drove the 300c

[nextcar]

i had never considered the Chrysler 300 before (but then again, i never considered the genesis before either) but i though i should be open minded and check it out.
after all, the car magazines always compare the genesis with the 300, and some of these reviewer said the 300 c had a better sounding engine and better ride.

since i'm in the market for the 4.6 genesis, today i test drove the 300 c with the 5.5 L Hemi V8.

exterior: i just prefer the genesis.
interior: genesis seems to have higher quality material and not as gaudy as the 300 c.
engine: acceleration felt about the same. the hemi v8 did not sound as refined as the 4.6 V8. the Hemi also was louder, which i guess some people would like.
ride: the 300 c had a slightly softer, more comfortable ride. But, the 300 c also felt heavier, bigger, and not as agile as the genesis.

overall, i definitely prefer the genesis over the 300c even though genesis is a couple thousand dollars more expensive. hew, i'm glad i could easily rule that out. alright, no more distractions. i just need to patiently wait for the 2012 V8.

 

[newman]

Thanks for the review. To me, it does not matter which car is 'better' according to car magazines or anyone else for that matter. I think that there are just two separate audiences for these cars despite the price similarities. I believe that the styling of these two cars is the main dividing line between their audiences.

Detractors of the Genesis refer to the 'used bar of soap' styling while those who don't care for the 300 point to its nightclub-bouncer brick like styling.
For me, I much prefer the Genesis styling. I very much admire and applaud that the 300 has a very defined design language. It is just not MY design language.

As for the engine sound - I would prefer a bit more of a throatier growl in the Genesis. According to reviews even the R-spec trim is very refined. But I figure that if I really want this sound that some relatively easy exhaust work would take care of this.

Thanks again for the review and taking the time to share!

Cheers,
Newman

 

[tonygxp]

Thanks for the review. To me, it does not matter which car is 'better' according to car magazines or anyone else for that matter. I think that there are just two separate audiences for these cars despite the price similarities. I believe that the styling of these two cars is the main dividing line between their audiences.

Detractors of the Genesis refer to the 'used bar of soap' styling while those who don't care for the 300 point to its nightclub-bouncer brick like styling.
For me, I much prefer the Genesis styling. I very much admire and applaud that the 300 has a very defined design language. It is just not MY design language.

As for the engine sound - I would prefer a bit more of a throatier growl in the Genesis. According to reviews even the R-spec trim is very refined. But I figure that if I really want this sound that some relatively easy exhaust work would take care of this.

Thanks again for the review and taking the time to share!

Cheers,
Newman

having owned numerous LS engine equipped GM vehicles over the years it is nice to hear the whine this car makes in the upper rpm range. just a nice change of pace. i don't know if i were to go as far as to say i don't before the growl of the LS over it, just a change....for now.

 

[Slider]

Warning: RANT AHEAD


Chrysler can eat a bag of sh*t as far as I am concerned for all eternity.

I had a 2000 Dodge Intrepid 2.7L, it of the now infamous oil sludge problem. I'll be damned if I EVER buy another Dodge, Chrysler, Jeep product ever again as long as I live. I'd rather walk. I'd rather crawl a thousand miles over burning coals than ever pilot any piece of crap from that company.

THe oil sludge issue, for those who might not have heard if it, became a major deal. For all Intrepids, Sebrings and the like of the 99-01 vintage, the 2.7L engine, aluminum block Mitsubishi build, was, in essence, a big oil cooking machine. Very thermodynamically high-strung based on the HP/L ratio, there were KNOWN design defects and tradeoffs in having a smaller oil pan, narrower oil pickup tube for those engines. The NHTSA had this as one of the their top targets in fact, as the engines had seized in as little as 36k miles and had caused accidents (power steering goes kaput, you're rudderless and if you're at highway speed, that's scary as hell).

I made a complaint, called MI to talk to someone and had a maintenance district manager in Bloomfield Hills tell me that it was my fault--I hadn't changed the oil as I should have.

Finally, the company settled out of court because an engineer spilled the beans at the Cleveland Auto Show in about 2005 or so, which created instant culpability for them.

The utter duplicity, contempt and way I was treated, from the local dealership up to the head shed in MI, all made me swear off that brand for life. No kidding. They're dead to me. Whenever I pick up any car magazine, see a review, anyhing, I just gloss over it entirely. Cripes, I get pissed just thinking about it.

Sorry for the rant, but there is NO comparison in ANY universe with the 300 and our Geneses.

 

[Sayantsi]

I remember trying a 300c back with the first generation, as well as an SRT8.

Biggest problem with the car I noticed straight away was that it was based on a $22k car, so even the upmodel versions had the cheap plastics and tinny sound to them. Even the SRT8, with its seriously upgraded interior, still had this.

The 300C drove well enough, but it was based on a Mercedes so you'd expect that. The SRT8 though... I remember gunning the engine from a 10 mph roll and the feeling that the transmission was going to fall out of the car as it shifted to 2nd.

The design is usually eye catching, but I've always gotten a cheap feeling from Chryslers, not something I'd trust with my money. Plus, Chrysler is year after year the worst brand for reliability in studies and there's plenty of personal stories I hear to back that up.

Car magazines don't live with the cars they test, other than short term tests for a year or so, so I've never put much stock in their reliability reviews..

 

[oldsnwbrdr]

I can chime in on this one too.

I am a big fan of the Genesis, have been for a few years. I've never driven the 8 cylinder version, but I have driven the 6 many times, and rented the car 2x from Enterprise. When I leased my current car (MB C300 AWD) I didn't choose the Genesis because of its much larger size and the fact that I prefer FWD/AWD for winters.

My wife just replaced her 2003 Taurus. We were set to go with the 2011 (a very nice car) when I encouraged her to look at the 300 based upon the reviews (she likes brash American sedans, which threw the Genesis out of contention, plus we still wanted FWD/AWD). The 300 drove so well that we bought it, and are going to put up with the hassle and expense of snow tires. I won't lie and say I'm not concerned about Chrysler's spotty quality history, and can only hope they've fixed these issues. As a fan of both the Genesis and 300 here are the differences as I perceived them:

STYLING: Won't even go there as it's strictly a personal choice. I will say that I used to hate black interiors, but have definitely warmed to them with the 300.

QUALITY: Also a matter of perception. I'm very impressed with everything about the Chrysler, especially the interior, which is exceptional. Only the trunklid which closes reluctantly could use improvement. There are a couple of bits on the Hyundai interior which aren't quite up to par, most notably the buttons under the touchscreen (and the screen itself, on the base model).

PRICING: We got a loaded 300 for about $40K retail. Only things it doesn't have are the bigger wheels and the better stereo. That's a few thousand less than a Genesis tech.

HANDLING: Gotta give the edge to the Genny on this one. It feels like a lighter, more tossable car. The 300 feels very heavy... as if a tight turn will cause the tires to squeal. I'm not necessarily calling this a negative... it's just different. It's wonderful on the freeway and feels like it can go on forever in the direction its pointed.

ACCELERATION: Not sure, these are pretty close but I'd suspect the Genny is a little quicker, especially the new engine. The Chrysler only has a 5 speed but based upon the way we drive we don't care, at least the 5-speed is a proven unit vs. the upcoming 8-speed.

QUIETNESS: I think the Chrysler is a little quieter. Even with the 5-speed the car is barely idleing at 65mph.

MPG: Don't know, never tested the Genny. We get about 23mpg overall on a combined city/freeway commute. I've seen 30mpg on the freeway, easy, impressive for such a large heavy car.

RIDE: Chrysler ride is exceptional on the pockmarked Madison roads. That said, I'm very impressed with the Genesis ride too, I have never experienced the impact harshness that I read so much about in the magazines and on this forum.

FEATURES: Probably a tossup. I have a couple of frustrations with the 300's infotainment system... it won't recognize playlists on my iPod, and the bluetooth music connection to my iPhone is spotty. It works great, until I turn the car off and back on (e.g., stop for gas), then it can't find my phone to pair with it.

OVERALL FEEL: The Chrysler 300 Limited is not a sports sedan, it's a more sedate boulevard cruiser. It has definitely tempered my wife's tendency to drive like a madwoman (a good thing, IMO!!!). The Genesis obviously has more of an Asian feel to it... very competent, lighter on its feet than its weight would suggest.

 

[Aquineas]

Thanks for the review. To me, it does not matter which car is 'better' according to car magazines or anyone else for that matter. I think that there are just two separate audiences for these cars despite the price similarities. I believe that the styling of these two cars is the main dividing line between their audiences.

Detractors of the Genesis refer to the 'used bar of soap' styling while those who don't care for the 300 point to its nightclub-bouncer brick like styling.
For me, I much prefer the Genesis styling. I very much admire and applaud that the 300 has a very defined design language. It is just not MY design language.

As for the engine sound - I would prefer a bit more of a throatier growl in the Genesis. According to reviews even the R-spec trim is very refined. But I figure that if I really want this sound that some relatively easy exhaust work would take care of this.

Thanks again for the review and taking the time to share!

Cheers,
Newman

Very well said. I agree with you on the design, disagree about the louder engine and the noise. I love the sound of the Genny engine. But as you say, different cars will speak to different folks. Chrysler has *much* better commercials though!
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M6FDJcS5J_w"]Chrysler Commercial 1[/ame]
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eImJkzPza40"]Chrysler Commercial 2[/ame]
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iHozLw6f5rI"]Chrysler Commercial 3[/ame]!

 

[BBQ Bandit]

Do know what you mean about commercials... however Hyundai is lacking in national campaigns on the Genesis.

The new Elantra and Sonata commercials... yes.
Where are the Genesis ads?

The only two commercials found were during the 2008 Superbowl
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9N14XHTSojQ"]‪Hyundai Genesis Superbowl commercial 1‬‏ - YouTube[/ame]
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nNmbfHa9LhU&feature=relmfu"]‪Hyundai Genesis Superbowl commercial 2‬‏ - YouTube[/ame]

 

[Seattle Genesis]

My thought on advertising is. If you ain't selling you need to advertise. Since Hyundai is not advertising then sales must be pretty solid.

 

[Ruissimo]

Warning: RANT AHEAD

...in essence, a big oil cooking machine. Very thermodynamically high-strung based on the HP/L ratio, there were KNOWN design defects and tradeoffs in having a smaller oil pan, narrower oil pickup tube for those engines.

I think Chrysler built my VW's engine too then!

And I hear ya... a bad car can turn you off to an entire brand (or several) real quick. That's the main reason I won't consider another German car AGAIN, and why it's taken me 15 years to even CONSIDER buying another Ford (yep, had one in the 90's with a laundry list for every service visit).

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[Canuck Genesis V8]

Thanks guys for the opinions. Was thinking the same thing to shop the 300C SRT-8 before buying a 5.0 R-Spec Genny. No SRT-8's 2012 yet here and the styling of the 300 hasn't grown on me at all yet based on the pictures I've seen. I was interested in the comments on the 300 interior because that is the Genesis' strong selling point (and price, and hp, etc)...

 

[robthoke]

No one seems to notice this, but the Hemi has two spark plugs per cylinder and those spark plugs need to be changed every 30,000 miles. The Genesis, on the other hand, has 1 spark plug per cylinder and only needs to be changed every 100,000. Maintaining Chrysler products are going to be more expensive than any Hyundai.

 

[tonygxp]

alot of the "300 vs Genesis" is personal preference. they are very much alike, where they differ is the handling/ride dynamic, the 300 is geared toward those people that prefer a cushioned "relaxed" driving experience with the might to just be able to move quickly, if need be, but with plenty of body lean. An area where the current 300 falls short is the 5 speed trans. that trans is really a 4 speed with an extra passing gear. if you flat foot any Chrysler 5 speed auto car/truck from a stop, in drive, the same thing happens. It will shift 1-2-4 and you'll never see 3rd gear. The SRT version does.

if you're driving around and whack the pedal in the other aforementioned chryslers, THEN you will experience 3rd gear (whenever you get in the right rpm range).

Don't believe me? just go drive one.

When the 8 speed gets in the 300 (all of the previously equppied chryslers) will become light years better. That trans is a deal breaker in my eyes. another point...the lowest entry level 300 looks very very similar to the top of the line and how many are fleet/rentals.

I figured this 6 speed "flaw" out by accident over the last couple of years after driving probably 10-15 Rams 4.7/5.7 and jeeps (even a new 2011 hemi and 3.6) they all did the 1-2-4 from a stop of low speed. only time i ever saw "3rd gear" was around 65mph from a cruise to WOT. Chrysler needs to get those 8 speeds in quickly...

 

[socarwolverine]

Warning: RANT AHEAD


Chrysler can eat a bag of sh*t as far as I am concerned for all eternity.

I had a 2000 Dodge Intrepid 2.7L, it of the now infamous oil sludge problem. I'll be damned if I EVER buy another Dodge, Chrysler, Jeep product ever again as long as I live. I'd rather walk. I'd rather crawl a thousand miles over burning coals than ever pilot any piece of crap from that company.

THe oil sludge issue, for those who might not have heard if it, became a major deal. For all Intrepids, Sebrings and the like of the 99-01 vintage, the 2.7L engine, aluminum block Mitsubishi build, was, in essence, a big oil cooking machine. Very thermodynamically high-strung based on the HP/L ratio, there were KNOWN design defects and tradeoffs in having a smaller oil pan, narrower oil pickup tube for those engines. The NHTSA had this as one of the their top targets in fact, as the engines had seized in as little as 36k miles and had caused accidents (power steering goes kaput, you're rudderless and if you're at highway speed, that's scary as hell).

I made a complaint, called MI to talk to someone and had a maintenance district manager in Bloomfield Hills tell me that it was my fault--I hadn't changed the oil as I should have.

Finally, the company settled out of court because an engineer spilled the beans at the Cleveland Auto Show in about 2005 or so, which created instant culpability for them.

The utter duplicity, contempt and way I was treated, from the local dealership up to the head shed in MI, all made me swear off that brand for life. No kidding. They're dead to me. Whenever I pick up any car magazine, see a review, anyhing, I just gloss over it entirely. Cripes, I get pissed just thinking about it.

Sorry for the rant, but there is NO comparison in ANY universe with the 300 and our Geneses.

I love my '03 Grand Cherokee.

 

[jdposhkus]

The only Chrisler I ever owned was a 1997 Jeep Grand Chrokee Ltd. Huge steaming piece of shiite.
We have had many caravans in our corporate fleet over the years, all were decent during the duration of the 3 lease (brakes and tires only) But they were constantly in motion...
I would never own a chrysler...but I am sure I said at one time or another that I'd never own a Hyundai too

Best.

JDP

 

[Aquineas]

<snip>
When the 8 speed gets in the 300 (all of the previously equppied chryslers) will become light years better. That trans is a deal breaker in my eyes. another point...the lowest entry level 300 looks very very similar to the top of the line and how many are fleet/rentals.

I figured this 6 speed "flaw" out by accident over the last couple of years after driving probably 10-15 Rams 4.7/5.7 and jeeps (even a new 2011 hemi and 3.6) they all did the 1-2-4 from a stop of low speed. only time i ever saw "3rd gear" was around 65mph from a cruise to WOT. Chrysler needs to get those 8 speeds in quickly...

Looks like you're going to get your wish:
Chrysler 300 Gets 8 Speed Transmission in Most Models