[jaywill]

I'm a newbie here and first of all want to say great forum. I am looking to get a 300c(RWD,awd or SRT-8) this spring so I have a few questions. First has any here taken delivery of or driven a AWD 300C and if so do you like it and have you compared ride/performance to a RWD 300c? Second does is the AWD have alot more ground clearance than a RWD? Third can I put 22" wheels on AWD without having it sit like a monster truck? Last when I was on chrysler.com and did a lease quota for a AWD it was $9xx compared to the same optioned RWD for $565 is it some error or is this right. Thanks for any help with this.

 

[First300COwner]

Hey Jay! Welcome.

I'm clueless when it comes to knowing weather conditions in other parts of the U.S. I can say that I'm sure Michigan sees alot more weather then Southern California does. If you see alot of snow and rain where you live then an AWD model might be the right thing for you. Just remember that you should only be considering an AWD version for the purpose of better stability in these active weather conditions. Better handling and performance reasons are not important with this Chrysler/Benz AWD system.

http://www.300cforums.com/showthread.php?p=19344#post19344

If you follow the address above you will see a small conversation I had with some AWD supporters. After I made my last point nobody had anything to say. One guy was talking about how I am crazy to say that performance and handling will suffer because some 2 million dollar audi le mans' car has AWD and tears up the racing scene . I thought to myself, "wow now we are comparing this Chrysler AWD system to a AWD system that is one of a kind and tuned for the most competative racing in the world. " I hope you see my point.

With the AWD system you might lose 1-3 mpg and you might see the 300c grip on the skid pad go from .72g's to .78 maybe .80g's but that's wishful thinking. If the AWD model ends up being a little faster I would be very suprised. It'll probably be a little slower the the RWD 300C. So remember only get if weather is an issue, because in active weather conditions the AWD will help alot.

Lastly if weather doesn't concern you very much I would really consider the SRT-8 version of the car. I've been telling everyone since march when I first got my car that if they wan't one they should really consider waiting for the SRT-8 version, and at the time nobody knew what I was talking about. Now most people do and are taking the advice. If you would like an SRT-8 I would put in an order as soon as the dealership allows you to.

 

[First300COwner]

Oh My God! I just seen some pictures that I got from another post!

http://www.300cforums.com/showthread.php?t=2214

Follow the link, the AWD is an Inch higher then the normal 300c and has some cheap looking rims. Jesus, what the hell was Chrylser thinking.

 

[IKEMAN]

We stopped replying to that thread because we were tired of reading your posts. I recieved my 300C AWD last week and I am more than happy with it. If you are buying a 300, RWD or AWD, to use as a performance vehicle, you are buying it for the wrong reasons. This is a 4000 pound 4-door sedan, it wasn't made to try to keep up with sports cars.

 

[Johnny Vig]

We stopped replying to that thread because we were tired of reading your posts. I recieved my 300C AWD last week and I am more than happy with it. If you are buying a 300, RWD or AWD, to use as a performance vehicle, you are buying it for the wrong reasons. This is a 4000 pound 4-door sedan, it wasn't made to try to keep up with sports cars.

Ikeman you seem to be happy with your AWD, but I like many are curious as to the differences between the AWD and RWD. What do you think of the higher stance of the car as well as the lack-luster wheels they use. I would also be curious to know if you think the car feels slower than a RWD. Thanks for your time. Look forward to hearing back from you.

 

[stunna55]

If you are buying a 300, RWD or AWD, to use as a performance vehicle, you are buying it for the wrong reasons. This is a 4000 pound 4-door sedan, it wasn't made to try to keep up with sports cars.

but its just so much fun when it does isn't it - i think everyone can spend thier 40g's on whats important to them. whatever that may be

 

[First300COwner]

Wow! Ikeman

Yo Ike I have nothing against you or your AWD 300C . I'm just trying to let people know what to expect. If I lived in an area that had a lot of active weather I would consider the AWD version as well. I just felt that a few comments made about AWD were a bit too general and need to be cleared for other people that are seriously thinking about getting one.

We are all entitled to our own opinions and I personally feel the AWD version sits a little too high and the rims are a bad choice on DC's part. I'm sure the extra inch it sits up is for good reason, and I hope you don't have any hard feelings because I don't.

 

[IKEMAN]

Real world driving you will probably not notice the difference between the AWD and the RWD. The AWD will be in the background execpt for those "just in case" instances just like the ESP, ABS, air bags, and seat belts. You might not need these features 99% of the time, but when they are there and you do need them they might just save your life.

I ordered my AWD with the protection 2 group which includes side air curtains, Conti-seal tires, and other things. Five years ago I probably would have just ordered a RWD without the protection group because I would have thought that these were features that I wouldn't ever use. Now, I HOPE I don't have to use these features but I would rather have them on my car and have them possibly save my life than not have them. Gaining a miniscule amount of performance which most people will never see in real life is not high on my priority list. You might think I sound like an old grumpy man but I am actually only 28. When you stop thinking solely about yourself and start to think about others in your life priorities change.

You might notice the ride height difference if you are looking directly at the side of the car from 5-25 feet away. But while driving it you will not notice it.
Chrysler did mess up by putting these rims on this car (they would be fine for the base model) but most people on this board don't seem sastified with the stock wheels on the RWD drive either. You can always get different ones.

I have owned performance vehicles and when you talk about the difference of a couple tenth's in the quarter or less than 0.1g on a skidpad you will never notice these differences in real world daily driving. That is why there are racetracks to go to and see what a car can do. But that is not what the 300 is made for.

 

[First300COwner]

That's what AWD is all about.

I ordered my AWD with the protection 2 group which includes side air curtains, Conti-seal tires, and other things. Five years ago I probably would have just ordered a RWD without the protection group because I would have thought that these were features that I wouldn't ever use. Now, I HOPE I don't have to use these features but I would rather have them on my car and have them possibly save my life than not have them. Gaining a miniscule amount of performance which most people will never see in real life is not high on my priority list. You might think I sound like an old grumpy man but I am actually only 28. When you stop thinking solely about yourself and start to think about others in your life priorities change.

Maybe when I get some kids and stuff like that I will consider all those saftey features. Priorities do change when things like that come along. I wanted the Protection Group II but when I got mine in March I took whatever I could find and my car didn't have protection group II but had everything else.

When I was in 7th grade I got in this horrible accident that invovled 7 other cars on the freeway and was almost killed. I should really be thinking about saftey features a little more closely. I guess 7 isn't my lucky number.