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Chat Area => General Car Chat => Topic started by: hotel21 on 04 November 2011, 20:18:00

Title: Chrysler 300c
Post by: hotel21 on 04 November 2011, 20:18:00
Had a 40 minute enthusiastic punt today over known roads (albeit slightly damp) and I am less than impressed, handling wise.

Power available was fine for a big lump of a car, brakes were sound, cabin comfort was acceptable but, begger me, handling was dire....

Moved about more than a well greased lady of the night on piece work!

Even accepting that the suspension is very much orientated to the american market it was very bouncy in an uneven sense and seemed to bounce about like a cork in a rough sea rather than be a confident drive of an 'executive' car.

OK, it was a trade in of a couple of years old and about 20k miles going for paintwork and not been through the workshop but, not impressed...... :-\
Title: Re: Chrysler 300c
Post by: Andy B on 04 November 2011, 20:21:22
Bugger! I'd always quite fancied them  :(, esp with the 'Bentley' grille.
Title: Re: Chrysler 300c
Post by: Entwood on 04 November 2011, 20:44:39
The suspension leaves a huge amount to be desired :( 

I know of a couple of folks who have tried these as a tow car.. due to the weight/power on paper they should make a good tug ... but they report "sea sick" inducing ride due to excessive fore/aft "bouncing" with any decent weight on the towbar.

I'm not sure if self levelling is standard or not, but the "softness" caused one friend to have problems with his nosewheel "touching down" intermittently on country roads.

Shame really as I rather like the look/comfort of the car otherwise .. :(
Title: Re: Chrysler 300c
Post by: tunnie on 04 November 2011, 20:46:19
Suspension can be changed though? B4 it up?
Title: Re: Chrysler 300c
Post by: hotel21 on 04 November 2011, 20:47:40
Suspension can be changed though? B4 it up?

Probably.

On a 2 year old car with 20k miles?  I'd rather not...... ;D
Title: Re: Chrysler 300c
Post by: sticka_v8_init on 04 November 2011, 20:49:22
The suspension leaves a huge amount to be desired :( 

I know of a couple of folks who have tried these as a tow car.. due to the weight/power on paper they should make a good tug ... but they report "sea sick" inducing ride due to excessive fore/aft "bouncing" with any decent weight on the towbar.

I'm not sure if self levelling is standard or not, but the "softness" caused one friend to have problems with his nosewheel "touching down" intermittently on country roads.

Shame really as I rather like the look/comfort of the car otherwise .. :(


I saw one of the estate jobs on a site this year and literally thought "what a cracking towcar". P1ssed on my dreams.
Title: Re: Chrysler 300c
Post by: hotel21 on 04 November 2011, 21:02:54
If you visualise driving an Omega along a country road such that the suspension on all 4 corners is working as it should.  Minimum body roll, suspension loads up squarely and evenly across the car as well as fore and aft, and evrything is quite happy, thank you very much.

The 300c seemed so disjointed, corner to corner, that I stopped partway through the journey to toe check tyre pressures as it gave the impression of a softy on one corner but, not so.

tread depths were quite acceptable and tyre make was premium and the same on all 4 wheels but cant remember the actual make.

Shame really as, like others, looks a likely contender for a good towcar.

pity about the american fascination for green 1980's LCD stylee instruments.  Spoils the car interior, in my mind...
Title: Re: Chrysler 300c
Post by: feeutfo on 04 November 2011, 21:10:18
Too much pimp going on IMO, even in standard form.

But came across a v8 version which didn't disappear that quickly, until the driver bottled it, and another being driven fairly sedately round a right hand bend with a body angle that suggested far more corner speed... and when the road then went left I swear the driver hit his head on the B pilar. Wakey wakey!  ;D
Title: Re: Chrysler 300c
Post by: Marks DTM Calib on 04 November 2011, 21:13:23
What do you expect on a car with a merc front and rear suspension setup
Title: Re: Chrysler 300c
Post by: hotel21 on 04 November 2011, 21:42:28
What do you expect on a car with a merc front and rear suspension setup

Interior controls are very Merc as well.  One left side stalk for indicators, wipers etc and extra small lever on left for cruise control.  Same left foot park brake/pull lever on right dash to disengage.

No, ta..... ;D
Title: Re: Chrysler 300c
Post by: Nick W on 04 November 2011, 21:46:28
I was similarly disappointed with my boss' 05 Mustang when I tried it. Suspension doesn't work very well, and performance is lacking. I reckon the 2.8i Capri I had at the time(witha 2.9EFI engine from a Scorpio) was quicker across the ground, plus rode and stopped better.

The best bit of the Mustang is the lovely burble it makes as she leaves.
Title: Re: Chrysler 300c
Post by: Andy B on 04 November 2011, 21:54:23
....  Same left foot park brake/pull lever on right dash to disengage.

No, ta..... ;D

An extra pedal for the 'hand'/parking/emergency brake should be made standard fit in all cars ............... they're rarely used when fitted alongside a proper 2 pedal gearbox anyway.  :y :y :y
Title: Re: Chrysler 300c
Post by: Marks DTM Calib on 04 November 2011, 22:18:29
I was similarly disappointed with my boss' 05 Mustang when I tried it. Suspension doesn't work very well, and performance is lacking. I reckon the 2.8i Capri I had at the time(witha 2.9EFI engine from a Scorpio) was quicker across the ground, plus rode and stopped better.

The best bit of the Mustang is the lovely burble it makes as she leaves.

Kin ell, the Mustang must have been REALLY bad then!
Title: Re: Chrysler 300c
Post by: sticka_v8_init on 04 November 2011, 22:33:05
What do you expect on a car with a merc front and rear suspension setup

Interior controls are very Merc as well.  One left side stalk for indicators, wipers etc and extra small lever on left for cruise control.  Same left foot park brake/pull lever on right dash to disengage.

No, ta..... ;D

Totally agree fella, hate these foot operated handbrakes and then a bloody dash release - doesn't compute!
Title: Re: Chrysler 300c
Post by: Vamps on 04 November 2011, 22:38:32
If you visualise driving an Omega along a country road such that the suspension on all 4 corners is working as it should.  Minimum body roll, suspension loads up squarely and evenly across the car as well as fore and aft, and evrything is quite happy, thank you very much.

The 300c seemed so disjointed, corner to corner, that I stopped partway through the journey to toe check tyre pressures as it gave the impression of a softy on one corner but, not so.

tread depths were quite acceptable and tyre make was premium and the same on all 4 wheels but cant remember the actual make.

Shame really as, like others, looks a likely contender for a good towcar.

pity about the american fascination for green 1980's LCD stylee instruments.  Spoils the car interior, in my mind...

I did that with my Jeep....... :-X :-X :-X
Title: Re: Chrysler 300c
Post by: Andy B on 04 November 2011, 22:48:57
.....
Totally agree fella, hate these foot operated handbrakes and then a bloody dash release - doesn't compute!

If you have an auto, then you just use two feet, I can't really see a need to use it unless you actually park the car.  ;)
Title: Re: Chrysler 300c
Post by: sticka_v8_init on 04 November 2011, 22:58:26
.....
Totally agree fella, hate these foot operated handbrakes and then a bloody dash release - doesn't compute!

If you have an auto, then you just use two feet, I can't really see a need to use it unless you actually park the car.  ;)

You're right.....if you want to wind up the people behind by constantly submitting them to dazzling brakelights when at lights. Sorry, pet hate of mine fella.
Title: Re: Chrysler 300c
Post by: Andy B on 04 November 2011, 23:01:23
.....
Totally agree fella, hate these foot operated handbrakes and then a bloody dash release - doesn't compute!

If you have an auto, then you just use two feet, I can't really see a need to use it unless you actually park the car.  ;)

You're right.....if you want to wind up the people behind by constantly submitting them to dazzling brakelights when at lights. Sorry, pet hate of mine fella.

Who said anything about holding your foot on the footbrake?  ??? My auto also has P  :y :y :y
Title: Re: Chrysler 300c
Post by: aaronjb on 04 November 2011, 23:02:54
Who said anything about holding your foot on the footbrake?  ??? My auto also has P  :y :y :y

I tend to leave mine in D and stick the handbrake on..
Title: Re: Chrysler 300c
Post by: albitz on 05 November 2011, 00:08:21
300C - Chavtastic wannabe Bentley. Hideous. ::)
Title: Re: Chrysler 300c
Post by: Del Boy on 05 November 2011, 00:09:23
I do like them a lot, they do handle a bit wet, although I can't help but like them, but I did have two at one point  :-[
Title: Re: Chrysler 300c
Post by: sticka_v8_init on 05 November 2011, 07:29:47
.....
Totally agree fella, hate these foot operated handbrakes and then a bloody dash release - doesn't compute!

If you have an auto, then you just use two feet, I can't really see a need to use it unless you actually park the car.  ;)

You're right.....if you want to wind up the people behind by constantly submitting them to dazzling brakelights when at lights. Sorry, pet hate of mine fella.

Who said anything about holding your foot on the footbrake?  ??? My auto also has P  :y :y :y

Ahhhh......trust me to forget @P@ :-[
Title: Re: Chrysler 300c
Post by: Dishevelled Den on 05 November 2011, 07:49:33
In relation to the 300C - that's a shame as I quite fancied the estate version of it. :(

The curious thing is my wife also liks them - which is very odd indeed as she seldom likes anything that I like. ???
Title: Re: Chrysler 300c
Post by: blackviper90210 on 05 November 2011, 08:03:11
In relation to the 300C - that's a shame as I quite fancied the estate version of it. :(

The curious thing is my wife also liks them - which is very odd indeed as she seldom likes anything that I like. ???

Your a lucky man mate, can't remember the last time SWMBO liked anything I did  :-\

Ninja ZX10 - answer......you've got a family now  >:(
3.2 Omega saloon - answer......why do you want THAT?  >:(
Night out with the boys - answer......what are their names, address, ages and what time you coming home?  ::) ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

Title: Re: Chrysler 300c
Post by: Dishevelled Den on 05 November 2011, 10:50:21
In relation to the 300C - that's a shame as I quite fancied the estate version of it. :(

The curious thing is my wife also liks them - which is very odd indeed as she seldom likes anything that I like. ???


Liks them? - if she saw that one I'd get a skelp around the chops. :'( ;D ;D
Title: Re: Chrysler 300c
Post by: Del Boy on 05 November 2011, 19:46:30
In relation to the 300C - that's a shame as I quite fancied the estate version of it. :(

The curious thing is my wife also liks them - which is very odd indeed as she seldom likes anything that I like. ???


Liks them? - if she saw that one I'd get a skelp around the chops. :'( ;D ;D

 ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: Chrysler 300c
Post by: r1 on 05 November 2011, 21:47:42
they might not handle well but for a big heavy car they are FAST
Title: Re: Chrysler 300c
Post by: paul.lovejoy on 06 November 2011, 08:51:08
i test drove 2 when they first appeared loved the look but very disappointed with the ride one had standard wheels which was ok but just ok the other had these lovely shinny drug dealer alloys but handling was very bad even ended the test drive early.

i thought the whole car was basically an old merc e class so i read somewhere
Title: Re: Chrysler 300c
Post by: D on 06 November 2011, 18:20:01
Test drove a Hemi with 20 inch startech alloys. Agree it was no sports car. But boy did it shift and handled better than an elite I had previously. The omega sport/MV6 suspension is better than the 300c. But you do get a lot of kit/space/grunt/fuel bills. Chrysler dealer servicing seem quite cheap though. Not for the shy though, got noticed at every turn for better or worse.

Didnt buy in the end due to it being too large for the garage.
Title: Re: Chrysler 300c
Post by: Vamps on 06 November 2011, 22:24:33
Test drove a Hemi with 20 inch startech alloys. Agree it was no sports car. But boy did it shift and handled better than an elite I had previously. The omega sport/MV6 suspension is better than the 300c. But you do get a lot of kit/space/grunt/fuel bills. Chrysler dealer servicing seem quite cheap though. Not for the shy though, got noticed at every turn for better or worse.

Didnt buy in the end due to it being too large for the garage.

I can't remember when I have ever been able to get a car in the garage perhaps in the early 90' when I used to also rent a council 'lock up' for a classic car....... :D :D :D
Title: Re: Chrysler 300c
Post by: 2woody on 08 November 2011, 10:11:33
Bugger! I'd always quite fancied them  :(, esp with the 'Bentley' grille.

we have a guy at work who's got one - and he's put the Bentley badge kit on it.

Guess who I parked next to the first morning I brought the Bentley in ?
Title: Re: Chrysler 300c
Post by: henryd on 08 November 2011, 10:20:03
Bugger! I'd always quite fancied them  :(, esp with the 'Bentley' grille.

I still do,I would live with the handling shortcomings,its not the sort of car for hooning around country lanes,more of a wafter ;)