Almost 2 years later... Finally traded the C for a SRT8C

[Hemi4me?]

Hello all!

I have been a member for one month short of two years dating back to first purchasing my 2006 Cool Vanilla 300C. I added an intake, some DUB Moab Wheels and then changed to Zenetti Heir 22s and a nice sounding JL Audio system (currently for sale, check the parts forum very soon).

My car had 26,500 miles and I was ready for a change. I tried to sell my car with all the extras for about 2-3 weeks on Ebay and Autotrader.com for right around KBB pricing $29,500 including the $5K stereo and wheels. I got no calls and seemingly no interest at all. I didn't think I would do very good in trade, but decided to check out a dealer in Tempe, AZ called Earnhardt Chrysler.

They had a 2006 Silver 300C SRT8 dealer demo with 5500 miles with rear DVD, navigation and the kicker audio - I checked it out 2 weeks ago... My price range was $37,500 including all taxes fees and plates (remember in AZ its $600 for plates and $3070 tax on a $37,000 car). They came back very high including my trade for the first offer - I would have had to finance $41,500 to upgrade to the SRT8 and they would pay my trade off (I owed $28500 they say its worth like 24500). I left, and they kept in touch on email every other day.

Today (Saturday, 6pm) I was laying in bed resting very sick, I can not stop coughing, aching and just not feeling well at all. I pick up my cell phone, and text messaged my sales person (Julie) saying "Hey Julie, if the SRT is still there I will take it for $37500 including all taxes and fees, let me know... Paul S.". She responded with "when can you be here". I said 20 minutes, she got the approval from the sales manager Anthony (who was the nicest guy I have ever met in a dealership) and I went to the dealership honestly thinking no way they are taking my trade and make the deal for $37500 (that would be like buying a SRT8 for roughly $34000 plus all taxes and plates remembering I have $4K inequity in my trade. To my surprise they did the deal, my wife agreed and without her even seeing the car, we bought it. Its in the garage tonight, and I think I got a great deal. Got to the dealers at 7pm and got home around 945 or so.

Can't wait to start modding, first Airhammer then possibly some other performance mods, and lighting (no audio equipment this time).

If you guys have any great SRT suggestions for performance on a budget I would love to hear your ideas...


Love to hear from someone about the Airhammer, I PMD and emailed... No responce :blam:

[blackmagnum06]

Congrats! One Day Ill Upgrade 2 A Srt

[FlyByU]

You cant go wrong with Frank Racing Inc for modding on a budget. They will find a setup that fits.

[Bandit]

Congrats to you on a great move. I hope you felt a little less under the weather after picking her up!

As it's a 2006 be sure to reference the TSB section and get the 1-2 shift TSB performed, and the slotted rotors added (another tsb).

As far as mods go, some common sense ones for "bang for the buck" would be...

A good CAI (Air Hammer is tops on the list). I have a DUB CAI you can have for $150 shipped, LMK.

180 degree or 170 degree t-stat. Check out Meister's all-inclusive t-stat info thread HERE (http://www.lxforums.com/board/showthread.php?t=19830) So you can prevent getting into heatsoak.

To further aid in your cooling look at one of the many fan mods.

GSM Fan mod and ESP/torque management killer (expensive)
NoESP CoolIt mod (you can also get an ESP killer from them too, hence their trade name)
Jim Turner Fan Mod (do a search for that)
Jaak Fan Mod (search as well)

Using the t-stat with a fan mod is really a must and helps to preserve about 20hp that you'd lose the second you hit 190 degrees on the motor.

If you want a loouder exhaust and want to free up a few more hp look into Blastin' Bob's Fat Pipes (blastinbob@aol.com). If you do a search you'll find many happy customers, myself included. Way cheaper than a catback system (about $900 cheaper) and just about the same gains and comparable sound. I actually preferred my BB sound to any catback I had heard.

If you want EXTREME, get DMH electric exhaust cutouts, but be prepared to chatter teeth and have a convoy of police behind you. It'll sound like a NASCAR. I love it on mine, but IMO a 300 should be classier and if I had a 300 I would not do this personally.

B&G Stage 2 flash. Firm up your shifts, up your idle if you do a cam install, and a few other tweaks to make it a quicker and more responsive car.

If you can hold out a REAL tuner was just announced from Diablosport. Should be ready by August although they estimate sooner.

That's about all I can think of for budget mods that aren't too pricey. I suggest as always contacting HHP (in vendors section) for your mod needs, and remember to CALL THEM to get member-specific pricing that's not applied on internet orders.

If you wanna drop some bucks, go for a 268 Comp Cam (or as I did... the custom ground HHP 268 cam), and a set of reworked custom heads. While you're at it port-match the intake manifold... you'll see some nice gains there, but it ain't cheap!!

One of my best mods was the installation of the KW Variant 2 coilover suspension. Better handling, and reduced stance for a real muscular look. They're adjustable from stock down to nearly scraping the ground.

BTW: Before you go into any car wash, TURN OFF THE AUTO WIPERS in your EVIC menu or you'll be buying new wiper arms. Previous driver may have them set to on.

Enjoy the new ride.

[Hemi4me?]

I guess if I can wait for the Diablo it will have a fan mod? I just went outside, and beat it up for like 5 minutes (not even) and the engine temp was 222. Remember I live in AZ and it must be 101 or so out right now...

That is ridiculous to run that hot! I added a AFE stage 2 intake, and painted the plastic parts (fuse cover, susp covers, and valve covers) also added a cat back 3" pipe flowmaster exhausts with a JET performace chip (noticed nice gains with the intake and exhaust) have not felt a thing with the jet but I only drove it 4 or 5 minutes...

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b277/hemiforme/paintedfusecover.jpg
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b277/hemiforme/exhasutundercar.jpg
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b277/hemiforme/underrearwithexhaust.jpg
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b277/hemiforme/engineafterafe2.jpg

[sugar-tj]

congrats on your upgrade...

[feros]

I can tell, your not gunna sleep tonight!

[Ghostface Mag]

Congrats on the upgrade....

[Johnnyvav]

Congrats to you on a great move. I hope you felt a little less under the weather after picking her up!

As it's a 2006 be sure to reference the TSB section and get the 1-2 shift TSB performed, and the slotted rotors added (another tsb).

As far as mods go, some common sense ones for "bang for the buck" would be...

A good CAI (Air Hammer is tops on the list). I have a DUB CAI you can have for $150 shipped, LMK.

180 degree or 170 degree t-stat. Check out Meister's all-inclusive t-stat info thread HERE (http://www.lxforums.com/board/showthread.php?t=19830) So you can prevent getting into heatsoak.

To further aid in your cooling look at one of the many fan mods.

GSM Fan mod and ESP/torque management killer (expensive)
NoESP CoolIt mod (you can also get an ESP killer from them too, hence their trade name)
Jim Turner Fan Mod (do a search for that)
Jaak Fan Mod (search as well)

Using the t-stat with a fan mod is really a must and helps to preserve about 20hp that you'd lose the second you hit 190 degrees on the motor.

If you want a loouder exhaust and want to free up a few more hp look into Blastin' Bob's Fat Pipes (blastinbob@aol.com). If you do a search you'll find many happy customers, myself included. Way cheaper than a catback system (about $900 cheaper) and just about the same gains and comparable sound. I actually preferred my BB sound to any catback I had heard.

If you want EXTREME, get DMH electric exhaust cutouts, but be prepared to chatter teeth and have a convoy of police behind you. It'll sound like a NASCAR. I love it on mine, but IMO a 300 should be classier and if I had a 300 I would not do this personally.

B&G Stage 2 flash. Firm up your shifts, up your idle if you do a cam install, and a few other tweaks to make it a quicker and more responsive car.

If you can hold out a REAL tuner was just announced from Diablosport. Should be ready by August although they estimate sooner.

That's about all I can think of for budget mods that aren't too pricey. I suggest as always contacting HHP (in vendors section) for your mod needs, and remember to CALL THEM to get member-specific pricing that's not applied on internet orders.

If you wanna drop some bucks, go for a 268 Comp Cam (or as I did... the custom ground HHP 268 cam), and a set of reworked custom heads. While you're at it port-match the intake manifold... you'll see some nice gains there, but it ain't cheap!!

One of my best mods was the installation of the KW Variant 2 coilover suspension. Better handling, and reduced stance for a real muscular look. They're adjustable from stock down to nearly scraping the ground.

BTW: Before you go into any car wash, TURN OFF THE AUTO WIPERS in your EVIC menu or you'll be buying new wiper arms. Previous driver may have them set to on.

Enjoy the new ride.


That was pretty freakin thorough!!!!! Kudos to you Bandit!:rock:

[Bandit]

Happy to help. Enjoy that sick ride!

[Hemi4me?]

Great help thank you all!

One thing though... I added the 185 t stat and its crazy, I cannot get that thing under 230 during the day. OF COURSE I KNOW ITS AZ, and hotter than humanly possible right now, but I am not feeling all the power that I think should be there.

Will a fan mod help this a lot? I don't want to spend $150.00 then have a Diablo come out next month and spend another $400.00 on that if it has a fan mod in it...

What are your thoughts? Do the fan mod now?