After a few weeks and 1,700 miles of ownership, here are my 300C impressions

[MetalManCPA]

After 15 years of Grand Marquis/Town Car driving, it was the looks that magnated me towards the 300C. I test drove (2) vehicles before making my purchase - a 2008 300C and my now owned 2007 300C Hemi (I love saying Hemi).

First lets discuss looks and amenities. First class all the way. It's outer looks are classy. I have silver with the chrome trim - it just looks sharp, and most other people who have now seen my car say the same thing. The only feature I have turned off is the automatic high beams as I feel they don't work that great (they didn't on my Town Car either). The HID lights work awesome - cleanest and brightest headlamps I've ever had. And I think the rain sensing wipers are pretty slick.

I really love the dark khaki/slate gray interior look. I find this car totally comfortable to sit in and drive long distances. It feels great to the touch, and I like the feel of the California wood option on the steering wheel. I like the integrated NAV system/U-Connect/stereo. Although the stereo doesn't quite live up to my listening standards (I spent $2,500 on a system in my Town Car), I am going to keep it as is unless I can somehow add some of the parts from my Town Car system (speakers, JL 500/5 amp, Digicap), except for adding the 100-watt Mopar sub that doesn't take up much trunk space. The Boston Premium 6-speaker system really doesn't sound bad at all, although it doesn't have the clarity and well-rounded sound of an aftermarket sound system.

I love some of the little things that although were never deal breakers I'm glad I have - side mirror turn signals w/auto dim, rear heated seats, auto dimming rear view mirror, side curtain air bags, power adjustable pedals & steering wheel w/memory, headlamp washers, just to name some of the 300C amenities.

But for me, it's the Hemi. I have never owned a "muscle" car before. Man does my baby crank. The pick up on this meaty car is amazing. I smirk looking at other cars now knowing my car could easily blow by a majority of what's on the road. I was on a 2-way road last week late at night, and there was a tractor trailer truck and three cars in front of me at a red light. One hundred yards beyond the light and with the tractoer trailer truck bearly hitting 30MPH my passing line came up. Before anybody could even react, I was gone by the lot of them in what seemed to be only a second. And this morning with the snow here in Boston, the AWD proved itself as I felt I had total control of the unplowed roads I drove on.

There are a few things I wish I had. I found it hard to believe there isn't an auxilliary input for my iPod (for better sound), and I don't want to pay the $ for the iPod integration kit.

I didn't really know what I had purchased until owning and driving it. Of course things could go wrong, but that's what a warranty is for. But I am 110% in love with my car. I've never felt better sitting behind the wheel of my car, never. I'm proud to be a part of the 300C community.

[Rambit]

I'd say you were a satisfied customer. Congrats... and now for the pics!!! Happy motoring.

Bernie

[GoofyTimL]

Congrats on the AWD Hemi, and great write-up! Show us some pix before we come up there and take it away from you!!! LOL

Regarding the auto high-beams, IF you are making your judgement based upon when the instrument cluster indicator goes off or on, you should know that that is the last thing that gets turned off. I've found that when activating, the fogs turn off, the high-beams turn on, and then the indicator lights. When deactivating the sequence is, high-beams off, fogs on, then the indicator goes out. It is extremely rare for an on-coming car to "flash" their brights at me because the system doesn't react quickly enough.

At first I always thought the auto-response was slow, too, because I was taking the dash indicator as simultaneous with the turn on/off... until I really started watching (out of the corner of my eye under light traffic and dark conditions) what really was happening at the exterior of the car.

The only fault I have with the system is that it doesn't seem to "look" off-angle quite far enough and will leave the high-beams on as you're going around a corner (even a gentle corner) as another car approachs well within the distance that you or I would deactivate high-beams. That and they will cancel sometimes against brightly reflected signs or shoulder marker reflectors... but I can live with that. The HID low-beams are almost good enough just by themselves.

[consolidation]

Welcome to the world of 300's! I enjoyed your write-up. I too once owned Town Cars, but won't ever go back. The 300 has spoiled me! I just wish the 300 were bigger (like a Town Car competitor). What year TC did you have?

[MetalManCPA]

Originally Posted by consolidation

Welcome to the world of 300's! I enjoyed your write-up. I too once owned Town Cars, but won't ever go back. The 300 has spoiled me! I just wish the 300 were bigger (like a Town Car competitor). What year TC did you have?

The one I just got rid of was a 1997, and my prior one was a 1993. I really liked the old style Town Car, and was never really impressed when they went to the "new" look.

I think the 300C feels bigger than it is, and it isn't that small to begin with.

[RCSRT8]

Congrats

and as Rambit stated, where are the pics?

[consolidation]

Very cool! I had an '88 TC and '96 Cartier. I too dislike the '98 and newer Town Cars. At least they brought back the hood ornament in '03!

You're right, the 300 does feel big. It just isn't as big as the TC. I really miss the 5 body trunk.

Enjoy your new ride!
TJ

[F.Rizzo]

Thanks for that. I'm going over my options for a new car in the next few months and I appreciate your insight.
.

[BlkLikeMe]

congrats on the new purchase and being fully pleased with your HEMI lol

[westlingracing]

About all I could add is about the ipod issue. I just have one of the ipod brodcast units just plug it into the ipod and tune in the radio to what ever FM frequency you tell it to prodcast on.
Wait till you start adding custom stuff to the car, Grill, Headlights, Spoiler, interior stuff. Finally a Chrysler you can find aftermarket add ons for other than their trucks.
And I got one of them too.