Should I buy a 300M?

The wife is thinking of trading in the explorer, for a 2000 Chrysler 300M; we test drove the car and like it . It has 32,000 miles, great condition, fully loaded, and is $17K. From what I have found, reliability is just average. My biggest concern is the transmission. Some Chrysler products seem to have transmission problems. So, does anyone have any personal experience with the 300M, or know if this is a good deal?

Thanks!

well ok i think they want a bit to much for it especially for a 00' but im sure you could get a deal struck up or somthing, as for the tranny's i had a 02' intrepid r/t before my 300m and it has the same autostick trans, well i traded it in with 77,000 miles on the clock and never had a single problem (though they were highway miles) but i do know what you mean with chryslers tranny's my first LH car was a 94, eagle vision and that car had togo cause the trans had a mind of its own,i also had a 95' concorde (same car) no tranny problems but the 3.5 had a bad missfire at 123,000 sio it had togo, the only real problem i have with the 2nd generation LH, cars is my intrepid at 70,000 did not start right it would turn over, fire a couple cylinders and i had to give it al little gas just to get it to fully fire up other wise it would it would stall, ithink it needed a tune up, well anyways i thought i would help,

badassgremlin

As part of your pre-purchase inspection of a 2000 300M, you may want to take a close look at the dashboard in front of the passenger seat where the air bag is located. A number of 1999 (including mine) and 2000 year 300M's have developed cracks in the dashboard skin, around the perimeter of the passenger side air bag compartment. Chrysler dealers have told owners with this problem that the cost of replacing the dash is approximately $1,000. Other than this ugly cosmetic defect with which Chrysler has been decidedly unhelpful, overall, at 68,000 Kms, my experience with the vehicle has been good with no major mechanical problems.

i think that 17k is way to much for a 300m. The reliablity of this car is definatly sub par. The list of things that ive replaced is endless. Make sure you check the carfax report and have a mechanic you trust inspect the car. There are multiple issues in the 99' model because they rushed it into production.

if you are looking for a mix of performance,luxury and style and are willing to spend 17k go with an acura TL or infinity I35

We have a 1999 300M in the family and we've had quite a few problems with it (wheels, tires, brakes, and suspension). This isn't our first Chrysler with problems (also a 94 lebaron that needed a new transmission at 70k).

Also, that price is high for a 2000. I'm kind of partial to Nissans myself but like op012503 said, you can get a lot more car in a TL, I35, Maxima, or something like that for the same money or less.

Get A Lhs Everything Is The Same Except The Body, And It Is Bigger.

Wholly Old thread batman

We have a 1999 300M in the family and we've had quite a few problems with it (wheels, tires, brakes, and suspension). This isn't our first Chrysler with problems (also a 94 lebaron that needed a new transmission at 70k).

Also, that price is high for a 2000. I'm kind of partial to Nissans myself but like op012503 said, you can get a lot more car in a TL, I35, Maxima, or something like that for the same money or less.

Any chrysler will treat you well, if you treat it well, the transmissions are finicky, if you dont use Chrysler branded ATF+4, you will destroy your transmission. If you drive it like a mad person, you will eventually destroy your own tranny, because it is not designed for racing.

It is common for standard brake rotors to warp on the Chrysler LH-Body (Intrepid Concorde LHS, and 300M) cars, the simple solution to this problem is to buy replacement rotors for the 300M with the PHP package(adds more venting in the rotor).

I have never had any suspension issues with the 4 LH-bodys in my family so I cannot comment on that. We had a 1994 Chrysler New Yorker, 1998 Dodge Intrepid ES, 1999 Dodge Intrepid ES, and a 1999 Chrysler 300M, they are a very safe car this is what was left of my old 1999 Dodge Intrepid ES:
http://www.cis.umassd.edu/~u_sgeary/Intrepid/October%20Accident/Pass_Side.jpg

Tire wise I cannot comment either cause non of our LH-Bodys ever had the OEM tires on them cause we bought them used with about 30K miles on them, and the OE tires were only warranted for like 25K miles.

One other common problem is with the radiator fans, for some reason the 1 motor seems just to seize up every 50K miles, but it is a relatively easy repair(under and hour).

Over all the LH-Body Chrysler vehicles are a reliable car, if you are reliable in getting it serviced regularly. There are certain LH-Body cars to stay away from though, Either the Dodge Intrepid or Chrysler Concorde with the 2,7L V6 because the 2.7L engines have and OIL sludge issues, but so didnt many of the 3.0L V6's that toyota used in their Toyota brand and their Upscale Lexus marquee.

Hey I Know it's an old thread but I need to put in my 2cents worth. The 300M is an awsome car it has decent power and is a drivers car. I've never driven any car of this size that is as much fun to drive. If you handle it right it has aspects of a sports car , but still wraps you in luxury that you wont get in a smaller car. The rear seat is limo size.You have to drive it don't beat it and it will treat you well.The worst part of the car so far is the stupid wheel centers that keep falling out. It's irritating but no reason not to buy one.

Late responder to this as well, obviously, but go with the 300 if everything checks out on it. The 300 is a sporty luxury car, not a sports car or just a luxury car. I have a 2k concorde LXi with the 3.2L in it. It has gotten a new trans and a new radiator. Radiator was due to me being an idiot and putting it in the ditch.

Cars have issues that come up, fact of life in anything you buy. You cant just buy something and expect it to always be perfect, but if you take care of your car, it will take care of you. You drive it like an idiot it is going to break down if you don't be sure everything is always in top shape.

good said