Need Adice: Keep the '05 300C, or get the '06 Heritage Edition?

[GoofyTimL]

Ok, here's the scoop and the dilemna. (also posted in 300Cforums, but want as much feedback here or there as possible)

Scoop:
Last summer we rented a 300 Touring (or Limited) for a long trip, which convinced us to purchase one in the future. We were thinking early '06 (Feb./Mar.) and were trying to decide whether to go with the 3.5L or Hemi V8. Wasn't sure I could justify the extra $$ for the Hemi with all the other option we wanted.

Sept. comes along and I'm watching for "deals" on end of year models, etc., within 100 miles. I find a Cert. Pre-owened '05 Midnight Blue 300C on Autotrader that is sitting at my local dealers and listed for $30k, 14.5k miles from orig. owner who is local. Only options are power pedals/memory seats and Walnut Trim - no moon roof, no Sirius or upgraded radio, no U-connect, no park assist. From what I can tell, price is something like 4500 under the as-new MSRP from Aug.'04.

Decide to check it out... like what I see and decide that if the wife likes it, we are going to buy it. Deal was done, including $3k trade for a '97 Subaru Outback with 120+k miles. Thus our price was $27k plus closing, taxes, etc. We've had the car since end Sept.'05 and have put our own 6k miles on it by now (ready for second oil change). The car has none of the problems of the early builds, so either it is a gem, or all the TSB's were applied in good order and speed. Even the ContiSelfSeals are performing very well with lots of tread life left.

Dilemna:
Chrysler announces the Heritage Edition. 1) Red is my FAV color. 2) The H.E. has some of the external and suspension/ride upgrades making it more SRT-like. 3) It will be a limited production... and uniqueness is good in my book. There aren't even ANY SRT's of any V8 flavor around here per the dealer. 4) We could order it with the option we want and didn't get in the '05 pre-owned.

Dealer has said, trade value for the Blue looks like it would be $27k, and a I price the desired option of the H.E., it looks like it would run to maybe $37k.

SO the question is... after only 5.5 mo. owning the Blue, would it be money foolish to go for a deal on the H.E. with the other options we would have ordered, given the chance. As I said, I think we've got a gem... just not with all the bells and whistles. There's no guarantee that the "new" H.E. would be a gem, and the warranty situation goes with the '06s vs. the '05s with respect to the powertrain, etc.

Let me hear from the money gurus as well as the classic collectors out there. THANKS in advance.

[formerice]

The way I look at it is , you only live once and life is short. I think you actually maybe trying to talk yourself out of a red SRT8! I am. The fact of the matter is , these cars are well made and very reliable. 5000 members+ and all in all not many problems. I look back at all the cars that I almost bought, but diddn't. + 1Was a 1953 Vette,mint ,low miles for $1,500, my buddy in high school had a 1965 Shelby GT350R, would have sold me $4,000. And then there was that gorgeous blonde in high school that I turned down! Dumb

[GoofyTimL]

Well... no, I'm not thinking about an SRT8. One... it is WAY out of my price range, and two... I'm not into the racing scene... street or drag strip. Wasn't even tempted...

But there are aspects of the external appearance of the SRT that I wish was available on the MDS 5.7L, and I wouldn't mind the extra seat bolster and tighter suspection. So... I am just thinking about the limited production Heritage Edition.

As for the gal, who got away... just take a look at my signature... I've still got her.

[crhemi]

Go for it!

[BigBadMagnum99]

GoofyTim

Firstly, you did wisely on buying a used 300C and saved huge dollars on that deal and for 6 months use are losing approx. $3000 from what you paid for your 300C with trade-in. You maybe able to sell for more than $27K in a private sale rather than trade-in, but you save on the taxes with the trade-in.

You have to sit down and calculate the savings in tax and what you would get for your 300C in a private sale and ask is it worth it for private vs Trade-in?

Secondly, it is the car you really want then I would say go for it! As Formerice has mentioned above...you will regret it if you did not. I know I have regreted on settling for second best a few times because of a few extra thousand dollars.

For the extra money you will be getting more of a car that fits you & your family "A GEM" as you stated!

See if you can haggle with the dealership for a better price as well....never hurts and to watch the incentives! Hope everything falls into place for you and good luck with your decision!

[GoofyTimL]

Thanks... BigBad. Heard from someone over at 300Cforums, who had seen the H.E. at the Chicago Auto Show and had talked with a DCX guy there. Apparently, the H.E. won't have suspension improvements over the regular 300C, and he wasn't impressed with the steering wheel and door pull inlays (sort of looks like carbon fiber but isn't - at least his his opinion). It also kind of depends on when the H.E. might get here from order date.

I just put 1100 miles on the Blue Super Bowl weekend. And next weekend we're driving out to KC for a wedding. Then we're planning a huge road trip to S. Calif. and continuing to northern MN from late April to mid-May. If we order, and it's not here by then, we will have significantly more mileage and reduced trade-in value me things.

Lots to talk about with the dealer guy on Friday.

[factorydusa]

If you don't get it, We sell heritage badges LOL! best of luck tough one!

[BigBadMagnum99]

I know when we had a 9 month wait on our Dodge Magnum RT AWD. We discussed the trade-in value at the beginning for my 02 F150 S-Crew FX4. The dealership allowed me to use my vehicle and try to limit what km's I would place on it, but it worked out that I placed 20,000 km more from when they first saw the truck till trade-in.

They honored the trade-in price at the beginning as the salesman we dealt with wrote all the number's down as well, I keep a copy! As well, being a 5 star dealership they placed blame on DCX and took a bite out of the trade-in value. Also, I informed them that if they did not honor the deal that was in place my 04 Dodge Diesel 4x4 would be going elsewhere for servicing.

You probably can make a trade-in deal right now, but be sure of what the final cost will be for the 300HE you order and what trade-in value for your 300C (get the differece owing). Get the final numbers in print: one for you and one for the dealership. They may let you use your 300C till your 300 HE comes in and let them know if you have a good relationship with the dealer that there maybe approx. so many Miles more on the 300C because of your trip, but those few Miles should not make a huge difference in trade-in value or they shouldn't if your dealer is a good one!

Good Luck

[Magne300Csium]

GoofyTim

Secondly, it is the car you really want then I would say go for it! As Formerice has mentioned above...you will regret it if you did not. I know I have regreted on settling for second best a few times because of a few extra thousand dollars.


This is exactly what DCX wants us to do. This is what was done in the 60s and early 70s, with all of the new product coming out. With them coming out with something new or different every six months, there is always going to be a new vehicle we all want. Hey, I'd like to get the new Super Bee Charger, but from a dollars and cents point of view, it's not feasible or prudent.

The only one's to make out in situations like this are the dealers, who make money on both ends of the deal, and the States, as they rake in more sales tax.

It doesn't help resale value either.

HOWEVER, since your original vehicle was purchased used, you definitely have a leg up on the situation, and your downside is less. The true decision to make is what to get, as you should consider this your only trip to the trough.

Otherwise, lease the new car so that you can get something else in two or three years with minimum fuss.

[bigjim]

As a rule a "loaded" car keeps its value much better than a lower equipped one. That being said, If you have the chance to go to the loaded one (that you wanted in the first place) and can afford and justify it, do it, it will hold its value better. You seem to do low miles and that is the other variable, I do crazy miles (51,000 in 15 months) and I don't get to change my mind without a great deal of money sacrificed. My cars don't get disposed of till near the 300,000 mark, so I am pretty careful and get what I want when I move.

[GoofyTimL]

Thanks for the additional perspectives. Appreciate everyone's input and hope that it continues from even more forum members!

FactoryD... actually the badges is one thing I don't paritcularly like about the Heritage Edition. If the red was an exact match for the red of the car, then maybe, but so far it looks like a bad match in any photo I've seen. I also do NOT like having the badge in the back of each seat. I would much rather have un-badged leather seating as in our current "C."

BigBad... I'll discuss getting things "in writing" if we decide to get serious in our dialogue on Friday. The trouble is that the KC trip, combined with the S. Cal. and MN trip is likely to add 10k+ miles to what we have now and only by mid-May. We could commit to minimizing mileage otherwise, but there's no way I'm taking the van to the west coast again, or even the mid-west.

Magne... Even though we "might" be consider low mileage folk, I've never driven the low mileage that it seems most leases require to max. the residual value and avoid lease penalties at turn-in. Therfore, I have never leased, and doubt I ever would. Wife's sister and husband in S. Cal. leased their vehicles for years, and have finally converted to purchased because of running into penalty issues and extra costs almost every time on previous vehicles.

BigJim... I figure the Heritage Edition, as a limited production, "should" retain value better than a low option, "normal" 300C without respect to the degree "loaded." And that is "in play" as they say.

[GoofyTimL]

Thanks everyone. Here's what I've learned from talking with the salesmen (by phone while my wife was in his office - conf. call so-to-speak).

The GPS/Nav/6CD radio is a must have forced option when you select the rear VES on the 300C Build Your Own website, but apparently it is an option you can order independently with the Heritage Edition. I think this is because the H.E. comes with the Sound Group 2 7-speaker upgraded sound system... which includes the 6CD Radio, but not necessarily the GPS/NAV. At least that's what I'm hoping.

There really are very few options available for the H.E. (Basic Price $33,625) Basically they are:
Moon Roof ($950)
Color ($225 extra for the "exclusive" Inferno Red Crystal Pearl Coat)
U-Connect ($275)
Rear VES ($1150)
Sirius ($195)
Protection Group II (parking sensors, mud flaps, winter mats, etc., $840)
and the "Customer Preferred Package 29R" ($1995)

The later (29R), apparently is all the "other stuff" that is "standard" in the H.E.
SmartBeam HID headlamps with washers
Power/Memory SRT-like seats
The audio stuff
The Chromed Aluminum wheels and Touring tires, etc.
Performance Steering and shifting configuration for the tranny
SRT-like color-matched spoiler

We're going to talk with the salesman again tomorrow and the dealership owner. They can't tell me when the car would be delivered, and say that Chrysler says the prices may yet change... but said they are willing to put it on order with whatever options we want, and no money committed. When it comes we will discuss the final price, any incentives, and the trade value for our '05 300C with its increase mileage (probably +8k by mid-May - likely to drop trade-in by at least 2k more). If we don't like the price, or the trade value, etc., we can walk away and keep our Midnight Blue, and they will attempt to sell the Red H.E. from the lot.

Sounds like little risk to get the H.E. here and see if it's all I expect it to be.

Chromer, over at 300Cforums just posted that his H.E. was built within the last couple days. I'm waiting to learn how long it's been since he ordered, so that I can take that info into the meeting tomorrow.

[GoofyTimL]

Well... we made the decision to order the Heritage Edition. Put $500 down to hold the deal... at MSRP. Order was put into the computer today (because the dealer's daughter, who does that stuff, just happened to pull up while I was there). We're hoping that the order-to-build time difference will be similar to Chromer's... and if so, we'll be makin' the journey to S. Calif. at the end of April in the new '06 Red HE C vs. the current '05 Blue C. However, we'll be going to KC next weekend in the Blue... hopefully the weather will open up a bit and the roads will be clear!

[E8502]

I'd go with the '06 - The limited run will pay off in the end.

Plus, it looks killer!

[NC-SXT]

Nice choice. Good luck with your new baby..