Looked at new Chrysler 300 and Kia Amanti

[Jesda]

I like the body of the 300 a LOT. Its absolutely gorgeous to look at, although not nearly as attractive as the 300M IMO.

I also liked the Intrepids and Concordes of the 90s, and felt they were the best looking low-priced sedans of their time. But I worry that with such a low price, the once-menacing look of the 300 will slowly become a big ugly shoebox simply because we'll see them in quantities similar to the Intrepid.

I frequent a forum for Chrysler LH and LX-platform cars, and one dealer put the 300M next to the 300 in an attempt to show the improvement. A lot of customers noticed that the 300M was -BETTER- in a lot of ways, made comments about it, and the dealer quickly separated them the next day.

-Jesda

[AZ94Q]

Yea, I think the price is a double edged sword..

34gs for a monster v8 is a helluva price..

but how can it be that cheap?

Simple: cost cutting...

I haven't owned one, nor do I plan to, I haven't driven one, and I may never.. that being said..

A car with the top of the line chrysler engine can't be that cheap, without a reason:

There must be cost cutting, which will show up with age..

I don't know if it's in the interior/exterior/somewhere, but it does exist..

[AZhitman]

^ Right on the money.

p.s. Correct on the tires as well. Still too small for the car IMO.

I'm waiting for the Magnum to come out - now THAT is a good-looking car. Unfortunately, as Ryan said, they'll have to cut costs somewhere on that car as well. We already know they're not dumping millions into engine R&D.

[Q45tech]

Read an article about why GM still uses 2 valves it can make 85-90% of power and save $600 [3 cams, 16 springs and valves etc] , plus of course 2V is almost 7" narrower in width plus the weight savings from no extra cams springs and valves vs single cam and push rods

Don't confuse 4V PENTROOF designs with Hemisperical with 2V or the hybrids MB Cloverleaf with 3 or 5 valves [Audi] or Honda Cloverleaf with 4 valves.

You can buy [$9,000] 4 valve heads for a 350 chevy engine that will scream

[louiegz]

Read an article about why GM still uses 2 valves it can make 85-90% of power and save $600 [3 cams, 16 springs and valves etc] , plus of course 2V is almost 7" narrower in width plus the weight savings from no extra cams springs and valves vs single cam and push rods

Don't confuse 4V PENTROOF designs with Hemisperical with 2V or the hybrids MB Cloverleaf with 3 or 5 valves [Audi] or Honda Cloverleaf with 4 valves.

You can buy [$9,000] 4 valve heads for a 350 chevy engine that will scream

Yes Dennis, I read that article in this months Car & Driver. Very interesting. Anyway, the one good thing about those pushrod engines that they failed to mention in the article is the globs of low end torque you get from those pushrod V8. Low end is where I need the power the most. Who needs to redline when you get most of your power in the low end.

[maxnix]

Who needs to redline when you get most of your power in the low end.

I do when I pass on the highway. Two valve pushrods generally wheeze above 5500, unless they are tuned for high rpm. If they are so tuned, then low end sucks from too much overlap (no variable valve timing with pushrods).

Notice that Mercedes is abandoning their "best compromise for the street" 3 valve single cam, low end torquers for 4 valve heads again?

[AZ94Q]

I didn't know merc was abandoning their 3 valve setups, it's about time..

What is the consenus on Audis 5 valve tech.. is it neccasary, is it better, does it suck?

[Jesda]

I actually wish my minivan had more low-end power. SOHC V6 just doesnt get the job done. Its used for hauling gardening crap and around-town driving. It was also designed for towing (RWD). Why have all the power from 45-65mph?

[louiegz]

I do when I pass on the highway. Two valve pushrods generally wheeze above 5500, unless they are tuned for high rpm. If they are so tuned, then low end sucks from too much overlap (no variable valve timing with pushrods).

Notice that Mercedes is abandoning their "best compromise for the street" 3 valve single cam, low end torquers for 4 valve heads again?

I guess it all depends on where you do most of your driving. I do a lot of city driving that exploits a lot of the Qs dead spots. So yes, I need some low end torque. I wish there was a better compromise.