2006 Heritage Edition Chrysler 300C

Chrysler announced that the new 2006 Chrysler 300C "Heritage Edition" will debut January 4 at the 2006 Los Angeles Auto Show.

Available in dealerships this spring, the limited-production Heritage Edition is a performance specialty vehicle offering the power of the award-winning 5.7-liter HEMI® engine with the fuel-saving Multiple Displacement System (MDS), high-performance styling cues of the popular SRT line-up and exclusive features, including the first-time use of SmartBeam ^TM headlamp technology in a Chrysler vehicle.

Features:

• New "Heritage Edition" model pays homage to the 1957 Chrysler 300 which was described as the "Beautiful Brute"
• 2006 Chrysler 300C Heritage Edition offers luxurious performance, exclusive features and unique heritage badging
• New model is the first Chrysler brand vehicle with SmartBeam(TM) headlamp technology

Priced at approximately $36,000, the Heritage Edition offers a well equipped Chrysler 300C with performance oriented enthusiast equipment and new technology, at an affordable price. Production of the 2006 Chrysler 300C Heritage Edition will begin this spring at the Brampton (Ontario) Assembly Plant.

Tags: heritage edition, 300c, chrysler, 2006 300c

Stretch 300C Limousine

When I was in Vegas recently I spied a modified 300C stretch limo. It was actually pretty cool. Just as cool looking as a Hummer limo I think.


Apparently Chrysler is formally entering the limousine market according to the Detroit News:

DaimlerChrysler AG's Chrysler Group is in final talks with Lima, Ohio-based Accubuilt Inc. to produce mini-stretched 300 sedans similar to an elongated version Accubuilt created for display last month at the Specialty Equipment Market Association Show, a performance and custom vehicle event held annually in Las Vegas.

The stretch 300 will be aimed at the limousine industry and compete against Ford Motor Co.'s Lincoln Town Car and General Motors Corp.'s extended Cadillac DTS. Lincoln and Cadillac have long dominated the limo and livery market.

Accubuilt has some great photos of the 300C that will be six inches longer.

Tags: Chrysler, 300C, limo, limousine, 300c limo

Chrysler 300C Taking off Down Under

The Sydnet Morning Herald ran a story about how well the 300C is doing in Australia.

The big, burly American sedan, the Chrysler 300C, which is a cult car in its American home, is proving a winner for Chrysler in Australia.

It has boosted the company's sales to the highest level since it took over direct distribution of its vehicles in 1997 from Astre Automotive.

Hemi-handed approach paying off for Chrysler

This is all fine a good but, ah, 216 300C sales for a whole country is probably equivalent to what one popular dealership in one city in the US sells in a quarter.

I live in a small town and I see 2-3 Chrysler 300C cars each day.

Tags: Chrysler, 300C

Rear Ended 300C

OK, so there I was just moving along in early morning rush hour traffic. Well, as much as there can be rush hour traffic in suburbia. And I just start moving forward and I hear this SCREECH!!! and I'm thinking to myself, "Wonder where that's coming from?" and look in my rear view mirror.... BAM!

I get whacked from behind by a late model Isuzu Trooper. It pushes me ahead a few feet, but nothing big. No airbags are set off. I drove to the side of the road and pull into a parking lot with the Isuzu following me. I get out and the woman in the Isuzu gets out and says SHIT!

The front passenger quarter panel is pushed in on her Isuzu, the radiator is gushing steam on top and liquid from the bottom. My 300C has a dent in the trunk and the bumper and my back two sensors on the right are gone. I have to say, I was pretty amazed at how much damage there was to that Trooper. It was not driveable.

We exchanged insurance information and I called it in within 5 min of the accident and was at a repair shop for an estimate an hour later. Bummer for the woman in the Trooper is that she had a very basic form of insurance. No coverage for her damages.

Now the insurance people and the estimator they are sending out and I have been playing phone tag for a week. The repair shop estimated $3000 in damages. My trunk won't close now.

I hope I can get it into the shop for repairs before Christmas so it gets fixed while I'm in Mexico for a week. I'll post some photos to this post later.

Oh well. Maybe it's time to upgrade.

Tags: 300C, Chrysler, Chrysler 300C, 300C Accident, rear ended

Official Chrysler 300 Convertible - or Not

It looks like Chrysler is considering 300 convertible for production based on the Helios developed by ASC.



However:

"Chrysler faces a daunting challenge in building a four-door convertible - a rarity because of the engineering difficulties involved. In November, Chrysler group design chief Trevor Creed said the company would not build a 300 convertible."

Via AutoWeek

Tags: 300c convertible, 300 convertible, helios, helios 300c, ASC helios, convertible, Chrysler

Cool 300C Model Cars

You know you have a cool car when toy manufacturers are selling scale models as popular toys.

I know there have been scale model 300C toy cars and remote control cars out since last year. But the most impressive was to see the 300C displayed in a Target Christmas catalog last week.

The black one sells for $99 and the white one sells for $119.

Here's a 1:18 size r/c model for $39.95 and a pretty nice 1:24 black die cast 300c or blue for $14.99 from some other online stores.

There are not that many 300C model cars out there online, but certainly more than last year. I bought my full size 300c in the summer and noticed a few 300c model cars being promoted over the holidays 2004, but they were sold out pretty quickly.

300c, toy 300c, remote control 300c

300C Photos and Mods

Often times I look at Yahoo and Google image search for photos of the 300C that other owners have taken to post here. A neighbor of mine that's a true gearhead said the 300C is the most modified car ever. Those are great photos of the 300c to see.

I didn't think to look for these types of photos at Flickr, but wow, there's some great stuff. Check out these images of the 300c.

Tags: 300c, chrysler, 300c photos

300C in the News

Chrysler 300C 3.0 V6 CRD
CARkeys - This is the Chrysler 300C kitted out with the three-litre V6 turbocharged diesel engine, it'll be on the shelves in January, and having driven a pre-production...

The Weekly Driver: Chrysler 300
Taste California Travel - The Chrysler 300C will also get you where want in extreme comfort. The front and back seats are spacious, and the leather-trimmed ...

Chrysler 300C - 4Car Gallery from Channel 4
4Car's comprehensive image gallery of Chrysler's big V8-engined saloon, the 300C.

Edmunds
Edmunds new car prices for Chrysler 300, Chrysler 300C SRT-8, Chrysler Crossfire,
Chrysler Crossfire SRT-6, Chrysler PT Cruiser, Chrysler Pacifica

Tags: chrysler, Chrysler 300c, SRT-8, Chrysler Crossfire, Chrysler PT Cruiser, Chrysler Pacifica

West Coast Customs Dodge Charger

Here's a cool photo of a Dodge Charger from West Coast Customs of "Pimp my Ride" fame at the SEMA 2005 show in Las Vegas all souped up General Lee style.

And here's another

Tags: west coast customs, dodge charger, West Coast Customs Dodge Charger

Yahoo! Autos Custom Launches at SEMA

Yahoo! today announced the beta launch of Yahoo! Autos Custom, a new site that provides a suite of online tools and services that enable enthusiasts to find, use, share and expand their automotive knowledge. Premiering today at the 2005 Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) trade show, Yahoo! Autos Custom brings together a number of powerful features and resources never before available on one site, including personalized gallery pages, a new Installer Search tool, exclusive content and more. Via the AutoChannel

The new Yahoo site allows you to create a web page for your favorite ride. You'll need a free Yahoo ID to do that. If you have a Yahoo email account, you can use that to login. I created a page for what else, a 300C.

The Yahoo Autos Custom site offers photos, message boards, info on installers and a general search tool as well.

Dub Car Show San Francisco 2005

Here's a very nice 300C SRT8 shot from the front at the San Francisco Dub Car Show. Notes from CarDomain:

"The Cow Palace, in San Francisco, offered a jam packed day of music, rides,
bling, models and so much more. This was the 11th and final installment for the
2005 DUB Car Show events calendar. What better way to spend a Saturday
afternoon, than to check out the rides and kick it to the style of Twista, Mike
Jones, Trillville, and the Clipse and to DJ Lady Tribe burnin' up the
turntables? How better to complete an all-star event than with the host of all
hosts, Vida Guerra?"

Here's another: sweet!

Chrysler SRT8 Test Drive

Inside Line, a website from Edmunds has done a follow up test drive of the 2005 Chrysler SRT8.

"The biggest challenge when road testing the all-new Chrysler 300C SRT-8 is finding a suitable road. Normally testing cars in Southern California is a dream come true. Year-round warm weather, picturesque scenery and miles of twisting asphalt sound like the perfect equation for reviewing the latest four-wheeled conveyance. But the last two months have seen rainfall on a biblical scale, transforming much of the Golden State into a dismal shade of muddy brown."

I like the Bottom Line:
"It's got racecar poise wrapped in street-wise looks — the 21st Century Muscle Car has arrived."

Full review and SRT8 Video and here's another cool 300C SRT8 video

I have not been able to get myself to test drive the SRT8 yet. I know I'll want one and my 300C is still too new to even think of trading in or selling. What about both? BZZZZ! Wrong answer says the check book.

Tags: SRT8, Chrysler, Chrysler SRT8, 300c, Edmunds

Chrysler Chronos

While searching the web for 300C mods, I came across this very cool Chrysler concept car from 1998 called the Chronos. That grille look familiar?

Allpar has a great description of Chronos and why it was never put into production. If the cabin wasn't so small, I would seriously consider a car like this.

Links to other images of the Chrysler Chronos:
Interior exterior
Popular Mechanics
1998 NY Auto Show

300C Convertible

Somehow I missed this 300C convertible from West Coast Customs.

$150,000 300C

Here's something for the guy/gal that has everything - almost. How about a $150,000 custom 300C from West Coast Customs?

"At the recent Intel Developers Forum, West Coast Customs showed how it used Intel Centrino technology and the Windows Media platform to create the first Chrysler 300C Roadster. Aside from chopping the top, slamming the suspension, and spraying new paint, West Coast gave this car lots of digital audio and video, all controlled from a Wi-Fi PDA."

Sweet! via CNET Australia

Snoop Dogg and Iacocca Pitch Chrysler

Via Edmunds.com Inside Line:

In the latest installment of Chrysler's $75-million advertising campaign to promote its employee-pricing program, former Chrysler Chairman Lee Iacocca and hip-hop icon Snoop Dogg link up in a new TV spot that debuts on Saturday.

The two get together on a golf course to pitch the automaker's Employee Pricing Plus program, which gives customers the same prices available to Chrysler Group employees along with up to $3,500 cash back on nearly all remaining 2005 vehicles."

The Iacocca ads have not had a lot of positive response from what I've seen, at least within the advertising community.

Tags: Snoop Dogg, Lee Iacocca, Chrysler

2006 Chrysler 300C SRT8 Road & Track Test

Macleans did a test drive and review of the 2006 SRT8 recently.

Here's a cool comment from that article: "The 300C SRT8 is the halo car of halo cars, the top dog among Dobermans."

Here's some SRT8 Photos from the road and track test.

Tags: 300C, Chrysler, SRT8

300C SRT8 Video

Here are a few interesting Chrysler 300C SRT8 links. 6.1-liter V-8 with 425 horsepower. Damn that thing is fast!

Test drive video of the 300c SRT8 from Edmunds.

Chrysler official 300C SRT8 Gallery

Tags: SRT8, 300C, Chrysler

2006 300C Test Drive

Here's an article on a test drive with a loaded 2006 300C. Apparently they had the opportunity to unintentionally test out the 300C's braking and acceleration to avoid an accident. The tested model has two things mine doesn't - rear seat video system and Sirius Satellite Radio.

The article's final analysis? "After driving 300C for a week, we want to stipulate up front that the $38,840 final price is a bargain."

Tags: 300c, Chrysler, test drive

Muscle cars making a comeback

Excellent article, "Muscle cars make a comeback" by Neal E. Boudette / The Wall Street Journal

The American auto industry is trying to muscle its way out of the doldrums.

Three decades after the heyday of muscle cars _ raw, powerful vehicles such as the Ford Mustang and Pontiac GTO that helped define freedom-of-the-road independence for a generation _ some newly redesigned versions are emerging as strong sellers. Ford Motor Co. is selling about 18,000 Mustangs a month, as many as its factory can produce, and says demand is greater than expected.

In coming weeks it will face a new challenger, the Dodge Charger, from DaimlerChrysler AG's Chrysler Group, which is hitting showrooms this month and is a remake of a vehicle that last rolled off assembly lines more than 25 years ago. The Mustang and GTO have both been on the market since last year.

The stakes are high for Detroit's Big Three auto makers, which are having trouble finding new designs that connect with buyers. At Ford, the Mustang is one of its few big hits among several new passenger cars that were supposed the help the company regain market share.

Despite a few successes like the Mustang and the top-selling new Chrysler 300 sedan, Detroit's auto makers have mostly had trouble getting buyers interested in their new designs. Ford already has started reworking the look of its Ford Five Hundred, a rival to the Chrysler 300, less than a year after its launch in hopes of boosting sales. GM's Buick division has piled up a big inventory of LaCrosse sedans, an all-new model that was supposed to turn around the brand's dowdy image.

Full Article >

300C Production Begins in Europe

Now Europeans can get a taste of the sweetness of a 300C

"Production of the Chrysler 300C has begun at the Magna Steyr factory at Graz in Austria. This plant also builds the Jeep Grand Cherokee, Chrysler Voyager and Chrysler Grand Voyager, and will be churning out both the Sedan (saloon) and Touring (estate) versions of the 300C. The first cars came off the line yesterday."

Via itv Motoring

2006 Dodge Charger SRT8

Automobile Magazine has a nice review of the 2006 Dodge Charger SRT8.

"Yes, it has four doors, and no, it's still no beauty. But if the SRT8 version of the Charger goes the way its Chrysler 300C SRT8 twin goes-and there's no reason it shouldn't-it will have gone quite a distance in restoring some performance credibility to a great name that once ruled America's streets."

Dodge Charger SRT8 Specs

Price: $39,000 (est.)
Engine: 6.1L OHV V-8, 425 hp, 420 lb-ft
Drive: Rear-wheel
0-60 mph: 5.0 sec
Top speed: 165 mph

300C Accessories Wish List

The 300C accessories I am most interested in:

Trunk Mat
Splash Guards
Mesh Grille
or this Mesh Grille with Center Bar
Wood trim kit

Any other suggestions? I'm seeing 300C's every day now in my neighborhood so I'd like to customize soon.

So, if there are any retailers or manufacturers interested in trading Chrysler 300C accessories for advertising on this site, let me know. This site ranks #1 on Google and Yahoo for "300C" plus lots of other related phrases. We get 250+ unique visitors per day and counting.

Contact me at: 300cfan at gmail dot com

West Coast Customs 300C

This is one over-the-board sweet ride! This 300C was modified by the amazingly talented folks at West Coast Customs. You can see a whole gallery of photos of this modified 300C on their site. You may know them from MTV's "Pimp My Ride" show. Since I linked to their site, do you think they'll send me a t-shirt? (hint)

Chrysler 300C AWD Test Drive

Unfortunatley, it wasn't me that was able to test drive the AWD version of the 300C. But there's a good review in MACLEANS - As Much Mozart as it is Mos Def.

"Here's the lowdown: both V6- and V8-powered 300s use an adapted version of Mercedes-Benz's 4Matic system, as seen on the C, E and S-Class sedans. However appealing all-wheel drive sounds, the system isn't as modern or advanced as those used on Audi vehicles equipped with quattro, or even Subaru's famed symmetrical all-wheel drive. Instead, a more primitive, permanently-fixed ratio is used to deliver 38 percent power to the front and 62 percent power to the rear. Simple it may be, but it gets the job done without fuss or muss."

"Where it's possible to shear the tread off a new set of tires in the RWD 300C with a few burnouts, there's no such drama to be had with the AWD. The system hooks up instantly, translating every jab of the accelerator pedal into a brief time-pausing warp and making every stoplight dash a perfect launch."

I actually thought about waiting until the AWD version of the 300C came out to buy one, but I'm glad I didn't. However, we'll see if this Winter in Minnesota is any better than last year. I did need to put some weight into the trunk in order to get traction with the RWD on my 300C.

Here's another review of the Chrysler 300C AWD from Detroit News

300C Helios Concept Car

I came accross these Chrysler 300C Helios concept car photos from American Specialty Cars on the Automobile.com site. The upgrades on this thing plus the droptop convertible are sweet!

View other photos of 300C convertibles here.

Wikipedia even has a page for the 300/300C now.

0-60 in 4.7 - Chrysler 300C SRT8

Car and Driver posted a nice article today on the Chrysler SRT8.

"Chrysler's 300C SRT8 is the car we thought the American auto industry would not build again. After the muscle-car era, U.S. automakers relinquished the high-performance family-sedan formula to the Germans (who added refinement but charged elitist prices) and Japanese (who charged a little less than the Germans but somehow sterilized the whole thing)."

Full article

Check out this link to the Chrysler 300C SRT8 Photo Gallery

Motor Trend One Year Update on 300C

Motor Trend recently ran a one year update road test on the Chrysler 300C:

"Chrysler's hot-selling 300 is a car that redefines what the American sedan can and should be, and its popularity is cutting a wide path in the marketplace. These were among the reasons we voted it our 2005 Car of the Year, which gets it an automatic invite into our one-year-test fleet--although we'd have probably wanted one anyway."

Link to full article

Cruisin at 7K

I've had my 300C almost a year now and just broke 7 thousand miles. I don't need to drive that often, but I find excuses. I go to one of those carwash places that does the inside and out. Every time I go, I get comments on the car.

When I was on my way in to a movie store this weekend, a woman walking out said, "Is that thing as fun to ride as it looks?". Of course I said yes! Absolutely. Then I noticed she wasn't looking at the car - just kidding.

What's wild is almost a year later people still look as I drive by and I am still enamoured with this vehicle. I keep it ultra clean but I do still have a scratch on the hood from an unfortunate weight bench incident.

A few weeks ago I had it up to 125 - that was wild. 80-125 in nothing flat and handled perfectly.

Now I just need to decide which 300C accessories to add. First on the list is the stainless mesh grille. I wonder if the nickel plated version is worth it? Then I'm going for the wood trim kit inside. Any pieces advice on either of those is appreciated.

Categories: 300C, 300C Accessories, Chrysler

Chrysler 300C SRT-8 Review

From Detroit News:

"I couldn't quite make out his eyes behind the wraparound shades.

But as I passed the young highway construction worker in goatee, blue jeans, yellow hard hat and orange vest, I could see his head swivel ever so slightly to follow the progress of my brilliant black 2005 Chrysler 300C SRT-8.

Ah, so this is what the marketing folks mean by an "aspirational" vehicle.

And what red-blooded American male wouldn't want to take a turn behind the wheel of the SRT-8, an uber-macho Detroit sedan on steroids, powered by a super-size edition of Chrysler's iconic Hemi V-8?" Full Article >

I've tried suggesting to my wife that I should probably bring my 300C in to get the oil changed and while I'm there, test drive a SRT-8... bzzzzzzzzzzz - wrong answer. I should know better than to bring these things up and just do them. Forgiveness is easier than permission, right?

Categories: 300C, SRT8, Chrysler, Cars

300C Convertible

On occasion I get to surf the net for new 300C accessory web sites and photos. Here are a few 300C convertible photos.


This one was modified by newportconvertible.com


I found this one in a photos folder on my computer and do not recall where it is from. If you know, please leave a comment.

Also, I came across this site with lots of modified 300C photos from the forums.

Categories: 300C, 300C Convertible, Chrysler 300C

300C Fans

The other day I was picking a few things up at Home Depot and as I was getting into the front seat of my 300C, this guy rushes up and says, "hey wait". Now if I was downtown, my impression of this would be, "something's fishy". But I was in pure Minnesota suburbia and it's happened before. What did the guy want? Of course, he wanted to know about my 300C. Did I like it? How long did I have it? He was thinking of getting one, etc. I've had the car almost a year and this still happens on occasion.

I was putting our daughter in the SUV this am so my wife could take her to Montessori and she was not interested. She kept pointing to the 300C, "daddy's car. ride daddy's car". Even m ykids love it. (when I allow them in it) We went for a 2 hour ride today and she did NOT want to get out.

ICA Names Chrysler 300C Most Washable Car of 2005

I saw this the other day and just had to post it:

Chrysler 300C Most Washable Car of 2005 according to the International Carwash Association. "Keeping your car clean certainly helps its appearance, but it also contributes to its long-term condition and value,"

Of course I'm biased, but a 300C looks good clean or not. But definitley better clean.

Chrysler 300 - 300C Cars Abundant in Arizona

I've owned my Chrysler 300C for about 9 months now (still love this car) and I rarely see another on the roads here in Minnesota. I do see maybe one 300 or 300C every few days but that's about it.

Recently I went on vacation in Arizona and there were more 300's driving around the Grand Canyon and Sedona in one day than I've seen in Minnesota in 6 months! They were everhwhere! No complaints though, because it's a great car.

In fact, when I returned from vacation it was a great thing not only to be home, but to be back in the seat of my 300C.

Incidentally, it's a cool deal to see that this site ranks so high on Google for 300C and 300C accessories. Speaking of accessories, here's a stainless steel mesh grille for the 300C I am thinking of buying.

2005 Chrysler 300C SRT-8

2005 Chrysler 300C SRT-8 - First Look - Motor Trend Magazine

SRT-8 Features:

• 425-horsepower 6.1-liter HEMI® V8 engine
• Unique calibration for five-speed automatic transmission with AutoStick®
• Performance suspension, brakes, and Chrysler's Electronic Stability Program (ESP) for superior handling
• 20-inch wheels with 245/45ZR20 front and 255/45ZR20 rear tires
• Superior SRT styling, including a lower and even bolder stance, rear spoiler, sport front seats, leather-trimmed accents, power everything, and much more

SRT-8 Technical Specs

Other SRT-8 photos:

• Road & Track
• Auto Week from North American Auto Show
• Automobile Magazine
• Chrysler.com SRT-8 Photos

Car and Driver Magazine : 10Best Cars

Car and Driver Magazine
Best Full-Size Sedan : Chrysler 300C

All that glitters is at the auto show 01/10/05

"Chrysler has single-handedly reinvented the large, V-8-powered American sedan," said Matt DeLorenzo, an editor at Road & Track magazine and one of the voters for the annual award. "With its bold looks, growling Hemi power and enough attitude to cut a rap record on its own, the Chrysler 300C is a bad boy for hipsters. Yet, with its affordable sticker price and V-6 optional engines, it appeals to traditional full-size American car buyers."
From Macomb Daily : All that glitters is at the auto show 01/10/05