Lately, I've read a few disturbing posts by some forum members who have either directly and/or indirectly displayed dislike toward non-300C owners and/or toward Chrysler for 'allowing' other Chrysler 300 models to share 'the spotlight'. You know, I too could have purchased a 300C if I had wanted, but only if I could have found one which hadn't been 'marked-up to the hilt' by the majority of the SoCal dealerships which I had contacted last year. Besides refusing to be allowed to be 'hosed-over' by those dealerships, I also couldn't personally justify 'forking over' the extra 'ten grand' for those options which I really didn't need nor want.
Honestly, I initially planned on purchasing the base 300 model; however, after testing driving all four models (300/Touring/Limited/300C), after deciding that the front facade actually looks much better (in my option) with the added fog lights, and also for the fact that I've never really cared for simulated woodgrain trim, I decided to upgrade to the '300 Touring' model instead. I actually wanted a 'Signature Series' model, but the 'sales manager' of the SoCal dealership which had one decided that he wanted to 'hose me over'...so to speak. This 'sales manager' (I use this term loosely) wouldn't allow me to pay cash for it, but insisted that he'd only sell it to me if I would only finance it through Chrysler credit? I didn't want nor need the $1,000 rebate nor would I allow him nor his dealership to get their 'financing kickback' at my expense!
I never get upset when a base 300 model owner says that his/her car looks like my car, nor do I get upset when others ask me if my car has a HEMI. I actually commend the base 300 model owner for making a great decision for choosing his/her car, because it too has its place in the Chrysler 300 family and is a great value for the money. I also proudly tell the others that my '300 Touring' model comes with the 3.5 liter V6, as it's got plenty of power for the type of driving that I do. I'm also not embarrassed to tell them, "No, it doesn't have a HEMI", but proudly 'pop the hood' when they want to see my car's engine anyway because they too are impressed by its finely tuned exhaust note.
I've had very fast cars in the past, but since I've always believed in obeying the law, I've also never had the same compulsion to try to beat everything that's running on the street like some of the 300C posters within this forum. My 3.5 liter V6 gets me to and from the same places at the same legal speed that a 300C does, transports me to and from these places in the same amount of relative comfort as the 300C does, looks just as good aside from a little extra chrome which adorns the 300C's exterior...and has allowed me to invest the 'ten grand' that I saved into something which actually appreciates!
As far as I'm concerned, I still actually see less 'Touring' and 'Limited' models on the road and at the Chrysler dealerships today, and if I was personally worried about depreciation as some 300C posters appear to be, then I wouldn't have purchased a new car in the first place. I do wish however, that I had the foresight to have hung onto my stock '66 Pontiac 'GTO' 389, '69 Ford 'Mustang 390 Fastback', and my stock '70 Dodge 'Challenger RT'. Now, those are cars with currently poses 'reverse depreciation' due to the resurgence of 'muscle car' popularity once again. Unless you decide to keep your car 'bone' stock (original), keep it in excellent (to near mint) condition, and hardly drive it whatsoever (to insure low original mileage), then it too might be worth something forty years from now. As for me, I've never purchased a car solely for investment purposes (let alone a luxury family sedan like the 300/300C series). Just check and see what the late 70's era Cadillac Coupes, Sedans, Sevilles, and Eldorados are fetching these days (even the ones with the large engine displacements)...not much at all.
I purchased my '300 Touring' based upon its new and unique 'retro' styling, its performance and handling during the initial and subsequent test drives, its plethora of 'creature comforts', and for the fact that it was the best 'bang for the buck' in today's automobile marketplace. For all of you who have the pleasure of owning a base '300' model, a '300 Touring' model, a '300 Limited' model, or the '300C'...congratulations on your wise decision. Like you, I too love to drive mine and show it off whenever I can
Honestly, I initially planned on purchasing the base 300 model; however, after testing driving all four models (300/Touring/Limited/300C), after deciding that the front facade actually looks much better (in my option) with the added fog lights, and also for the fact that I've never really cared for simulated woodgrain trim, I decided to upgrade to the '300 Touring' model instead. I actually wanted a 'Signature Series' model, but the 'sales manager' of the SoCal dealership which had one decided that he wanted to 'hose me over'...so to speak. This 'sales manager' (I use this term loosely) wouldn't allow me to pay cash for it, but insisted that he'd only sell it to me if I would only finance it through Chrysler credit? I didn't want nor need the $1,000 rebate nor would I allow him nor his dealership to get their 'financing kickback' at my expense!
I never get upset when a base 300 model owner says that his/her car looks like my car, nor do I get upset when others ask me if my car has a HEMI. I actually commend the base 300 model owner for making a great decision for choosing his/her car, because it too has its place in the Chrysler 300 family and is a great value for the money. I also proudly tell the others that my '300 Touring' model comes with the 3.5 liter V6, as it's got plenty of power for the type of driving that I do. I'm also not embarrassed to tell them, "No, it doesn't have a HEMI", but proudly 'pop the hood' when they want to see my car's engine anyway because they too are impressed by its finely tuned exhaust note.
I've had very fast cars in the past, but since I've always believed in obeying the law, I've also never had the same compulsion to try to beat everything that's running on the street like some of the 300C posters within this forum. My 3.5 liter V6 gets me to and from the same places at the same legal speed that a 300C does, transports me to and from these places in the same amount of relative comfort as the 300C does, looks just as good aside from a little extra chrome which adorns the 300C's exterior...and has allowed me to invest the 'ten grand' that I saved into something which actually appreciates!
As far as I'm concerned, I still actually see less 'Touring' and 'Limited' models on the road and at the Chrysler dealerships today, and if I was personally worried about depreciation as some 300C posters appear to be, then I wouldn't have purchased a new car in the first place. I do wish however, that I had the foresight to have hung onto my stock '66 Pontiac 'GTO' 389, '69 Ford 'Mustang 390 Fastback', and my stock '70 Dodge 'Challenger RT'. Now, those are cars with currently poses 'reverse depreciation' due to the resurgence of 'muscle car' popularity once again. Unless you decide to keep your car 'bone' stock (original), keep it in excellent (to near mint) condition, and hardly drive it whatsoever (to insure low original mileage), then it too might be worth something forty years from now. As for me, I've never purchased a car solely for investment purposes (let alone a luxury family sedan like the 300/300C series). Just check and see what the late 70's era Cadillac Coupes, Sedans, Sevilles, and Eldorados are fetching these days (even the ones with the large engine displacements)...not much at all.
I purchased my '300 Touring' based upon its new and unique 'retro' styling, its performance and handling during the initial and subsequent test drives, its plethora of 'creature comforts', and for the fact that it was the best 'bang for the buck' in today's automobile marketplace. For all of you who have the pleasure of owning a base '300' model, a '300 Touring' model, a '300 Limited' model, or the '300C'...congratulations on your wise decision. Like you, I too love to drive mine and show it off whenever I can
