A local dealer over in Seaside sells both Buicks and Chryslers (I know. It's odd).

I was walking around the Auto Mall while I was getting a custom exhause on my T-Bird SC, and this Buick/Chrysler dealer had the new LeCrosse & 300 touring parked side by side, and it made for a very intresting comparison.

I realized the 300's high beltline is mostly an optical illusion!

When I rented one earlier last year, I was surprised how despite the high beltline, it was easy to see out of. But the C DOESN'T have a high beltline.... it has low upper window height!

Parked to LeCrosse, the 300's beltline is about an inch higher than the LeCrosse up front, but seems to be a fraction lower in the rear (LeCrosse curves while the 300's a straight line). But the tops of the windows in the 300 are lower than the Buick's, even though the doors are about the same height.

Another illusion is that the Chrysler is huge. The 300 is noticibly shorter than the LeCrosse, and probally just about as wide. the slab sides and angles of the Chrysler make the car look huge when there's nothing closeby as a reference. But park it next to a Buick, and the car doesn't look all that big at all. Speaking of Bizzare.

Personally, I think the LeCrosse's interior is extremely good. Just don't look at it parked to a Chrysler 300. The 300's interior not just seemed better in quality, it was simply a blowout as far as visuals. Redzed (of all people to quote) pointed out that in the Buick, it seems you sit up high. I did notice that in the Buick you felt more like you were in a fishbowl, again something that doesn't come out unless you try the Chrysler right away.

Both cars were priced in the same neighborhood, and I have to honestly say it's no contest from a looks and enviroment standpoint. I see Chrysler and Buick in the same market, and comparing the new offerings from both it's Chrysler hands down.

BTW, I did ask one of the salesman who came over (they can be like ants at a picnic sometimes) which car sold better. I felt like a person standing at a bus stop asking someone where the bus stop is. His guess was they were selling 6 300s for each LeCrosse.

From what I've seen, the LeCerne is a bigger LeCrosse.

 

It's not "an optical illusion." Chrysler's LX cars have a very high cowl and a very high beltline. Part of the reason is the long travel coil over shock suspension.

Say what you want, but the Buick does have a lower cowl, a lower beltline and a plunging roofline that robs rear seat head room. The 300's greenhouse has far less glass area, but it's also less steeply raked.



The 300 isn't a "big car" in traditional American sense. In overall size, it's about the same a the short wheelbase BMW 750i, although the wheelbase is closer to the long wheelbase 750iL. Interestingly, the 300C front overhang isn't exceptionally short, but the rear overhang sure is.


All of the Chrysler 300C's Mercedes sourced interior components are of exceptional quality. The seats are great, and all the switches feel like they'll last forever. Considering the source, Mercedes, they probably will. What I really appreciate is the actual good taste that Chrysler's designers demonstrated. "Tortoise shell" instead of very fake and nasty "plastic wood." This a perfect example of the sort of original and tasteful design choice that GM seems to be incapable of making.

On the other hand, the LaCrosse has uncomfortable and cheap seats and all of the switches are pure GM rubbish. The plastic wood is also the sort of crap that only slightly senile senior citizens would appreciate.


Yes, you asked the wrong question.

You should have asked how much the old Century/Regal outsold the Concorde/300M. My guess is that the old Buicks outsold the old Chrysler LH cars by a factor of 2 or 3:1!

GM just isn't standing still, they've thrown the corporate gear shift into reverse.

I think you're wrong about that. The Lucerne (pronouned correctly as "Loser") is precisely the sort of car that the second generation Oldsmobile Aurora should have been when it premiered at the end of the 1990s.

In the case of the upcoming Buick Lucerne you should give GM credit for producing a car that's only 5 years behind the competion.

That's better than the LaCrosse, which really looks like it's 10 years behind the best.

 

I think the LX cars have a rather boring dash...just looks very plain. The steering wheel looks like it belongs in a dump truck...

 

I do think its an allusion, so that the car appears lower from far away, but when you are able to get into it just fine.
also, the taller doors and shorter windows.

 

Redzed, some of your comments are wrong, others are misleading. Mercedes sourced does not equal quality. They have a VERY poor quality record, especially lately. Besides, the 300's interior is unique to it. You act as if its shared with higher priced Mercedes offeings. Its not.


Not 300 bashng, I love the car.

 

Interesting, guionM, but I take almost the opposite tact. To me, the 300C is more "stylish" on the outside (in that it is less conservative). Notice I said less conservative, not better looking. The 300 comes across as ugly and misproportioned to me. The Lacrosse is the prettier, more elegant car, but it certainly doesn't jump out at you like the 300 does (or an AMC Gremlin does). The biggest "misproportion" problem of the Lacrosse is the front overhang, which is too long when viewed in profile (like the F-bodies were). Viewed from the side at an angle, though, the problem mostly goes away, because the front isn't squared off. The longest point is the nose, but it tapers away toward the corners.

As far as the interior goes, for me I'd much rather sit in and drive from the Lacrosse interior. The beltline/lower window edge may not be much higher in the 300, but the cowl is higher, and perhaps the seats/floorpan are slightly lower in the 300 to go along with it. All I know is that it feels like sitting in a tank and looking out through gun-slits. The dash on the 300 is brick-wall upright and severe, too, which adds to this impression for me.

 

I second this motion also.

In addition, not sure if you are doing this on purpose or not guion, but it is LACROSSE and LUCERNE.

And inspite of the thoughts here and elsewhere (GMI included), I think a whole bunch of people on this board, amongst others, will be surprised when the Lucerne launches this fall to success in the marketplace.

 

I am tired of Redzed stealing every thread...

Seems like any more the first few posts have relevent info/discussion, then Redzed posts something designed to cause ****, and the thread goes to hell. I really think it ruins half the threads in this forum anymore. I wish the admins would do something about it.

Having a different opinion is fine...but it seems like Redzed's opinion always corresponds with the one the will cause the more angst.

 

I feel bad for Chrysler 300 owners. Not the new 300 owners, but the LX body style. Lol, I bet whenever they tell someone they have a "300" they have to explain that it's not the new one...

How's that for an odd thing about the new Chrysler 300 design...