2004 Chrysler 300 from North America - Comments

I have a 300 Limited Edition, with the 3.5L V-6. I took delivery of the car on June 1st, 2004 (my wife’s birthday…she was thrilled). It now has 55,000 kms.

My car pulled slightly to the right and the steering wheel was just slightly off centre. There was a service bulletin to fix this. Apparently, a very small batch of cars left the factory with an alignment issue. This was a simple fix, once the dealer had the bulletin. Less than two hours and I was on my way.

Overall, I just can’t get enough of this car! I love the looks, the “big car feel” and the high level of equipment. Other than the alignment, I have not had any issues and it handles better than my 2001 Concorde did in the snow, also better than other fwd vehicles that I have owned. My comfort level is with the rear wheel doing the driving – just feels natural.

For fun, I have added chrome door handles, a front end cover and added the plush carpets that have the Chrysler logo sewn into them. That spruces up the interior nicely and they are a bargain (under CAD $100).

I rented this car on a roadtrip and put about 2,500 KMS in about 1 week on it. It was the 3.5L V6 and the mileage per tank with a mix of city/hwy is really good, avged about 20 MPG with some aggresive driving (it was a rental). Talking about people looking at the car, I was embarrased when everybody said 'nice car' and I thought (it's a rental not mine!). But fun none the less. The only 2 negatives about the car are that it doesn't really pull when you let it go on the highway, but then again I guess unless you get into a much larger V6 or V8 no car would and the only thing is the brake pedal had an annoying creaking noise like a bad and rusty spring so I sprayed some WD 40 under the pedal and it went away for a while.

All in all what an awesome car. If anybody is thinking of one, go to Thrifty or any other company and rent one for a few days, you'll be sold.

This has got to be the coolest looking car out there! Someone asked about winter driving. Well it's great until you get snow or ice on the road! Got a set of winter tires for $800 and now this thing is rock solid! Has been pulling on the highway since it came off the lot. Took it back to the dealer 3 times, they say its fixed, but it still pulls.

I find it quite amusing to read all the comments about how the 3.5 litre V6 is O. K for performance etc.

It is a good engine, but in the U. K the 300C comes with a 3.0 litre CRD diesel which costs the same, does 0-62 in 7.6 seconds as opposed to 9.2 seconds for the petrol and can do 34.9 mpg rather than 25.7 for the 3.5.

Oh-and it has more low down torque than the 5.7 V8 Hemi.

When will you Yanks learn, modern diesels kick arse compared to petrol engines!!

I think the 300 is one of Chrysler's best looking cars, it looks a heck of a lot better then the other import cars, and try getting any Toyota or Honda sedans with a HEMI! Among the best looking new cars around! And as far as engines, I would take a HEMI over a "kick arse" diesel any day, or any diesel for that matter, also, can't wait for the new 6.1L HEMI!

I agree about what you say regarding looks, but have you actually driven a diesel one.

I sell for a Chrysler dealership in the U. K and can quite safely say that in everyday use there's no noticeable difference between the two in performance, only if you drive flat out everywhere would you notice, and the hemi would be doing about 10 to the gallon!

The 6.1 SRT should really kick arse though and would destroy the diesel, looking forward to it!

The Hemi is a completely Chrysler design mated to a Mercedes 5 speed transmission, there is now Mercedes part in the Hemi completely designed here in the USA (built in Mexico oh well). The 2.7 even with one driver comes no where close to the 3.5. Finally the 0 to 60 of a Hemi equiped 300 is 5.3 seconds not 6.3 even a Jeep with the Hemi is 5.9 seconds.

A car anyone can afford?

You think the kids working minimum wage in a fast-food restaurant can afford one of these?

Logically, no, they can't afford it. But in reality these kids run up massive debt between cell phones, clothes, and everything else they consider "necessary".

Around here you see tons of young kids driving modified cars, meaning they are sinking significant amounts of money into them. Ends up most are still living with their parents and have no "real"expenses (rent, mortgage, children, etc.).

Not my idea of living the good life, but whatever works.

Things haven't changed much, have they!! That fuel consumption is appalling for a 21st century car! I had an 81 Chevy Caprice with a 305 V8 that'd do 25 mpg. Still I suppose you don't buy something semi-full size like this for the economy..