300C test drive

[schwarz633]

While I'm really in the market for a Magnum, I couldn't resist stopping at the local Chrysler dealer after seeing the newspaper ad annoucing that they had a 300C in the showroom. Well it wasn't in the showroom but on the lot, and after making it quite clear that I am waiting for the Magnum the salesman insisted that I take him for a ride in it. I only went 2-3 miles and was a little conservative about really putting my foot INTO it, but I am very impressed with the performance and ride. Again, I am in the market for a Magnum, so I didn't really pay much attention to the features, but the fit and finish exceeded my expectations.

I briefly talked to three salesmen as I was looking at the two 300's that they had, and all three of them were incapable of speaking 20 words without 2 of them being Mercedes and Benz. They were also chanting the "it's so underpriced mantra". I was also disappointed (but not surprised) that none of them were knowledgeable about any of the technical features of the cars. Most of the things that were mentioned were just flat out wrong. My test drive salesmen didn't even know about cylinder deactivation! If they would only spend about an hour of their time reading every post on this site, they might be able to speak intelligently.

Patiently awaiting Magnum.

[DMAG]

I went to Huntington Chrysler on Jericho Twpk. today (Long Island, NY). I was visiting my parents on Long Island today, so I took a drive over to the neaerst dealer to see if one was in here yet.

They have a silver 300C. I took my father to go look at it because he's been waiting to see one in person.

While we were looking at it, a guy in a Ferrari pulls up and literally gawks at the car. He grabbed a salesman and went inside. We laughed!

[TehKing]

You should have left a note on the Ferrari for the owner to come CHECK the site out!

[E55 KEV]

I drove a 300C yesterday. It was awesome. I like the road feel, car feels and sounds very solid. I was able to take it out on the highway - I tried to get a nice power accelation (60 - 80) with a tranny kickdown but could not. It may 'officially' have only 9 HP less than my 2002 E55 (349hp) but the highway acceleration with kickdown was not as impressive.

I went to 3 dealers - I was looking for the Deep Lave Red. I saw a customer drive off in a Magnesium Grey 300 Limited with Nav. One dealer told me that Chrylser is not allowing sales of any 300C Hemis until the 23rd April. Customers can buy them but can not be released until after the Premiere Night, 22 April 2004.

[dodgeatheart]

Went back to the local dealership, who has since gotten 4 more 300's in, and test drove the 300C tonight. My first test drive was the 300 Limited, and needless to say I was impressed then. After driving the 300C, I couldn't buy the Limited. That engine in the C MAKES that car! What a hell of a difference! If I'm not mistaken, the C drove a TINY bit firmer than the Limited (just me or is this confirmable?) but it still handled the bumps VERY well.

I'm going to the dealership tomorrow morning (they closed at 8pm, I test drove at 8:30 - salesman was nice as hell!) to put my ORDER in. I'm SOLD.


Oh yeah, one other thing. I thought the Genuine Wood option put the wood steering wheel in place of, say, a leather steering wheel. After seeing that the Wood Option is just to REPLACE the faux wood (or is it real?) that's standard, I'm marking the Wood Option off my list!

My current plan to ORDER - Midnight Blue 300C, Sound GROUP II, Power Pedals, Moonroof, and I'm still up in the air about HID's. I probably won't get them (have them now, nice, but not really that much of an improvement over the halogens I saw tonight).

[SuperDave]

Oh yeah, one other thing. I thought the Genuine Wood option put the wood steering wheel in place of, say, a leather steering wheel. After seeing that the Wood Option is just to REPLACE the faux wood (or is it real?) that's standard, I'm marking the Wood Option off my list!

I thought that the wood option left the "tortoise shell" portion on the C's steering wheel and just put real wood a few places around the car, but when I actually sat in one I noticed that the tortoise shell was also replaced with real wood. I believe that only the C's get the tortoise shell treatment, so the wood option in the other models would change the steering wheel FROM leather to wood.

I'm not sure what the tortoise wheel would feel like on a long trip, so I was happy to see it was real wood with that option. I wish I could tell you where else wood appeared in the interior with that option, but I was more focused on the gas pedal than anything else... :D

[E55 KEV]

If I'm not mistaken, the C drove a TINY bit firmer than the Limited (just me or is this confirmable?) but it still handled the bumps VERY well.

... I'm still up in the air about HID's. I probably won't get them (have them now, nice, but not really that much of an improvement over the halogens I saw tonight).

Not just you... The 300C suspension is different over the other 3 model. 300C standard suspension is listed as:

"Four-Wheel Independent Touring Suspension"

The other 3 get:

"Four-Wheel Independent Ride Suspension"

Also, only the 300C gets a rear Sway Bar to keep the rear end more stable in corners and helps LIMIT body roll:

"Rear stabiliver bar on 300c"

Personally, I love HID and hate that it is not available on the Magnum yet. I think it is a must after HAVING it on my cars since 1998 and upgrading in the future is virtually impossible and costly.

[dodgeatheart]

I'm not sure what the tortoise wheel would feel like on a long trip, so I was happy to see it was real wood with that option. I wish I could tell you where else wood appeared in the interior with that option, but I was more focused on the gas pedal than anything else... :D

I understand the gas pedal part! The option list says the wood option appears on the steering wheel and the shift nob, leaving the door handles to stay "tortoise shell."

One more thing I noticed, the 5spd auto in the C doesn't like to downshift. I'm assuming it's because of the available torque in the Hemi. I really had to kick the gas pedal to make it downshift - darn close to the floor (this is at around 45mph). Maybe E55 Kev could enlighten us on the tranny a bit more since he already has one?

[E55 KEV]

I thought that the wood option left the "tortoise shell" portion on the C's steering wheel and just put real wood a few places around the car, but when I actually sat in one I noticed that the tortoise shell was also replaced with real wood. I believe that only the C's get the tortoise shell treatment, so the wood option in the other models would change the steering wheel FROM leather to wood.

The "Genuine California Walnut Wood Trim" is only available on the 300C. It is not orderable on the lower 3.

[E55 KEV]

One more thing I noticed, the 5spd auto in the C doesn't like to downshift. I'm assuming it's because of the available torque in the Hemi. I really had to kick the gas pedal to make it downshift - darn close to the floor (this is at around 45mph). Maybe E55 Kev could enlighten us on the tranny a bit more since he already has one?

As posted above I also hard a hard time getting a performance "kickdown" FROM the tranny. It did not take off like my E55 kickdown and my 2002 E55 is rated only 9HP more officially and 15HP more in reality.

This tranny is called "driver adaptive" and is supposed to "learn" the driving style of the owner. Don't ask me how? So perhaps because the tranny is new it is not broken-in or just being lazy for now. I hope it gets better :?

[BlackMagnum]

The "driver adaptive" tranny learns your driving style and adjust accordingly, as you say. Even Hyundai's come with this feature nowadays. I had this on my BMW 540i but it wasn't a replacement for a sports mode, which is where I put the thing when I wanted it to kickdown appropriately. At least one review mentioned they would have appreciated a sports mode, but for the price, they could hardly complain.

One more thing I noticed, the 5spd auto in the C doesn't like to downshift. I'm assuming it's because of the available torque in the Hemi. I really had to kick the gas pedal to make it downshift - darn close to the floor (this is at around 45mph). Maybe E55 Kev could enlighten us on the tranny a bit more since he already has one?

As posted above I also hard a hard time getting a performance "kickdown" FROM the tranny. It did not take off like my E55 kickdown and my 2002 E55 is rated only 9HP more officially and 15HP more in reality.

This tranny is called "driver adaptive" and is supposed to "learn" the driving style of the owner. Don't ask me how? So perhaps because the tranny is new it is not broken-in or just being lazy for now. I hope it gets better :?

[Glazeworld]

Most of the things that were mentioned were just flat out wrong. My test drive salesmen didn't even know about cylinder deactivation! If they would only spend about an hour of their time reading every post on this site, they might be able to speak intelligently.

I had similar experiences. Back in 2000 when I bought my Stratus R/T, I went to a dealer in Cincinnati and the guy had all the info wrong about the Sebring coupe (pretty much the same car) and I had to tell him how the car worked. Well, after watching those videos FROM DCTV last week, I went back to dealer because I saw a 300 as I was passing, and once again, I schooled the salesmen. He had no idea about most of the features on the car. he kept saying "really? It has that? It does that? No kidding....25MPG on the highway? Wow! These are cool! What's a Hemi??" I can't believe my brother bought his PT cruiser FROM this guy.....and I can't believe the guy is still working there

[svevar]

The "Genuine California Walnut Wood Trim" is only available on the 300C. It is not orderable on the lower 3.

The walnut is a $400 option on the 300C, and is part of the $2,140 Luxury GROUP available on the 300 Limited. When ordered, the walnut trim is inserted in the shift knob, the upper third of the steering wheel, and the door pulls.

Here's a picture of a 300C with walnut trim FROM Chrysler's website:
http://www.chrysler.com/300/features.../enlarge_5.jpg

Someone on Edmunds, jameskk1, recently took delivery of his magnesium 300C. He's posted some pics, and his car has the walnut trim:
http://homepage.mac.com/jameskk1/PhotoAlbum24.html

-- Mark

[Capitalcity R/T]

The adaptive tranny was on my 2k1 Trep R/T. After driving through ten or so intersections, the tranny learns your way of driving and adapts to it. If you gun it hard several times, it will learn that you are an aggressive driver, and perform as well. If you have a light foot and take it easy, it will shift earlier.

Danny

[E55 KEV]

svevar, thanks for finding that informatoin on the Luxury Equipment GROUP (LEG). It is not listed in the websites specifications as available. I pulled out the 300 brouchure and it list this for 300 Limited only:

"LEG includes genuine California Walnut wood trim on shift knob, door grab handles nd upper steering wheel rim with lower leather-wrapped rim,..."