The new 300 is supposed to cover the waterfront by
replacing three different cars - Concorde, LHS, and
300M. Thus the big price gap for 3 very differently
equipped models. Optioned and trimmed similarly they
would be much closer in price, and also come close to
the pricing of the cars they replace.
Regarding mileage and performance, despite the EPA
numbers, the recent Autoweek article indicated the
Hemi cars they tested got a real-world low of 17mpg
while flogging them in the mountains and the low 30's
cruising on the highway. Impressive figures for a
large performance sedan that does 0-60 in the high
5's.
http://www.autoweek.com/
This car is sure to be a winner for D-C. And since
D-C is gun-shy from the Pacifica introduction, I'll
bet they will load up early inventories with the
cheaper models. But I also predict the experience
with this intro will be the opposite, with most of
their early 300 buyers clamoring for the loaded-up
topline HemiC.
Can't wait to drive one!
Chris H.
60 NY T&C
66 LeBaron
--- W Bell <cbody67tx@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> At the Dallas New Car Show, the presenter said the
> Hemi C sitting on the floor, that everyone was
> crawling in and out of, would list for $34K, but
> fully optioned it would go up to about $38K. Yet
> the base model with the 2.7L V-6 started at $23K.
> That's a lot of price territory with just ONE model
> of car! In the basic pricing of the V-6s, it hits
> the new Buick LaCross dead on too.
>
> One thing troubles me about the new 300s, the
> literature they were passing out listed the EPA
> mileage to be no better than about 25 highway with
> the base 2.7L V-6 and lower with the 3.5 and Hemi.
> I know the prior 300s and LHS with the 2nd gen 3.5L
> V-6 would indicate 30-31mpg on the trip computer at
> 65mph on level road with no wind and 27mpg at 90mph
> on the same conditions, even though they were rated
> at 27mpg highway. Seems as if they're going to have
> to sell a bunch of PT Cruisers and Neons to cover
> that more aerodynamically thirsty and blocky body
> design of the new car. By the same token, the
> current Grand Prix 3.8L V-6 is rated at and will do
> 30mpg on a high speed trip. I would have hoped the
> 300s would have at least been rated as good as the
> previous cars were, but that doesn't seem to be the
> case. Whoops!
>
> But, there was a constant stream of people checking
> out the 300 on the floor. Even the 6 year old kids
> were talking about "HEMI!" plus those a little older
> that this new Hemi is the first one they've been
> able to see in production. Pretty neat.
>
> Just some thoughts,
> W Bell
>
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