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Sedans Chrysler 300/300C/300C SRT-8 Chrysler 300/300C
4893 messages, Last post on Jun 14, 2009 at 10:28 PM
You are in the Chrysler 300/300C/300C SRT-8 Forum. Your Hosts are pat & karens
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. . .as I indicated, I had made my appointment to test drive the 300C AWD Saturday. The big blizzard passed Cincinnati by, and I felt the dealer would NOT have any issue with my wife and me taking an AWD 300C out on two day old snow covered streets. Long story short: dealer had two AWD 300C's in; only one was dealer prepped. While we were awaiting the passing of the keys to test the car, apparently a long time loyal customer phoned the dealer to buy the car sight unseen. Dealer said, "you may get in the car, but not drive it -- if the person buys the car as of 6PM, we'll prep the other car on Monday and you can drive that one." I understand. My non-driving impressions: Note -- prior to this, my wife and I had come to the conclusion that the most impressive American car we had ever tested was a 2005 Cadillac SRX V6 with the sport lux package (MSRP $54,000+)! The interior of this 300C AWD (dark grey leather) was as nice as, or perhaps better, than the Cadillac. The power actuated steering column and sound system were excellent, the seats were firm -- the view over the hood is HUGE, bigger than the SRX's. The switchgear glided and snicked and thunked with the requisite verisimilitude of "premium quality." The SRX was a V6, the 300C a V8; the SRX was $14,000 MORE than the 300C. The warranty on both was close enough for Jazz. The Chrysler's wheels, despite other's protestations are the nicest wheels on any 300 at any price (which may be not much of a compliment, I'll agree, but I was more impressed with them than with the chrome wheels I have seen previously on 300C's.) One difference: the wheel fender gap on the AWD 300C is noticable when compared side-by-side with the RWD version. Price MSRP: over $40,000 -- but not by much (car had nav+sound+sirius+protection group; crystal black pearl (or something like that). One dealer in Cincinnati is selling the car for sticker plus $4995. This dealership, since I was NOT at that moment buying only said "we do NOT mark the cars up over MSRP." Perhaps that just means "the sticker is the sticker." This salesperson, not at all slimy, suggested that there were some major changes coming in 2006, "more colors and interior choices, more options like rear seat entertainment, more wheel choices, etc." Salesman also said another manufacturing facility was coming on line and that supply during the second half of the year wouldn't be so tight. Quoted 14 weeks for an order (although he said all dealers are on allocation -- he said they have been selling 100% of their monthly allocation which means every month their allocation grows in quantity by model. He said they were allocated 6 300C's per month last month and that is has grown this month.) Can I see myself, after over 27 Audis, driving this car? I think so. Can I see myself starting all over at the bottom of the customer pecking order, knowing that my wife and I are in the top quartile at the Audi dealer (in terms of "treatment and customer service?") This is a much tougher question; MAYBE a test drive and $11,000 (lower than an A6 3.2) will "weigh more" than I can currently imagine. Never in my life would I have dreamed it would be THIS difficult to arrange a simple test drive; perhaps next week.
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Replying to: markcincinnati (Jan 18, 2005 11:51 am) 
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Replying to: jjacura (Jan 23, 2005 1:06 pm) Let me know, thanks! |
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Replying to: markcincinnati (Jan 23, 2005 8:06 am) |
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I am an american soldier living in Germany (Stuttgart...home of DC) I have driven BOTH the 300C and 300C AWD here (that means no speed limits in some areas!). I just ordered my fully loaded 2006 300C AWD (delivery May 2005). After serving my country for 18 years I finally get a break...price break. The discount I was given more than made up for the extra cost of the AWD. After driving both cars on dry pavement and in the snow (the A8 Stuttgart to Munich) I had to go with the AWD! Unbelievable handling combined with the stares of the other drivers I was blowing by convinced me. Both cars are fantastic, I just prefer the handling of the AWD. I drive VIPs and have been to DC's school as well as a few offensive/defensive driving schools in the US so I think the AWD vs. RWD thing is a matter of driving style and preference. Once I test drove my first 300 (in the states in September) I was hooked, but I had to try the HEMI. I can't wait till May...
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Replying to: markcincinnati (Jan 23, 2005 8:06 am) |
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I've only seen photos, but the wheel fender gap on the 300C AWD is very noticeable and doesn't look good. Does anyone know what was the design consideration for raising the body on the AWD version? Does it really look as bad as the photos show?
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The Chrysler dealer where I had hoped to drive the 300C AWD is in an auto mall. So, when, once again, we couldn't test drive the 300C AWD, we drove over to the Infiniti dealer next door. Took a long drive of an Infiniti G35x (2005). This car would probably end up being for my wife -- if we were to go with a Japanese car (my wife has some difficulty abandoning "European" cars (notably German brands). But this car was impressive -- I can see why it made C&D's top ten list for two years. Thanks for the review of the 300C AWD from the persepctive of a former Audi driver. Maybe next week. |
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| There is wheel gap on all of the models especially the 300. The wheel gap on the 300C RWD (with 18s) is the same as the wheel gap on the AWD (with 18s). 20s will fill the gap a liitle more and that is what most of the pictures on the web seem to have now. 20s will also be stardard equipment on the SRT-8. | |
I have driven my 300C now for 1400 miles. Where did they get their gas mileage figures? I get about 15 mpg around town and maybe 18mpg on the highway. Does that sound right or am I just driving like a maniac?
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