Chrysler 300 Take III

Ok, final update on my rental. I am really digging the satellite radio. It may be the only thing that is keeping me sane while driving this car. Plenty of good music to choose from but I find myself ending up back on the comedy channels.

As for the car, I'm done with it. I've said everything I can say about it. It just is a mediocre car made worse by terrible controls layout. If you get in a car and can't reach anything, can't figure out how to work the windshield wipers without turning on the high beams (and once you get that figured out the high beams keep turning on whenever you use the turn signals?), takes 10 minutes to figure out the cruise control, and can't figure out how to set either clock then the car probably isn't that good.

Off the subject of crappy rentals, I am going to rebuild the brake calipers of the TR tomorrow. Replace all the seals, the flex hoses, pins, pads, and about everything that can be replaced. After getting all that done I plan on changing out the discs as well. Hoping it will only take a few hours.

Chrysler 300 Take II

Ok, after 6 1/2 hours of seat time today I think I can add a bit more to my rant of yesterday (good and bad).

The car does look good from the outside. The guards at Indian Point told me nice car and tried to get me to leave with them so they could "wash" it. It does soak up the bumps on the highway pretty nicely and doesn't beat you up. I tried out the manual shift option today on some twisties and it wasn't half bad after you figured out how it worked. Engine sounds good when revved up to 6k and the car actually handles a lot better than I thought it would (when the road is wide enough to drive the thing comfortably). I discovered this car has satellite radio (Sirius). A HUGE plus for the drive across the Empire State today. Ended up listening to mainly the 80's station and the comedy stations most of the way.

I can see why this is a nice car to RIDE in. Heck I said it in the last review. My companies agent in Chicago has a 300 with the Hemi, a slick looking ride. Great car to be a passenger in but I still can't get over how poorly laid out the interior is from the drivers perspective. I know this is a big cruising car, not my style at all, and that may have to do a lot with why I don't like this thing. Still, a lot of what they did on the inside just makes me think why? I also can't come up with an answer as to what car this thing is supposed to compete with? I guess the Full Size cruiser sedan market is an American only thing. It isn't a Luxury car and it isn't a sports sedan or even an economical family car. If it where any of those it would comepete with BMW, Lexus, Benz, Infinity, Acura ect at the top end and Toyota and Honda at the other. I dunno, maybe some folks just like big cars that drive like boats (Lincoln Town Car, Ford Taurus, Chevy Malibu). I sure don't.

Utter Crap (Chrysler 300 1st thoughts)

Ok. I'm in and around New York state this week. I flew into White Plains today in route to the nuclear plant outside of New London, CT (Millstone Plant). I go check in at the Avis counter and I am told, "We have a Chrysler 300, would that be ok?" I say sure, get the keys and my bags and head to get the car. I have ridden in the 300s several times and they always seemed to be comfortable cars. Well once I got in the drivers seat I realized just how wrong I was. These are just my first impressions from spending about 2 hours of windshield time in the car while dealing with NY traffic (Yes, they drive worse here than the folks in Atlanta).

Trunk, it has a big trunk.

What ever models Chrysler used to layout the interior obviously had arms that where 5 inches longer than mine.

Do you really need an analog clock right above a radio that has a digital clock?

What the hell is that buzzing noise coming from the front speaker? What the hell is that noise coming from under my seat?

Baby is this leather? Cause, um, it's sticking to my leg.....

At least the brakes work. Kind of.

Hey, it has an ashtray.

Nice touch with the Black on white instruments, who designed these things? 8 point letters and small black dots on a white background, because when you look down to check you speed you want to have to spend 10 seconds trying to figure it out....

Another nice instrument panel feature: a shiny black surface that surrounds the white faced instruments and at the right angle can blind you due to glare.

Can a car have twitchy steering and numb steering at the same time?

Why do I get seasick looking at the fisheye passenger sideview mirror? Oh, so I can see the Semi hidden behind the c-pillar.

Where did that MINI go that just passed me? Oh, it's hidden behind the A pillar.

Parallel Parking? Right....um no.

Did I mention the big trunk?

I am driving an 80's turbo diesel? I swear I floored the thing a second a go in order to pass... oh, ok the thing finally shifted.

Why do I keep speeding up or slowing down when I signal to change lanes? Oh, that because the damn cruise control stalk (?) is right above the turn signal stalk, which is located a lot lower and farther away from the steering wheel than any other car that I have ever driven.

How the hell do I get the wipers to come on? Do you really need to put 4 functions of one stalk? (Turn signals, high-low beams, wipers, washers, fog lights, trunk release, ignition, self destruct button......)

Ok, so far this thing sucks, bad. The only thing it does ok is go 75 in a straight line on a level road. From a comfortable driving position I can't reach anything. I can barley read my GPS since it is roughly 8 feet from me stuck to the windshield. The seats are crap, the steering wheel is real crap, the rear view out of the thing is a joke, you could hide a whole ro-ro carrier of cars in the blind spots. I can't see the road when going over the top of step hills. I just have no clue, this car really is that bad. It feels a whole hell of a lot bigger than my in-laws '77 Chevy truck (which is easier to drive). Heck it feels harder to drive around than the 40 foot u-haul I rented to move with. I had to 3 point a 2 1/2 lane u-turn!! I'm done for now, I am sure I'll have some more thoughts on this utter piece of garbage tomorrow. (Kind of wish they would have given me a Taurus instead, or maybe the Lincoln towncar that was next to this thing, or maybe the Minivan that was parked behind it.....)