I dumped my Jag back in early 2012 and have had several cars since then. Currently I own a 300 and I really like this car. It is the 3.5 model, but very well optioned along with a desirable color combination and two tone interior. The car is stock and shall remain this way, so no custom grill or badges. Actually, I removed the 300 emblem from the trunk and now it is bare with the exception of the Chrysler "wings".

I don't have a fantasy that my car is a Bentley. I don't think it cost 20 times more than it did and I do not think it is worth more than it actually is. What I do know is that it is well built, reliable and like it or not, a head turner. I get compliments on it daily. This car does something my Jag could never, ever do and that is start the first time I turn the key. My Jag was a pretty car, but it burned me and it reinforced the bad reputation the cars have. I didn't keep that car but ten months and I couldn't care less what has happened to it since.

Clearly this is a Jag forum and I don't intend to mad mouth the brand. However, I've been reading these post for months and a common theme is that 300 owners want other people to think they are something they are not. That they are more wealthy than the unwashed. This is totally the pot calling the kettle black. Jaguars have horrible, horrible value retention thanks to their poor reputation. This means Jag owners can buy a used car that was once expensive for a small fraction of the original cost in most cases. Non-Jag owners don't really know the difference so they think the car is more valuable than it is and this is just fine by most Jag owners I bet.

One of the post I read that made me chuckle involved the Chevy 350 transplants that were popular years ago and this was done because the peasants couldn't afford to maintain a Jag. This is utter BS. This was done because Jag owners wanted a car that was reliable and especially one that didn't catch fire like the V12 cars loved to do.

Jags are attractive cars and their products are getting better all the time. Regardless, ownership does not make one a member of some esoteric club. What it tends to do is make people never buy another one.

 

I saw an 86 Jag with a 350/350 swap. If I had the time/money I would swap the 4.0 in my moms for a 383 Stroker with a 400 Turbo Trans. First month of owning the car, We already put 1000 into it at a shop and now I have my hand into working on it. Chevy parts are Tons cheaper, Plus I think it would look sick with a Jag with Velocity stacks sticking out the hood. How cool would something like this be sticking out the hood.



But then again I would love to see a 300C with Stacks, Predator Style (raised rear, lowered front) and slicks.

 

I've raised the hood of many 80 model Jags with the Chevy 350 conversion and it was always a disappointment as I wanted the car "completely intact from the factory". I decided after speaking with many of these conversion owners that they had saved me heartache and hard earned money.

I have a 2006 BB 300C and I must admit it has been an awesome car to own when it comes to maintenance, comfort, space and a look that I desired. I quickly joined all the forums in regards to the platform so that I could learn as much about the car as possible. I never joined a Bentley site and I never pretended it was one either. I love the raked look of mine, after of course, lowering it to a height of my liking with an Eibach Pro Kit. I don't have any false sense of the value of it as I can turn a corner every so often and see quite a few of them. I love the car for the creature comforts, the speed and highway trips.
To each their own, I say.

I have a few other vehicles to choose my commute from and to me--they are all priceless. I have a sport bike but it is not a Ducati or Aprilla. I've learned in life you have to be happy with the things God gives us and treat them all with the value they deserve but never value them over the man above--if you do nothing good comes of it and He takes them away fast.

 

My Jaguar starts every time I turn the key, because a PO converted it to a Chevy 350 about 20 years ago. In fact, there is No Way it would have come under this roof if it still had the original stock engine, which had a Terrible reputation when it was new!

I find it a bit humorous that the Purists, for whom the Jaguar engine is the Holy Grail, will change the stereo and fill the trunk/boot with woofers, change the seats, carpets, door liners, exhaust system, add GPS, 30 inch wheels, pin stripes and chrome strips and it's still a Jaguar to them. That engine, no matter the trouble they have with it is Sacrosanct!

Let someone, Anyone who has Had It Up To Here with being left beside the road embarrassed (before cell phones) with a dead engine for no apparent reason, who likes the Jaguar body style, handling and comfort, who wants a dependable, car dare to "defile" one of these candidates for a wrecking yard with a tried and true power plant and they're relegated to the status of Pariah!

Non Jag owners actually do know the difference, at least in my area. When my friends learned I had one, the comment was, "Pretty car, high maintenance, low dependability." When they learned it was Chevy powered their whole attitude changed. Once I got all the neglected items sorted out it's as reliable as anything on the road but that only means I'm stubborn and handy.

All brands of cars have their enthusiasts and detractors. Wouldn't it be boring if there were no Chryslers, or Toyotas, or Volvos, or Fords, or TATAs, or....
(';')

 

Lump or XK, I'll take either. Mine has the original engine as that was in it when I bought it and it is fine. If I have to spend all my time keeping it running ,so be it. When the time comes to do something serious with the engine I will take whatever route suits my situation best at the time(preferably the XK but not definate),I love straight 6's. I looked at cars with both engines when buying,it wasn't the deciding factor.
As for Chrysler 300's, one of the few American cars available in Australia new and the early ones are a great looking car,but stock looks best.

 

I had a 300 as a rental car once. It felt like a ponderous P.O.S , which I suspect a Bentley may not.

 

I'm sure it being a rental it wasn't a meticulously driven and cared for but your opinion will always be your opinion. I'm sure owning a Jaguar is more to your liking which once again to each their own. I've driven plenty of Jaguars that were pieces of crap but I wouldn't judge the entire line based on those that were poorly maintained by the PO's. I won't defend having a Chrysler 300C in my driveway, my 7 series and a few others. They were all a matter of personal choice. You would think that we could lift up the Jaguar brand without feeling the need to bash other car lines.

 

All a bit PC isnt it? dont make a offhand remark about brand X, someone might get butt hurt.

The thread is not about uplifting the Jaguar brand , its a light hearted look at other marques, in this case the Chrysler 300. I am reasonably agnostic and have a Toyota, a Subaru, a BMW and a Jag in the driveway. I doubt anyone is impressed with the Jag as is is a tired old beast that I am trying to bring back to daily or weekly use , hardly the elitist mobile that you make out.

cheers

 

Talking of no frills cars . In the UK you can buy a brand new DACIA Sandero for £5999.00. Its a Romanian built Renault using last generation parts. Steel wheels , wind up windows , no radio , no aircon , one piece moulded olastic dash & door cards . Basic model only in white . If you want any other bits ....just go up to the next model , abit more expensive , with a few more bells & whistle .Dacia UK

 

That is basic motoring right there. I was about to launch into gee we can get a nice basic car for that much blah blah blah and then I checked the exchange rate which is no where near as savage as it used to be. A GBP used to but a few A$ (as the pommie vistors loved telling us) but less so now. 6000 quid is cheap as chips.

 

Naah no butt hurt over here. I take this thread for what it's worth. My Jag gets no public attention as she sits in storage waiting on repairs here and there. People should feel free to make fun of whatever floats their boat. No harm no foul..at the end of the day we all have one thing in common...that's the common ground I'll reach across and shake hands.

 

Funny because all the people ranting about the Bentley & 300 have never actually driven either!

 

Welcome to the forum Trishagrantcalitri,

You may want to post an intro in the new members area.

 

My omnipotence module is broken, so I have no idea. How do you tell what all the people have driven or not driven?

 

I've never seen one try to pass as Bentley, however there is one in town that the front end is totally Rolls Royce, back end is 115% Chrysler 300. It's funny.

 

I see the 300 Bentley wanna be's all the time..pathetic IMO..It's like people stinking the Jaguar up with an "R" emblem on their naturally aspirated Jag and then go as far as putting on or painting their calipers red...LOL

 

agreed.

 

Do we have to bring race into EVERY DAMN THING????

 

Dude, why is it always an old white guy driving an old Buick La Sabre? Or a black guy who thinks he's white?


Don't you think your perception is a stereotype? I'm sure your "sample size" doesn't exactly qualify as scientific, nor does mine. So what if some people choose to mod their 300s. People modify Jags. To each his own, I say. I don't get why that should bother you.

 

This seems like a dangerous thread... But:
I had a 2002 300M Special. I loved it. Insane handling with the extended and wide wheelbase. Good 255hp engine. Liked the interior. Could drive my parents around in comfort with the big back seat. I eyeballed a 300C before I ended up in an XF Jag. The base new generation 300s kind of sucked compared to the C/higher end packages. If you rented a 300, you probably hated it. But the better suspension/engines/etc versions are sweet. But now I am in my second jag and I'm not going back.