I have to admit, even I would look at one. This car is so phenomenally wonderful, I don't even know where to start...

I picked up my first demo on Saturday afternoon ('06 300C), and other than a slightly excessive thirst for gas, I find it hard to fault this car at all. I have never seen a car that has such a universal appeal to so many different age groups. I'm 25, and I love the look of it inside and out. My girlfriend is 22, and she feels the same. And yet, my 83 year old neighbor came over to check it out while I was washing it Sunday morning (I even keep my demos clean ), and plans to bring his LHS by and possibly trade it in. I just watched a DCX telecast last night, where management stated they sold more LXs last month than the plant built. After driving this car for a few days, I can see why...

The only nitpicks I have are that the Mercedes A5 isn't even as good as GM's A4, despite all the bad press the "antiquated" 4 speed design gets. It doesn't kick down as quick as I'd like it to, and it often shifts a little early, or so it seems. I imagine this is to try and keep its thirst down...which it has lots of. Over the course of 180 miles driving it, with only 10 or so being around town, its averaging 19.5 on the DIC. And that's slowing to 70 on the highway, and driving like a Prius around town (I opened it up plenty on the first tank, on the way to fill it up ). I could drive my GP like I stole it, and the WORST I ever got was 22, with way less highway driving. Other than a semi-lousy tranny and lousy MPG, its awesome. When you consider a lot of GXP drivers don't get anywhere near their EPA ratings either, maybe the Hemi isn't so bad...

Also, while this isn't bad depending on who you are, this car DRIVES big. Despite being the same length as my GP, it feels twice as long when weaving through traffic. Blind spots are an inherent issue. But it is really cool looking out over that big hood...to actually SEE a hood these days is pretty sweet

I hope the Buick Zeta can be at least as good, if not better. The ride/handling tradeoff is excellent (it handles about as well as the Charger R/T, which is bad for the Charger but good for the 300!!), the interior is very comfortable and attractive (with a Boston Acoustics stereo that completely annihilates any Monsoon or Bose I've heard yet...the Monsoon in the GP is the closest), and the Hemi just goes like stink. Its almost OHC like in power delivery...solid torque, but get it past 3,500 or so, and it almost feels like VTEC or something kicks in. The LS4 definitely has a more linear power delivery, which is better suited to cut and thrust driving.

But I gotta say...I can see why this car sells so well, with zero incentives. By coincidence, when I came out of the mall on Sunday afternoon, a new Lucerne CXS was parked next to me...black with the 18" chrome wheels. It looked very nice, in and out...but to me, it seems like another "really good" car instead of a "great" car...

Take the Lucerne and its beautiful interior, spice it up with a more exciting exterior and an LS2-like engine and power level, make it RWD and I would love to see that car give the 300 a run for its money. I've said before that the 300 is the kind of car Buick needs.

After driving one for a few days? I can't say it better...give Buick this car with GM-level MPG, and you could cross Buick off the "damaged brands" list...

Don't get me started on the Charger though. For all the flack GM catches about plasticky interiors? Dodge, with the Charger being a new design, should be catching TWICE as much ****.

 

I don't get it. Is there really that big of a difference between the Charger and 300 interiors (speaking mainly of the dash)? I thought they were all pretty much the same (300/Charger/Magnum), and all pretty plasticky.

Your review of the 300 makes little mention of the dash, other than you like the styling inside and out ( ). But is there really a big difference in the dashboards? Park a couple side by side and check them out for me. DO IT!!

 

The 300, Charger, and Magnum all look like fraternal twins on the inside to me, especially in terms of the dash and materials used - and that's not a good thing.

I've never been impressed by those three cars other than the available power trains... I don't like the way they ride, handle, look, or feel. It won't take much for Buick to top the 300 in my book, though I know others here disagree completely.

 

Great review Jason.

If people don't like the styling or the interior's too bland for them, that's OK. I can easily understand why people would say that. When a car makes a strong statement, there's going to be people who strongly disagree.

I'm glad that you mentioned the broad appeal across all groups the car has. There's a few sh*t for brains people who get their facts by watching too much TV.

 

I find the 300 to be the best looking LX car.

 

Charger SRT-8 grew on me. That car just looks mean.

 

I totally agree. It is my favorite LX. Though I really don't like the Charger without the small changes the SRT-8 gets. Also I don't really like the 300 at all. Personally I like the looks of the 300M better. Of all the front ends I belive I like the Magnum's the best.

I guess I am just weird like that.

Also Jason lets hope that GM decides that a good car is NOT good enough anymore it needs to return to building GREAT cars with each and every model.

 

Joe and Threxx,

The Magnum and Charger are identical on the inside...but the 300, other than the greenhouse, is COMPLETELY different. The inside isn't STS nice (nor should it be for the $$$ they charge for it), but I think its extremely nice. Its every bit as nice as the Lucerne, IMO. The C I have has nice wood interior door pulls, wood trim on the steering wheel, etc...

Comparing the inside of a 300 to a Charger is like comparing a Cavalier to a Cobalt...doesn't make sense

 

To each their own, I guess. They definitely drive big, but I think that's part of what people like about them. I'm driving this thing 100 miles a day, 90 of which is highway...so for me, this thing is awesome On the bumpy roads leading to my house, I think the ride is very good.

Cornering? Well, if the Charger R/T is better, then I'd say the handling sucks when going all-out...but how many 300C drivers will really drive the car at 10/10ths???

I don't think this thing is meant to corner like a BMW....

 

This
http://www.automotive.com/2006/102/d...r/cockpit.html
is COMPLETELY different than
this?
http://www.automotive.com/2006/102/c...r/cockpit.html

If you can look past the dual tone interior and look past the small bits like the painted bezel over the gauges and painted center stack, chrome, and fake wood - they look nearly identical to me. True there are still some differences here and there - but that's why I said 'fraternal twins', not 'identical twins'

Both interiors look like they belong in a full sized truck or SUV, not a car.

 

The Lincoln Zephyr dash looks like it belongs in a truck...the 300? I'd disagree completely, but to each their own...

I still think the 300 and the Charger look different enough to give a completely different impression inside...when talking with the other salespeople here (and my own parents for that matter), others tend to agree. I should probably stop talking so much **** about the Charger to my sales staff

 

The Zephyr interior looks like they hired the interior designers of the Lincoln Navigator to me, so I agree.

The 300 and Charger/Magnum look more like a Dodge Ram interior, though - albeit the 300 with some chintzy bits here and there to jazz it up.

 

I'd have to agree with the Charger/Magnum/Ram assessment...I drove a new Ram at lunch, and have to say it really reminded me of the Charger inside. I guess I like the fancy little bits in the 300 interior enough to overlook the truck-like high dash of it, I guess. The Zephyr, while using great materials, just looks awful IMHO...

 

I would have never noticed it if you hadn't posted those pictures, but outside the steering wheel, the 300 and the Magnum-Charger dashboards are actually completely different.

 

I'm not saying they share many surface interior parts from the same parts bin, I'm just saying aesthetically they look nearly identical to me. IE if I just look at the interior at as a whole and don't focus on one part at a time.