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Like many people, I fell in love
with the Chrysler 300M the very first time I saw the commercial
on TV. The styling of the 300M was simply beautiful and
the thought of a 250HP, "North American-made" family
sedan was just too good to be true. Yes, there was the Pontiac
Bonneville or Grand Prix and such, but none had the great looks
of the 300M.
In early 1999, I began my search
to find and hopefully purchase my 300M. Unfortunately, I
failed to take in consideration the cost of this fine looking
machine. To make a long story short, I settled for the Chrysler
LHS. Although, not exactly the 300M, I really enjoyed driving
it for three years. Needless to say, I never could get the
300M out of my system.
In the spring of 2002, I decided
to visit the Chrysler website and see what they had new for 2002.
To my total surprise, I found not one version of the 300M, but
THREE! The original, the Pro-Am and the SPECIAL. If
I had not just bought a new set of golf clubs, I probably would
be driving the Pro-Am, but as fate would have it, I read and re-read
the details regarding the 300M Special.
Not only did the lower profile
and larger wheels attract me, but also the fact that it would
be 5HP faster than the original was enough for me. I then
began my quest to hopefully be the first in Topeka to own a 300M
SPECIAL.
From Topeka to Wichita and back
to Topeka, I checked the Chrysler dealerships and no one had the
300M Special. Of course I was told that they could order
me one, but it would take at least 4 - 6 weeks. Well, the
Special bug had bit me and I could not wait that long. Finally,
after extensive Internet searches, I took a drive to Kansas City,
Mo. On a sunny, Saturday afternoon and after checking 3
dealerships, I decided to check one last dealership in South KC.
When I pulled up to the lot, I
parked right in front of a black 300M. Of course a salesman
quickly approached me and asked if he could help me. I stated,
that I had been searching all day for the 300M Special and no
one seem to have one or even seen it. To my amazement, the
salesman says, "well here's one right here. We just
brought it out and parked it an hour ago". Talk
about fate! It was the black 300M I parked in front of!
The pictures on the web and in
the commercials just did not do the car justice. This was
one of the sleekest, best-looking luxury sports sedans on the
road today. Now I had been a big Lexus fan, but even
the Lexus did not hold a candle to this beauty. The Special's
low profile, 18" Wheels with high performance tires, dual
exhaust with chrome tips and interior (pretty much the same as
my LHS), simply set this car off.
Now, this Special did not have
a sunroof nor did it have the rear spoiler. Also, because
of the 18" wheels, this Special did not come with chrome
wheels. All three of these items were essential to having
a complete 300M for me. When, I mentioned this to the salesman,
to my added surprise, he said no problem, if I wanted them they
could be added.
Now here's the last part.
The salesman told me that when this car arrived, it had some minor
damage to the roof and driver's side door. Of course the
repairs had been made, but they could not sale the car as new!
To make another long story short, I finally received my 2002 300M
Special, with sunroof and rear spoiler for $5k+ less than sticker
price of a new 300M. By the way, I settled for not having
18" chrome wheels, just so I could get the car. Those will
come this Spring.
This has truly been a marriage
made in heaven. I simply enjoy everything about the 300M
Special except the fact that it doesn't have 300+Hp, but 255Hp
isn't anything to sneeze at. It's such a great car to drive
and the "head-turning" and the .."man, that's a
great looking car..", never gets old.
I'm glad that Chrysler worked out
most of the bugs that the earlier 300M's had. After 12K
miles, I continue to find reasons to leave the house, just so
I can get in the Special and cruise the town.
The 300M Special has truly been
a Special car for me.
Dr. Hawk (aka Dracy Jenkins)
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