The 300M first caught my attention when it debuted in 1998-99.  I test drove a few of them at different times and since then my wife and I have been thinking of owning a 300M as one of our vehicles but the circumstances had not been right - until now.

My 300M Special started innocently, as helping a co-worker shop for a new car after his was totaled.  I picked up a 2003 brochure and saw the Special for the first time.  I was hooked and had to have one.  I had no idea the Special existed – I never saw one before on the road.  I felt a little out of touch with that discovery since this was one of the two cars I was considering to be my next new car.  I had narrowed my choices to the 300M and the Lincoln LS; but I realized that the Lincoln was not really the car I wanted, and after seeing the Special – my decision was clear – get one.

I started researching, calculating and plotting how to get my best deal.  My desire to own this car needed to be balanced by calculated deal making since I wanted to make this dream a reality.  I located a few 2003’s and leftover 2002’s, but had no luck closing the deal I wanted at the three dealerships I visited and the two I spoke with on the phone.  I was disappointed but still wanted to make this happen since there’s a limited supply of the Specials available.

A few weeks went by and then I saw an ad in the newspaper – 2002 300M’s $5500 under invoice.  I called, verified the price and what they still had available since I had last visited.  I wanted the Dark Slate interior and they still had one - Deep Sapphire Blue exterior, moonroof and side airbags.  We went for a test drive on a Saturday morning and negotiated a price that was below my required price.  I got book value for my trade and almost $8000 below dealer invoice.  We took delivery the following Monday with 80 miles on the odometer.

Comparing this car to my previous standard 300M test drives, one can definitely feel differences.  The suspension is tighter, turns feel more precise and power is put to pavement in a different way.  You can feel the wide Michelin Pilot Sports grip the road and the altered tuning of the engine hands out a subtle but noticeable redistribution of power.  The chromed dual exhaust tips emit a snarl each time you dip in the throttle and give those eating your dust a clue that this isn’t the run of the mill sedan.  I would have hoped that Chrysler saw fit to mate a five speed transmission with the engine, even if it was just for the Special, but at least I have the Autostick which makes city driving a lot more fun.

The Special’s exterior enhancements make an already outstanding car jump out in a crowd and even though its 300M cousins are plentiful on the roads – I have yet to see another Special.  The interior ‘carbon fiber’ like trim is more appealing for me, since I was never a fan of Chrysler’s plastic wood.  My only modification to date is adding my name and the 300M Special logo to the dash clock.  I am looking forward to spring and the summer breezes that I will enjoy cruising around.  I find myself taking the long way home each evening and volunteering to run an errand for my wife.  I have enjoyed my brief time with my 300M Special and am looking forward to a long term relationship my 2002 Deep Sapphire Blue/Dark Slate 300M Special.  The Special is everything the 300M is, just described in a louder voice.

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