About to buy a 300C Hemi, UK - tips?

[RichardTK]

Very close to collecting a 300C Hemi Touring... just wondering if there were any specific things I should be checking (I have looked at a lot, and so far all I can see to worry about is "balljoint wear" - which this one felt absolutely fine on - and "leaking gearbox connector" which as a Mercedes fan with an SLK currently, I'm already very much aware of!).

The car looked straight and clean, bar faded B-pillar trims and rear badge. Tyres were worn but I'm replacing those myself rather than risking a helpful seller putting some ditchfinders on (I'll probably get winter tyres for now). Sat nav worked, though I haven't checked the version, it's a 2007 car so isn't MyGig.

Mostly I am wondering what handbooks, keys I should have with the car. Does a UK model have two remote keys and a service key, two keys, or other? What should be in the toolkit, if anything (the boot has some plastic storage boxes, and a sort of divider thing). And it's got a Startech grille, I'll be swapping that out for the proper Chrysler one ASAP, probably at the same time as changing the oil for 5W20 (I change oil usually through the dipstick, but might drain it properly the first time then fit a new sump plug).

It's five years old, but only 679 hours recorded, so I am hoping it'll be good for a few years with oil changes every 5,000 miles or 6 months and getting to share a nice garage with the SLK.

[UK CHRYSLER 300C]

Engines are bullet proof,5/30 oil is ok (thats what I've been putting in for 7 years),2 keys,1 handbook complete with service records somewhere near the back of the book and 1 sat-nav/cd player book,radio code sticker/card,mines a saloon and has a spare wheel (some don't),mine has a scissor jack and handle that doubles up as the wheel bolt spanner (no good on Startechs) and a towing eye (that strips the thread after a couple of uses as the car's too heavy...lol)

[ivanford]

I have had mine since new in January 2006. This is the longest by far I have ever kept a car.
I have never had any issues with mine, I do all my own servicing, it has never been back to the dealership. Fantastic car for the money and I don't see anythink else I could replace it with.

[RichardTK]

I'm hoping I won't need the towing eye!

I know it has service records with it, as I wanted to check the service history (it's done 15,000 miles, so I'm keen to verify that in every way I reasonably can - appears to have been traded in for a CR-V judging by the movements of the private plate), and I am pretty sure when I drove it I was holding two keys on the keyring, so that's good. ISTR it had a spare wheel under the plastic parts in the boot - has 18" wheels and is staying that way, as I drove a 20" equipped CRD SRT Design and found that whilst the ride was better than expected, it tramlined. Hoping that 18" wheels and a gentle driving style will give me longer-lived balljoints, too.

This is an attempt at owning a car for several years and liking it. Aside from a string of bangers lately (post breaking a leg and being stuck with autos) my last big car was a C6 2.7HDi, and I didn't like it after getting all excited to have one - I've had three Voyagers this year and have decided that Chrysler interiors may be cheap, but they're tough and honest about it.

Justified it on only using it for long drives really, and being good at getting economy out of massive cars (my previous Voyager, a 2002 V6, I got 27-29 on motorway (once, 31) and 20 overall, which measured and converted for UK terms ended up as a real 24mpg average and 36mpg best (between fills). My current one indicates FAR worse economy, is a 2000 V6 of the earlier generation. But I am not counting on any economy for running it - don't really need it for commuting or household tasks, only work, so any driving is paid for one way or another

(Besides, I measured the economy from my 1.6 MX-5; 27.8mpg. And that was a thoroughly unbearable 80mph on the motorway).

It's got to hold my interest for four years, though, to be worth the money.

Also - any other UK people see it as a natural successor to the Vauxhall FE Ventora and subsequent big-engined Senators, moreso than the rather OTT VXR8s?

[UK CHRYSLER 300C]

You'll get 19mpg round the town,25-28 at mway speeds and if you're lucky and the MDS kicks in you'll get about 32mpg...but not for long.It will hold your interest for way more than 4 years,7 years and I'm still loving it...if you want to really wake the beast up you'll need a Predator or the new Trinity....what a difference,if you don't want to go that far then you'll have to pull fuse 11 and 14 for about 25 (pre-face lift model) seconds every now and then and drive it like you stole it as it learns your driving style and will become less responsive on the throttle.
It has been said that it looks like the old Rover 3500 coupe,with it's grille and roof chop look,I don't think it looks like the old Ventora at all,sorry.

[RichardTK]

Really? No resemblance?

[ivanford]

The Chrysler won't be as rusty!!

[RichardTK]

I hope it won't! My '76 FE put the vent in Ventora. Through flow - through the floor, out where the boot should have been...

[UK CHRYSLER 300C]

What? you mean the grille? my old Camaro had the egg crate grille.....and yes they will go rusty,I have surface rust underneath my car,so when I get a chance I'll rub it back and spray it

[ivanford]

I put a good old coat of Waxoyl on mine when it was new and no real rust yet, except for a few bolt heads etc. However, some of the suspension parts are a bit dry again, I might need another coat some time.