The new guy! 300s owner 2013...picked up today!

[Wizo]

Thanks guys for all the wishes and responses

I drove it all weekend and its a filthy animal right now. I averaged 16-17 mpg with some spirited driving and it moved up to 22mpg on 39 mile drive on highway. I am hoping for more because I promised my wife that I would cut my fuel costs by 30% from my Cadillac escalade (14.3 avg).


So I am trying to negotiate a deal on a jeep grand Cherokee to keep a SUV in the family and back at the dealer today. Of course I am looking at the differences between my S and the srt8 again. It's weird to me that the srt8 looks so much lower and with wider wheels. But the rears have the same size wheel and tire as my car. It also looks as if the height is the same?..

I think it's the front and rear facias that make this more aggressive - the wheels also help too.

So I have made up my mind for the mods to be started but at a pace that my wife should not notice

1) Intake first to help with economy and srt8 spoiler

2) Drop 1/2 inch as soon as I can figure out which springs will not loose my great ride and get me the smallest drop

3) exhaust with programming to get a little more sound and fuel economy -- also have some fun getting on highway

4) srt8 grill and rear bumper with valence

If you guys know what springs you can recommend - I have seen sipped logix and other site where to buy them I just figure out which ones are going to get me where I want to be.

It seems the best intake is the B&m and exhaust is the corsa -> any advice on these would help too.

Man it's great to be back in the mod world again

[DjHEMI]

If you learn to feather the pedal a bit on the highway through light traffic and as long as you do not warm the car up by idling for 5 mins every morning (it deducts MPG while stationary) you can achieve 31 MPG highway at 70 mph in low- med traffic I usually get 27-29. On rural roads sometimes 30 MPG on flat roads at 60-62MPH no stops and starts with no impeding traffic. it takes some light throttle work but it can do it daily.

[Wizo]

Originally Posted by DjHEMI

If you learn to feather the pedal a bit on the highway through light traffic and as long as you do not warm the car up by idling for 5 mins every morning (it deducts MPG while stationary) you can achieve 31 MPG highway at 70 mph in low- med traffic I usually get 27-29. On rural roads sometimes 30 MPG on flat roads at 60-62MPH no stops and starts with no impeding traffic. it takes some light throttle work but it can do it daily.

Sir ... You might have just saved my marriage with that response. I read it to her 3 times!

[DjHEMI]

Originally Posted by Wizo

Sir ... You might have just saved my marriage with that response. I read it to her 3 times!

Good deal! BTW don't tell her you took my advice... I am divorced LOL

[robaustin]

"1) Intake first to help with economy and srt8 spoiler"
I much doubt a custom intake will do anything for economy, there is no logical reason why it should. Remember that car manufacturers are doing their utmost to up their CAFE rating and if it was as simple as changing the intake, they would have been on it like a fat kid on a Big Mac. If economy means so much to you, get a Diablo Predator and install a low octane tune so you can use 87 octane instead of 89 octane. You will still use the same amount of gas but pay less per gallon. As Northern Rider said, these motors are tight and need a long break in period to achieve full performance and economy.

[blk300limited]

The one real way to gain noticeable MPG would be to manipulate the closed loop AFR to something leaner than 14.7:1 while cruising on the highway.

[PGT]

the big difference between the V6 and V8 cars is the transmission. The smaller motor gets the superior ZF 8HP whilst the V8's get the older WA580 (clunky but strong).

The ZF transmission is what gets the V6 models their 31mpg rating. The dealer flat out lied to you telling you the cars were anywhere close to being the same. LOL. We've got the same transmission in our BMW and its excellent.

If/when the SRT8 gets it, I'll trade my '12 in.

[DjHEMI]

Originally Posted by PGT

the big difference between the V6 and V8 cars is the transmission. The smaller motor gets the superior ZF 8HP whilst the V8's get the older WA580 (clunky but strong).

The ZF transmission is what gets the V6 models their 31mpg rating. The dealer flat out lied to you telling you the cars were anywhere close to being the same. LOL. We've got the same transmission in our BMW and its excellent.

If/when the SRT8 gets it, I'll trade my '12 in.

I asked my dealer-technician why no 8-spd in Hemi, only going by what he said 8spd failed load durablility tests with v8's. I also asked why no manual 6 or 8 speed especially in SRT/8 he said they just haven't offered it as of yet... and likely wont for a lux/sport sedan but I would take a manual in a NY second!

[PGT]

that's not accurate. There are multiple versions of the 8HP and the highest capacity version is found on the Bentley and Rolls Royce cars. That said, the real reason as that Chrysler is just rolling out this transmission for 2012 and will work it into other models as time goes on. Key to that strategy is licensing the design from ZF so that the transmission can be made in North America; this controls costs and supply chain issues.

Another thing to consider is the way CAFE Standards work. The numbers are weighted by volume so the best way to hit your targets is to roll out the transmission to the largest sellers; in Chrysler's case, that would be V6 models of the 300. The Charger gets it too in SXT trim and above (V6 only). Those are core bread/butter cars. As soon as Chrysler can get control of the supply chain and set up production, I think you'll see this transmission across the entire lineup. Check out who else uses it (its a notable list):

ZF 8HP transmission - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[DjHEMI]

Another thing to consider is the way CAFE Standards work. The numbers are weighted by volume so the best way to hit your targets is to roll out the transmission to the largest sellers; in Chrysler's case, that would be V6 models of the 300. The Charger gets it too in SXT trim and above (V6 only). Those are core bread/butter cars. As soon as Chrysler can get control of the supply chain and set up production, I think you'll see this transmission across the entire lineup. Check out who else uses it (its a notable list):

ZF 8HP transmission - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

I would have thought CAFE would increase with the 8 even more by adding it to all 300 lines I am sure hope it can be retro-fit eventually as an aftermarket exchange w/electronic flashing for replacement of the original 5- spd but I have noticed a difference personally between my 09 and the 2012 5 spd , being smoother at low speeds and less jerky with less delay on power demand. Would love to see what the 8-spd would do.