What's the general consensus on the Chrysler 300?

I currently have a 99 Chevy Cavalier which has been a great car, but it's getting older and I have a second child on the way so I will need more space. I really like the classy look of the Chrysler 300 and I have heard good things about the performance, but I am a bit concerned about other things I've heard such as poor gas mileage, body paint and electrical issues. I would just like to hear some opinions from owners of the car, or friends of owners if I could. Thanks!

Are you referring to the 300M or the 300? The M was built from 1999 - 2004 and the 300 from 2005 on. Which one? This is the 300M forum. The 300M has been a good car.

I'm sorry I wasn't clear on that. I was referring to the 300...looking for something newer, but if the 300M is that much better, I would definitely look around for one with low mileage, good condition, etc.

Understood. There has to be a 300 forum somewhere here and many other places. Google is your friend!

I currently have a 99 Chevy Cavalier which has been a great car, but it's getting older and I have a second child on the way so I will need more space. I really like the classy look of the Chrysler 300 and I have heard good things about the performance, but I am a bit concerned about other things I've heard such as poor gas mileage, body paint and electrical issues. I would just like to hear some opinions from owners of the car, or friends of owners if I could. Thanks!
I will tell you what about the gas milage. I just drove from New York City, to Lewiston Maine on a full tank, thats 300 miles plus, i can't complain. But when i tried to catch a BMW that passed me on I84 in Massachusetts i had the elecrronic governor shut off fuel at 114 mph, caranddriver swares it can hit 139 or 136 mph drag limited, so i was not impressed, why did i have an electronic governed vehicle. I respect caranddrivers engineers, so you can imagin how dissapointed i was. I actually bought the car based on caranddrivers claim of it's top speed!
http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/car/00q1/1999_chrysler_300m-long-term_road_test

The base 300M is speed limited to 118 mph. The Performance Package removes the speed limiter. The Special also does not have a speed limiter.

By the way, Lance, welcome to the 300M club. I see you got the information you were looking for.

By the way, Lance, welcome to the 300M club. I see you got the information you were looking for.
Thank you Tinman, and yes i did get the info i needed and it was in the FAQ's right on the top (What about PHG/PHP?) on the site. That info was so helpful, but where did the Admins get that info from i would love to know, Chrysler?

I've been a member of that site for over 6 years now. Folks on that site just flat-out know pretty much everything about the 300M there is to know. We (not me, but a collective "we") have met with executives from Chrysler in Auburn Hills, toured the Brampton, Ontario plant where the M's were manufactured, and had many group gatherings to exchange information. That website is pretty much the most definitive forum on the 300M.

I've been a member of that site for over 6 years now. Folks on that site just flat-out know pretty much everything about the 300M there is to know. We (not me, but a collective "we") have met with executives from Chrysler in Auburn Hills, toured the Brampton, Ontario plant where the M's were manufactured, and had many group gatherings to exchange information. That website is pretty much the most definitive forum on the 300M.
Yes Tinman i am trying to get help fropm those guys now on how to swap my PCM for one with that Performance Handling Group/Package thanks!

See you on the other site.

Yes Tinman i am trying to get help from those guys now on how to swap my PCM for one with that Performance Handling Group/Package thanks!

Lets go a little further on this by referring to your quote from another thread on this board from another board.

Q: What about PHG/PHP?
A: The Performance Handling Group/Package (PHG or PHP) includes stiffer suspension, firm feel steering, improved brakes, V-rated Michelins, and no 118 mph top speed limiter. Pros: a good set of handling upgrades for the price, and some owners of non-PHP cars have reported vibration problems from the Goodyear tires ('01 M's without PHP now also come with Michelins). Cons: a more jarring ride over bumps. If a smooth ride is important to you, test drive both before you buy PHP.

Notice you only bold texted the tires and the fact the package doesn't have the speed limiter, what about the rest of the parts that make up the package? Are you going to buy and swap out the suspension, steering and braking parts too to complete the package? That means new Struts, new Springs, new Steering Rack along with what other steering/suspension components to go along with the package, new Calipers, better Brake Pads, and Rotors, as well as the higher speed rated Tires and the PCM. And all for the sake of a higher top speed?

Try finding the Performance Package Shocks and Springs from anywhere other than a dealer, especially for a car that is 10 years old! Same thing with the Steering Rack, Tie Rods, and other beefed up suspension pieces you may need to find but chances there are going to be slim, you might get lucky and find the brakes and pads for it, but I certainly wouldn't go on a raid in a wrecking yard to find all that stuff and put on used parts of unknown quality and condition.

That is why they call it a "Package", sure you can swap the PCM and get away with eliminating the limiter, and bolting on the appropriate speed rated rubber, but leaving the rest of the pieces stock can be just plain dangerous!

Sure your car may seem to handle fine up to the speed limiter, but what if you do bypass it and then try it out only to find the steering starts getting twitchy at 125, or the front/back end starts feeling light because the car is starting to lift at 130 from the flow of air going under it, and heaven forbid you have to panic stop at 139 MPH and the stock brakes start to fade because they can not scrub off the speed of a 3500+ pound rocket because they were not designed to haul down that mass as efficiently at that kind of speed, even at 114 the stock brakes will be most likely marginal at best.

Chrysler created that package that way for a good reason, so you can go that fast if you want and feel reasonably safe doing so, but if you are not going to follow through with the rest of the conversion then you would be better off keeping the car as is and go find one that has the package already installed from the factory.

Food for thought.

just putting my two cents in on a 1999 Chrysler 300M we had. Our 300M had 176k+ miles still going strong with minimal problems. after all those miles it still ran great, started up every time and had a very comfortable ride. The biggest problem we had was probably the A/C going out a couple times. We sold it to my sister that needed a front wheel drive car after she went in the ditch with her Rear wheel drive Mercury Grand Marquis.

Melv2,

May I comment on your sisters Mercury Grand Marquis going into a ditch because it was rear wheel drive!

I have driven rear wheel drive Fords and Mercury full size sedans since 1969 and we currently drive a 2001 with 190,000 miles on it.

I have had a place near a ski area in Vermont since 1964! I have driven my rear drive cars there for 50 years! I drive in all weather, all winter.

I use snow tires on the rear.

Experianced2, My sisters Mercury Grand Marquis went into the ditch because its a rear wheel drive car that she does not know how to drive in the snow/ice with.
The 1999 Chrysler 300M is a front wheel drive car. The picture you attached looks like a 300/C which has a different drive train. 1999 Chrysler 300M's and a Chrysler 300/C are 2 different cars. with 2 different drivetrains.