grab handle for front passenger?

[dynodon]

Although I love my 300C, there are areas where I wish DC had not shaved a few pennies. For instance no instant gas mileage read-out. In the computer age, this should be a no brainer, the mechanical and electrical parts are still there, you just need another line of code in the software! DOH!

But inside, I wish they had made the passenger seat with a power recliner. Not even an option. I would gladly have paid for it.

Same with a front passenger grab handle above the door.

Anyone know if the support mechanism is there and if it can be added?

[luvthosehemis]

yes,i agree, definitely a passenger side grab handle!

:o

[tekhen]

ddon,

can you explain instant gas mileage readout?
do you mean every trip should read fuel used?

The reason I ask is the evic and NAV have instances where mileage and miles til empty can be read.

[dynodon]

On my 300C I can see "average" MPG, but not the instant or "current" MPG. Most cars with enough computer power to figure MPG also give the instant MPG.

It really isn't of much use, but sometimes I like to know what is happening at the moment.

For instance if you take the average MPG function on the 300, and just hit RESET. YOu will get for a second or two the "instant" MPG figure as it starts averaging.

On one trip, I kept resetting the average figure to find out how the car did in certain situations.

Against a wind on the level: about 20 mpg.
Against a wind going up a slight hill? about 17-18
No wind on the level: 24-25
No wind up a slight hill: 21-22

It was pretty clear that wind and a hill dropped the car out of 4 cyl mode (hemi) and dropped the MPG drastically. any hill or wind seems to really hurt mpg. My 540i 6-speed would do instant mpg on the level no wind of 30+ and in other situations keep above 20 easily.

There are still reasons why that car cost 50G or more new, and how it can be as fast with less HP and get more MPG.

Don't get me wrong, I love the 300C better than the 540 (it was a '97 model) but I still marvel at how the Germans and Japanese deliver 300+ hp from under 5 liters and get better MPG.

Americans still have a way to go.

[vvv90]

I have instant MPG on my Vette. I don't care for it. It varies too much from 8-45mpg based on WOT or coast in 6th. Afterall, I'm only concerned with how much MPG I'm getting per tank anyway.

That's just my opinion.

[marlinspike]

Does it have an economy gauge at least? My 20 year old Benz does, and being 20 year old it's just a simple vacuum gauge which I actually prefer. Now you may ask "Why would you prefer a low tech gauge that can't tell you actual MPG?" After 20 years, you start to get vacuum leaks and the economy gauge is an awesome diagnostic tool.

[joey]

Originally Posted by dynodon

Although I love my 300C, there are areas where I wish DC had not shaved a few pennies. For instance no instant gas mileage read-out. In the computer age, this should be a no brainer, the mechanical and electrical parts are still there, you just need another line of code in the software! DOH!

But inside, I wish they had made the passenger seat with a power recliner. Not even an option. I would gladly have paid for it.

Same with a front passenger grab handle above the door.

Anyone know if the support mechanism is there and if it can be added?

The missing front passenger door assist handle is the first thing my wife noticed when we test drove a C. A real bummer for her.

I later asked the dealer if they would install a door assist handle.
No way, was the answer. The handle would be to close to the side curtain air bags.

Later I saw these pictures and can see the side curtain bags deploy were the handle would typically go. If you don't have the Protection Group and side air bags, maybe someone could install a handle.

[Franchise300c]

Yeah i understand that how all u old guys would want a handle for the fornt passenger cause u got mad old people in the passenger seat lol but me bein 17 its not really a prob for the poeple im drivin wit

[dynodon]

Franchise300,

OK, as Bucky Kat says: "it's ON"

Really though, I am 57, and like the grab handle for hanging on when I am a driving instructor at track days. Teaching "kids" how to really drive.

I have been at about 15 different real road racing tracks, plus doing autocross for about 30 years including some regional wins and a national win.

NO I don't bang fenders in real racing events, but doing a track day is a close second. Going into turn 3 at Atlanta Motor Speedway at about 120 mph in my street car is a LOT more exciting than about anything else I have ever done. (Trust me that while the NASCAR drivers hit this turn at near 200 mph, 120 is WAY fast enough for a typical four-door sedan when you are staring straight into that wall and not turning yet!)

REally, the handle helps in a lot of situations other than just helping out old people.

As for the air bag being the problem, then why do they put grab handles in the back seat where the same type of airbag is also in the protection group?

In the pictures that joey posted (thanks for reminding me why I go fast on a TRACK and not on the highway!) you can see that the airbag us under the grab handle. I would expect that a hand/arm on the handle at the time of deployment would hurt the passenger some, but not obstruct the airbag.

I still would like to have a grab handle at the passenger front door, but I doubt it is possible.

[Franchise300c]

dude man i was just playin but u seem like a cool guy but u can see how broad the 300C fanbase is im 17 and me and everybody in my school thinks i have the hottest car in school and your 57 and u lovew the car 2 thast why7 its a great car