It is drop dead gorgeous and about the size of a Crown Victoria (my dear departed patrol car traded in for the evil MINI ) Pretty cool I say.....seen some on a transport today....

 

Not to hijack your thread right off the bat, but...

I haven't seen a 300 "in the flesh" yet, but I have to say that the Crossfire, at least from the front, is the most strikingly handsome vehicle to emerge since the MINI! Judging from that I'm expecting the 300 to be nice looking, although as a fuel economy fiend, I can't really say I'll ever LIKE the car.

_________________
"In all matters of opinion, our adversaries are insane." -Oscar Wilde

 

It's a pretty decent looking car....looks kinda sinister in an old-comic-book-villian-car kinda way, especially in black.

About the Crossfire: When they were first available, I stopped my the Chrysler dealer to see one up close. There was a $5000 "market adjustment" markup on it. The same dealer advertised in the paper a couple months ago that they were offering a $5000 DISCOUNT off sticker. Looks like another example of Chrysler flooding the market, like with the PT Cruiser.

 

I just read that Chrysler will lower the base price of the Crossfire to increase sales. I believe Chrysler has hit a homerun in the styling department and their quality has improved, however their marketing and pricing has really been bad. At least it looks like they may have learned their lesson though. The 300 and Magnum are priced very competitive for what they offer and the lower base prices for the Crossfire and Pacifica should help.

The 300 does look hot and it's got a HEMI!

 

>>I just read that Chrysler will lower the base price of the Crossfire to increase sales. I believe Chrysler has hit a homerun in the styling department and their quality has improved, however their marketing and pricing has really been bad. At least it looks like they may have learned their lesson though. The 300 and Magnum are priced very competitive for what they offer and the lower base prices for the Crossfire and Pacifica should help.
>>
>>The 300 does look hot and it's got a HEMI!

I am getting seriously pissed off at my A4 Quattro these days....Chrysler might just lure me into a showroom for either the Pacifica or the 300......of course the one thing I realized yesterday was that when cars are on a transport they are squashed down so they look lower and cooler.....need to go see one off the truck.....

 

Test drove the Chrysler 300 with HEMI V8 today at the Chrysler "Art of Driving" event at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena. Wow, the engine is great! Acceleration is great. However, steering feel is a BIG disappointment - it's too light. Is this a Toyota Camry I'm driving? While the interior definitely has European flair, there is nothing European or Teutonic feel to the steering. I like my steering taut and precise not a lot of wallowing freeplay.

Also tested, the PT Cruiser GT (turbo). Engine feels great but it has turning radius of a boat! 40 feet! The driving course at the event definitely highlighted this weakness. The Crossfire drives like a Mercedes. However, the interior is too plasticky--sorta reminds me of the Mini's plasticky feel. The blindspot on the rear is HUGE.
-BruinToo

 

>>Test drove the Chrysler 300 with HEMI V8 today at the Chrysler "Art of Driving" event at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena. Wow, the engine is great! Acceleration is great. However, steering feel is a BIG disappointment - it's too light. Is this a Toyota Camry I'm driving? While the interior definitely has European flair, there is nothing European or Teutonic feel to the steering. I like my steering taut and precise not a lot of wallowing freeplay.
>>
>>Also tested, the PT Cruiser GT (turbo). Engine feels great but it has turning radius of a boat! 40 feet! The driving course at the event definitely highlighted this weakness. The Crossfire drives like a Mercedes. However, the interior is too plasticky--sorta reminds me of the Mini's plasticky feel. The blindspot on the rear is HUGE.
>>-BruinToo

Hey thanks for the review....I think you just saved me a trip to the Chrysler Dealer....I guess I will continue my "undefeated" streak vs, Chrysler....Sheeeesh (I'm liking this word)....not even a used one....ever......

 

I too really like the look of the Crossfire. Somehow being a Chrysler detracts fom it for me. But if it were a BMW...well, it would cost twice as much. Definitely a classically cool looking car.

As for the 300, I only just now saw it, and only a pic on the Chrysler website. Based only on that, I think the front looks too much like a carp with its mouth open.

All that said, I may just be losing it. Like the New Beetle, I think the PT Cruiser actually begins to look kind of nice as a convertible. I got a Cruiser once as a rental though. handling? What handling? So small to feel like a boat.

 

I said it on the other thread dedicated to this topic, but I'll say again that IMO the new 300 is one of the most god-awful ugly cars I've ever seen. I haven't driven one, but from the outside the car just looks like it weighs 5 tons. I think that this is something that affects all current Chrysler styling (even, to a lesser extent, the Crossfire)...they're fat-looking. My feeling about the Pacifica is that the styling theme was "Let's make a minivan that's smaller on the inside but bigger on the outside!"

Sorry, but every once in a while a car comes along that for me transcends just plain ugly...we're talking AMC Pacer ugly...and today, that's the 300.

 

>>Sorry, but every once in a while a car comes along that for me transcends just plain ugly...we're talking AMC Pacer ugly...and today, that's the 300.

 

Unlike the innovative Pacer of the 1970s, the 300 appears to have a front end with what I can only describe as a gaping snout, I looks capable of vacuuming up Minis. I don't know whether to be repulsed, fearful, or both. *

*Non Johnny Cash fans, there is a reference. I am not just crazy. Crazy, but not just that.

 

Since I was home sick, went tire kicking this evening (as you do) with madam treasurer......up close and personal the Crossfire is, well, ugly.....the Pacifica which looked really sexy in pictures is more like an oversized van....scratch that one......couldn't get in to see or drive the A4 Avant.....dealership closed at six...o well......test drove the 325ix Bimmer wagon.....madam treasurer is downstairs as we speak having a fit about buying it.......she went for it hook line and sinker....now she has to figure out how to pay for it.......nice mobile....Classic a 5 speed in stock, dark blue tan leather......nice....

 

Got the Allroad Audi instead....even nicer......now I am truly poor but have a happy camper as a mate..... :smile: