Chrysler 300C (2012 on) - anyone got one?

[AmitG]

My continuing quest for another interesting car has led me to this one.

This is the current gen model. The range has been cut and there is now only one model available (Executive).

A few things stand out:

• It has folding rear seats, which I need. This may sound odd but there are quite a few large saloons that do not have a folding rear seat.
• The drivetrain is relatively old tech (3.0 V6 diesel with 5-speed torque convertor auto) which I actually prefer over the current fad for small-capacity engines, stop/start etc.
• It seems to come with absolutely everything, including Nappa leather and real wood.
• The asking price appears to have been slashed. When it first came out it was 40K, and now the official dealer price, for a brand new one, is 30K. That appears to be a steal for a car like this.

OTOH I'm not completely sold on the looks (need to see it in real life), and I have heard horror stories about dealer service. My thinking is that a lot of the car is probably Merc and/or Grand Cherokee underpinnings so perhaps there is enough expertise out there.

Does anyone own one or have experience of one that they could share?

Thanks.

[LuS1fer]

It did get revised multi-link suspension but it's still an odd car - Lancia Thema everywhere else in Europe.
The old love it or hate it distinctive styling seems to have melted into a chintzy exterior.
About the only thing you can be sure of is violent depreciation and that is assuming you can find one of the few people out there who might want one. As said, the last one had its fans but I doubt even they would be tempted.

[spaceship]

Be prepared to get an absolute (but unnecessary) bking for daring to think that they are American!

I don't have one but I really do like them. Actually think I prefer the pre-facelift model for looks. Totally agree with you regarding the engine/gearbox comment. As far as I'm aware, it's a decent set-up.

[AmitG]

I'm hopefully going to visit a main dealer tomorrow so I'll report back...

[chryslerben]

Isn't the 2012's transmission an 8 speed zf unit?

[AmitG]

chryslerben said:

Isn't the 2012's transmission an 8 speed zf unit?

Not according to the brochure. I believe that the Jeep Grand Cherokee gets the ZF 8-speed unit but not the 300C. Perhaps the low anticipated sales volumes meant that it was not worth re-engineering the drivetrain.

It's all academic now, because the main dealer didn't have one, and had no idea whether they would have one in the future, even though they are listed as a Chrysler dealer on the website. They sounded generally clueless. So I made my excuses and left.

Shame, because I was really interested.

[chryslerben]

AmitG said:

Not according to the brochure. I believe that the Jeep Grand Cherokee gets the ZF 8-speed unit but not the 300C. Perhaps the low anticipated sales volumes meant that it was not worth re-engineering the drivetrain.

It's all academic now, because the main dealer didn't have one, and had no idea whether they would have one in the future, even though they are listed as a Chrysler dealer on the website. They sounded generally clueless. So I made my excuses and left.

Shame, because I was really interested.

That's it, yep your correct mate it was the grand Cherokee with the 8 speed. We where waiting for the 8 speed to be introduced to the 300c when I last worked for Chrysler. In my defence it's been a few years though lol.