I had a Buick LeSabre with traction control and it was front wheel drive and was horrible in the snow until I pulled the fuse for the ABS/traction control unit. Using the brakes to prevent wheel spin from a stopped position is just stupid. It couldn't even get out of it's own tire indentations in the snow. You NEED wheel spin to get out of certain snow situations.
Had an Odyssey that promptly got stuck in snow with traction control. Before that, had a Windstar that passed other cars stranded in snow like it was nothing. The Ford had no tc.
These cars certainly put Chrysler back on the map here in the UK. The nameplate had a chequered history since being applied to run-out Rootesmobiles; we had the French-sourced 180 and 2 Litres and much later the Neon, neither of which cars set the market alight. Never got the LH frames here (although I drive one) but when these RWDs came along, particularly the Hemi, they found pretty instant appeal.
I know that’s pretty cool 🤗 it never occurred to me to stack em in a closet to look back at in 25 30 45 yrs later n see what you forgot or even missed back in the day 🤷♂️😳😂….
I had an 07 Charger with the 3.5 V6 - it was my first and only Dodge. The stability assistants took a second or two to kick in and my back end would swing out for a bit on slick roads before it would straighten up. My young kids loved that the rear windows rolled ALL THE WAY down!
I am on my second metric 300C. I wanted one so bad when they first came out but was mortgage poor. Had to wait 4 years and bought a used black 2006 300C. It was rear ended and written Eventually replaced it with my current car, a vanilla 2008 Hemi C . Almost the same HP as my 68 Chrysler but gets twice the better gas mileage!! They are great driving cars!
I remember when these cars came out. It's hard to think they are already in the junkyard just 16 years later. I guess in states that use salt on the road, it's just a matter of time before things start to rust out and it's a safety issue.
@@thewiseguy3529 I have never owned a Chrysler vehicle. My family has always been GM or Ford. My dad worked for GM for 20 years and my mom did as well. I've had good luck with GM cars. My 2006 silverado I purchased in 2008. So far after 14 years of use, it's still going strong. I own a few others vehicles as well. A 2000 GTP, and a 1966 Thunderbird. Both have been great vehicles. I've owned other GM vehicles as well and never had too many problems with them.
I fell in love with this car it was my first passenger car.. very comfy for me tall guy. I drove it cross country fully loaded, NYC to LA. Florida to California, LA to Seattle, Florida to New York.... This car is a dream. for long hauls.
Surprised you didn't mention the Mercedes origins of the suspension, AWD, and transmission of this platform. Seems an important part of the history, and I only learned it a couple years ago.
Thats basically the achilles talon of these cars, the German engineering crammed into am American car. The electronics and all the wiring issues with these is sadly a PITA. Especially due to the german engineering, which puts a fuse box both in your engine bay, and then runs all the way across to your trunk and puts in another one. Thr battery is also in the trunk, just like a german car.....
Still driving my 2009 awd hemi 300c. Yes it's fantastic in the Canadian snow. Very safe and stable for a big car. Love this car. Starting to rust now exactly like the one in the video (around the wheel wells) which breaks my heart but has been a great car. 302000km and counting. Cheers.
Great video. The awd system on the early awd cars is full time awd all the time. 66% to the rear wheels, 34% to the front. They changed this when they updated the cars in 2011 and they went to the way you described where it turns on and off.
I gotta say... I have owned and driven all type Mopars. 50's, 60s', 70's, K-Cars, LH platforms, Sebrings and LX platforms. I love them all because they are Mopar. No bad car has come from Mopar.
I just went from a Ram 4×4 to a 2021 300 AWD and the 300 is a absolute beast in the Snow. In just a slippery Wintery mix its traction is far better. I live in Michigan and unless I'm in two feet of snow at a time ,which is rare , metro Detroit area usually just gets a bit of everything all at once,, I'd rather have the 300. And when it swaps on its own from RWD to AWD or vice versa, it's 100% Seemless,. I think its a really great system.
Hello Stevei b (great name by the way!), Thanks for the "cover from fire". I appreciate EVERYONE that writes in to comment but notice sometimes folks don't watch every second or hear every word. I do speak quickly so it might be on me. But THANKS for noticing that I did mention the mighty SRT8 version of the Hemi. I am so deep in Mopar stuff that I often don't mention every nook and cranny of history because I assume folks know it too and I don't want to be boring. But yes, we all know that the presence of a Hemi Orange engine block signifies a 6.1, 6.2 Hellcat or 6.4! The "mundane" (but EXCELLENT) 5.7's have that black painted engine block. Anyhoo, Thanks for your insight. -Steve Magnante
I had one of these but mine was an SRT8 and in black, fast and fun as hell but it also was the biggest lemon I've ever purchased, the car had a ton of electrical issues.
Steve up until 2008 you could get awd 5.7 hemi versions. The police 5.7 are also awd. In some applications. Really would like an awd 5.7 charger, then swap in a 6.4
The Daimler Chrysler Merger with Mercedes definitely saved Chrysler from oblivion. I believe the chassis and many part are from the Mercedes Benz E-class w211 are in the 300 series then and even today.
Daimler was actually the reason Chrysler went broke in 2008 . Chrysler became one of the most profitable automakers in the world by the mid 80's . When Bob Eaton was chairman he sold Chrysler out to Daimler , getting 500 million dollars from the deal . Daimler took chrysler's money until nothin was left and dumped the shell . There is a book on the subject , it's titled " taken for a ride , how Daimler drove away with Chrysler . "
I was a kid when these came out in Australia. I remember one of my friends parents bought one and I thought it was the coolest looking car when they picked them up from school. I got to ride in it a few times and thought it was great except it was hard to see out the window being just a short little kid
I remember seeing these in a car show where before they were even released to the public. I remember loving how it looked with the shorter roof. Sad seeing them end up in junk yards already. Just seems like yesterday even though it’s been like 16-17 years.
I've got a 2005 Crown Vic Police Interceptor with a 3.55 posi. No traction control. Goodyear Comfortread all season tires. I never have any problems driving it in the snow. But then again, I know how to drive.
My buddy has an 05 with a hemi awd. Super clean because he's a body man. This week he's painting a black one that's owned by a neighbor. They're in good shape considering that they are in Nova Scotia where salt is used in the winter.
After fighting the winter in a 2011 Challenger R/T and then a 2015 Camaro SS we bought my wife a 2019 Challenger GT AWD last summer. Last winter she was laughing every snowy day as she cruised to work while her co-workers were stuck at home. The 3.6 runs pretty good too considering it's a high strung 6 cylinder. I would buy one with a Hemi in a heartbeat if they offered it.
Well whoever knew Chrysler produced 300C in AWD version. Never saw those in Russia (there are probably few of'em bought in the US) but the wagon was pretty popular (although it looked like more a shooting brake).
I had a Oldsmobile Bravdo that was all wheel drive that worked when it wanted to. It was a fancy Blazer and I put a lot of miles on it but for a vehicle in inclement weather it was about useless.
I’ve had two Chrysler 300s 2000 3.5 which was really nice car , no I have a 2016 Chrysler 300 with a 3.6 VVT all wheel drive The best car I have ever driven last of the full-size cars fast good fuel mileage handles good in any kind of weather
They were great in the snow, I dont know how we did it but we had 2 of the first 300's in town at the car rental place I worked at back then, drove them all the time. Even my charger SRT I had YEARS later was great in the winter
I have a 300c srt8 6.1L hemi I believe crysler only made just over 18 thousand cars in the Srt8 300c so it's classed as a rare car an with Hemi coming to a end in 2023 I'm holding on to mine like gold grate video good history in your video
Normally I would not question you Steve and maybe you are saying the six-speed all-wheel drive was not available with a 300C, but I'm fairly certain that you could get SRT 300, chargers and Magnums with the 6-speed manual.
I remember when the Chrysler 300 came out. They were very popular in NYC and owners would install a Bentley front grill. I once saw a convertible conversion on a dealer lot in Philly. I think Chrysler should have made a 2 door coupe. If I recall they were decent cars when Mercedes Benz bought them and eventually sold Chrysler as they were not turning a profit. Thanks Steve
There is a substantial amount of the 300s in Australia. My son's fiance had one for 4 years and one of his mates works at a Chrysler warehouse. Her 300 spent a few years being parked on my property because the 2 of them lived on the property but I never got to drive it. Had the V6.
I owned a 2006 Charger R/T from June 2005 until May 2010, it was a wonderful road trip car and it was quick! In May 2020 I bought a 2013 Dodge Challenger R/T that only had 25,000 miles on it. The Challenger has the 6 speed manual in it. I’m up to 37,000 miles on it now. It’s been a wonderful weekend driver and road trip car.
These cars were good, especially in europe they were priced so that you got a lot more room, equipment , looks and power compared to a E class mercedes, 5-series bmw etc. There are still some 300C diesel taxies driving in Finland and lots of Hemi powered 300C's. We also got the 300C Wagon over here, they did not sell the Dodge Magnum or Charger here.
Everyone who commented today is getting a prize. Man, Steve must be absolutely loaded rich or has a new sponsor giving him stuff to give away. Any way ya slice it, that's a lot of 'prizes' lol.
Hi Tom Sessanna, that "telegram" thing is a SPAM. I have "reported it to TH-cam" so it shouldn't return tomorrow. I LOVE the Internet and TH-cam but these scam FARTists suck. Anyhoo, as always "use your Spidey Sense" to ignore crud like that. Thanks for writing, Steve Magnante
The all wheel drive is why that one is in the scrap yard instead of getting repaired. If it was just a front end collision, it likely would have been rebuilt. But with that all wheel drive system, they are expensive to even consider redoing.
Steve - you completely missed the engineering tie in with the Mercedes-Benz W210 chassis (already phased out of production when this was launched). I've stated it before, and I'll state it again, the success of this platform was due to using those vital components since they were already tried and tested from 10 years of production on the W210.
Odd that Steve left that out. Its a whole story in itself. The book "Taken for a Ride" in fact, on the Chrysler-Daimler merger. Even the interior switch gear was Mercedes copy on the early cars.
Hello bob Roberts, Thanks for watching and writing. I understand the "light touch" concept but the fact is that aluminum hood - as cool as it is - is scrap metal and what's next for it (a shredder) is going to be a little more nasty than my casual toss. Also, please note that I have Full Permission from Bernardston Auto Wrecking's owner Dale Hastings to "do as I please" with the vehicles. That said, I never, ever cause damage beyond evicting a hornet nest or chopping away trees and brush. Sure, some frozen hinges may sound like fingernails on chalk boards, but please be assured, i never smash on anything I see in the junkyard. Just gotta put that out there. Anyhoo, THANKS for watching and writing, Steve Magnante
@@SteveMagnante Steve, I take no issue with the hood on the 300 or other obviously no value items. ( In past vids you had said " I can't get the hood / doors open and I'm not going to damage anything " so you are exerting some care. ) The issue is the model that is being hammered on. Yes, I know that is it yours however if I had built it I'd be disappointed that it was being treated in such a fashion. ( taking it to the yard for the vid is just fine however ) What set this off is in one of the early hub cap vids you said something to the effect of " This is a rare piece in good condition, someone might want this " ( throws hub cap in the pile likely denting it . ) I'm betting that the auction or the place you do car walk arounds for would appreciate such treatment of their cars. Other than that, the vids are just fine. Where did the manual weed wacker intro go? Will we be getting a new one?
I once overheard a conversation +15 years ago that still lives rent free in my head. A car collector was explaining to another guy how he had sold his restored 1965 Fastback Mustang for an all-wheel drive Chrysler 300 imported from the UK. He said the all-wheel drive 300 had very low production numbers (less than 10, maybe 6?). I always wonder what year 300 he was talking about... and why trade it for a 300.
Her 2003 Volvo S60 had a Winter transmission mode that did all those things. It was not unusual technology for the day and Chrysler was certainly not the first.
This gets repeated over and over, but it's not really true. They raided the Mercedes parts bin to finish the car. It was already in development before the "merger" and they pushed the launch of these back a year to push more Mercedes into it. Front end uses some W220 parts, and the rear some W211 parts. Seat rails, steering column, traction control computers were all from the Mercedes parts bin. It's not really based on a Mercedes, but it does share some parts with a few of them.
front and rear suspension, canbus system wiring, hvac system, various modules, the old keys were straight out of a benz, awd system is 4matic. etc etc etc. lots of benz in the lx/ld chassis.
When the 300C came out I called the Chrysler dealer and asked the salesman to bring one to the house for a test drive. When he got there I got behind the wheel and got out on the main street. It wouldn't shift out of first gear. I looked down at the cluster and the speedometer wasn't working. The salesman said they disconnect it until the car is sold so it can have new miles for the first buyer. I told him if I buy one, I don't want that one. At least in first it felt powerful.
@@mexicanspec really? I've never been to Mexico, so I wouldn't know. Still seems very idiotic to me. Example of what I mean...... The odometer and speedometer are disconnected, then the car is driven 50 miles. Then a customer buys that car, and those things are reconnected. Customer drives off the lot, thinking (maybe) "Wow, I have a car that's never been driven." But that thought is a lie. If the customers are aware that the dealer does this, then I guess, ok. But if they were unaware (as I was), then the dealership is perpetrating a fraud. At least in my view.
@@willhorting5317 Yes they are committing fraud, but there is no agency to do anything about it. That was the reason I told him if I buy one, I don't want that one.
Hello LI USMC Dad, yes I have been "telegram spammed" as your instincts show IGNORE IT. I have "reported" it so this should be the last day this junk appears. Anyhoo, THANKS for watching and writing, Steve Magnante
This launch was also facilitated by the ability to trade in Federal government GHG/CAFE Credits. Tesla and FCA(Stellantis) owe their mutual existence to each other because of this ability to trade in these Credits. We would not have had the L-Cars, big Jeeps, and Hemi/Hellcat engines without this.
Did you not noticed the dash is a sea of hard plastic? It was the same with my old 2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee, the same hard grey plastic as this 300 and it looks like the same texture. No soft touch, or padded passenger side dash like my old 98 Honda Accord. I don't know why manufactures got away from that in the early to mid 2000's. Cost cutting measures I'm guessing.
Chrysler 300s didn’t have plastic dashboards when I was growing up. Jeeps stopped being Jeeps when they stopped offering factory capstan winches on them.
@@davezul4396 Oh, I thought you were referring to this example. I reread your comment, I get what you're saying now. I guess what plastics in cars got us is overall lighter vehicles, less weight means less fuel used. It is a trade off. It's just this era of Chrysler was really heavy on hard plastic surfaces everywhere that you looked and touched.. its much improved these days. Doesn't look quite so cheap materials now, but I hate the shiny gloss black, especially where your fingers touch and leave marks. Why do designers keep using it?..
Speaking of dead cats I was working in a chev dealer in the mid 70,s and monte Carlos would be towed in with cats shredded through the v belts. Cold winter nights a warm radiator and the deep fan shroud made a nice spot to sleep until the driver went to go to work and start it
Channel DIY Gang has built a functional AWD Hellcat Challenger. It combines parts from Jeep models to have a drivetrain that will handle the power. Worth a look.
If someone were to get a hold of one of these V6 AWS cars, will a 5.7 bolt in place? Like is the fundamentals the same as say going from a 4.3 GM V6 to a 350?
Which just unfortunately means you're going to get hit in the head when it comes time to replace things. But yes, the Daimler influence is very obvious, 100% correct.
My uncle has one of these (a 2005 Touring RWD with a 3.5L), and it's a heap. They are cheaply screwed together, nothing special and parts being "Mercedes" as my uncle likes to put it just means more expensive parts that are not any better than anything else from other sources. He loves the thing, and it has low mileage, but at 18 years old, it's way past the throwaway point now. I fix it when he asks me to because he likes the car. Parts aren't cheap for it either. I ordered some roof moldings (they come color coordinated) a few years back and they weren't cheap and took about three weeks to arrive. Those shifters jam and break due to an $8 part inside that makes the shifter inoperative. In order to repair it, you have to dismantle the console and remove the shifter. I've done the repair. The dealer wanted upwards of $800 to fix it, but I did it in his garage for the aforementioned $8 in parts. These were assembled by some very angry Canadians at Brampton, Ontario Canada, a factory that opened in 1985 and still operates today under Stellantis at 2000 Williams Parkway in Brampton, Ontario. I say "angry" Canadians because when I took the console apart, a few of the fasteners were in there crooked (and tight), and the console had never been apart before, so there were some angry folk putting that car together in a rush. LOL. Alas, I believe it's right where it belongs. A "good" idea soured by Chrysler's extremely poor quality and corporate "cheapness".
I remember reading an article somewhere that Chrysler built more "hemi" every week for the LX platform than they ever built during the entire production of the legendary 426. If I remember correctly, the same article also stated that it actually cost Chrysler less to produce the LX Hemi's than it did the 3.5s and obviously sold them for more.
Hello Kenneth Southard, you are correct. There were / are three Golden Ages of The Hemi, 1951-1958, 1964-1971 and 2004-present. The amazing fact is that this modern era has produced FAAAR MORE Hemi powered cars and trucks than the first two Eras combined and multiplied by 10. And while Chrysler (or Stellantis or whatever they call it this week) is claiming to "discontinue" the Hemi after 2023, I'm not going to bet on that....Just saying....Anyhoo THANKS for writing, Steve Magnante
I want one of these brand new before there gone. And I always say this. It's so much easier to correct a rwd vehicle. I love my grand marquis. Never had issues and I live in NY. I absolutely hate my mom's dodge grand caravan. It's fwd and I hate how it drives in the snow.
I had a 300C CRD (Mercedes 3.0 V6 diesel) It was a nice car but the dealer service was horrendous, staff was arrogant and stupid. Every time the dealer did service or repair something went wrong.
Hi Mark Stolzfus, THANKS for writing. As a 58 year old, I'm nearly a senior citizen. I can't believe that...where did the time go? I DO know where 1982 - 2004 went, BUMMING OUT HARD on the Front Wheel Drive Mopars. I became a hard core Mopar fanatic in 1975 when an 11-year-old-me saw a 1971 Dodge Hemi Super Bee (with its ferocious looking shark-mouth Air Grabber hood scoop open) in Beverly, Mass. I was mesmerized by the chrome and red "426 Hemi" hood dome emblems. This led me to keeping an eye open for the many RUSTED Road Runners, Charger R/T's, GTX's and Dart GTS 340 / 383 cars I saw in daily traffic if I really kept my eyes open. Then came the K-Car era. Sure Detroit was on an down-sizing kick but only Chrysler went all-in on sub-compact K-Car stuff and it really seemed like the end was near. The LH "Cab Forward" era showed a glimmer of hope as over-and-over the press (Motor Trend magazine, Car and Driver, etc.) hinted at t likely 4_WD version of the LH platform. To my performance-starved mind, where there is 4WD, there is a driven rear axle and thus HOPE for a proper REAR DRIVE version (minus the clunky front drive stuff). But again, it never came to pass (except for some engineering mule cars based on the Cab Forward LH platform). And then came 2003.....and the release of the 2004 REAR WHEEL DRIVE LX family!!!!! These cars SAVED CHRYSLER. If Chrysler had kept up with the goofy Cab Forward era, you would NOT see any modern Challengers, no Hellcats, no Super Stocks, no Wide Bodies, etc. I couldn't say it enough in this video....these cars BROUGHT CHRYSLER BACK FROM THE BRINK OF EXTINCTION. And yes, it does appear that the end "may" come in 2024 (I've heard Some Things....Hemis may not be dead after all.....stay tuned) but even if that is the end, there are nearly TWO DECADES worth of these awesome Hemi cars to play with for decades to come. Enough of my rant, I do THANK YOU for watching and writing. -Steve Magnante
@@SteveMagnante What turned me into a Mopar fan was my dad's 1960 Fury with a Golden Commando 383 (no cross rams). ROARING dual exhaust! That engine was so powerful that he kept snapping the passenger rear spring and then we'd have to limp home. When did Chrysler add more leafs on the passenger side and could my dad have had a rare, one-year-only RB 383 in that Fury?
I had a Buick LeSabre with traction control and it was front wheel drive and was horrible in the snow until I pulled the fuse for the ABS/traction control unit. Using the brakes to prevent wheel spin from a stopped position is just stupid. It couldn't even get out of it's own tire indentations in the snow. You NEED wheel spin to get out of certain snow situations.
Had an Odyssey that promptly got stuck in snow with traction control. Before that, had a Windstar that passed other cars stranded in snow like it was nothing. The Ford had no tc.
I still have a lesbabra
It always amazes me what visuals you bring to Junkyard Crawl "show & tell",.. thanks Steve!! ✌️ from Iowa (but still on a lake in Oklahoma!!)
Seriously!!! You’d think ole Rudolph would like to sit in luxury comfort once in a while! 😂😂😂
These cars certainly put Chrysler back on the map here in the UK. The nameplate had a chequered history since being applied to run-out Rootesmobiles; we had the French-sourced 180 and 2 Litres and much later the Neon, neither of which cars set the market alight. Never got the LH frames here (although I drive one) but when these RWDs came along, particularly the Hemi, they found pretty instant appeal.
Steve has a book or magazine for everything!!! His collection must be huge!
I know that’s pretty cool 🤗 it never occurred to me to stack em in a closet to look back at in 25 30 45 yrs later n see what you forgot or even missed back in the day 🤷♂️😳😂….
I had an 07 Charger with the 3.5 V6 - it was my first and only Dodge. The stability assistants took a second or two to kick in and my back end would swing out for a bit on slick roads before it would straighten up. My young kids loved that the rear windows rolled ALL THE WAY down!
lol, ‘he happens to be a car guy’
I loved this video. Love my 300 and this video makes me appreciate it a little more.
I am on my second metric 300C. I wanted one so bad when they first came out but was mortgage poor. Had to wait 4 years and bought a used black 2006 300C.
It was rear ended and written Eventually replaced it with my current car, a vanilla 2008 Hemi C . Almost the same HP as my 68 Chrysler but gets twice the better gas mileage!! They are great driving cars!
I remember when these cars came out. It's hard to think they are already in the junkyard just 16 years later. I guess in states that use salt on the road, it's just a matter of time before things start to rust out and it's a safety issue.
I just think the quality is not there or beat up from day one I have 06 tundra that's mint 👌
@@steveib724 I have a 2006 Silverado, that's held up great over the last 16 years. I think trucks in general hold up better than passengers car do.
@@cub1009 yah there strong maybe for work true 👍 my truck is in like time capsule conditioni kinda nuts with it alitt bit lmao
@That V8 Life don't let that lemon camry make my tundra look bad.lol Honda good stuff ✌️
@@thewiseguy3529 I have never owned a Chrysler vehicle. My family has always been GM or Ford. My dad worked for GM for 20 years and my mom did as well. I've had good luck with GM cars. My 2006 silverado I purchased in 2008. So far after 14 years of use, it's still going strong. I own a few others vehicles as well. A 2000 GTP, and a 1966 Thunderbird. Both have been great vehicles. I've owned other GM vehicles as well and never had too many problems with them.
I fell in love with this car it was my first passenger car.. very comfy for me tall guy. I drove it cross country fully loaded, NYC to LA. Florida to California, LA to Seattle, Florida to New York.... This car is a dream. for long hauls.
Surprised you didn't mention the Mercedes origins of the suspension, AWD, and transmission of this platform. Seems an important part of the history, and I only learned it a couple years ago.
Thats basically the achilles talon of these cars, the German engineering crammed into am American car. The electronics and all the wiring issues with these is sadly a PITA. Especially due to the german engineering, which puts a fuse box both in your engine bay, and then runs all the way across to your trunk and puts in another one. Thr battery is also in the trunk, just like a german car.....
Brag Tag, Steve, you never seize to amaze me and your audience with quick wit and great banter backed up with facts! Thanks, for all you do!!!
Still driving my 2009 awd hemi 300c. Yes it's fantastic in the Canadian snow. Very safe and stable for a big car. Love this car. Starting to rust now exactly like the one in the video (around the wheel wells) which breaks my heart but has been a great car. 302000km and counting.
Cheers.
I have an 09 heritage edition eagle Hemi. 300,000kms as well. I have vertically no rust. From Ontario
Great video. The awd system on the early awd cars is full time awd all the time. 66% to the rear wheels, 34% to the front. They changed this when they updated the cars in 2011 and they went to the way you described where it turns on and off.
Hey Steve no mention of the SRT8 300?? They made then from ‘05-‘14. Total sleeper. I own an ‘07 in Inferno Red.
@0:18 originally supposed to be the 1998 redesign second-gen Eagle Vision tsi
I've liked the look of the 300. Reminds me of a "gangster" car with the look of the greenhouse and roof line.
I daily drive a silver 2006 300C hemi. It has over 200k miles on it and everything still works like it always did. Solid cars
did u ever had a problem with the mds system?
@Dennis Esser not once. I think oil changes are key
Hey no mention of the SRT Version??????
Burnednutskin has quite the selection
Thanks Steve! Love the 300's had a 63 4-door HT with a 361
I miss the old intro :((
I gotta say... I have owned and driven all type Mopars. 50's, 60s', 70's, K-Cars, LH platforms, Sebrings and LX platforms. I love them all because they are Mopar. No bad car has come from Mopar.
Their transmissions are garbage. Always have been.
I just went from a Ram
4×4 to a 2021 300 AWD and the 300 is a absolute beast in the Snow. In just a slippery Wintery mix its traction is far better. I live in Michigan and unless I'm in two feet of snow at a time ,which is rare , metro Detroit area usually just gets a bit of everything all at once,, I'd rather have the 300. And when it swaps on its own from RWD to AWD or vice versa, it's 100% Seemless,. I think its a really great system.
Steve, I'm a little surprised you didn't mention that these cars could also be had with the 6.1 hemi, in the srt8 version of the 300c!
He did dude
Hello Stevei b (great name by the way!), Thanks for the "cover from fire". I appreciate EVERYONE that writes in to comment but notice sometimes folks don't watch every second or hear every word. I do speak quickly so it might be on me. But THANKS for noticing that I did mention the mighty SRT8 version of the Hemi. I am so deep in Mopar stuff that I often don't mention every nook and cranny of history because I assume folks know it too and I don't want to be boring. But yes, we all know that the presence of a Hemi Orange engine block signifies a 6.1, 6.2 Hellcat or 6.4! The "mundane" (but EXCELLENT) 5.7's have that black painted engine block. Anyhoo, Thanks for your insight. -Steve Magnante
@@SteveMagnante hotrod muscle car dude that looks up to you Steve. good job with the videos I like them a lot thanks ✌️
I have a 300c wagon here in Australia with the Mercedes diesel v6 it’s such a great car to drive our big country
You’re the man Magneto!
Great video. Keep on crawling!
In Europe the station wagon is called TOURING and badged like the car shown here !
I had one of these but mine was an SRT8 and in black, fast and fun as hell but it also was the biggest lemon I've ever purchased, the car had a ton of electrical issues.
Steve up until 2008 you could get awd 5.7 hemi versions. The police 5.7 are also awd. In some applications. Really would like an awd 5.7 charger, then swap in a 6.4
I have a 2006 Charger Daytona Top Banana. The thing is incredible! Fast, handles great…especially for a heavy car with all those doors.
The Daimler Chrysler Merger with Mercedes definitely saved Chrysler from oblivion. I believe the chassis and many part are from the Mercedes Benz E-class w211 are in the 300 series then and even today.
Daimler was actually the reason Chrysler went broke in 2008 . Chrysler became one of the most profitable automakers in the world by the mid 80's . When Bob Eaton was chairman he sold Chrysler out to Daimler , getting 500 million dollars from the deal . Daimler took chrysler's money until nothin was left and dumped the shell . There is a book on the subject , it's titled " taken for a ride , how Daimler drove away with Chrysler . "
Hey Steve do a video on the 2006 300c srt8 I've got one
You must have a lot of books/magazine's.
Like button selected.
I was a kid when these came out in Australia. I remember one of my friends parents bought one and I thought it was the coolest looking car when they picked them up from school. I got to ride in it a few times and thought it was great except it was hard to see out the window being just a short little kid
Thanks for sharing!
Don't ya wish we got the AWD version, it'd be perfect for Melbourne's weather 😁
I remember seeing these in a car show where before they were even released to the public. I remember loving how it looked with the shorter roof. Sad seeing them end up in junk yards already. Just seems like yesterday even though it’s been like 16-17 years.
I've got a 2005 Crown Vic Police Interceptor with a 3.55 posi. No traction control. Goodyear Comfortread all season tires. I never have any problems driving it in the snow. But then again, I know how to drive.
I've had a 2000 300M, 2005 300C, and presently have a 2008 300C. All nice rides. The 2005 pulled very hard - a real fast-mover.
I had a 02 300m special then got a 09 300c heritage edition
Awesome thanks Steve
My buddy has an 05 with a hemi awd. Super clean because he's a body man. This week he's painting a black one that's owned by a neighbor. They're in good shape considering that they are in Nova Scotia where salt is used in the winter.
After fighting the winter in a 2011 Challenger R/T and then a 2015 Camaro SS we bought my wife a 2019 Challenger GT AWD last summer. Last winter she was laughing every snowy day as she cruised to work while her co-workers were stuck at home. The 3.6 runs pretty good too considering it's a high strung 6 cylinder. I would buy one with a Hemi in a heartbeat if they offered it.
Me as well. Loved my factory ordered AWD Charger RT Hemi. It kills me they don't offer the Hemi in the Challenger GT.
They still have AWD Hemis but only in police issue Chargers.
@1:45 That's pretty much an LH platform 300M with a V8 and a convertible.
Well whoever knew Chrysler produced 300C in AWD version. Never saw those in Russia (there are probably few of'em bought in the US) but the wagon was pretty popular (although it looked like more a shooting brake).
I had a Oldsmobile Bravdo that was all wheel drive that worked when it wanted to.
It was a fancy Blazer and I put a lot of miles on it but for a vehicle in inclement weather it was about useless.
He has a video on the Bravada
Yes, the Bravada was an S10 derivative and basically the same vehicle.
I’ve had two Chrysler 300s 2000 3.5 which was really nice car , no I have a 2016 Chrysler 300 with a 3.6 VVT all wheel drive The best car I have ever driven last of the full-size cars fast good fuel mileage handles good in any kind of weather
@Defective Degenerate Use a high grade oil and change it earlier than the book sense
Thanks for the information
They were great in the snow, I dont know how we did it but we had 2 of the first 300's in town at the car rental place I worked at back then, drove them all the time. Even my charger SRT I had YEARS later was great in the winter
I have had my 07 300 3.5 it absolutely sucks in the snow but I do love the car
I have a 300c srt8 6.1L hemi I believe crysler only made just over 18 thousand cars in the Srt8 300c so it's classed as a rare car an with Hemi coming to a end in 2023 I'm holding on to mine like gold grate video good history in your video
Normally I would not question you Steve and maybe you are saying the six-speed all-wheel drive was not available with a 300C, but I'm fairly certain that you could get SRT 300, chargers and Magnums with the 6-speed manual.
I can say I have a 2005 300c awd, and it is fantastic in the snow
I have an 07 300 3.5 rwd it absolutely sucks in the snow but I do love it
Love the content. Be well.❤
I remember when the Chrysler 300 came out. They were very popular in NYC and owners would install a Bentley front grill. I once saw a convertible conversion on a dealer lot in Philly. I think Chrysler should have made a 2 door coupe. If I recall they were decent cars when Mercedes Benz bought them and eventually sold Chrysler as they were not turning a profit. Thanks Steve
How about any Michigan inspired vehicles such as the Ford bronco I believe had a Michigan edition are there any of those laying around there
There is a substantial amount of the 300s in Australia. My son's fiance had one for 4 years and one of his mates works at a Chrysler warehouse. Her 300 spent a few years being parked on my property because the 2 of them lived on the property but I never got to drive it. Had the V6.
I owned a 2006 Charger R/T from June 2005 until May 2010, it was a wonderful road trip car and it was quick! In May 2020 I bought a 2013 Dodge Challenger R/T that only had 25,000 miles on it. The Challenger has the 6 speed manual in it. I’m up to 37,000 miles on it now. It’s been a wonderful weekend driver and road trip car.
Thanks for sharing!
Well I own a 2007 300 3.5 limited I have had it for 4 years it has 300,000kms it is an absolute nightmare in snow but I do love it 😁
they are good looking cars
Love how he marks up these books like a professor teaching a course.
I had a 2005 C sure miss that car it was fun
These cars were good, especially in europe they were priced so that you got a lot more room, equipment , looks and power compared to a E class mercedes, 5-series bmw etc. There are still some 300C diesel taxies driving in Finland and lots of Hemi powered 300C's. We also got the 300C Wagon over here, they did not sell the Dodge Magnum or Charger here.
No Air Bag deployment?
I really like watching your videos so tell me what surprise do you have for me
Everyone who commented today is getting a prize. Man, Steve must be absolutely loaded rich or has a new sponsor giving him stuff to give away. Any way ya slice it, that's a lot of 'prizes' lol.
Hi Tom Sessanna, that "telegram" thing is a SPAM. I have "reported it to TH-cam" so it shouldn't return tomorrow. I LOVE the Internet and TH-cam but these scam FARTists suck. Anyhoo, as always "use your Spidey Sense" to ignore crud like that. Thanks for writing, Steve Magnante
The all wheel drive is why that one is in the scrap yard instead of getting repaired. If it was just a front end collision, it likely would have been rebuilt. But with that all wheel drive system, they are expensive to even consider redoing.
I worked at a Chrysler dealership after high school, changing oil on these when they were new.
Did you do The Mopar behind the yellow bug?
Steve - you completely missed the engineering tie in with the Mercedes-Benz W210 chassis (already phased out of production when this was launched). I've stated it before, and I'll state it again, the success of this platform was due to using those vital components since they were already tried and tested from 10 years of production on the W210.
Odd that Steve left that out. Its a whole story in itself. The book "Taken for a Ride" in fact, on the Chrysler-Daimler merger. Even the interior switch gear was Mercedes copy on the early cars.
He misses it out because then the story wouldn't be entirely about Murica and that's unacceptable.
That front end damage and the airbag didn't deploy?
7:54 Anyone else growing weary of how rough Steve is with stuff? ( hammering on the roof of the model )
I am sure your life will go on.
Hello bob Roberts, Thanks for watching and writing. I understand the "light touch" concept but the fact is that aluminum hood - as cool as it is - is scrap metal and what's next for it (a shredder) is going to be a little more nasty than my casual toss. Also, please note that I have Full Permission from Bernardston Auto Wrecking's owner Dale Hastings to "do as I please" with the vehicles. That said, I never, ever cause damage beyond evicting a hornet nest or chopping away trees and brush. Sure, some frozen hinges may sound like fingernails on chalk boards, but please be assured, i never smash on anything I see in the junkyard. Just gotta put that out there. Anyhoo, THANKS for watching and writing, Steve Magnante
@@SteveMagnante Steve, he was talking about how you "hammered" on the roof of the small model of the DeSoto.
@@SteveMagnante Steve, I take no issue with the hood on the 300 or other obviously no value items. ( In past vids you had said " I can't get the hood / doors open and I'm not going to damage anything " so you are exerting some care. )
The issue is the model that is being hammered on. Yes, I know that is it yours however if I had built it I'd be disappointed that it was being treated in such a fashion. ( taking it to the yard for the vid is just fine however )
What set this off is in one of the early hub cap vids you said something to the effect of " This is a rare piece in good condition, someone might want this " ( throws hub cap in the pile likely denting it . ) I'm betting that the auction or the place you do car walk arounds for would appreciate such treatment of their cars.
Other than that, the vids are just fine. Where did the manual weed wacker intro go? Will we be getting a new one?
I once overheard a conversation +15 years ago that still lives rent free in my head. A car collector was explaining to another guy how he had sold his restored 1965 Fastback Mustang for an all-wheel drive Chrysler 300 imported from the UK. He said the all-wheel drive 300 had very low production numbers (less than 10, maybe 6?). I always wonder what year 300 he was talking about... and why trade it for a 300.
Her 2003 Volvo S60 had a Winter transmission mode that did all those things. It was not unusual technology for the day and Chrysler was certainly not the first.
Great content Steve! I believe the Chrysler LX platform was partly based on a Mercedes platform or something. Regardless, quite a success story.
You are correct
Mercedes W210 platform which Mercedes stopped building in 2003 is the basis of the LX cars
This gets repeated over and over, but it's not really true. They raided the Mercedes parts bin to finish the car. It was already in development before the "merger" and they pushed the launch of these back a year to push more Mercedes into it. Front end uses some W220 parts, and the rear some W211 parts. Seat rails, steering column, traction control computers were all from the Mercedes parts bin. It's not really based on a Mercedes, but it does share some parts with a few of them.
@@PeterBellefleur It's pretty much a clone of the old E class chassis
front and rear suspension, canbus system wiring, hvac system, various modules, the old keys were straight out of a benz, awd system is 4matic. etc etc etc. lots of benz in the lx/ld chassis.
You didn't mention the 6.1L Hemi SRT8 version.
I grew up in Southern New Hampshire, driving i. Snow is more a matter of technique, feather the throttle and you can climb any hilly road.
One of the most comfortable, efficient, stable AWD vehicles I’ve ever owned.
When the 300C came out I called the Chrysler dealer and asked the salesman to bring one to the house for a test drive. When he got there I got behind the wheel and got out on the main street. It wouldn't shift out of first gear. I looked down at the cluster and the speedometer wasn't working. The salesman said they disconnect it until the car is sold so it can have new miles for the first buyer. I told him if I buy one, I don't want that one. At least in first it felt powerful.
Sounds like a VERY idiotic dealership.
@@willhorting5317 It is the Mexican way.
@@mexicanspec really?
I've never been to Mexico, so I wouldn't know.
Still seems very idiotic to me.
Example of what I mean......
The odometer and speedometer are disconnected, then the car is driven 50 miles.
Then a customer buys that car, and those things are reconnected.
Customer drives off the lot, thinking (maybe) "Wow, I have a car that's never been driven."
But that thought is a lie.
If the customers are aware that the dealer does this, then I guess, ok.
But if they were unaware (as I was), then the dealership is perpetrating a fraud.
At least in my view.
@@willhorting5317 Yes they are committing fraud, but there is no agency to do anything about it. That was the reason I told him if I buy one, I don't want that one.
@@mexicanspec 👍
That’s an interesting car. Was sold by a Green Bay dealer, Chrysler World, registered in NY and ended up in MA.
Hmm, your reply looks to be a spambot.
well that address doesn’t work for SMS texting
Hello LI USMC Dad, yes I have been "telegram spammed" as your instincts show IGNORE IT. I have "reported" it so this should be the last day this junk appears. Anyhoo, THANKS for watching and writing, Steve Magnante
Steve, you probably should have mentioned that the AWD 5.7L was available in Charger PP(Police Pursuit) models up until maybe 2017, at least.
Always thought they looked like the 79-81 Newport lots of benz parts up under there
This launch was also facilitated by the ability to trade in Federal government GHG/CAFE Credits. Tesla and FCA(Stellantis) owe their mutual existence to each other because of this ability to trade in these Credits. We would not have had the L-Cars, big Jeeps, and Hemi/Hellcat engines without this.
I have a 2009 300c heritage edition
Steve, you forgot the 300 SRT8 6.1L Hemi cars! I have a 2006 300 SRT8, great car!!
Good call!
It was great growing up when the only plastic on a Chrysler 300 was the turn signal and brake light lenses!
Did you not noticed the dash is a sea of hard plastic? It was the same with my old 2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee, the same hard grey plastic as this 300 and it looks like the same texture. No soft touch, or padded passenger side dash like my old 98 Honda Accord. I don't know why manufactures got away from that in the early to mid 2000's. Cost cutting measures I'm guessing.
Chrysler 300s didn’t have plastic dashboards when I was growing up. Jeeps stopped being Jeeps when they stopped offering factory capstan winches on them.
@@davezul4396 Oh, I thought you were referring to this example. I reread your comment, I get what you're saying now. I guess what plastics in cars got us is overall lighter vehicles, less weight means less fuel used. It is a trade off. It's just this era of Chrysler was really heavy on hard plastic surfaces everywhere that you looked and touched.. its much improved these days. Doesn't look quite so cheap materials now, but I hate the shiny gloss black, especially where your fingers touch and leave marks. Why do designers keep using it?..
Speaking of dead cats I was working in a chev dealer in the mid 70,s and monte Carlos would be towed in with cats shredded through the v belts. Cold winter nights a warm radiator and the deep fan shroud made a nice spot to sleep until the driver went to go to work and start it
Channel DIY Gang has built a functional AWD Hellcat Challenger. It combines parts from Jeep models to have a drivetrain that will handle the power. Worth a look.
Thanks for the info!
If someone were to get a hold of one of these V6 AWS cars, will a 5.7 bolt in place? Like is the fundamentals the same as say going from a 4.3 GM V6 to a 350?
Yes but also no
They came factory with the 5.7 Hemi and AWD
My guess is that you would have to change everything from the 5.7 donor car over.
I had a 2010 AWD at 5 years old it developed electrical issues that couldn't be remedied without changing the entire wire harness.
The Mercedes origin of this platform is important.
Yes, I always heard this was a platform designed by Mercedes when they owned Chrysler
Which just unfortunately means you're going to get hit in the head when it comes time to replace things. But yes, the Daimler influence is very obvious, 100% correct.
My uncle has one of these (a 2005 Touring RWD with a 3.5L), and it's a heap. They are cheaply screwed together, nothing special and parts being "Mercedes" as my uncle likes to put it just means more expensive parts that are not any better than anything else from other sources. He loves the thing, and it has low mileage, but at 18 years old, it's way past the throwaway point now. I fix it when he asks me to because he likes the car. Parts aren't cheap for it either. I ordered some roof moldings (they come color coordinated) a few years back and they weren't cheap and took about three weeks to arrive.
Those shifters jam and break due to an $8 part inside that makes the shifter inoperative. In order to repair it, you have to dismantle the console and remove the shifter. I've done the repair. The dealer wanted upwards of $800 to fix it, but I did it in his garage for the aforementioned $8 in parts. These were assembled by some very angry Canadians at Brampton, Ontario Canada, a factory that opened in 1985 and still operates today under Stellantis at 2000 Williams Parkway in Brampton, Ontario. I say "angry" Canadians because when I took the console apart, a few of the fasteners were in there crooked (and tight), and the console had never been apart before, so there were some angry folk putting that car together in a rush. LOL.
Alas, I believe it's right where it belongs. A "good" idea soured by Chrysler's extremely poor quality and corporate "cheapness".
I remember reading an article somewhere that Chrysler built more "hemi" every week for the LX platform than they ever built during the entire production of the legendary 426. If I remember correctly, the same article also stated that it actually cost Chrysler less to produce the LX Hemi's than it did the 3.5s and obviously sold them for more.
Well I have a 2007 300 3.5 300,000kms great reliable car sucks in the snow but great car
@@kennethsouthard6042 That could be true. Fuel was cheap in those years, so V8s sold well.
@@frankcastle2045 That's about 186,000 miles, which is barely broken in for a Japanese car.
Hello Kenneth Southard, you are correct. There were / are three Golden Ages of The Hemi, 1951-1958, 1964-1971 and 2004-present. The amazing fact is that this modern era has produced FAAAR MORE Hemi powered cars and trucks than the first two Eras combined and multiplied by 10. And while Chrysler (or Stellantis or whatever they call it this week) is claiming to "discontinue" the Hemi after 2023, I'm not going to bet on that....Just saying....Anyhoo THANKS for writing, Steve Magnante
Gasser Passers Rule 🥝✔️. And 300s. Thanks Steve M.
Come To Arizona Anytime,-0- Rust.The Sun just Eats Paint
I want one of these brand new before there gone. And I always say this. It's so much easier to correct a rwd vehicle. I love my grand marquis. Never had issues and I live in NY. I absolutely hate my mom's dodge grand caravan. It's fwd and I hate how it drives in the snow.
man the 300Cs where Highway patrol cars for the police (pigs) here in Australia but I've never heard of an AWD one!
These are almost 20 years old now 😳
Stellantis owns FCA and they announced that the charger and challenger V8 program will end next year.
A Chrysler 300 looks like a Bentley - until a Bentley pulls up……..😂
I had a 300C CRD (Mercedes 3.0 V6 diesel) It was a nice car but the dealer service was horrendous, staff was arrogant and stupid. Every time the dealer did service or repair something went wrong.
I like the cab forward cars better, Chrysler had better interiors back then
Steve the 300 styling looks like the car from that old horror flick I think from the 70s titled The Car
"brought Chrysler back from death" Seems like abot 4 times now.
Hi Mark Stolzfus, THANKS for writing. As a 58 year old, I'm nearly a senior citizen. I can't believe that...where did the time go? I DO know where 1982 - 2004 went, BUMMING OUT HARD on the Front Wheel Drive Mopars. I became a hard core Mopar fanatic in 1975 when an 11-year-old-me saw a 1971 Dodge Hemi Super Bee (with its ferocious looking shark-mouth Air Grabber hood scoop open) in Beverly, Mass. I was mesmerized by the chrome and red "426 Hemi" hood dome emblems. This led me to keeping an eye open for the many RUSTED Road Runners, Charger R/T's, GTX's and Dart GTS 340 / 383 cars I saw in daily traffic if I really kept my eyes open. Then came the K-Car era. Sure Detroit was on an down-sizing kick but only Chrysler went all-in on sub-compact K-Car stuff and it really seemed like the end was near. The LH "Cab Forward" era showed a glimmer of hope as over-and-over the press (Motor Trend magazine, Car and Driver, etc.) hinted at t likely 4_WD version of the LH platform. To my performance-starved mind, where there is 4WD, there is a driven rear axle and thus HOPE for a proper REAR DRIVE version (minus the clunky front drive stuff). But again, it never came to pass (except for some engineering mule cars based on the Cab Forward LH platform). And then came 2003.....and the release of the 2004 REAR WHEEL DRIVE LX family!!!!! These cars SAVED CHRYSLER. If Chrysler had kept up with the goofy Cab Forward era, you would NOT see any modern Challengers, no Hellcats, no Super Stocks, no Wide Bodies, etc. I couldn't say it enough in this video....these cars BROUGHT CHRYSLER BACK FROM THE BRINK OF EXTINCTION. And yes, it does appear that the end "may" come in 2024 (I've heard Some Things....Hemis may not be dead after all.....stay tuned) but even if that is the end, there are nearly TWO DECADES worth of these awesome Hemi cars to play with for decades to come. Enough of my rant, I do THANK YOU for watching and writing. -Steve Magnante
@@SteveMagnante What turned me into a Mopar fan was my dad's 1960 Fury with a Golden Commando 383 (no cross rams). ROARING dual exhaust! That engine was so powerful that he kept snapping the passenger rear spring and then we'd have to limp home. When did Chrysler add more leafs on the passenger side and could my dad have had a rare, one-year-only RB 383 in that Fury?
Yaaaay ! A Chrysler
Steve, there are four options, as you forgot the 300 SRT8 6.1