“I would like to buy a new vehicle, a Chrysler 300s. Is this a good buy? Do you have any advice for me to make the best possible choice? ”
– Hicham
Hello Hicham,
The Chrysler 300 is a vehicle that could be described as aging. Although it underwent modifications in 2011 for the arrival of the second generation, it remained similar to the first generation in several ways. For example, the chassis and suspension haven’t really changed since 2005.
However, the bright side is this: Chrysler has made changes over time – it was beginning to be about time, some would argue – to improve the reliability of the model. The mechanical components used, in particular the 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 and the eight-speed automatic transmission, are well known and give good reliability. The same goes for most of the components which, apart from a few small electronic snags, do not leave much room for criticism.
This is a product that we now recommend to RPM, given its improvement since 2015.
However, let me urge you to get a used vehicle rather than a new one. Considering the 300’s low resale value, you’re going to pay a lower price for a used vehicle than if you went for a new one. The first owner will have absorbed the majority of the depreciation.
In this case, feel free to have the vehicle mechanically inspected and properly tested before purchase. Since many Chrysler 300s have their first life as a short-term rental vehicle, care must be taken to ensure that the maintenance has been done correctly and that the vehicle has not been damaged. As you may know, short-term rental fleet vehicles are usually put to the test by those who drive them.
The other option would be to find a new one that is in a dealer’s yard. Make sure you get a massive discount to avoid paying for a vehicle that will drop in value drastically right out of the dealership’s yard. This will make you a good purchase.
The last piece of advice I could give you is to keep it for a long time, again due to its low resale value. If you sell it after two years, you will have lost money.