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Chrysler LHS

1409 messages,  Last post on Jun 10, 2013 at 8:03 AM

You are in the Chrysler LHS Forum.

What is this discussion about? Chrysler LHS, Sedan

Messages Page 5 of 142

#35 of 1409 . by mcgreenx

Aug 06, 1999 (2:08 am)

I'm seriously considering an LHS and, with the recently announced $2,000 dealer cash and a dealer offer to deduct that amount from invoice, it seems like an attractive deal. (I like the LHS over the 300M primarily because of the trunk size and the little extra interior room. I have an Aurora and the Aurora and 300M trunk openings are comparable: you can hardly get anything of an size (like two large suitcases) in either of them. And I don't like/need/want the AutoStick.) Questions: (1) Anybody know what if any changes have been made to the 2000 models? Sticker price on the 2000 is down about $300 from the start of '99, which would make the invoice to invoice comparison, exclusive of the $2,000 cash, only about $1,700, assuming one could get a 2000 at invoice reasonably soon after introduction.
(2) An article in the Detroit Press commented that the LHS air conditioning is somewhat weak and inefficient. Anyone had any real world experience with it? (3) There are always "anecdotal" problems with every car. Are there known problems with the LHS/300M that would, in your opinion, disqualify the car from your consideration? I keep cars about 3 years and drive them about 50-55K miles. The Aurora has a 50K warranty, which made most of my driving covered, but the LHS/300M warranty is 36K, as I recall. Should I be leery of 20K unwarranted miles with the LHS? (4) Has anyone had any experience with the in-trunk CD changer? I like the ones that connect directly to the amplifier, but have had bad experiences with the type that connect through the antenna input and are "tuned" through the radio. How does the Chrysler LHS/300M type work? I need to get whatever info I can by the end of next week (by Aug. 14). Any input would be greatly appreciated, including your opinions about a 1999 versus a 2000 model.

#36 of 1409 mileshoover@anent.com by mileshoover

Aug 06, 1999 (8:22 pm)

I have a '99 LHS in platinum pearl w/5 chrome 17" wheels, a moon roof, upgraded stereo and an added in-trunk CD magazine. It is a fine auto. It was purchased in 5/21/99 and I had a few problems for my early purchase but they were cosmetic and fixed by the dealer/DC.


I, too, skipped the 300M because of its size and looks. I consider the front end unattractive when compared w/that of the LHS. Also, condsider that the 300M is based upon the Intreped body while the LHS is based upon the slightly larger Concorde body. Trunk space and rear seat room were a prime consideration for me and the LHS had all that in spades.


Regarding the AC, I can only say after 17200 mi that I have never had a better AC system and this is my 59th new car since 1950. I have mostly had just about all brands; some were better than others and all had some problems, even the 2 Mercedes which I owned in the mid eighties.


If you have any problem anticipated with exceeding the warranty, simply buy an appropriate length extended warranty to cover the anticipated time you will own the car.


I do have a trunk-installed CD changer. It is a Sony -- would NOT have the Chrysler version for several reasons. First, my unit playss the same magazines in the house or in the car, so I simply take the MAGAZINES back and forth, never have to touch the disks at all. Second, the 10 disk Sony has considerably more capacity than the DC version and probably is made by Pioneer, a brand I have never had much faith in for reliability. Mine does connect via an RF amplifier w/no appreciable problem in sound quality, IMHO.


I have painted my outside mirrors to body color and added two small cinammon-colored stripes to generally match the interior. The appearance of the auto is outstanding Vs the plai black mirrors as it comes. I also hear that DC will finally go back to painting the outside mirrors to body color again (they did on the LHS in '94 and '95).


Regarding the '99 Vs '00 model -- if you must have the newest, by all means buy the '00, but if you want to save a bit, buy a '99 -- there probably will be minimal changes. I can tell you how to paint the mirrors if you wish. Cost me about $60 and it looks like a factory job.


Have fun, by all means.

#37 of 1409 2000 LHS by jrigby

Aug 08, 1999 (11:12 pm)

Any new information on the changes from 1999 to the 2000 model (I know that any changes will probably be small). Does anyone of any color changes. Thanks

#38 of 1409 any advice by lynn45

Aug 10, 1999 (4:56 pm)

I have driven minivans for 12 years. Want to go to a car. Still have two teens and need room for friends. Looking at LHS and 300M. 300M is more sporty but insurance is much higher. Anyone have an LHS used as a family car care to answer? Also how do either cars handle on snow and or ice?

#39 of 1409 Chuck by 99woodsc

Aug 10, 1999 (10:08 pm)

We had a pretty mild winter, but what snow & ice we did get posed no problem for my 99 LHS. The ABS and traction control help significantly.


I have put 21,000 miles on to date and the only problem is the sticking window. I've cleaned the slots time and time again, but they still will stick if I roll them up tight. I've found that if I stop the window before it "cements" itself in place, the sicking doesn't occur. I suppose that I'm losing some of the quietness, but I seem to live in a bank or fast-food drive-thru lane, so the trade off is worth it.


Anyone else have a better suggestion on getting the sticking to stop? Two trips to the dealer have resulted in zip!

#40 of 1409 99woodsc-fastdriver by fastdriver

Aug 10, 1999 (10:37 pm)

99woodsc-


I'm not sure if you are the one who posted about the sticking windows before, but I had the same problem on my 300M. I don't remember EXACTLY what I used to solve the problem, but, looking on the shelf in my garage, the ONLY thing that I see that I could have possibly used is Turtle Wax- Clear Guard. I have had this stuff for a long time, so I'm not sure if they still sell it.


I put some on the edge of a wash cloth and coated all the rubber around the front and rear windows even though it was just the rear windows that were sticking. I did this a long time ago and only did it once. If it wasn't going to work, it would have showed up by now because I rarely open the back windows except to wash the dirt marks at the top of the window because I think they look stupid only going halfway down.


Hope this helps you out.


fastdriver

#41 of 1409 fastdriver-99woodsc by 99woodsc

Aug 11, 1999 (2:32 pm)

Thanks for the tip. I'll try a wax-type product this weekend. I've tried cleaners in the past, but they seem to have no effect on the problem.


I wasn't the previous "sticking windows" post as yesterday's post was my first to this forum. Strangely enough, only the front windows have stuck on my LHS, never the rear!


Chuck

#42 of 1409 mileshoover by mcgreenx

Aug 12, 1999 (3:18 am)

Thanks for your comments. I was especially pleased to hear of your AC experience. Since I posted my note I read in one of the auto mags that the '00 will have a 4-disc in dash changer. The article didn't mention anything else as being new for '00. My question about '99 vs. '00 is more economic than anything else. I have a $1,000 certificate from DC, good on a '99 purchased until September 30, so the issue is whether a '00 is worth $2,700 more than a '99, again assuming one could buy both at invoice and then get $3,000 off the '99, and taking the '00 price reduction into account.


Re: the DC in-trunk CD changer, does anyone know if that connects directly through the amp, or through the antennae input connector? I guess my prior poor experience with an RF changer has made me "twice shy" of that type of unit. Perhaps they've improved.


Much will depend on the bottom line numbers the dealer actually comes up with. While they are located in my area, I've never dealt with them and don't know (yet) if the preliminary talk was a lowball. But I think I should be able to find that deal without much trouble, considering the relative popularity of the LHS vs. the 300M.

#43 of 1409 mileshoover by mcgreenx

Aug 12, 1999 (3:20 am)

Forgot to take you up on your offer of information on painting the mirrors. I am interested.

#44 of 1409 mcgreenx by mcgreenx

Aug 12, 1999 (3:31 am)

One other question re: the '99 LHS: what is the build-date that incorporates all the mid-year changes? Also, do the currently built U.S. cars have daytime running lights?

Messages Page 5 of 142

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