Today Good price or no dice The 300M was dubbed the “5-meter car” because its overall length was less than that, making it attractive to European buyers. Let’s see how much appeal this still-large American sedan has now.
The consensus regarding yesterday 1988 Toyota 4X4 pickup was that, just as a small child imagines the evil beneath when put to bed, the truck below could hold danger. The bed definitely showed signs of rust, although the rest of the top of the truck appeared relatively undamaged by time and grueling mileage. This all caused some consternation in the comments, but the $4,000 price won enough of you to give the somewhat rusty Toyota a solid 56 percent Good Price win.
Have you ever wondered where all the popular things go when they’re no longer popular? iPods used to be almost everywhere, from the gym to long plane rides to family dinners with angsty teenagers. That all seemed to be over when the iPhone was introduced, and these days iPods are rarely seen in the wild. Where the hell did they all go?
This type of forced obsolescence happens all the time in the automotive world. Take today’s 2004 Chrysler 300M as a prime example. I bet your first reaction when you saw it was, “Wait a minute, they built this by 2004?” I know right?
The 300M was one of Chrysler’s LH cars, introduced in the early ’90s and continued into a second generation until 2004, when the final examples in the line – the 300M, its sister, the Chrysler Concorde and Dodge’s Intrepid – were eventually replaced by Daimler. Parents of 300 and Dodge Charger. These successor cars featured available V8 power in a capable and comfortable RWD chassis, dressed in sexy mob boss bodywork. This was in stark contrast to the forward-facing, neon-on-steroids look of the left-hand drive cars they replaced. As a result, the LH cars have only faded in people’s minds for a short time, which is a shame because they, especially the 300M, are kind of cool.
Internally, the 300M was referred to as the “5 Meter Car” as its overall length was crucially designed to appeal to the European market, where the company hoped to achieve greater success after some success exporting Jeeps. Here in the US, it was the lightest and shortest of all LH models, but offered just as much interior space as its siblings, with the wheelbase and cabin length identical to those of the almost a foot longer Concorde and Intrepid.
In the United States, the only powertrain offered in the 300M was Chrysler’s longitudinal 3.5-liter SOHC 12-valve V6 and backed by a four-speed automatic transmission. The Europeans got a 2.7 liter engine because everything is smaller there. The 3.5-liter all-alloy engine, massaged specifically for the 300M, produces a whopping 253 hp and 250 lb-ft of torque. Other notable specifications include independent suspension and disc brakes all around, as well as numerous electrical accessories in the interior that give the car a stylish look.
This one is a real survivor. With only 45,622 miles on the clock, it appears almost like new. The graphite metallic paint appears to be flawless and neither the factory chrome rims nor the headlight covers show their age. In addition to the plus points, the 17-inch Ironman tires seem to be a fairly new purchase.
It’s similar in the cabin. Yes, it’s shockingly plasticky here, but that’s pretty much normal for any American car of this era. There are some signs of wear on the leather of the driver’s seat as well as the steering wheel and gear lever, but nothing is particularly off-putting here. The back seat appears to have never been used.
Overall, it feels like a big, comfortable, old-school cruiser. According to the ad, the car is 1 owner, has no disclosed mechanical issues, and has a clean title. What could such a forgotten blast from the past be worth?
The dealer offering the car is asking $8,995 to purchase it, and CarFax, where it is advertised, calls that a “GOOD PRICE.” Ha ha, stupid CarFax. We do not adhere to the opinions of this company; We make our own snap judgments.
In this context, what do you think of the $300 million and the $8,995? Does this feel like a deal? Or should this cab-forward Chrysler be forgotten again?
You decide!
CarFax Classifieds Get out of Gaheysville, Virginia, or go Here when the display disappears.
H/T to GreenN_Gold for the connection!
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