems 2002 Lexus LS430 - 42,000 miles, no problems, 2005 Lexus LS430 - 48,000 miles so far, no problems, 2007 Mercury Mountaineer, 22,000 miles so far, no problems.
Perfect cars, no. But I did have EW on the Thunderbird, the Navigator, and did not ever use either one - complete waste of money. :sick:
I had a 02 Intrepid that had no problems ,but that doesn't mean that sometime in its lifetime it wouldnt have a problem.The highest mileage you listed was 66k.I bet you had those cars longer then you had them,you would have had some kind of problem.If you contact the people who bought those cars,they probably had some kind of problem.There is no perfect car.You didn't prove anything to me.Do me a favor and do what you want,and I will do what I want.Looks like you got rid of them before problems showed up.I worked on cars/Trucks for 25 years, and never had a car that didnt have some kind of problem.Your the kind of person who gets rid of cars before problems come up.Thats what I do,so I don't blame you for that.Like I said never seen a perfect car/truck.Seeing your from Nevada you like to gamble,I don't.Why isn't your Mariner,Explorer,Cadillac on the list?
Now, don't get cranky - we're just having a conversation here, ok? There's no right or wrong. Unquestionably, at SOMETIME, those cars had a problem, and many of them I didn't keep long, to be sure. Several however, I did keep past their warranty period, without a problem, 2 of which I actually did put an EW on. Just didn't use it and that's all I'm saying.
Why didn't I put the Mariner on? Should have, we have 53,000 completely trouble free miles on it so far. The Explorer, the 2006, had transmission trouble, but during the warranty period, since I kept it only a year. And the Cadillac? A HOST of problems. If I were in favor of an EW, a GM car would be the recipient most easily, that's for sure.
Although I currently own a GMC truck, and haven't posted it on my Carspace - you'll note none of my GM vehicles made the hit parade..... :sick:
What a great idea. An SRT with the 5.7 MDS HEMI instead of the 6.1 gas hog. I drove both, and really appreciate the 5.7 for what it is. It is a great running, smart engine. I wish the MDS technology was carried over into every engine design as standard equipment. Yes, feeling the 425 HP of the 6.1 HEMI at full throttle is quite a thrill. But, as fuel rapidly approaches $4.00/gallon it doesn't look like it will be that much fun for very long. I wonder if the MDS system would help the 6.1 HEMI get more than 16 mpg, without losing any horsepower at full throttle? The worst mileage I have recorded on my 5.7 HEMI is 19 mpg, the best was 28 mpg. I didn't buy it for gas mileage, but I think the technology exists for more than 20 mpg for anything that rolls.
These extended warranties are a great cash cow for the guys who sell them. They promote them as lifesavers and encourage you to buy them for "your own peace of mind". Hey, if that's all it takes to get that, it's worth it! All I am pointing out is that I have never really broke even with them, probably because I am buying better cars that don't seem to break very often. The more relaible the car, the less need for a extended warranty.
One thing I would like to see is manufacturers making limited warranties. They should have enough quality control in the design and construction of what they sell to provide a 5 year bumper-to-bumper guarantee. If they build a quality product, you don't need a long term warranty. This has always been the claim to fame for the Japanese companies. I have owned Hondas back in the mid-1980's that only had a 12 month warranty, when Fords and Chevys had 3 years. I never used the one on the Honda. If anything major was going to happen, it was probably going to happen in the first 15,000 miles. It never did, and 88,000 miles later I traded the Honda for my first Chrysler product: a 1993 Plymouth Voyager LX with a 3 year warranty, that was never used. I am glad to see the quality and reliability of Chryslers improving more and more. It is good for the buyers and good for the reputation of American manufucturers. Instead of spending an extra $1000 or more on an extended warranty that I will likely never need, I would rather spend it on useful accessories that make the ownership experience so much better.
I don't know why there is no MDS in the 6.1 HEMI. For me, the 5.7 has plenty of oomph and the 6.1 was a little much. I wonder how much the variable timing will help the 5.7 for 2009. I do think they are projecting an increase in HP, though 340 seems plenty. :shades:
Chrysler will have a new family of SIX cylinder engines for 2010 called the Phoenix various displacements, all with MDS. These will replace all six cylinder engines and deliver the power AND economy we all want.
Leading the way? You mean by finally updating or replacing a warehouse of old AMC and Crysler engines dating back to the 20th century? Yeah, that's leadership alright. Ford has a new wiz-bang 3.5L V-6 out, GM has several new 6 cylinders out, Nissan, Toyota and Honda have their fully updated 6's out. And Chrysler finally, at last, is "leading the way" by updating their engine stable...... I'm impressed, wow..... My mouth is literally drooping with joy.... :confuse:
I worked on those old engines,and they were more reliable then todays engine.And Chrysler did a wise thing by waiting,see what the competition has,then do their's one step better.Plus it is Mercedes/Chrysler design,I think you can't get much better then that.My Charger is the best Chrysler built so far with the help of Mercedes.
I am a FAN of the 300 and the Charger - don't misinterpret what I'm going to say; but......Toyota or Honda can do better than Mercedes can, IMO. Oh, the Mercedes may win the race, but the Toyota will come home under its own power more often, and frankly, Toyota has been dominating racing lately, not Daimler Daimler.....Cerberus, whoever that is....
No, I'm not kidding. With life insurance you pay in advance to leave your dependents with something to help them continue to live without hardship (hopefully) after you die, especially if you die prematurely. Everyone should do something like this to protect those who depend on them. You are definitely going to die at some point.
An extended warranty is paying in advance for something that probably won't happen, and probably wouldn't cause serious hardship if it did.
Sorry, your analogy is wide of the mark. In the majority of cases, both life insurance and extended warranties have a time (or mileage) limit, and if a death or failure happens after the limit has expired, there is no payout. With life insurance the insurer is betting that you won't die before the term of the policy expires, and with extended warranties, the insurer is betting that your car won't die before the term expires. Once again, I fail to see a difference, they're both betting on a statistical outcome that says the insurance company will win.
The reason Dodge isn't winning many races in nascar is because the Hemi is not allowed.If it was allowed,they would win most of the races like they did when the Hemi was allowed.As far as the new engines,we will have to wait and see what happens.In the meantime,I'm very happy with my 3.5,and the Mopar/Borla exhaust makes it that more equal to any Toyota,or Honda,or Nissan.
Very true. Do you know if there is anything like a Japanese version of NASCAR? I believe it is strictly an American style of racing for American cars. Super fast for 500 miles on an oval track doesn't seem to appeal to the rest of the world...
Whether in park or foot on brake while idling shimmies to point of almost vomiting. Anyone else having problem or have solution. Dealer said they can't do anything about it yet if you start up another one in there lost it won't shmmie.
Comments
Best Regards,
Shipo
I agree with SHIPO - I have heard the same wonderful things about Nitrogen its power to increase gas mileage. However, I only let the dealership touch my ride... so whatever is in those tires -- air, nitrogen, bad breath or methane;
Ciao
MoniqueRenee
I'm not quiet sure why you think it'll be gone, after all, Daimler still owns about 20% of Chrysler.
Best Regards,
Shipo
4 Owned by me now: 1. 99 Intrepid with 130,000 miles. (Great 3.2 L 24 valve V6 engine and 4 speed autostick, I like that tranny's mode of function better than the Mercedes designed 5 speed in my:
2. 2006 300C (admittedly the most pleasant to drive and runs fast) and in 3. 2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee.
Both of the Mercedes designed trannys had the leak from the 13 pin plug that inserts into it. Fixed under warranty.
I'm not sure what 4 speed auto is in my 4. 2001 Cherokee (125,000 miles), but I know it has the 4 liter AMC straight six. Another great, if antique, engine. :shades:
There's the Dodge Journey, the new Dodge Challenger and a new generation Viper. The new generation Chrysler and Dodge RT minivans are night and day compared to their predecessors. A new Ram truck, that was introduced at the Detroit auto show, is due out in the fall.
The Chrysler Aspen and Dodge Durango hybrid-powered vehicles will appear this fall. The vehicles will share the exclusive two-mode hybrid system that Chrysler developed in conjunction with Daimler AG, General Motors Corp. and BMW AG. The system will provide a more than 25 percent overall fuel economy improvement for those vehicles—and nearly 40 percent improvement in city driving.
"Within the next few years, we will offer mild-hybrid technology on other Chrysler vehicles,” Nardelli said.
Several models are being discontinued, in part because they were actually competing against each other. Dealerships are being consolidated to offer the full line of Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep products at every location.
Journey has been getting good reviews and folks love those minivans. I think the minivan will come back to replace the SUV as the family car of choice. Expect to see more Caravans and T&Cs.
Back to the topic: Should I consider trading our 2006 300C for a 2008 or 2009 due to the unlimited power train warranty? Fact to consider: I drove my last car for 17 years. :confuse:
You've gotta be kidding. The life insurance company is betting that you won't die before the policy runs out, and the EW insurance company is betting that your car won't die (or suffer a significant number of expensive illnesses) before the policy runs out. I fail to see the difference. :confuse:
Best Regards,
Shipo
Au Contrare, xtec - I have had SEVERAL cars that never had one problem - just to name a few: admittedly, I didn't drive these 100,000 miles, but I did drive them for several years and a fair distance with NO problems whatever, and well beyond their warranty period.
1984 Thunderbird - 66,000 miles, no problems
1994 Mercury Cougar - 44,000 miles, no problem
1997 Mercury Mountaineer - 24,000 miles, no problems,
1998 Mercury Mountaineer - 50,000 miles, no problems,
1999 Lincoln Navigator - 66,000 miles, no problems
2002 Lexus LS430 - 42,000 miles, no problems,
2005 Lexus LS430 - 48,000 miles so far, no problems,
2007 Mercury Mountaineer, 22,000 miles so far, no problems.
Perfect cars, no. But I did have EW on the Thunderbird, the Navigator, and did not ever use either one - complete waste of money. :sick:
Why didn't I put the Mariner on? Should have, we have 53,000 completely trouble free miles on it so far. The Explorer, the 2006, had transmission trouble, but during the warranty period, since I kept it only a year. And the Cadillac? A HOST of problems. If I were in favor of an EW, a GM car would be the recipient most easily, that's for sure.
Although I currently own a GMC truck, and haven't posted it on my Carspace - you'll note none of my GM vehicles made the hit parade..... :sick:
One thing I would like to see is manufacturers making limited warranties. They should have enough quality control in the design and construction of what they sell to provide a 5 year bumper-to-bumper guarantee. If they build a quality product, you don't need a long term warranty. This has always been the claim to fame for the Japanese companies. I have owned Hondas back in the mid-1980's that only had a 12 month warranty, when Fords and Chevys had 3 years. I never used the one on the Honda. If anything major was going to happen, it was probably going to happen in the first 15,000 miles. It never did, and 88,000 miles later I traded the Honda for my first Chrysler product: a 1993 Plymouth Voyager LX with a 3 year warranty, that was never used. I am glad to see the quality and reliability of Chryslers improving more and more. It is good for the buyers and good for the reputation of American manufucturers. Instead of spending an extra $1000 or more on an extended warranty that I will likely never need, I would rather spend it on useful accessories that make the ownership experience so much better.
An extended warranty is paying in advance for something that probably won't happen, and probably wouldn't cause serious hardship if it did.
Best Regards,
Shipo
Good site, by the way. Looks like a good engine family - probably 1 or 2 more than you need, but I'm sure they'll all be excellent engines.
Mopar and Toyota are doing most of the engine racing production now anyway, one or the other is likely to win.