Right now’s Good Value or No Cube 300M was dubbed the “5-meter” automobile because of its general size being beneath that quantity, permitting it to attraction to European consumers. Let’s see how a lot attraction this still-big American sedan has now.
The consensus relating to yesterday’s 1988 Toyota 4X4 Pickup was that, simply as a bit child imagines evils beneath when being tucked into mattress, the truck would possibly harbor risks down under. Its mattress actually confirmed indicators of rust, even when the remainder of the truck’s prime aspect appeared comparatively unscathed by time and its onerous odometer studying. That every one induced some consternation within the feedback, however the truck’s $4,000 price ticket received sufficient of you over to grant the considerably rusty Toyota a strong 56 % Good Value win.
Do you ever marvel the place all the favored stuff goes after it’s now not common? iPods was once just about all over the place, from gyms to lengthy airplane flights to household dinners involving angsty teenagers. That every one appeared to cease when the iPhone was launched, and now you hardly ever see iPods out within the wild. The place the heck did all of them go?
This form of pressured obsolescence occurs within the automotive world on a regular basis. Take immediately’s 2004 Chrysler 300M as a first-rate instance. Upon seeing it, I’ll wager your first response was, “Wait, they constructed these all the best way as much as 2004?” I do know, proper?
The 300M was one in all Chrysler’s LH vehicles, launched within the early ’90s and carrying by way of a second era to 2004 when the final of the road—the 300M, its sister, the Chrysler Concorde, and Dodge’s Intrepid have been lastly changed by the Daimler-parented 300 and Dodge Charger. These superseding vehicles featured out there V8 energy in a succesful and comfy RWD chassis clothed in horny mob boss bodywork. That stood in stark distinction to the cab-forward “Neon-on-steroids” look of the LH vehicles they supplanted. As such, the LH vehicles have acquired brief shrift in individuals’s reminiscence banks, which is a disgrace as a result of they, particularly the 300M, are sort of cool.
Internally, the 300M was known as the “5-meter” automobile as its general size was critically set to attraction to the European market the place the corporate hoped to make better inroads after some success exporting Jeeps. Right here within the U.S., it was the lightest and shortest of all LH fashions however provided simply as a lot inside house as its siblings, with each wheelbase and cabin size being the identical as the just about foot-longer Concorde and Intrepid.
Stateside, the one drivetrain to be provided within the 300M was Chrysler’s 3.5-liter SOHC 12-valve V6 mounted longitudinally and backed up by a four-speed automated transaxle. Europeans bought a 2.7-liter engine as a result of every little thing is smaller over there. Massaged particularly for the 300M, the all-alloy 3.5 makes a wholesome 253 horsepower and 250 lb-ft of torque. Different notable specs embrace impartial suspension and disc brakes throughout, together with loads of energy equipment within the cabin to make the automobile really feel fancy.
This one is a real survivor. Sporting simply 45,622 miles, it presents virtually as new. The Graphite Metallic paint seems to be with out flaw, and neither the chromed manufacturing facility wheels nor the headlamp covers present their age. Including to the plusses, the 17-inch Ironman tires look to be pretty contemporary acquisitions.
Within the cabin, it’s a lot the identical story. Sure, it’s alarmingly plasticky in right here, however that’s just about par for the course on any American automobile of the period. Some put on is obvious on the leather-based of the motive force’s seat and on the steering wheel and shifter, however nothing is actually off-putting right here. The again bench seems to have by no means been used.
General, it comes throughout as an enormous, comfy old-school cruiser. Based on the advert, it automobile comes with a one-owner historical past, no disclosed mechanical points, and a clear title. What would possibly such a forgotten blast from the previous be price?
The vendor providing the automobile asks $8,995 for its buy, and CarFax, the place it’s being marketed, calls {that a} “GOOD VALUE.” Ha, ha, foolish CarFax. We don’t abide by that firm’s opinion; we make our personal snap judgments.
To that finish, what’s your tackle this 300M and that $8,995 asking? Does that really feel like a deal? Or, for that a lot, ought to this cab-forward Chrysler return to being forgotten?
You resolve!
CarFax Classifieds out of Gaheysville, Virginia, or go right here if the advert disappears.
H/T to GreenN_Gold for the hookup!
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