The New Chrysler 300. Hot or Not? Good or Bad?

[billbuckhead]

My Mom wants one in that pearl color. Snoop Doggie Dog called Daimler-Chrysler CEO Dieter Zetsche to see if he could get one in exchange for an endorsement. NASCAR dads stand in awe. I saw people standing around one in an urban gas station just listening the owner gunning the 5.7L Hemi V8 engine. Car magazines show the 300C smoking it's tires profusely at drag strips and write rave reviews. Law enforcement is already enquiring about aquiring these 370 hp rear wheel drive almost fullsize cars. Is this car macho enough and big enough to lure guys out of their SUV's and trucks? Even a musclecar like the 300C gets better gas mileage than a lot of compact trucks and SUV's let alone large ones. Has the German American joint venture between Chrysler and Mercedes finally worked?

[LTR]

1. Here it is

I kinda like it.

[LTR]

2. Better pics

Go here:

http://www.autonews.com/files/ny2003/chrysler/300c/1.htm

[Archae]

7. Is it ugly!

Now THIS is a BEE-U-TEE-FULL car!

[billbuckhead]

10. Rumor has it that a fastback Hemi Charger will be spun off this platform

Sometime soon Mustang will get a taste of new generation Hemi exhaust fumes.

[Archae]

11. Hemi=sucks gas like crazy

I like cars that look cool, and don't cost an arm and a leg just to get out of the driveway.

[billbuckhead]

16. 17 city 25 hwy EPA for a 340 hp V8 4000lb car is actually pretty good

http://www.maximum-cars.com/Cars/Car.php?carnumber=552

[dae]

15. It is a beaut! Classic lines front 2 back.

[Kellanved]

3. From what I've read, it has a bad mileage

and the Diesel is a year away. (15l/100km; ca. 15MPG)

[billbuckhead]

5. I didn't hear they were building a diesel. The Mecedes taxi of America

I can see Mercedes diesel powered versions of this car doing well. How about a turbodiesel police car.

[Kellanved]

14. A 200 hp Commonrail Diesel is "announced",

a 250 hp CDI is "possible".

[Guy Fawkes]

4. What a POS!!!

What happened to the nice, sleek cars? I WANT CARS THAT DON'T LOOK LIKE BOXES! (sorry, I love capital letters)

[sally343434]

6. I don't like it

First, if you get close to one, you can see just how cheaply made it is -- like the PT Cruiser. The interior just reeks of cheapness.

Second, a four-door? What's with that?

But then, the thing sells for only $23K. So it's no surprise to discover they have cut as many corners as possible.

It's just another example of selling the sizzle and not the steak.

[BlackVelvetElvis]

8. Please explain.

What's "cheaply made"? What do you look for when up close?

[billbuckhead]

9. Actually Hemis are $32 large and are backordered

The $23,000 dollar ones go against Camrys, Accords, Grand Prixs, Impalas and crown Vics. The Hemi goes against Cadillac and Lincoln.

[xultar]

12. I drool for one, I loved them when I first saw them on Yahoo, BUT

if the NASCAR dads are digging I need to re think.

The Crossfire is next on my list.

[JM]

13. If it is built as well as my '96 Dodge Stratus...

...RUN! Far and Fast!

New head gasket at 48K miles. AC Evaporator replaced at the same time and it did not fix the problem. They had a problem with the entire platform. I can't imagine their crappy design and assembly issues are limited only to their 2.4L 4 cylinders

JM

[lachattefolle]

17. I don't like

what they've done to the front end. I'll keep my 300M from 2002. Besides, it's more than half paid for!