'05 Chrysler 300: Finest American sedan I can recall

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///M-Spec

///M-Spec

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Okay, I can't recall as far back as some of the older members. But that's besides the point.

The director of my facility bought a brand new Chrysler 300C (Hemi model) yestarday. The entire deptartment about cleared out to the parking lot to oooh and ahhh over it.

It was a very cool silver blue metallic that showed the 300's lines off perfectly. The thing is gorgeous, inside and out. A lot of character in person. It has a very commanding presence... like an S-Class Mercedes but more likeable. It is simply COOL. The LH sedans were good cars, but the 300 immediately relagated them to yestarday's old news status.

It made me think that its been a long time since a full sized American sedan was a truly desirable vehicle. It makes the Chevy Impala, Toyota Avalon and Ford Crown Vic/Grand Marquis look like Edith Bunker in a patato sack. Buicks and Lincolns WISHED they looked as good as the 300.

And this thing gets to 60 in 5.3 and runs the 1320 in the low 14s. Sweet. Climbing out on a limb, I predict a runaway hit for DaimlerChrysler.

👍


M
 

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Excellent thread. Ive been able to drive these works of art around at the dealership, and I am amazed. A near 50/50 weight balance with 390 foot pounds of torque with luxury to back it up. I had the chance to see one run at the local drag strip by a Chrysler rep and was running 14.2's STOCK!! With a few tweaks here and there such as an exaust and intake, an easy 13 second car. All I have to say is that the Mustangs and Camaros better watch out for this 5.7L Chrysler beast.
 
I agree. I want one. I've only seen on in passing for a second, but I may have to go to a dealer and check on out.

Is it just me or does the nose on it seem inspired by Rolls Royce?
 
Oh yeah. I saw Speed Channel's Test Drive over the weekend and they featured the 300. They had nothing but good things to say about it. And it really tore up the track. 390 lb ft is serious business. And with a enough room for a wife and three kids? I'm sold. I may be over my Cherokee days.
 
I got a good look at one today. I remember seeing one on the road before I even knew about this car and it is gorgeous. Up close, it is a fine example of how a Luxury car needs to be made. The front does looks Rolls inspired, but it also has something I can't quite put my finger on. I wonder if its engine would fit in a Feiro or MR2 :lol: .
 
You know mile, a co-worker who doesn't know much about cars saw the 300C and immediately said "Wow. It looks like a Rolls-Royce!"

I think it has to do with the very tall, upright grille and high belt line. Very Rolls.


M
 
Originally posted by miata13B
I wonder if its engine would fit in a Feiro or MR2 :lol: .
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Or how about TWO Hemis in a Miata! :dopey:


M
 
Originally posted by ///M-Spec
Or how about TWO Hemis in a Miata! :dopey:


M
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Now you would not even be able to get to the gas station with that. . . At least put it in a Pinto : )
 
I prefer the Lincoln LS for looks. I imagine it has a comparable engine option.
 
I like the 300C, but what I really want is a Hemi Magnum, in red. Makes guys in their macho SUVs look like they're playing with Tonka toys.
 
I actually like this car compared to all the other american sedans this is off the chart!
 
I've seen 3 300's on the street so car, in fact I passed one that color today. It's amazing to actually hear one of the Hemis pass by you...it's almost silent! (Although I'm assuming it was running in DOD mode).
 
I am mightily impressed by this revolutionary sedan. Although I think the styling is just "meh," it definitely proves the power of the M-B/Chrysler merger. Like the duke said, I like the Magnum better than the 300C, but I would take a Lincoln LS over either. Even though it only does 6.7 0-60 and 15.1 in the 1/4.

In this shade of gray, it look hella sexy. Far more so than the big, chunky, 300C/Magnum.
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I love the new 300 as well as the new Hemi Magnum. Very Nice!. 👍


Since Ford seems to be into the whole "retro" look (Mustang, GT), they should go with retro styling on the Lincoln Continental. Design it to look like the mid-60's Continental that had suicide doors.



-Mark
 
2004 Lincoln LS V8 Automatic Sport -> MSRP $39,865
3.9L V8, 280 hp @6000hp, 5spd auto.
Pictures I posted have a $140 aftermarket grille (the stock one is chrome) and headlight eyebrows.
 
base cost of the LS in v6 trim is 32k. In V8 it's 40500
The base chrysler 300 is 25k running the 190hp v6. 300c with the hemi starts at 33k.

I like the looks of the 300c a lot more but the LS is still a gorgeous car.

How's the reliability on Dodges these days? It'd be nice if I could convince my parents to get one of these rather than a G35. Still, we've got lots of time to decide. We have to wait a year or so till I get my G license and for a few other things to clear up with our absurdly high insurance costs
 
Clearly the 300c is a better buy. But there's no accounting for taste.
 
Originally posted by LoudMusic
I prefer the Lincoln LS for looks. I imagine it has a comparable engine option.
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When I first saw the pictures of this thing, I thought I would prefer anything for looks, but after seeing two on the road - one in top-spec Hemi trim - this is easily the best-looking domestic sedan on the road. It's done the best job yet of pulling off the 'retro' look and it's not even that 'retro' - it just conjures up images of huge "gangster" rear-drive sedans without actually being that big itself.

The Lincoln LS is outdated trash - here's an example of Chrysler finally exceeding the competition rather than simply catching up to it. Of course, it'll have to undergo the M45 test to be proven entirely capable, but it's on the right track.
 
M45 Test? What's that?

I played around at the chrysler site... A more than nicely loaded 300 (without the hemi) comes out to be cheaper than pretty much anything in the range of what we want right now :drool:.
 
Of course, it'll have to undergo the M45 test to be proven entirely capable, but it's on the right track.
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This is my other favorite car. I liked it the instant I saw one. My realtor bought one and totalled it a month later. Apparently her airbag never deployed.
 
Originally posted by milefile
This is my other favorite car. I liked it the instant I saw one. My realtor bought one and totalled it a month later. Apparently her airbag never deployed.
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:lol: Maybe it's not that good, then!

It's far and away my favorite premium sedan of all time; of the 36 premium sedans it ranks third behind the Chrysler 300M and Chrysler 300M Special on my obsessive "value-based" rankings, but I recommend it over those two because it's just so damn good. If Nissan had a version of this (call it the Cedric!) in the US, it might shut up all the 300C fans.

M45 Test? What's that?
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Sort of explained above - the M45 is such a good premium sedan that any challenger must go up against it first and foremost to determine if it's any good. This is all my opinion, of course. It's similar to the "M3 test" where all 'premium performance' cars like the S4 and C32 AMG have to face off against the M3 to see if they're capable. That one's not my opinion.
 
I dont see why the M45 is that great. Yes it is powerful, but it is small inside, has less-than-heroic handling, and looks like it was designed in 1997.

Dont you think that the E-class or the 5-series are at the head of this class? They both sit at 40-plus grand, and although I dont think you can get V8 power at that price level, I feel that even with sixes they still would make better drivers cars, not to mention all-around automobiles.
 
I am, and have been very excited about the 300C and Magnum ever since I first read about them. :) I saw a pre-production 300C on the opposite side of the freeway about 3 months ago, and even though it was the equivalent of about 6 lanes away, it instantly caught my eye... simply a wonderful looking car. BTW M-spec, that side-view pic isn't too good... it looks kind of short and smooched together. I love the 3/4 views of the car from both the front and rear though.

The Magnum is so cool too, though I do wish they kept more of the original concept's design cues intact – I fully realize that they've delivered a highly unmolested version of the concept car, but it's missing a few special touches that the concept had, expecially the imbedded plate in the headlights, the thin turn signals in the headlights, the thin backup lights, and the nice slotted grill (the production car's is meshy/honeycombed and blacked out). Still, I love it.
 
Originally posted by skip0110

Dont you think that the E-class or the 5-series are at the head of this class?
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No. Of the 36 vehicles in the class, I rank BMW at 14th (545i), 35th (530i) and 36th (525i). Similarly, I rank Mercedes at 22nd (E500) and 33rd (E320).

The M45 comparison is an important one. It can be done in two ways: power or price. Since I have total confidence in the brilliance of the M45's package, I'll compare the M45 to the 5-series for price and the M45 to the E-class for power.

The BMW 530i starts at $44300; the M45 at $42300. Since I've got $2000 to play with on the M45, I'll add in the $950 Comfort & Convenience Package to bring the total to $43300. For $43300, the M45 features traction control, front side and curtain side airbags, brake assist, dual-zone automatic climate controls, an interior air filter, a power tilt/telescoping leather-wrapped steering wheel with radio controls, leather upholstery, a power driver and passenger seat, heated power mirrors with turn signals, automatic day/night, and tilt-down back-up aid, a Bose 6-disc CD player, automatic Xenon headlights, 18" alloy wheels, driver seat memory, mirror memory, steering wheel memory, and a tire-pressure monitor.

The 530i matches the M45's traction control, front side airbags, brake assist, dual-zone automatic climate controls, interior air filter, power tilt/telescoping leather-wrapped steering wheel with radio controls, power driver and passenger seat, heated power mirrors with tilt-down back-up aid, automatic headlights, driver seat memory, mirror memory, steering wheel memory, and tire pressure monitor. So for $44300, we're a little short. To equip the 530i like the M45 would mean the addition of curtain side airbags ($385), leather upholstery ($1450), mirror-mounted turn signals (unavailable), automatic day/night mirrors (unavailable), a 6-disc CD player ($1800), Xenon headlights ($800) and 18" wheels (unavailable - 17-inch wheels are standard). Now the 530 is at $48700 and we're still down a few options.

If it ended like that, it wouldn't be bad at all, particularly because of the BMW's superior handling - but even considering the price difference - $5400 in the M45's favor - the M45 has 115 horsepower more than the 530i. The M45 does 0-60 about 0.7 seconds faster than a 530i. On top of this, the M45 has more front and rear head room and more front leg room than a 530i. So why would the BMW lead the class? Its handling certainly isn't worth that.

Compared to the Mercedes on power, it's similarly easy to see why the M45 takes the class. The M45's 345hp is unmatched by Mercedes. Excepting the E55, the closest thing to coming near it is the 302hp E500, which starts at $55600 - $13300 more than the Infiniti (and still it has 43 less horsepower). Of course, that's the starting price - once again, spec needs to be added to make it on par with the M45: a 6-disc CD player ($410), Xenon headlights ($1180), 18" alloy wheels ($4800), and a tire pressure monitor ($390) bring the total up to $62400 - $20100 above the M45. Even without the 18" alloys it's $57600, and you're still down that 43 horsepower, plus a few inches on front head and leg room.

I know the Mercedes and BMW handle better but to me, it's simply not worth it. They're not that good.
 
Originally posted by M5Power
I know the Mercedes and BMW handle better but to me, it's simply not worth it. They're not that good.
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Psst. Yes they are. ;)


M
 
I don't get it. Everyone acts as if the M45 handles like a GMC Safari. The M45's handling is on par with the Mercedes S-class and Honda Accord Coupe. I realise it's not perfect, and a case could be made the the 5-series is as close to perfect as you can get in the class, but it's not worth the extra four zillion dollars to get handling that's only "better" and not "significantly better."
 
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