General Comments:
Car was my high school graduation gift.
It’s so nice to be able to drive a real American car with American styling and proportions that can dominate all others in the same price range.
Exterior: best looking sedan on the road. So much more glamorous and expressive than those wedge things from the EU and me too blob cars from Japan. Some people (nerds) say it’s too flash. But subtlety is for the meek. It’s un-American.
Interior: size and sound restriction is beyond par. the quality of the materials, which is usually a huge weak point in Yank cars, is better than anything else in the 30-40K range and even threatens some up market makes. Will get even better with 2008 redesign.
Performance: 0-60 in 5.6 sec. with a top sped of (no governor) 170!! Suspension hits just the right spot between American jello and euro marble. It’s Wonderful on two-lane country roads in PA. Has moderate body lean that flattens out near the apex of the corner. Predominate handling trait is mild under steer that can be corrected with heavy right foot. RWD is superior to fwd in all aspects unless you have no driving skill. Achieving 17 mpg around the traffic chocked narrow roads and hills of Pittsburgh with its rear tires usually on fire is no small feat. Why would anybody buy a disposable, soulless Camry Accord or Limp-ala over this?
16th May 2006, 08:32
I admit the bold styling of the 300 is impressive and definitely gets attention. But at heart this is just another huge, heavy gas eating beast of a machine. My flavor is for the smaller, more nimble hi-tech cars and to me the 300 is just too big and ungainly. The other problem is that the windows are so small it feels like you're driving in a coffin! If you enjoy it that's great, but whenever I see these cars I can't help but curse at them for making gas prices so high.