alextaylor29

Guys:

Have you checked out the new Chrysler 300 Sedan? It's $32K has a 340 / 390 lb/tq Hemi (The same engine in the Ramm 1500 truck and Dodge Durango)

It's looks very promising. 0-60 MPH is 6.1 seconds but with some Mods, it probablly come close to the caddy. $18K cheaper to.

Anyway, the CTV rocks, don't get me wrong, but for the price this looks like a contender.

More Info on it here: http://www.chrysler.com/300/

And here: http://www.dodgeboy.net/news/300c/index.htm

TriShield

Car & Driver just tested the new 300C in the latest issue.

0 - 60mph: 5.3 seconds
1/4 mile: 13.9 seconds @ 102mph

That performance is on par with the new Pontiac GTO and Cadillac CTS-V (C&D, R&T, and MT couldn't better 5.1 seconds in their CTS-Vs).

It looks like DCX has two winners on their hands with the new Magnum R/T and 300C.

I can't wait to see what they have in store for the upcoming Charger.

cvp33

Trishield,

Road and Track had their V to 60mph in 5.0 secs flat and to 100mph in 11.4 secs. Please don't compare that 300C barge to a V. Motor Trend's 300C gets to 60 in 5.8 secs and to 100mph in 14.9 secs. I can't wait to see it's skid pad numbers, not. DC built a great luxury sedan (for the money), but it's no more a sports sedan than the outgoing 300M Special.

alextaylor29

Guys, again I'm not trying to start a flame war here. I do realized the CTV is a much better sports sedan than the 300C. Bigger brakes, lighter, stick shift, more HP, etc.

HOWEVER, the 300C IS $18K less, and might be able to keep up with the CTV on a straight line. (It's an autostick).

The new 5.7L Hemi is a very good engine used in both the Ram 1500 and Durango. It's also got something very cool called cylinder deactivation, where 4 of the cilinders stop at low power. Apparently it's unoticible (per autoweek) and it can get 26MPG on the freeway.

My point in all of this, is for the price point of $32K for their top end version, it's sweet ride. All hail the return of the 4 door, v8, American Sedan!

DANSLS1GTO

A friend of mine got one to check out for an evening. I didn't get to see it. His response was 'yeah, it's alright'. His wife loved it to death. 'It's so quiet and smooth, you can't even tell the engine is running, and it rides like a Cadillac'. Not what I'd want out of a performance type car. It does appear to have some performance potential though.
Pile on that the fact it looks like somebody took a shoebox and tried to add a Rolls front grill on it - and it certainly wouldn't be the car for me.
Dan

cvp33

No flames here Alex. DC built a great luxury sedan. Now that is has an available V8 and rwd they are definitely a contender vs. the STS and DTS. If I was looking at a $50K+ Deville or Seville, I'd have a hard time justifying it with the $36,000 (fully loaded) 300C waiting in the wings.

I buy my vehicles through GMS and still ended up buying an 2000 LHS because at the time GM had NOTHING that I felt delivered what the LHS did for $30,000. Now hopefully DC can do something about their resale value. My LHS is currently worth $6,000. Hows that for an investment?

cvp33

One more thing. If you buy a DC product, immediately buy an extended warranty. I won't bore you with the details but my investment in a bumper to bumper 10yr./100K warranty has paid for itself twice already.

alextaylor29

Good advice cvp33. I'm new to Dodge but I'm very impressed with my 2003 Dodge Durango I got new. Only a 4.7L (No Hemi offered in 2003) but after having it for a year, I really like it. No problems, and I've already modded it, adding about 60Hp and 60 lb/ft of torque with the standard bolt on mods. 0-60 MPH is now just a hair under 7 secs, which ain't bad for a 5,000 lb SUV with a small V8.

Anway, what I've been noticing about DC lately, is the value they've been bringing to the table. Sure if money is no option, we could all have ferraris, Jags or M5's. BUT DC of late seems to bringing the right mix of style, power, and affordability, that's been missing in domestic auto's of late.

As evidence I'll offer the Dodge Ram Truck, $5,000 less than a comparably equipped Ford F150, the Dodge Durango, $10K less than a Tahoe, and the Dodge Srt-4. The fastest (production) car in the world for under 21K.

I see this trend continuing with DC' Magnum, 300C and upcoming 2005 Charger, all matted with the 5.7L Hemi and all loaded, around 30K.

No bad, DC, not bad.

Pro Stock John

iTrader: (34)

DC stuff is cheaper to market but you use every bit of the warranty (at least in the past).

300C is interesting for a quick luxury car. Anytime we get a new RWD offering that's a good thing.

But I'd rather have a CTS-V.

alextaylor29

Me to, but $18K less, is well...significant.

TTopJohn

I'd say it's much more of a sport sedan than the 300M special. I never saw a test in which the added "performance" parts of the Special made it any faster than a regular 300M or LHS. And it's still FWD.

The 300C is genuine RWD V8 with more or less w210(last gen) E-class architecture. That's sport sedan bones.


Would I take it over a CTS-V? Yeah, but only if I couldn't swing the extra cost for a CTS-V. The V is better, a highly tuned driving machine, build for the specific purpose of being a world beating sport sedan. The 300C is designed to be more things to more people, and just happens to haul *** and handle well in the process. But it's not as finely tuned to one purpose as the V. i.e. you wouldn't be able to take your stock 300C to the track and lap all day with just a brake pad and tire change.

Both great cars, but you would only see me in the 300 if financial considerations kept me out of the CTS-V.

It will be interesting to see which one depreciates faster. In the past 10 years, the only thing that depreciates faster than a Cadillac or a Jag is a Chrysler. Could make for some great performance bargains on the used car lot

I applaud DaimlerChrysler for bringing big bad RWD V8 sedans back to the mass market. The CTS-V and GTO are great, but they are limited production cars. The 300C sets the stage for the return of the muscle bound american sedan in much larger production numbers. And it might get GM to build us a real impala/caprice/bonneville with RWD and a V8.

FinalTA

iTrader: (1)

The front end on that barge is FUGLY! What's the hemi powered one run, $36k?

TTopJohn

Starts at 32,000. Gets to about 36,000 with the options I want - Sunroof, Bluetooth, Side Curtain airbags, HIDs, Boston Acoustics Stereo -more or less everything but Nav and sattelite radio.

cvp33

TTopJohn,

They are using Boston Acoustics now? They were using Infinity, that's what I have on my 2000 LHS. Still sounds pretty good, until I get in the Caddy. Then again, who listens to the radio in a CTS-V anyway?

alextaylor29

The 300C which replaces the out going 300M is a significant improvement if only drive train. The 300C is RWD with AWD coming in the fall and is 5.7L Hemi Powered.

The 300M, even fully loaded only offers a v6 and is FWD.

Something to watch from DC certainly. I complete agree though, the CTV is a better sports sedan all around. No arguments.

The 32K price point of the 5.7L 300C is just attractive, that's all.

TTopJohn

Yep - check it out:

http://www.chrysler.com/300/features...&type=modelsub


Sounds like we are all on the same page - 300C is cool at it's price point, but CTS-V is cooler if you can swing it.

alextaylor29

Yep, summed up nicely John.

Here are some links on it from Edmunds. Not trying to turn this into a Chrysler board mind you.

Full Editors Review: http://www.edmunds.com/new/2005/chry...s..3.chrysler*

http://www.autoweek.com/search/searc...34291&record=1

On the Hemi in it specifically: http://www.autoweek.com/search/searc...34291&record=2

Story on the combination of the two: http://www.autoweek.com/search/searc...34291&record=3

All around positive reviews.

cvp33

The part I found most interesting was the fuel economy with on demand displacement. The 300C still only manages 25mpg on the highway with 4 cylinders? Can that be right? It's the same as the CTS-V with all 8 running and pulling a 3.73 gear. Who says GM pushrod engines are antiquated?

alextaylor29

I believe that's an average. In one of the reviews it said they were averaging 33 MPG (per the dash gauge MPG thingie) when they were just cruising on the freeway and the engine was on 4 cyllinders.

Chrysler is saying it's about a 20% more gain than a standard v8.

chevelless396

I drove the 300C last night, a real yawner... it has a 2.82 rear end, probably would do a lot better with a 3.73, very smooth engine, lays rubber off the line, boring when floored at 60 mph, feels big and heavy, which would be fine if the engine were up to the task, as in an old big block. Having owned a CTS-V for 48 hours, I can tell you it is not in its league, however, i was not impressed by the V either, where's the horsepower? It is fast, but does not feel thrilling (either car), unlike my 69 Chevelle 396-375hp I owned in college. Perhaps memories make that car seem faster, but it felt like jumping off the high dive when punched, and niether the V nor the 300C come anywhere close to that feeling... Has anyone found a chip or something for the V? I'm having the dealer check to see if the 3.63 rear end offered on the 300 Touring can work in the C, otherwise it's a very nice four door sedan...