1999 Chrysler 300M Review

After more than three decades, a Chrysler 300 ``letter-series'' car finally has arrived as an early 1999 model. Called the 300M, the racy car is engineered and designed for 30 international markets, including Europe, Brazil and the Middle East.

Chrysler also hopes that the $28,300 300M will steal sales in this country from foreign automakers ranging from Lexus and Audi to BMW and Acura.

Curiously, the 300M is the type of international-style performance auto industry observers feel might result from Chrysler's affiliation with Daimler-Benz, which makes the Mercedes--although the 300M was designed long before talks about that affiliation became serious.

The 300M is about 10 inches shorter than Chrysler's comparably priced 1999 LHS sedan to make its size compatible with tighter foreign roads, parking spaces and garages. Happily, the 300M still has limousine-style rear seat room; shortening the car only took space from its still-large trunk.

Despite the international marketing plans, the 300M clearly is an American performance car, meant for blasting along interstate highways while occupants stretch out in its roomy interior. It shares major components with Chrysler's stunning new ``LH'' sedans: the LHS, Dodge Intrepid and Chrysler Concorde.

The 300M costs less than some foreign rivals but is loaded with equipment, including a leather interior, high-output V-6, sport suspension, anti-lock brakes, traction control and many power accessories. There are also heated front seats, AM/FM/cassette with CD player and Chrysler's AutoStick automatic transmission, which can be shifted like a clutchless manual.

The classic fire-breathing 1955-65 Chrysler 300 models were big rear-wheel-drive coupes with massive V-8 engines. But times change, so the 300M is a slick front-drive sedan with a high-output V-6.

While the 300M is quite different from the much heavier old 300 models, it accelerates faster than some of them and has far better handling and braking.

Moreover, the 300M is no gas-guzzler like the old models, delivering an estimated 18 m.p.g. in the city and 27 on highways.

The 300M gets Chrysler's new 2.7-liter, 200-horsepower V-6 for most foreign markets. Happily, U.S. buyers of the 300M need not worry about stiff foreign taxes on larger engines. They thus get a hot-rod, 253-horsepower version of Chrysler's 3.5-liter V-6, which powers the Plymouth Prowler retro hot rod and is the highest-output LH sedan engine.

The 300M also gets the sportiest LH model suspension as standard. And U.S. buyers can get a $255 special Performance Handling Package that is standard on foreign market 300M models and contains revised steering, stiffer suspension, grippier tires on 16-inch wheels and upgraded brakes.

However, the 300M's standard all-independent suspension and larger 17-inch wheels provide a smoother, quieter ride for typical U.S. driving, and handling and braking are quite good. So is the supple ride.

Chrysler's classic letter-series cars began with the 1955 C-300--first mass-produced 300-horsepower car--and ended with the 1965 300L model, which had 360 horsepower. The 1950s 300 models were the first U.S. muscle cars, but all 300s were expensive, fire-breathing coupes with large, powerful V-8s and muscular styling.

Legendary auto tester Tom McCahill wrote that the first 300 was a ``hard-boiled, magnificent piece of semi-competition transportation, built for the real automotive connoisseur.''br>
Never mind that the first 300 came only with a two-speed automatic transmission and had no tachometer. It could hit 130 m.p.h. and debuted at a time when the largest, costliest cars got the highest-horsepower engines.

A hand-picked Chrysler team came up with the 1955 300 because the automaker had no sports car to compete with the fairly new Chevrolet Corvette and brand-new Ford Thunderbird two-seaters.

So the team put a massive Chrysler Imperial grille on a clean-looking Chrysler New Yorker coupe and gave it a race-style suspension, posh interior and dual carburetor 300-horsepower version of Chrysler's legendary ``Hemi'' V-8.

The first 300 model got its name from its horsepower rating. Technically it was called the C-300, but most just called it the ``300.'' There never was a ``300A.'' The first 300 and 1956 300B dominated NASCAR stock car racing and Daytona Beach land speed trials. The 1957 300C offered up to 390 horsepower.

Chrysler mentions the 300M's heritage in promoting the car, partly because most auto buffs know about the awesome early letter-series cars. But there are only a few classic 300 model touches on the 300M, such as a few checkered outside badges similar to those on the 1955-56 300 models. Disappointingly, the interior contains no 300-series identification.

The 1955-56 Chrysler 300s had severely overboosted power steering that was far too light and provided no road feel. The 300M's steering feels very light without the Performance Handling Package, but is precise and provides road feeback. The car stops surely and quickly, although brake pedal action is rather stiff.

The interior is mostly quiet, although some road noise infiltrates it. Five tall adults fit easily, and both front and rear seats are large and comfortable. Easily gripped chromed interior door handles are a nice touch, as is the classy-looking analog clock in the center of the dashboard.

The retro-style sports sedan gauges are easy to read and controls are nicely located. However, sound system controls are annoyingly small. The flip-out front cupholders look strong, and power window and mirror controls are strategically placed on the driver's door.

The overhead-camshaft 253-horsepower V-6 emits a nice snarl when pushed, and propels the 300M from 0-60 m.p.h. in a quick 7.8 seconds. It works with a very slick automatic, but the transmission shifter acts sloppy when moved from Park to Reverse.

The nicely shaped trunk has a flat floor and low opening, with a lid that moves up well out of the way.

The few options include a $795 sunroof and $600 chromed wheels.

It is projected that about 20,000 300M models will be sold annually--a figure that tops the entire production of the 1955-65 300 letter-series models, which found 17,007 buyers.

For the most part, the 300M is a worthy successor to its thundering predecessors. personality.