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Comments
The car doesn't look as massive in person as in photos nor does the grille seem so large.
The car has clean lines so it should wear well even after there are millions on the road. The squashed roof might look gimmicky after time though.
The interior was a very good effort let down mostly by the fact that the leather (300C) didn't have a pleasing smell, though it looked very nice.
I was mildly disappointed by the "Tortise-Shell" accents on the wheel and gearshift. They were opaque and looked like plood rather than translucent which would be a classy update on the translucent plastic often used in 50s and 60s designs.
I liked the "Cool Vanilla" color on one of the 300Cs, a cream white alternative to the metallic colors so common now.
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
Now there's a trend I'd dearly love to see: non-flake colors. Just give me a yard-deep red or green or cream and keep the flake for the pimpers!
Not that I have an opinion or anything...
Can't really swallow the styling much on either, though. Hard to believe GM couldn't do better than this. Chevy's broad chrome strip just looks like a styling edict forced on the designers from on high in the Chevy management ranks, and how it actually looks in execution be d***ed.
That SLR was awesome! Not that it makes much difference I guess, but a woman was behind the wheel...
Regards... Vikd
Regards... Vikd
Okay, I gotta come clean. Those 10 300's I saw? They were on a an auto carrier heading southbound, so I guess that doesn't really count! ;-)
The first 300 I ever saw actually WAS a base model. Three Saturdays ago, I was out with a buddy of mine. He needed to get a new headlight assembly for his '95 Grand Marquis, and while we were out we stopped at a Chrysler dealer to see if they had any 300's. They had a silver base model that stickered for $24,995. While we were there though, the C came back from a test drive. Nice, pretty $35K Magnesium model. Me want!!
Here's a little irony about the Cool Vanilla..
White was a popular color for the original C-300,
300B/C/D (only available in black white or Red IIRC). Most 1950s cars that were white were really off-white or cream colored but the early 300s were a pure Snow white and stood out because of it.
The irony is that Snow white has become nearly ubiquitous for white autos, so the new 300s go to an off-white and stand out because of it.
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
Also saw a yellow SSR--again, first time I've seen that model, but it was too far away to really form an opinion. But it stood out, even from afar.
Now most people would say hey, that's not even a half-inch. However, my Intrepid is barely adequate for me! On longer trips, I end up driving barefoot, so that I can stretch out my legs a bit further. So naturally, I was worried about a car that actually had less! BTW, IIRC a Camry also has about 41.8" of legroom up front, and I find them to be a bit cramped for legroom.
Anyway, all those fears went away when I sat in the car, and put the seat so far back that I couldn't even comfortably reach the steering wheel! It does have the tilt-telescope feature standard, but honestly on the cheap models it's a clunky, awkward thing that feels easy to break.
IMO, the interior does show a few signs of cost cutting, but that's pretty much par for the course nowadays, so it's nothing I'd single out the 300 in particular for. Still, I'd rate it a bit below my Intrepid. Mainly for little things, like the cheap looking carpeting, the cloth on the seats that looks something you'd use on indoor/outdoor furniture, and the sparse-looking door panels. Call me old fashioned, but I like to see some carpeting, and fabric that matches the seats! Enough with this stuff that you actually have to push against with all your might, just to see if it's soft-touch or hard!
Could be a good story for "inconsiderate buyers" when you show up with 5 hidden trades!
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
Just my two cents.
For instance, the carpeting they used in nicer cars back then simply puts the newer stuff to shame, and in general they just padded things better back then. Not necessarily in cheaper cars, but nicer cars were pretty plush. Also, Chrysler went out of their way in the 5th Ave to cover things like the A- and B-pillar trim with fabric that matched the headliner, instead of just leaving hard, exposed plastic. And the dashboard on the M-bodies used a high-quality type of padding that's very resistant to cracking, and has almost a leather-like texture.
Now, the parts fit together better on the 300 than they did on the old M-body cars. Gaps are tighter and more even, and the window frames are thicker, so you're not getting in with a wire hanger, like I used to with my old Gran Fury!
BTW Lemko, there was this gorgeous '88 (I think) 5th Avenue at Carlisle this past weekend for sale. It was white, and looked showroom new. Maybe it's a sad commentary on these types of shows that cars like this are starting to show up so frequently, but this sucker WAS nice! They wanted something like $4400 for it, which was pretty extreme for something of that vintage. But damn, was it schweet!
Oh yeah, one area where the 300 definitely comes up superior to the M-body in comfort, is the steering wheel. I love the legroom on the M-body, and the footwell area is wider than on the 300, so your legs aren't as tight together. But the steering wheel on the old M- is just a bit too close for my comfort.
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
The car's not perfect, but it's nice enough that I'm in lust with it I like my Intrepid, but I have a feeling that if I were to trade it in on a 300C, I wouldn't be missing it too much!
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
Still doesn't give me that "oooo, gotta have one" stirring in my loins, so to speak, but it's better than I thought.
[sigh]
These are not the best of times for styling, methinks.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
It will be interesting to see how the 300 does, it does seem to be getting more attention than the 'Bu.
Later checked 3 at my dealer - 2 300Cs, 1 Limited. The front clips of these two trim levels are completely, though subtly different.
And I find the less complicated rear styling of the base models (no sonar "bumps"; no chrome strip) just fine; they don't scream 'entry level'.
Impressed and excited by this sortie of Chryslers into the new RWD full-size market. The car now a symbol of a scrappy new era what with parent company/ corporate/ managerial changes afoot.
not that the 300 doesn't pull it together much better.
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
2005(?) Focus: The Ford dealer here in town has the redesigned Focus with the new toned done (boring?)Euro-look front clip and interior. The front comes off much better looking than in photos. It's more mature and upscale appearing, definitely in line with the Euro Mondeo, although the jury's out if its better looking. I didn't get a good look at the interior.
Mazda 6: All variations now on the road. Oddly, I've seen more 6 hatches here in MN than Malibu Maxxs...
Audi A3 and a 4dr Alfa sedan: Both seen in NYC on trips over the past year, both with diplomatic plates. The Alfa was gorgeous, and the A3, while clean, doesn't really stand out... Tons of people were walking by it on the street and despite its rarity, no one was giving it a glance... I've also seen the Chevy zafira that someone else mentioned (with Mexico plates) here in MN. I don't know why Saturn isn't selling those...
Garris
What surprised me was how high the beltline is. The pictures make it look low slung, at least to me.
It is certainly a radical departure from the Intrepid-based cars...which is a good thing. Now if they could apply some of that magic to the desparately-needed replacements for the Stratus and the Neon.....
If nothing else, it SHOULD get much better economy than his Ram. The 300C is rated around 17/24-25, whereas his Ram is probably 14/19. I still think it's funny though, to be worried about gas prices, and be considering a Hemi!
Saw a Magnum at the local dealer today. Looks alright. I think the roof line is pretty good.
Also saw a Colorado in a parking lot today. It didn't bother me at the show but today I actually flinched when I saw it in broad daylight. Maybe it will wear in a bit but right now...argh. In particular the wheel arch accents are revolting, bad geometric parodies of the nasty ones on the Tacoma. Rotten looking little truck IMO. Seems like every Chevy lately is a nasty geometric mess.
OK, I'm calm again.
Bretaa-Seen a few 6 hatches too. Every time I see a 6 it looks better, by far the sharpest midsize. I think I've still seen more Maxxes, but I've seen more of those than 'Bu sedans also even with the later start date (I don't count the sedans piled up at the local Chevy dealer). With out the Maxx the 'Bu would be a contender for the "Why bother car introduction of the year" award.
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93