Test drive coming up & SD6 question

[peterr_ibg]

Still not decided whether to jump in and buy yet, been looking in here over the last few weeks and you all seem a friendly bunch wondered if anyone could give me any opinions and answer a specific question?

I've looked at brochures, read reviews ( negative and positive ), been to dealer showroom to have a look, chatted to sales person, admired looks of the few I see on the road , gathered on-line pricing for purchase and PCP deals, checked insurance costs and now booked a test drive for late next week.

Test drives for me have always been a strange affair. I've driven a company car for the last 22 years and I've been lucky enough to always be given a choice of cars to take. Apart from time when I moved jobs I've always had cars for about three years. Here's my history ( excluding some short term stuff)

Cavalier Mk II ( A plate)
Sierra 1.8LX ( D plate)
Astra 1.8 SRI ( G plate)
Granada 2.0 Ghia X ( H plate)
Vauxhall Frontera ( K Plate) ( not my choice!)
BMW 318i ( L Plate )
Vectra 1.6L ( N Plate)
Mondeo 1.8LX ( S plate)
Audi A4 2.0 SE ( 51 plate)
BMW 320D se ( 05 plate)

Once I'd been given my choice of vehicles I'd do some investigation ( brochures, web etc) and had pretty much made up my mind before I'd even arranged the test drive. I can't remember ever going for a test drive and thinking , ' nope not for me'.

This time round I'm opting out of the company car scheme ( cost cutting etc means choice of Golf, entry Passat, entry Mondeo etc). Having looked at other options (Audi, BMW, Volvo, Saab), the 300C looks to meet all of my wants from a car. Style, individuality, comfort, performance, cost and economy. I'm really interested to hear from anyone who was in a similar position to me and was really bowled over by the test drive.

Should I be expecting a big WOW, this is fantastic, or was your experience more of a, mmmm nice does the job? By default you guys are fans anyway and I guess I'm not sure what any comments will do to any decision I make but.... just interested I guess.

The specific question I had was regarding the Startech SD6 tuning kit. On paper this really appeals as it seems to give some real performance without having to outlay huge levels of cash for some monster 4ltr Audi or range topping BMW. However, my wife will also occasionally drive the car and I wondered if the upgrade made it so different to the standard that she would struggle to cope with the oomph ( she drives a 1.8ltr Focus very sedately at the moment) . I noticed on a picture that was posted some while ago that there was a key and what looked like a 'blipper' fob and wondered if the upgrade , once fitted, could be automatically switched on and off?

Sorry, first post is so long, thanks for reading

[300C-CRD]

Bought the CRD back in 2006 for my wife (kids were complaining not having enough room in our previous Subaru Outback) Installed the "Diesel Tunning Box" in 2007. After over a year with the CRD, wife returned the keys to me and went to buy a Subaru Forrester in January 2008. (some how the kids didn't complaint, not yet anyway) Some people may say that it is all a conspiracy of mine to get myself a CRD.....I shall deny it.

Anyway, reasons for my wife gave up the CRD:
- Too big
- Not quite realiable as a Subaru. (CRD broken down once while she was overtaking, the swirl motor linkage failed and lost all power, the car behind had to do a emergency braking) Plus some other minor warranty repairs.
- It is a "Man"'s car. (any female owners please don't be offended)
- Too expensive to service. (I bought her the car but she pays for the maintenace)

I love the look of the 300C, it is different to any other vehicles on the road. Very good value for money compares to other European cars. With the Tunning box the performance is excellent.

Hope this is any help to your decision.

[UK CHRYSLER 300C]

just get one,you wont be sorry,the one thing it does stretch is your smile

[2008uk300c]

I had the difficult choice of any car in about the £25k region.

I looked at the A6, The 5 series, The Volvo V70 and the 300c.
The Chrysler dealership was the only one out of the four to offer me without prompting a full day test drive and they even included a full tank of fuel.

The others were accompanied and only lasted about 15 mins.

I test drove the 300C last, and it the feeling it gave me was instant, and my choice was made, I just had to convince my boss that I worth a little bit more.

The equivalent price range BMW/Audi was almost an empty shell in comparison, they charge you extra even for basics, because 'each car is then as individual as you are' b*&^%ks, just a way of getting more money out of you.

I'm sure the test drive will do it for you, and of course, every man and his dog have got the german cars, and no one will take a second look at them.

[Chewie]

Hi Peter,
I looked at an A6 and E-Class Merc before choosing this.
Although the Merc seemed to have smoother gear changes, once I'd added on the cool stuff (like £340 for folding read seats - the tight gits), it was another £7-10k to get similar features to what you get with the "Luxury Pack" on the 300C.
Also, it seems every other car is an Audi these days, so it's nice to have something a bit rarer.
Parking can be a bit tricky in confined spaces, but that doesn't affect me much.
Anyway, I still smile when driving it 6 months later, so that's got to say something....
Good luck in your decision!

[Jimbo55]

I bought mine without even test driving it! Did a lot of research before making the decision though. Just fell in love with the style.

But! ..... I have owned Toyota 4x4's for the last 5 vehicles and apart from service items I have never had any breakdowns or failures on any of the vehicles.

Already I have had several issues with the 300C.

Hand Brake lever pulling away from the dashboard (loose cable)
Rusty brake rotors
corrosion on the alloy wheels
Paint chips on bonnet edges
Intermittant passengers mirror folding
Faulty electrics on fitted Mopar towbar

All issues have or are being resolved and I consider them relatively minor.

Generally the car is high on the 'feel good' factor and about a third more economical to use than my previous 4x4. The 300C tows as well and better than some of my previous 4x4 Landrovers or Toyota's, plenty of power and a feeling of being 'well planted' towing a near two ton caravan.

Long Term? time will tell

[tedpatt]

havent stopped smiling since we bought ours, done 3000 miles now, i keep it clean and everywhere i go people look, if stop they ask " what is it " I LOVE IT"

i drove through dorset last week and i could see the turned heads when i we nt through a few villages........... never had this with a seirra

[Zorro01]

Hi there.

I bought mine after trawling around for a 5 Touring or A6 Avant to replace my 7. I also briefly looked at E estates. Like many others, I decided that the stratospheric money being asked by the German dealers, and the lack of availability of 5s, meant that the 300 was a real value for money choice. I've not driven very many miles in the 300, but after some mixed and motorway driving, I think that, blindfolded, I'd be hard pushed to tell the difference between my 7 and the 300. If anything, the 300 has weightier steering and a firmer, more positive ride. The only downside is that the 300's transmission is not quite as good as the 7's, with a noticeable lag when pulling away, and a lack of change down on the overrun.

The diesel is better than I had hoped, with similar performance to the normal setting on my 7, and only a bit less shove in the back than the 7 on loony mode, which was never very useable for more than a minute or so at a time, as corners would get in the way.

Inside, the 300 is just as comfy as the 7, and a whole lot more visually appealing, (door panels excepted), than the 5.

That aside, the 300 certainly has the visual "wow" over the ugly current 7 and the anonymous 5 and A6. Currently, I have not experienced a single "I wish I'd gone for a 5" moment.

Go on .... go furrit. You'll enjoy it.

cheers

Z

[Kelvin]

Originally Posted by Jimbo55

Generally the car is high on the 'feel good' factor and about a third more economical to use than my previous 4x4. The 300C tows as well and better than some of my previous 4x4 Landrovers or Toyota's, plenty of power and a feeling of being 'well planted' towing a near two ton caravan.

Long Term? time will tell

Hi Jimbo55:

Generally I would PM you for this question. However I wasn't able to see your PM details. Any way. I am purchasing a 3.0ltr CRD Toyota Hilux and I am very curious to know how well they tow a van such as yours. I also tow a van. I realise it wont be any where near as easy as the CRD 300C. No I'm not getting rid of the 300c, but one of the fleet will have to go.


Cheers Kel

[peterr_ibg]

Thanks for all of your opinions. I'm looking forward to the test drive.

Can anyone answer my question about the SD6 upgrade? Can it be controlled or is it always on?

Thanks again