Why is the 300 so heavy?

I have a Garmin GPSV ($400 not $100, the $100 GPSs are can't do routing).
It's a lot better than no GPS but it's not the same as a built in GPS. It
has a tiny amount memory (19M) which limits it to holding one countie's
worth of maps. It also takes 5 minute to calculate a route. I've been
using it, or it's predecessor the GPSIII+, for several years. I couldn't
imagine not having a GPS but now I want a proper one that has a decent
amount of memory (the builtin GPSs use a DVD) and a fast processor. If
you've never used a GPS you can't imagine how useful they are, you can get
anywhere. I live in MA where there are no street signs (State slogan, if
you don't know where you are you don't belong here). Having a GPS fixes
the lack of signs problem.

Being able to accelerate for 0-60 is absolutely worthless, all that can do
for you is to get yuu arrested. Being able to get someplace by the
quickest route, or being able to find someplace that you've never been
before without having to constantly pull over and look at maps is worth a
lot.

 

I need a portable GPS, not one embedded in the car.

I can get lost while walking.

 

My wife and I see fine when driving our Pacifica. It is only when backing up
that we sometimes have a challenge. As backing up accounts for very little of
our driving experience, therefore it is not an issue!

 

Maybe if you have always lived in a cave.....................!

 

Cast iron, thank God.

That's part of the problem. When it comes to interior parts,
high-quality plastic parts (almost an oxymoron) often weigh MORE than
metal parts. 17-way seats, electric butt warmers, air-bags everywhere,
and alll the unnecessary froo-frah that some people demand in modern
"luxury" cars all add up.

It shouldn't have been very hard to at least keep

Weight doesn't make that much difference in highway gas mileage- that's
mostly aerodynamics. City drivng, yes weight makes a difference.

 

Many rear wheel drive cars are much more durable than FWD cars,
especially if you tow with them. If the 300 lasts even 10% more miles
than the Concorde, then the energy lost in gas mileage will be more than
recovered in the energy saved by having to produce fewer cars per mile
of driving.


Matt

 

I've never heard of getting arrested for rapid acceleration, as long as
you aren't doing it in heavy traffic or another unsafe situation. And
being able to get somewhere via the quickest route is only worth a lot
if your objective is to get somewhere quickly. If your objective is to
enjoy the trip, then it is absolutely worthless.


Matt

 

I love my Concorde, but it's hard to imagine a vehicle that is worse for
rearward visibility (a common complaint of 2nd gen LH owners). Seems to
be a Chrysler trait.

Bill Putney
(to reply by e-mail, replace the last letter of the alphabet in my
address with "x")

 

Yes the 300 is selling well now but so did the PTCruiser for many months.
Now it takes big incentives to move them. It's great to have a hot selling
nitch car but too bad they don't have a decent plain old sedan to replace
their cloud cars which offers as much as a Camry or Accord to plain old folk
out there. By the way, I owned a 94 LHS and enjoyed it but it would have
been nice to be able to see out that back window.

 

|
| ...he'll still be an unhappy tree-hugging anxiety-ridden guilt-feeling
| net-nanny! And *I'll* still be lusting for a 340HP/390lb-ft *station wagon*
| (ferchrissakes!) and driving my GC and/or Intrepid with the A/C set to 'MAX'
| streaking toward the north country at 80MPH!!!!
| [SNIP]

Only 80MPH?

 

I can see out of my Magnum very well! Have you driven one?

--
_______________________________________
"The difference between 'involvement' and 'commitment' is
like an eggs-and-ham breakfast:
The chicken was 'involved' - the pig was 'committed'."

http://community.webshots.com/user/godwino

 

You just rang my number once you started talking about performance! I'll
opt for a lighter faster version!

--
_______________________________________
"The difference between 'involvement' and 'commitment' is
like an eggs-and-ham breakfast:
The chicken was 'involved' - the pig was 'committed'."

http://community.webshots.com/user/godwino

 

Yes I have. Try seeing out one of the other few wagons on the market. I
did that too. They have much better visibility. Despite the poor view, I
am seriously considering the Magnum. But I also bought a 94 LHS. Many
people rejected it on account of the poor visibility. I'm sure the Magnum
would do better with more glass.

 

But won't look as tough!

--
_______________________________________
"The difference between 'involvement' and 'commitment' is
like an eggs-and-ham breakfast:
The chicken was 'involved' - the pig was 'committed'."

http://community.webshots.com/user/godwino

 

Nothing. It's lighter than an E320, lighter than a 530i, lighter than
pretty much anything else *near* its size.

a. Packaging; FWD drivetrains are lighter.
b. Vibration, noise, harshness: The LH is infamous for poor performance
in those categories compared to the competition.
c. Additional customer expectation of equipment. You want GPS, somebody
else wants a subwoofer, someone else wants n-way power seats.

The LH was a delightful car in both its iterations but the marketplace
has pretty clearly said "No" to a large FWD American car. The people who
want transportation appliances are buying Toyotas. Everyone else wants
some style, some power, and some comfort.

Unless every 300 sold bursts into flames spontaneous, X5-style, I'll
stand by my statement that it's the best thing to happen to Chrysler
since the original minivan.

 

I've been really happy with my Concorde. I've never noticed any vibration
or handling problems in the 10 years that I've owned it. In fact the
handling has always been excellent. It's been reasonably reliable but it's
certainly hasn't been as trouble free as a Japanese car.

BTW supposedly 300s are selling like hotcakes but I don't know where. I've
seen exactly one on the road. I've been car shopping off and on for a
couple of months and I've never seen another customer in the Chrysler
dealer. The Toyota dealership was packed with people and the Acura
dealership was also busy. I'm debating a 300 vs an Acura TL. My
preference has always been towards full size American cars. My last two
cars have been Chryslers and I've been happy with them, especially with
the Concorde which I love. But I find the gas mileage of the 300 troubling
not because I'm a tree hugger but because it's lower then my threshold of
respectibility which is around 20-22 MPG. I also don't like the lack of
visibility. I really felt blind driving the 300 and the idea of trying
to parallel park it seemed really scary (although I gather it has some
rear sensors to help but it could really us a camera like the Lexus). On
the other hand the Acura TL is smaller than I like but otherwise it has
everything I want, GPS, Bluetooth, Satellite radio, and priced in the
mid-30s. I also looked at a Toyota Avalon but it had the single most
dangerous thing I've ever seen in a car. The Avalon has a hand held remote
control for it's GPS, I'm not making that up. It's a complicated hand held
remote with a joy stick in the middle. They put the GPS out of reach in
the center dash so you can't use the touch screen unless you're a center
in the NBA. The Acura on the other hand has voice recognition plus an
easily reachable touchscreen.

 

| On Wed, 30 Jun 2004 15:02:12 +0000, Jack Baruth wrote:
|
| [SNIP]
|
|
| My preference has always been towards full size American
| cars.

None of the cars on your list, including Chrysler, are "American" cars.
Daimler Chrysler Corporation is German owned. GM and Ford are all that's left
in that category. Perhaps it's time to look at the Crown Vic or the LeSabre?

 

I have some Avalon advice for you. It sucks. I have a 2001 Avalon and a 99
300M. The Avalon may have an advantage in reliablity but it is a rattle and
click box. The chasis is as loose as a GM unibody car from the late 70's.
Also on the Avalon and Acura make sure the auto locking can be turned off.
The Avalon relocks itself 30 seconds after you unlock it or leave it. Next
time I find my Avalon locked in my garage I swear I will open it thru the
windshield. The feature cannot be disabled on mine but it may be on later
models. My neighbors Acura does the same thing and same with my sister's
Mazda. The Japanese are trying to drive us crazy.

 

Crown Vic's are Mexican, arent't they. At least my Grand Marquis is,
and it's the same thing as a Crown Vic.

 

Unfortunately Buick hasn't come out with a new sedan in years, and they
don't have GPS. I might take another look at the Lincoln LS but the last
time I test drove one the transmission was really rough.