UK - ABOUT TO BUY A 300C V6 or 300CRD V6- any advise?

[C5HEA]

Murphy,

Where did you getyour gille done? How much did it cost?

Originally Posted by Murphy The Cat

Hi C5HEA

September 2006 that is a looooonnnng time to wait.
Where abouts in Great Britain do you live C5HEA ?
The only reason I ask is that Geordie took a CRD demo out for a spin the the North of England t'other week and I (honestly) think that you owe it to yourself to have a testdrive in a CRD, so that YOU can decide if it is worth the wait. On a secondary note, Sept sounds like an awful long wait for a car that has a (I think) 16 week lead time. I wonder if your dealer was pushing you towards the petrol V6 by creating a long order time for the CRD.

Economy, well hell, have I got news for you. I zeroed my tripomemeter, reset the mpg trip computer and dieseled up today to the first click. I then did 75 miles of mixed (but not much built up) driving. Got home and fuelled up to the first click again. and the result of the exersize (drum roll please). The mpg computer tells me that I got 31.8 MPG, but bearing in mind this is likely to be miles per US gallon, that translates to 38 miles per GB gallon. However, by doing the mpg by fuel used (click to click) I got 35.5 mpg. Whichever figure you use, its just a variation between bloody good, very blloody good and are you sure !

As for any other things to know ? Arnie is a big old beast and takes up a lot of road space, also it is not a car to be driving if you fancy travelling incognito. I'm sure there's other things, but they're all very positive.

see you later.

MTC

[groovyjay]

Originally Posted by C5HEA

Well the car will be ordered and collected from anywhere to be honest. Im in the South East but I have contacts up in Leeds. Any help you can give would be greatly appriciatd.

Here's the spec I want.......

300CRD
Black
Sat Nav
7 speaker Boston System



Have I missed anything?

Sunroof? Yes or No? Im not sure. Probably no.

Thanks again

If you are getting the sunroof or the electric pedals you'll propably end up having to wait for 6 months for it. I wanted to get the sf and elec.pedals but the 6-8 month waiting vs. two weeks for the car without them made me change my mind.

[C5HEA]

What are Electric Pedals?

[Murphy The Cat]

Dear Mr C5HEA

you are now about to enter into a period of excuisite mental torture, pain, suffering, and general "i don't know what I want".

In short you've found the car that you (really, really, really) want and you can't make up your mind which colour, options, extras you want. We've all been there and let us share your pain

In my opinion there is not a car colour available that looks as good as Pearlescent Brilliant Black when it is clean - it is a shame that sadly, the cleanness does not last long. Also I think that Black lends itself better to car tinting if that is what you fancy.

As regards the Boston Acoustics woofy. For me it was never really going to happen. I have a 2 year old son and I don't think that Mrs Cat would have been to impressed with his ears bleeding because I had the woofer turned up while listening to New Order on max volume ! It's horses for courses but the standard music system I find (for me) to be very, very adequate.

I see you're going for sat nav, have you considered the CD changer option as well ? About the only thing on Arnie that I think is very poor is that I was unable to get a stacker CD fitted without the sat nav - in 2006 I thought that was crap.

Electric peddles, hmmm. The next time you go for a test drive in a 300c, check out the range of adjustment in the seat. It is able to accomodate anyone fron 4 ft 6in up to 7ft tall. It is very impressive indeed. To further hel the adjustment for comfort, the Nort American market has an option to electrically adjust the pedals. It is an option that we do not have. Also while on options, we can adjust the steering wheel for rake (up & down) but we cannot adjust it for reach (in & out). It is only a little thing, but worth knowing if it is important to you.

Belmont is the wise old wizard of the Britishy posters as to how/why/when things happen to 300c's in Britain !!! send him a pm and he'll fill you in on the details why (or tell you to bugger off).

My grill is a E&G Classics heavy mesh s/steel with centre bar and t'other bits are E&G Classics lower mesh Inserts. Several suppoting vendors on this forum sell them. I got mine from autotrcktoys in Paris, Tennessee when I was visiting my in laws in November and brought them back in my luggage. I think that a quick word of warning needs to be passed on here. The carriage charge that will be applied from the USA to GB is bloody ridiculous, plus when it hits GB Customs will hit you for VAT (17.5%) import duty (don't know how much but it won't be cheap) plus the delivery company will sting you for the pleasure of paying the charges (Royal Mail will charge you £4.00). Of course It may sail through the system without attracting any attention - just don't bank on it.
A much cheaper option is either a) bring it back fron the USA yourself, or B) see if someone else will do it for you. Another idea is looking at the "Startech" brochure that your dealer could/should have given you. They have 2 x grills there priced at £419.00 (chromed Aluminium) & £295 (chromed plastic). The advantage of these being that you know EXACTLY how much they will cost you and they will also have a full DC warranty. Your dealer will fit them in about an hourish.

as for the sunroof, I was to tight to part with £850, especially when there is a Startech diesel tuning kit aroud the corner for not that much more !!!!!!

Glad you're enjoying it in the forum.

MTC

[C5HEA]

Yet again the cat is there with the info - all good advise. Thank you so much.

Please feel free (anyone) to add further comments!!!!!!!

C 5HEA

[C5HEA]

Is there only one type of interior colour that you can get?

Light Slate Grey isnt it?

Originally Posted by Murphy The Cat

Dear Mr C5HEA

you are now about to enter into a period of excuisite mental torture, pain, suffering, and general "i don't know what I want".

In short you've found the car that you (really, really, really) want and you can't make up your mind which colour, options, extras you want. We've all been there and let us share your pain

In my opinion there is not a car colour available that looks as good as Pearlescent Brilliant Black when it is clean - it is a shame that sadly, the cleanness does not last long. Also I think that Black lends itself better to car tinting if that is what you fancy.

As regards the Boston Acoustics woofy. For me it was never really going to happen. I have a 2 year old son and I don't think that Mrs Cat would have been to impressed with his ears blleding because I had the woofer turned up while listening to New Order on max volume ! It's horses for courses but the standard music system I find (for me) to be very, very adequate.

I see you're going for sat nav, have you considered the CD changer option as well ? About the only thing on Arnie that I think is very poor is that I was unable to get a stacker CD fitted without the sat nav - in 2006 I thought that was crap.

Electric peddles, hmmm. The next time you go for a test drive in a 300c, check out the range of adjustment in the seat. It is able to accomodate anyone fron 4 ft 6in up to 7ft tall. It is very impressive indeed. To further hel the adjustment for comfort, the Nort American market has an option to electrically adjust the pedals. It is an option that we do not have. Also while on options, we can adjust the steering wheel for rake (up & down) but we cannot adjust it for reach (in & out). It is only a little thing, but worth knowing if it is important to you.

Belmont is the wise old wizard of the Britishy posters as to how/why/when things happen to 300c's in Britain !!! send him a pm and he'll fill you in on the details why 9or tell you to bugger off).

My grill is a E&G Classics heavy mesh s/steel with centre bar and t'other bits are E&G Classics lower mesh Inserts. Several suppoting vendors on this forum sell them. I got mine from autotrcktoys in Paris, Tennessee when I was visiting my in laws in November and brought them back in my luggage. I think that a quick word of warning needs to be passed on here. The carriage charge that will be applied from the USA to GB is bloody ridiculous, plus when it hits GB Customs will hit you for VAT (17.5%) import duty (don't know how much but it won't be cheap) plus the delivery company will sting you for the pleasure of paying the charges (Royal Mail will charge you £4.00). Of course It may sail through the system without attracting any attention - just don't bank on it.
A much cheaper option is either a) bring it back fron the USA yourself, or B) see if someone else will do it for you. Another idea is looking at the "Startech" brochure that your dealer could/should have given you. They have 2 x grills there priced at £419.00 (chromed Aluminium) & £295 (chromed plastic). The advantage of these being that you know EXACTLY how much they will cost you and they will also have a full DC warranty. Your dealer will fit them in about an hourish.

as for the sunroof, I was to tight to part with £850, especially when there is a Startech diesel tuning kit aroud the corner for not that much more !!!!!!

Glad you're enjoying it in the forum.

MTC

[Belmont CJ]

Originally Posted by C5HEA

Is there only one type of interior colour that you can get?

Light Slate Grey isnt it?

The one and only interior! For as often as i would defer to MTC as one of the (if not the) first CRD's to hit British pavement I feel I must contradict him . It may be due to the speed at which moggies age or some Cumbrian oddity but to not order the Boston accoustics upgrade is a SIN! For £250 you'd be MAD not to. The difference in sound quality from one additional speaker has to be heard to be believed.

I can quite understand that Murphy the Kitten has no need to hear Balamory in 7 channel 380 Watt sound, but i'll bet he spends more time in his Kitty carrier than he does in Arnie!

More good news is that DC have now mastered the art of fitting the 6 Disc RAR radio as a stand alone option, something that was causing untold hassles whilst MTC was in the order process. The bad news is that this does not address the retro fit option! From your point of view, tis is irrelevant as the Sat Nav requires the RAR option to be specified anyway.

I'll take a look on Monday for availability closer to your end of the world but i can gaurantee a Black CRD with all options for late April. Thats Nav, MP3, Walnut, Boston and sunroof.

All the best

Belmont

[C5HEA]

Hi ya Belmount - I am right into my sound so the 7 speaker system is without doubt the option I will take.

So I dont need to worry about the audio head unit side as I'm Sat Naving it!!! So thats cool.

Two more questions

1.) Can you program the sat nav whilst moving along?

2.) The colour options of the leather interior - is there only one?

Originally Posted by Belmont CJ

The one and only interior! For as often as i would defer to MTC as one of the (if not the) first CRD's to hit British pavement I feel I must contradict him . It may be due to the speed at which moggies age or some Cumbrian oddity but to not order the Boston accoustics upgrade is a SIN! For £250 you'd be MAD not to. The difference in sound quality from one additional speaker has to be heard to be believed.

I can quite understand that Murphy the Kitten has no need to hear Balamory in 7 channel 380 Watt sound, but i'll bet he spends more time in his Kitty carrier than he does in Arnie!

More good news is that DC have now mastered the art of fitting the 6 Disc RAR radio as a stand alone option, something that was causing untold hassles whilst MTC was in the order process. The bad news is that this does not address the retro fit option! From your point of view, tis is irrelevant as the Sat Nav requires the RAR option to be specified anyway.

I'll take a look on Monday for availability closer to your end of the world but i can gaurantee a Black CRD with all options for late April. Thats Nav, MP3, Walnut, Boston and sunroof.

All the best

Belmont

[Geordie]

Originally Posted by C5HEA

Is there only one type of interior colour that you can get?

Light Slate Grey isnt it?

Hi C5HEA...


If you have not done so already, access the DC UK website at www.300c.co.uk and you will obtain everything you need to know about all the UK 300C versions including exterior / interior colours; exterior / interior equipment; safety features; standard equipment; factory options etc etc...it's all there and you can even request a brochure!

Having perused and assimilated all of the info I guarantee you will be fully confident in approaching the dealership to discuss your requirements.

Ensure that you visit as many DC dealerships as possible to see all of the available colour choices as the pics are merely a guide and often they do not match the actual metal. For example my choice of mineral grey looks much more attractive and desireable when seen in the metal.

I recommend that you have test drives in petrol and diesel versions before committing yourself to buying, even if it means visiting more than one dealership, to ensure that your eventual choice meets your personal requirements.

It may be worth waiting an extra few weeks to ensure that you get the exact colour and spec of car that you have set your heart on.It is obviously a personal choice if you wish to compromise and take what is currently available. Belmont CJ is our guru on how to track down your desired model. If you have not already done so I would give him a PM as he has previously suggested and he will give you every assistance.

Finally there is a mine of information on this site relevant to accessories that are only available on the US market. If you cannot find what you you require after trawling the forums and archives there is always someone on this great website who will find you the answer.

Hope you get sorted soon!

Regards
Geordie

[C5HEA]

Thank you for your advise - as ever always helpful!!!!!!

How are you getting on with your car?

How many CDR's are there in the UK do you think?

Originally Posted by Geordie

Hi C5HEA...


If you have not done so already, access the DC UK website at www.300c.co.uk and you will obtain everything you need to know about all the UK 300C versions including exterior / interior colours; exterior / interior equipment; safety features; standard equipment; factory options etc etc...it's all there and you can even request a brochure!

Having perused and assimilated all of the info I guarantee you will be fully confident in approaching the dealership to discuss your requirements.

Ensure that you visit as many DC dealerships as possible to see all of the available colour choices as the pics are merely a guide and often they do not match the actual metal. For example my choice of mineral grey looks much more attractive and desireable when seen in the metal.

I recommend that you have test drives in petrol and diesel versions before committing yourself to buying, even if it means visiting more than one dealership, to ensure that your eventual choice meets your personal requirements.

It may be worth waiting an extra few weeks to ensure that you get the exact colour and spec of car that you have set your heart on.It is obviously a personal choice if you wish to compromise and take what is currently available. Belmont CJ is our guru on how to track down your desired model. If you have not already done so I would give him a PM as he has previously suggested and he will give you every assistance.

Finally there is a mine of information on this site relevant to accessories that are only available on the US market. If you cannot find what you you require after trawling the forums and archives there is always someone on this great website who will find you the answer.

Hope you get sorted soon!

Regards
Geordie