Chrysler 300 2.7 Liter drive
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-HOW DOES IT LOOK?
We’ve all seen millions of them by now.
But it is still a pretty distinctive design. Especially compared to the foreign competition. An American car that isn’t afraid of looking like one.
Either that, or a caricature of what the former German owners of Chrysler thought an American car should look like.
Either way, the design has aged pretty well, I think.
-HOW IS IT INSIDE?
Well, still not that great. They did upgraded the materials, slightly, last year. But this car still deserves a much better interior.
Sure, leather and a sunroof might help a bit. But the base dark cloth is pretty depressing.
The whole thing made me feel like I was a 70 year old salesman. Like Jack Lemon in “Glengarry Glen Ross”…
The dash board is OK. You can see what they could have done with it, but didn’t. Like a big center part sticking out.
The finish is also just OK. The stereo sounds fine and has an iPod plug. A funny thing in an old man’s car.
The rear seat is roomy, but not that huge. The car itself actually looks bigger than it is…
-HOW DOES IT DRIVE?
-Ride.
The ride is just fine. Smooth most of the time without ever feeling soft. Like in the old days.
The view from the driver seat is definitely old fashion. I haven’t seen a big flat hood in front of me since my old ’68 New Yorker. I actually like it a lot.
-Steering.
Nothing special here. The steering wheel is larger than usual, just like the Mercedes car it is based on. And, again, like older cars.
-Engine.
I have to say, this is the worst part of the car.
The 2.7 Liter has OK power. But it sounds really bad when pushed. Even just a little bit.
In fact, it was much rougher and noisier than the 2.4 Liter used in the Malibu/Aura. And it felt less powerful too.
It’s jut way behind almost anything offered these days.
I am sure the 3.5 Liter engine cures most of these concerns.
But it’s always a bit sad when you drive a V6 that is much worse than most 4 cylinder engines out there…
-Transmission.
OK, but not great. It works, but it is never super smooth like most are now. Again, this was OK a few years ago.But get into a Passat, and the 300 will feel like a car from the dark ages.
-SO???
Well, I really think the Chrysler 300 is in desperate need of a redesign. The car came out over 4 years ago but feels like it’s been 10 years.
I haven’t heard much about a replacement coming out any time soon. And it is needed.
But all this doesn’t really matter if Chrysler gets swallowed by GM in a few weeks.
It might just become the next AMC.
What will happen with the 300 then?
Or even the new Challenger???
It’s al very sad…
it probably will hit the automotive graveyard soon. didn’t it share parts with the old mercedes e-class?
It maybe possibly be the end of the road for this large barge. Unless they produce a hybrid variant.
It’s a shame- Chrysler barely updated it, and the interior looks like crap. Did you see the interior on the Chrysler Aspen? $50K for a plastic interior with fake wood.
I agree with Vince. I wanted one when it first came out but the wife said ‘no.’ Every rapper or wannabie has one. It was a fresh vehicle. Unfortunately, Chrysler did not do much with it and it relegated itself to car rental lots.
It is ashamed to see it goes but, in today’s fickle market, it is a do-or-die thing. Even the Toyota Avalon has been updated!
crysler is still in business? How?
Stoneage engineering and people still give them their money.
Go Figure.
maybe GM will put their 3.6L engine and 6-speed auto in this primitive pig. Crysler engineers are stuck in the 70s. How are they still in business?
This is the base model ($25,500 (-$3000 rebate on 2008) = $22,500). Certainly a LOT more sex appeal than 22k will get you at a Toyota or Honda dealer! No, its not a 425HP 6L HEMI SRT; nor is is a long-wheelbase 300c with fold down tables & black leather in the back; but it's still a lot of car — for the price of a Corolla or 4-cyl. Accord (neither which has a tilt-telescope wheel or an E Class IRS or Stability control in that price range. I STILL think it's the most car for the money at every level: 300LX/300Touring/300Limited/300Heritage/300c/ -even comparing the 300cLWB to a Lincoln Town Car LWB. The fact that is as safe as only a FULL-SIZE car can be (5-stars in every direction) is just the frosting on the cake. PS: Don't go up to any rappers and tell them their ride is an "old mans" car — it might be the last time you give an opinion!
Chrysler should relegate SUVs and all thing-offroad to Jeep, Dodge should take over the sporty side while Chrysler should stick to mom-and-pop mobiles. I don’t know why Chrysler including GM and Ford always have their vehicles compete with one another. There is enough competition from the other makers and why have the in-fighting??
Hi Vince!! :o)
I hope you’re OK.
You always try to be open minded and fair when reviewing a car – and I appreciate it.
I agree with the ‘anonymous’ who said – in part – that the base Chrysler 300 … “Certainly [has] a LOT more sex appeal than 22k will get you at a Toyota or Honda dealer!” And it comes with [I might add] a ‘Lifetime Powertrain Warranty’. Well… at least it does in the U.S. And well… OK… I suppose one could ask WHO’S LIFETIME – the owner of the car OR the owner of Chrysler? lol
But that said…
The 300 model that I own is the 300C SRT8. Which is an entirely different ‘animal’ than the base car you drove. [Different engine, transmission, brakes, steering gear, suspension bits, seats, shocks, etc.] I’ve owned it for over two years now and it’s been completely reliable. And like all 300 models – they are ‘recommneded’ by Consumer Reports and others. They’re actually very good cars. Sure – the interior is a bit on the ‘cheap’ side – but that’s the only complaint I have against it.
As for when the next 300 will come out – word has it – that the 2010 300 [Probably showing up in January of 2010] will be significantly updated. [Especially the interior] At least that was the plan. But who knows what’s going to happen NOW. Chrysler just cancelled the contract they had with Getrag to built their new dual-clutch transmission – which was going to be a very big deal for Chryler. That’s not a good sign.
I’m keeping my fingers crossed that maybe someone other than GM will buy Chrysler and keep it as it is. [For the most part – at least]
Craig!! 🙂
“This is the base model ($25,500 (-$3000 rebate on 2008) = $22,500). Certainly a LOT more sex appeal than 22k”
Here’s a no-brainer: That same $22K will buy a 2009 Sonata Limited V6 with nav, leather, sunroof, and Infinity stereo with iPod connectivity. The Sonata is not that much smaller inside than the 300 either.
Just let it die. No one cares. Yesterdays toy no matter what they do to it. tf
“Here’s a no-brainer: That same $22K will buy a 2009 Sonata Limited V6 with nav, leather, sunroof, and Infinity stereo with iPod connectivity. The Sonata is not that much smaller inside than the 300 either.”
B-I-N-G-O!
I’ll take a Genesis Coupe over a stuck-in-the-past Challenger anyday too.