In search of a new sedan...

...I am changing jobs in January, and for "political" purposes, I need to drive an "American" car -- of course, that is a very pedestrian attitude these days since the industry is truly global. I am looking at a Chrysler 300C which is built in Canada, with an engine sourced from Mexico, and a dollop of German Daimler-Benz engineering. Of course, what I drive on the weekends is MY business, and I will keep my 996. But my daily driver AMG has to go. The job is in the upper midwest, and I would really welcome the security and traction of all wheel drive. Any advice on what to test drive other than the AWD 300C? I need to stay under $40-45k and will be putting on 20k miles a year. No SUVs need apply. TIA!

Do yourself a favor and take a look at the m35x/m45 from Infiniti.....oops, that's not gonna pass the american test now is it? In all honesty, there's not a lot of great american cars on the sedan front. The Caddilac CTS-V has a lot of fun dialed in, but it's rear wheel drive and would be awful in the snow. Hmmmmm (thinking) Would you consider a car- platformed SUV? If so the one from Caddy is a pretty decent driver (SRX). Now that you've forced me to think about it, isn't it an ABSOLUTE DISGRACE that an american can't think of one US luxury car he'd like to own, even for free as a co car?!?!

if it has to be North American I say look at a Caddy Cts-V. Funny thing about the 300 , Its built right here in my home town, If the Cts-V wouldnt work for you I say the 300 C SRT

Pontiac Vibe AWD ? I guess that's sedan---ish???

Love the CTS-V and the 300 SRT, but both are rwd. Love the acceleration, but probably not much fun in the snow. As things stand now, still leaning toward 300C AWD. At least it has 340 hp.

I am going to test a SRT8 Jeep Grand Cherokee. It really is a sedan on an SUV chassis. passes all your other tests, and 420hp can't be bad :-)

Get the CTS-V and just drive like a sane person when it snows hard- and get some good snow tires- no big deal.

Amazing, and so true. If you have to go American, I'd hit the 300, and I think the Magnum wagon comes in AWD too. You can throw some dubs on that bitch too and impress your new co-workers with your bling.

Better yet, stencil the "BATMAN" logo into the seats, and drop a 22in woofer in the trunk bed of the magnum. TAHT ****'D BE TIGHT YO!

Used CTS and a ton of play $$$$ left over. Change to a mesh grill and the rear spoiler.

Looks like the STS is available with AWD, as is the Ford 500 for about half the price. Distressing to see that the new Lincoln Zephyr is FWD, with no AWD option. I checked out the Magnum, and just not ready for a wagon. I used to have an S6 avant, and I think the Magnum would just make me sick. I am going to test drive the 300C tomorrow; seems to be the best all round compromise. Heaviily optioned with AWD and all the bells and whistles, Caddy STS is 60k, Ford 500 is $30k and 300C is $40k. Sounds like the Cherokee SRT-8 will be awesome, but not available in any quantities until Feb-March.

If you believe popular car journalists, then the 300C is a fantastic package with absolutely horrible driving characteristics - totally removed any feeling with the car. But maybe thats the best the US has to offer...

I was thinking about a sedan before I bought my 996 and thought that the 300C would be a great value until I drove it. I am 6'3" and I felt very claustrophobic in it. The exterior body style-which I like (short side windows and steep angle of the windshield) result in poor visibility and low headroom. I decided that even for the value that I could never have this as a daily driver. Which is a shame because the SRT-8 version of this is an amazing style/performance value. Good luck in your search.

...I am changing jobs in January, and for "political" purposes, I need to drive an "American" car This is one of the most bizzare things I have ever read on this forum. I can't imagine any company even suggesting, much less dictating what car an employee should own.

It happens...I used to work for a company like this....For example if you work with heavily unionized customers.

It happens all the time, particularly in the Modwest. I could understand forcing your sales team to drive american if their customers are ford and GM plants, but any other reason is just plain stupid. Toyota's Camry and Honda's accord are more US made than any f-150 or SUV ( I believe most of these are made in Canada and mexico). Nonetheless, I've seen a ton of midwest companies that act this way.

I think this more common then you think, I know many companys that have a strict policy of no Non North American vehicles.In some parts I do agree with it, a company that is processing stamped steel products for the NA car manufacturers or making plastics and even glass.If more companys had this policy i think the big 3 would be in better shape, I for one think the the big 3 make junk.yes i said junk, but directly or indirectly the big 3 account for 30% of the nations jobs.I just wish the big 3 would wake up and see why people are not buying their product, who wants to pay more and get less, allot less in fact.

The job is dealing with with Chicago labor unions in the building trades. I have not owned a US built car since my '73 L-82 vette convertible. But I don't think I want to pull up to the District Council offices in my 996 or my C32 AMG. I might be wrong, but I just don't perceive that as getting off on the right foot. No word from the Jeep dealer I visited today as to availability on the SRT-8 Cherokee. But they are taking deposits. Kind of reminds me of the deposit I had to secure my spot on the RS-4 wait list prior to accepting this new position.

I'd keep the cars and change jobs, priorities are priorities after all.

I know you don't want an SUV, but I prefer the looks of the Chevy Trailblazer SS (although the engine is smaller-Corvette LS2 engine -395hp) compared to the Jeep SRT-8. Check out Chevy's website. I do think that they should have put a dual exhaust on this.

Well that explains your situation. How about driving a Porsche but wearing a "Hoffa for President" t-shirt?

Would you consider a larger SUV? My other car is a 2004 Chevy Tahoe Z71 - Despite the fact that it's a gas guzzler, I love it (so does my wife, and she is a BMW snob).

If you are talking about a "U.S. Built Car" than that greatly opens up your options. There really is no such thing as a 100% "american car" anymore. Some of the vehicles your company would consider foreign were not only built here in the U.S. some also use more U.S. sourced parts than a similar car from the Big 3. If you want a Ford you have a few options including Jag and Volvo. Even the Ford factory employees in Detroit buy Volvos and Jaguars on the employee purchase program and drive them to work. SAAB's sales in Detroit went from an average of 10 a month to some at over 100 a month when GM put them on their purchase program. If you really want a great AWD performance car that you can live with as a daily driver - (built in America), take a look at a Subaru Legacy GT with the 5 speed. 250HP 250TQ with the boxer engine. It's outstanding in the snow, wet and dry. Automobile did a 0-60 in 5.2, most test are in the mid 5 second range. Ask me how I know..

Actually, where it is built has no effect on the union mentality.....it has to have a US based badge.....they would rather see you drive up in a Mexican built Ford than a Volvo assembled in the factory next door.

Shark you are so right about the UAW mentality....pretty sad isn't it? BTW, just a clarification regarding my Saab information in my earlier post, the numbers I was referring to are average sales per dealer in Detroit, not total metro.

A guy I will be working with suggested I look on UAW's web site for the list of "approved" vehicles. Really amazed that such a page exists...but there you go. The 300C is ok, even though built in Canada with a Mexican engine. I think the thing I would need is UAW built, as opposed to a company owned by one of the big three. A lot of domestic brands are evidently not built in UAW plants. It's a different world I'm preparing to enter -- but it pays well.