STUD or DUD: Is The 2011 Chrysler 300 Going To Win YOU Over?

It wasn't so long ago that the Chrysler 300 was a class leader. At the time, the automotive press adored its good looks, decent price and spacious cabin. And it wasn't just the press' favorite either.

Buyers went out in droves and picked up the 300. Then, the modifying began. Custom grilles, custom interiors, custom wheels, custom tinting on the lights. Name it and the aftermarket had a part for it, it was insane.

The country had gone Chrysler Crazy.

Although the love for the Chrysler was relatively short lived, it quickly became an automotive icon. Hell, some colleagues even nicknamed it the "Bentley 300" since so many people thought at first glance it was rather Bentley-like.

Now that Chrysler has gone through its painful bankruptcy and is beginning to unleash a trove of new products to win back consumers, we've seen plenty of great looking and attractive alternatives. Take, for example, the 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee, 2011 Dodge Durango and soon-to-be-in-the-US Fiat 500.

Question is: does this all-new and improved Chrysler 300 turn your head? Is this a car that will get you behind the wheel of another Chrysler product?


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edeus123 - 12/5/2010 2:35:21 PM

+1 Boost

Considering how the original look, I would say a stud.

Joe_Limon - 12/5/2010 2:40:22 PM

+18 Boost

you left your caps lock on

edeus123 - 12/5/2010 5:14:19 PM

0 Boost

Laugh out Loud....Bill you got me rolling. Its cool though, because we are people. It just comes off like you are yelling at us. Hey Bill, can I ask you a question, well Its actually a comment. You appear to be in your mid fifties or older, because a lot of the mature group seem to make that same mistake not knowing that it comes off as yelling.

800over - 12/10/2010 1:58:28 PM

+1 Boost

Hey Bill, You're missing a couple of verbs....

WorldofLuxury - 12/5/2010 2:41:31 PM

+1 Boost

a lot better than the Sebring, I mean the 200!

This looks great, actually!

I95SPEEDINGTICKETS - 12/5/2010 2:49:38 PM

+5 Boost

Bill

Shouting does not add credibility to your comments.

If anything, it convinces others that you are a few sandwiches short of a picnic basket.

rxh8me9000 - 12/5/2010 3:00:21 PM

+5 Boost

This is too boring. Besides the headlights,taillights and grill its the same car,same shape,same stance.Its too plain,reminds me of the Ford 500. When the last 300 came out it was a poor mans bentley with its looks and people flocked to buy them.Now, it looks like this should have been out before the last 300.

theman440 - 12/6/2010 12:41:23 AM

0 Boost

You need glasses pal...

geoff448 - 12/5/2010 3:17:46 PM

+6 Boost

*sigh* I hate chrysler, but im curious of what fiat will do with them in the future. I agree with rxh8me9000, this is so boring, its the same car and it underwhelms me to look at it

91z4me - 12/5/2010 5:22:41 PM

+1 Boost

FWIW most refreshes are simply minor cosmetic improvements on what is essentially the same car.

AgentOrange - 12/5/2010 3:35:25 PM

+8 Boost

At least it'll give Jeremy Clarkson something to make fun of.

t_bone - 12/5/2010 3:53:33 PM

-3 Boost

Dud because I hate this one less than the original...and I figure I must the opposite of the type of person to buy it.

Autoegr525 - 12/5/2010 4:00:29 PM

+7 Boost

The front end looks generic, like what they do in movies/commercials where they don't want to show the brand of car so they take off the badges and put a plain grill on

mini22 - 12/5/2010 4:45:48 PM

-2 Boost

A nice improvement over the original. Looks classy.

Willis - 12/5/2010 4:58:56 PM

+1 Boost

I like everything about except for the mirror design: ugly. Yes, a trivial detail. I wish they'd planted them in the doors like on the new Mercedes CLS or old BMW Z3 for example because that would look better on the design in my opinion and give the car a tad of optical sportiness. Right now those mirrors, they way they're designed and attached to the car, just bug me!

Other than that, love the design of the car inside and out.

528i - 12/5/2010 5:13:56 PM

-3 Boost

first they ripped off the Roy Rolls front end and now the old Audi A8.

uaw_lax - 12/5/2010 6:34:49 PM

+1 Boost

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Bmw8ter - 12/5/2010 6:41:03 PM

+1 Boost

What's up with that third nipple down by the fog lights? I understand other manufacturers have added tech on the front for their various gimmicks but, I don't remember anyone making them that obvious. They might as well offset the grill to the left while they're at it. That's hideous.

motor1 - 12/5/2010 6:48:55 PM

+1 Boost

Definitely not a third light. I've seen it before on other vehicles but never quite found out what it was, like here, on a 3 Series BMW: http://www.pistonheads.com/pics/news/14761/bmw_3-series-L.jpg

If anyone could help it would be greatly appreciated. Night vision camera maybe?

0to60 - 12/6/2010 1:52:07 PM

+1 Boost

adaptive cruise control and they should have hidden it in the middle part of the grill instead of next to the foglamp.

800over - 12/10/2010 1:56:51 PM

0 Boost

Hey Billfromfuckhead. Some people think you're a CHUCKLEHEAD, while ironically some people think you're just GERIATRIC, your posts would be better if your typing didn't make you a TOOL!.

freeagent - 12/5/2010 6:45:18 PM

+1 Boost

Looks like a nice but mild update to the exterior. The main issue, however, is the interior, so we will need to see what it looks like in there.

motor1 - 12/5/2010 6:54:01 PM

+1 Boost

I think more could have been done with the rear to stop it from looking like a hearse IMO.

delan - 12/5/2010 8:14:59 PM

+3 Boost

I don't like the generic headlights with the LEDS thrown in. Audi.....what have you done?!?! Ever since the R8, everyone finds it necessary to add the xmas lights' as I call it, and think it's cute. It works for Audi.....and maybe MB. The others.........ehhh

motor1 - 12/5/2010 11:37:05 PM

+1 Boost

Spot on

nguyenvuminh - 12/5/2010 8:42:58 PM

+1 Boost

For those that like a sense of past Americana such as muscle cars, tail fins, drive-thru burger, etc. this hits the spot. For the rest of the car market (i.e. other than US market) which is actually the real world that will keep a car company alive and healthy, this isn't going to sell very well. I think it'll be fine in the US market but I have a hard time seeing it selling in any noticeable volume elsewhere.

LUXCAR32 - 12/5/2010 9:42:05 PM

+2 Boost

I think what is bothering me about this redesign is that it looks like they took the current model and decided, oh lets put a curvy front onto this square body. The front and the back could be two different cars. The lack of consistency in the design language kind of ruins it for me. Also the LEDs look really cheap and are clearly a quick gimmick to try and get some extra sales from that current trend.

Lexus - 12/6/2010 12:08:14 AM

+1 Boost

I don't like it and think it ugly and a step back from the current Chrysler 300. The reason why the current Chrysler 300 look really nice is because it basically a cheap ripped off the Rolls Royce. And now they trying to bring this out and add LED to it, it just look really weird and tacky. DUD.

theman440 - 12/6/2010 12:39:07 AM

+2 Boost

I think that all of you bashers are scared, scared that Chrysler is NOT going away and they will be building great cars that people WANT to buy. Sergio brought Fiat back from the dead and he will do the same with Chrysler. Go ahead and deboost me now...

wins555 - 12/6/2010 3:14:30 AM

+1 Boost

Is this a commodity or non-commodity car? Generic! Bah!

DallasTheo - 12/6/2010 4:15:26 AM

+5 Boost

This refresh will buy Chrysler some time and income until it can introduce truly new and competitive products. The 300 will continue to appeal to those who want big, traditional, "American-looking" cars with some bling (older customers and those who like to trick-out a big car). Will it be a hands-down winner for those wanting some state-of-the-art car? I doubt it. But will it be good enough to generate positive commments and income for Chrysler for two-to-three years? Yes.

Remember, Ford has taught everyone that an older vehicle can be thoroughly updated (Mustang, Focus, Taurus, Edge) to the point it is hailed as a big step forward, without having to invest in a truly new car. I think Chrysler is being forced to do the same for now. And, there's nothing wrong with it if the update is truly competitive.

Chark - 12/6/2010 10:13:06 AM

0 Boost

Looks too much like an obese Audi. Hmm, maybe it will sell well here after all. Not much risk taking, though. I'd never buy one.

PlanB - 12/6/2010 12:01:01 PM

+1 Boost

It'll please its core audience, thats about all I can say for it.

kevdog - 12/6/2010 9:57:36 PM

+1 Boost

Looks like pretty much the same car with a new, and very vanilla, front end.

Designer1 - 12/6/2010 11:35:46 PM

-1 Boost

I feel sorry for the American car companies. They honestly have 0 talented designers and engineers. With every car they come up with is nothing but another example of failure!! For how long are they going to be like this?

Joe_Limon - 12/7/2010 12:32:18 AM

+2 Boost

I wouldn't say that, the same thing could be said about the jetta and camry two very boring vehicles with somewhat questionable reliability. You can't judge a countries product on the basis of one model.

LauderdaleDriver - 12/8/2010 4:46:32 PM

+2 Boost

I think it's a trim, right-sized version of a big RWD sedan. It's distinctive, looks nice, not cheap.

It is guilty of not being German, for which the death penalty is given on this site.

85bmw745i - 12/8/2010 11:48:50 PM

+1 Boost

I wouldn't say it is guilty of being non german when the car is based on the older E class platform and has the Mercedes 5 spd automatic

ennisleon - 12/9/2010 9:25:27 AM

0 Boost

Its a disgrace compared to its predecessor this one is so boring and aint good enough for the current competition it looks so dated