Las Vegas, NV- The 2011 Chrysler 300C is a welcome breath of fresh air for the aging luxury sedan, and a justifiable re-charge the legions of loyal 300 owners have been waiting for. From Schnizzle to SIZZLE, this car hypes safety and technology as the new style beat. The exterior styling is a home-run, with new lines that give the 300 a face-lift without changing the character of the car.  The beaded-high-density headlamps and subtle reshaping of the front grill are the perfect nip and tuck to the former tough-guy squareness of the past.  The paint is rich and luxurious with a decent palette of his and her colors. From the back-end, the trunk lid houses a back-up camera with a Cross-path detection system camera which captures vehicles approaching you from the rear sides before you back into them. Front and Rear Park assist provides mapping lines in the camera and audible beeps when your bumper is too close for comfort. [caption id="attachment_3608" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="90 degree door openings"][/caption] The rims on the 300C are 18″ chrome with an option for 20″ which really flush-out the look of the car in it’s true style. Upon entering the cabin you immediately notice the doors open to a 90 degree angle. However the deep, deep door-sills in the rear may take getting used to for those with knee and lower back issues. * While seated in the back you will enjoy spacious head and legroom, along with heated seats, rear vents and a power port for your laptop. The 60/40 split fold-down seat still allows for hauling big, long and over-sized items securely inside the cabin. The 300 interior is completely redone with great attention to detail, fit and finish.  The instrument cluster is clean and ergonomically designed to keep your eyes on the road and hands on the wheel. Your fingers can control almost everything from the steering wheel, a heated, leather-wrapped steering wheel I might add. The dash and trim are a combination of leather, faux-animal skin and plastic which fools the eye but still feels a bit cheap to the touch on the lower dash, side seat cover and kick-panel door housings.  While on the subject of the floor, I want to mention a bit about house-keeping… The beige carpeting on the floor is one of only 2 items I really took great exception to, as almost every other car manufacturer has given us black carpet to keep the rug clean. Chrysler missed here, so buy some black mats. The stereo delivers an upgraded sound system from Alpine, either a 6 or 9 speaker system delivering 276 or 509 watts of sound with an upgraded sub-woofer in the Sound Group. Some of the best features of the new 300C are in the huge touch-screen navigation and multi-media center, giving you up to 7 phone selections, and a host of features to customize your music selections. The heated and cooled cup holders, double-decker glove-box and over-sized moon-roof give credence to the face you are in a luxury ride, but one costing less that fifty grand. The 363hp 5.7l 8 cyl. HEMI still kicks butt when pressed into service, now utilizing the VVT technology which delivers far better fuel economy on the open road 25mpg than the paltry 16 around town. If you are buying (or leasing) the 300C you need to enjoy the open road, rear-wheel drive smooth ride.  Tight turning radius is easily handled without a struggle at low speeds, and tightens at higher speeds. The new front and rear suspension diminished most of the body roll on hard cornering, leaving my butt in the chair. The cabin is very quiet, even on a day of 40 mile winds I heard and felt nothing as I watched the trees bend and waited for the wind wake from passing tractor trailers.  Nothing bothered the 300C, even at speeds pushing 90mph. This attention to detail gives the 300C a more solid feel similar to the Lexus GS and LS models.  Extra insulation, triple door seals and acoustic windshield enhance the sound-proof cabin. The warranty is 3 years or 36k basic and 5 years or 100k miles for the power-train. Not as alluring as the former 7/70k, 7/100k or Lifetime of it’s predecessors or 10years of the competition, but certainly in line with GM and Ford. All in all, I encourage everyone to take a test-drive in the new 300. Disregarding the carpeting being too light and the abysmal city fuel economy (16mpg), I give it a 4 out of 5 STARS in the MYCARLADY ratings. *(Hint: Lift and swing your bent legs out first, using the back of the front seats for leverage. The doors open so wide, you’ll hurt yourself reaching out to use the door for balance.) ***CLICK HERE TO SEE THE YOUTUBE VIDEO OF MY 2011 CHRYSLER 300C TEST DRIVE WITH CO-PILOT BOB D. ————————————————————————————— If you need any car buying, selling, trading or financing advice on any new or used vehicle, please do not hesitate to email me at sarahlee@mycarlady.com,mvides422@gmail.com,carlady@cox.net, sarahlee@mycarlady.com,mvides422@gmail.com,carlady@cox.net, sarahlee@mycarlady.com,mvides422@gmail.com,carlady@cox.net , sarahlee@mycarlady.com,mvides422@gmail.com,carlady@cox.net, sarahlee@mycarlady.com,mvides422@gmail.com,carlady@cox.net or give me a call; 702-521-7546. I’m here to help you understand the car business, address fleet management and the latest in automotive technology and advice is ALWAYS free. Sarah Lee is an automotive executive with 22+ years of experience. She writes about Cars, and is a staunch consumer advocate on car related subjects. MyCarlady offers private, auto-related services to help you maintain your personal or commercial vehicles. Call Sarah Lee for more information: 702-521-7546 ]]>