'The current Chrysler 300 has been a huge success for the automaker, which is going to make it difficult for the automaker to redesign the car which debuted over four years ago.'

Lame nonsense: that has never stopped Toyota from improving the Corolla

How about making it not such an ugly POS?

Yeah the Corolla is an awesome car, underpowered, ugly, blandly styled, and overpriced. I would say it's seriously outclassed by the Civic, the Mazda 3, even cars like the Nissan Sentra seem to be better over all packages. And don't get my started on the costs, The Corolla is a terrible value compared to several of it's piers. About the only nice thing I can say about the Corolla is that it used to be a very reliable car. I say used because Toyota's quality is slipping at an amazing rate, last I head they had tumbled from #1 in over all initial quality to #4 and seemed to still be on a sharp decline.

The interior needs the most work, so it makes sense they focus there. My problem with this line (I've only driven the Dodges) is they are so big, they don't feel fast. Even when they are (SRT8).

"I say used because Toyota's quality is slipping at an amazing rate, last I head they had tumbled from #1 in over all initial quality to #4 and seemed to still be on a sharp decline."

Sure, I guess you believe everything you read from surveys that are easier to doctor than the 2000 Presidential Election. If I remeber correctly, the survey your citing is JD Power's INITIAL quality survey, which is about at pertinent as this website. What needs to looked at is quality and resale at two-three year intervals, to truly show which company has the best vehicles (which would be Honda).

We in Chrysler like failure better then succes, because we can always improve on failure. In fact we are are scared shitless for success, because it raises everyones expectations.

Chrysler Mgt

Hopefully they improve the 6 cylinder in the new model. The old one is a dog.

The hemi powered version is pretty quick.

I always liked these. It's a big, successful american sedan.

thanks, Noya.

And Travis should look at the sales numbers. Maybe he is better served by a Cavalier.

"the products coming out in 2011, 2012 will be very competitive with Asian (models) as far as content, materials, fit-and-finish.”

another piece of amercan belony: indeed by then the Chryslers will be made in China, by Chery. No wonder they match on content, materials fit and finishing.

Looks like a tank.

Maybe they should try coming up with their own body design rather than the clear cheap ripoff of a Bentley that they currently produce as the 300. The only reason that car sells is becuase of pretenders who wish they could own a bentley, but really can only barely afford a shitty american copy.

Chrysler is like that guy on street corner in NYC selling knockoff watches...

@Kevin,

And those guys selling watches make pretty decent money, so why not. Its about sales volume and profit margins, not making good cars.

@lowest IQ

Nice try, but I already drive a poorly built Japanese car, a 2005 Nissan Sentra only 15~18 trips to the dealer for repairs in 3 years of ownership sorry there were so many I lost count, on the bright side it only took them 4 trys to fix the driver side power window that failed 3K miles off the lot. Oh and I really liked the part where Nissan's Corperate HQ for NA told me that I could sue them and "prove it in court" if I felt the car was a lemon.

Anyways the 300 is an American success story, so I can see why everyone wants to come in here and hate on it, I mean it's a large RWD sedan with a powerful engine and decent looks, but it's not a BMW and it doesn't cost 60K, how dare they right?

And the Corolla sells, I just don't understand why, one of my friends had a Corolla that was from around 2000, and I remember riding in it and thinking that it was such a cheaply built POS, the inside felt flimsy, and cheap. the door panels flexed when you pushed or leaned on them, ect, It's a car that was totally outclassed by the cheaper Honda Civic, In 2005 when I bought my Sentra the Corolla was the worst of the cars I drove, and also one of the most expensive. For the record I drove the tC, the Mazda 3, a Honda Civic, an RSX, an S40, a Golf, a Focus and an Ion. The Corolla basically tied the Focus as worst in class. The Sentra was towards the bottom but the Nissan dealer cut me a deal and I managed to go nearly $4000 under sticker and get 1% financing for 60 months.

Anyways the point is that the cars I felt were direct competitors to the Corolla, the Ion, the Focus, the Mazda 3, and the Civic. Of that group the Corolla I test drove was the most expensive, (although it was only $255 more than the similarly equipped Civic) and tied for worst when it came to over all vehicle dynamics. So even though it sells in huge numbers I honestly do not understand why.

@Travis:

The Corolla is for people who want a bland, reliable appliance. I have always felt that they were overpriced and under performing in its class. I agree that for driving dynamics nothing comes close to the Mazda 3 in that price range. However, Mazda does not have the ingrained "reliability cache" that Toyota has for many uninformed buyers. I am sorry for the horrendous reliability of your Sentra. I have owned 3 Nissans in my life and they were incredibly reliable. But lately, I have heard of Nissan slipping in reliability with various models. A shame really, since Nissan makes desirable cars and seems to be the only car maker who makes a decent CVT and I like the Frontier, Altima, Maxima, and Rogue.

@ Travis

"Anyways the 300 is an American success story, so I can see why everyone wants to come in here and hate on it, I mean it's a large RWD sedan with a powerful engine and decent looks, but it's not a BMW and it doesn't cost 60K, how dare they right?" - Travis

Let's not forget the only reason the 300/Charger/etc. are decent cars is in FACT due to the Mercedes Benz E-class underpinning's from the mid-to-late 90's...thanks to the now defunct Daimler/Chrysler fiasco.

As for "American" sporting RWD sedans, the new Pontiac G8 will be DECENT, not great.

Oh, and what's that you say?

It actually hails from the continent of prisoners and crocs, Australia. And the new Fords that look okay...Europe.

Face it, the last time an American car was on par with the rest of the world was....will never, actually.

The interior of this pig is a copy of my dad's Ram 1500. Cheap, black, hard plastic, and lots of it. I liked the exterior looks of this car when it came out, but I am so bored of it now.

The statement that Chrysler doesn't know what to do is awesome. That means they didn't expect to have a hit.They accidentally hit a home run, and now they are up to bat again, and are scared they will strike out. They probably will.

And so will the Ford Fusion (oops, that one sells and looks good)

And so will the Chevy Malibu (oops, we didn't mean for you to like it. we only wanted Hertz and Avis to like it)

@ Noya

I don't know I think that Duesenberg made a pretty good car, very possibly they made the best cars in the world though the late 1930's.

Yes I know where the parts in the 300C came from, and yes the G8 hoped onto the bandwagon and is quite possibly a better car. Chrysler should be targeting about 2009 to 2010 for the 300C replacement. The current car was a good start but a better interior, and a diet could make it something legitimately special.

Right now I am leaning towards a 2009 Lancer Ralliart Sportback. As my next car, I would seriously be considering a 350Z/370Z as my next car but between the problems with my current Nissan, and the way corporate management treated me when I dared to complain about the PoS they sold me. I will never buy another Nissan.

@Noya

interesting thought there in your last line.

I was thinking, compare:

an A-Ford of 1930 with the VW Beetle of 1933,
a mid thirties Duessenbergs vs Citroen Traction,
a Nash Metropolitan versus Fiat 500/Mini,
not to mention Pacer, Edsel...because the Europeans have had their lemons as well....

The only innovative cars the USA (n)ever made, were:
Cord, Tucker and maybe, maybe Studebaker (Avanti's).
Mind you, all of these are barely beyond the 'arts and crafts' league of cars, certainly not mainstream in their demographic appeal.

Sigh, I am so embarassed for American automakers. I tell people who don't know me I'm Canadian.

When has an equivalent Honda Civic been less than a Toyota Corolla? When I bought my 04 Corolla it was $500 more than a similar model Civic, and a new one (right off their configurator) is $600 more.

And why is a Corolla a cheap crappy car? I test drove all of the above mentioned cars in 04 (except the Mazda 3, and I wouldn't buy it with a new engine design). At the time the Corolla had better gas mileage and better long term reliability than everything else on the market.

If I was doing it over again I'm not sure I wouldn't go for the Corolla again, simply based on fuel mileage. (I don't buy Honda, period.) My Corolla has been a good car, sure it hasn't aged well, but it's an economy car I didn't expect it to. I don't see to many Honda Civic with 70k miles that don't have a few interior issues as well. After having my 96 Cavalier for 8 years, I needed something a little more reliable. The 1ZZ-FE that's in the 04 Corolla was also in the Matrix (and Vibe), which is a fair number of vehicles to be produced with one powertrain.

Everyone is right, the Corolla sells so well for one reason. It's a reliable, utilitrarian vehicle. I'll be happy when I get 300k on mine.

in a large enough sample any car maker has a few lemons so those of you with bad luck jap rides need to understand that its impossible to make a bullet proof car, but your best bet is still a asian made nissan, toyota, honda, subaru and hyundai to a lesser extent..

Yeah, Chrysler had quite a hit when they came out with the 300, but as far as improvements go, I think they should take a good look at the Chrysler Fifth Avenue of the 1980s. It too was a popular seller, but the seats were far more comfortable, more like pillows, and it offered a much softer ride than the 300 of today offers and the cabin is quieter also. Personally, I've always had good luck with Chrysler mid and full size cars, as well as Ford's full and midsize cars. As for GM, I haven't had a great experience with any of their vehicles, plus I see many, many more of their vehicles stranded on the side of the road than any other auto manufacturer.