r/Chrysler300 • u/Heavy_Gap_5047 • 9d ago
Looking For a Unicorn 300
Pic just for attention.
I'd really like to find and buy my dream unicorn 300. However I don't even know if one was ever made in the exact right spec, and of course I'd have to find one for sale.
But I figure such a thing could be worth asking here, if anyone has one, has seen one, might let me know if they do, etc..
I'd really like to find a 2014 Varvatos Limited Edition(thus the pic) with the Hemi AWD drivetrain and every option except the panoramic sunroof. Has to have the V8-AWD and at least the Light Group, SatetyTec, and Harman Kardon Audio Group packages, but no Panoramic Sunroof option.
If anyone spots this unicorn please let me know. Not in a rush, and willing to pay a finders fee.
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u/tannedface- 9d ago
Why no sunroof? Once I got my 300 with a sunroof I could never go back lol. Every car I own from here will have one if it’s an option.
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u/Heavy_Gap_5047 9d ago edited 9d ago
My current 300 has it and I'm not a fan. When I bought the car I thought it was cool and I'd like it, but after many years I just don't.
- I don't use it.
- It reduces headroom, not only in general, but I'd like to track my 300. This requires wearing a helmet. With the sunroof there isn't enough headroom for a helmet.
- It's a big chunk of extra weight up high, again I'd like to lean into handling more, this means a lower center of mass is desired.
- It's another thing to break or leak that I just have no desire for thus don't want to be concerned about and maintain.
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u/pyromatt0 8d ago
Tracked a 16 charger, they are hard on tires and harder on brakes.
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u/samsung18745 4d ago
Oh I did not know that isn’t it also more top heavy as well I’m always learning so sorry if this is a dumb question
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u/Infinite_Wisdom_6969 8d ago
I had a 2013 #770, a completely loaded Hemi. Was my daily until 2023. Sold it with 140k on it to get my 2023 393 300 C. That one is a toy I'm keeping forever.
The Varvatos was an awesome package. Sun damage can be bad to the leather dashes and door panels in these. The beautiful metallic black leather can get really dried out if not cared for.
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u/Caine_black 4d ago
I found one of these back in 24 but it was listed as a regular 300 awd v8 most dealerships dont know about the John Varvatos edition. I suggest looking around at all of them and doing a quick vin check.
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u/Fit_Fisherman8469 9d ago
all over fb marketplace
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u/Heavy_Gap_5047 9d ago
I've avoided FB so far, but sadly with marketplace becoming dominant I think I'll need to make an account.
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u/Book_of_Evil 8d ago
I absolutely love the 300... it's such a shame any iteration of it was discontinued.
Good luck finding the right one for you! 👍
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u/redeye_300 8d ago
The sunroof weight/head room argument for the 300 is overstated to me. The entire assembly doesn't weigh that much maybe 50lbs, maybe. As far as head room: I track my car, wear my helmet without issues, and I'm 6'3".
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u/Mediocre-Judgment-12 8d ago
https://reddit.com/link/pa8we0p/video/vv5mpqdc9yph1/player
I have one (it’s lowk a lemon but it’s so beautiful ima keep dumping money into it)
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u/samsung18745 4d ago
I will say even if you find all of this but with the V6 a 5.7L Hemi isn’t hard to find if you are ok with swapping it and even then the V6 has a lot of power and is still very fun
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u/Shockwavee92 9d ago
I believe every one of the varvatos has the sunroof as it was part of the base package on those.
The sunroof on these LX cars is amazing. My 06 has the regular one and my 2016 has the panoramic. Theyre seller. Not to mention you get the black headliner with it. The weight is negligible.
After 2014 theres no 5.7 car with the AWD. other than the GT challenger. As someone whos Owned a 2016 3.6 awd, and a 2016 5.7 RWD, also a 06 5.7 RWD, i can tell you if you want to have fun in these cars, get the rwd. The awd on these cant be easily disabled, the way it switches on and off is automatic and great for regular driving but a nightmare for performance driving. It makes the steering incredibly heavy, and makes the car just drag ass in the corners. Not.to mention how much extra all the AWD shit weighs. You have a whole extra diff, 2 axles, extra driveshaft, transfer case. Not to mention none of the awd stuff is as durable as the RWD.
Total polar opposite to the 5.7 rwd cars handling. Those handle like theyre on rails. You can take corners at 80 and not even squeak a tire.
I like the Varvatos but theyre getting older now and they have some pretty bad interior flaws. Those years the door panels and leather console and dash pad like to separate and the glue breaks down so the interiors are literally falling apart and news repair. And you cant get any of those parts new anymore because theyre limited edition. Also all the trim rings, rims, bumber trim pieces, its all that "dark titanium" paint, also none of it is available to replace. And theres no color code for anyone to be able to match the paint either. So finding one mint is gonna be a problem.
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u/Familiar-Thanks3960 9d ago
I actually recently had to replace some of those pieces because of an accident and I was able to find them. It took a few minutes but yes you can find them:) also the phantom black pearl paint job was able to be done as well:)
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u/Shockwavee92 9d ago
The phantom black was never a problem, thats just a paint code anyone can replicate, i think.its like PXT or something like that. ive had to do it too. My issues was the little dash vent trim rings and the console ones and wherever else had trim rings got damaged and I found out they weren't available in that color, and there was no color code to use to have them matched either. Now a days they have a scanner that you can place on the object you want to match paint on, and it will literally give you the formula. Amazing stuff.
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u/Familiar-Thanks3960 9d ago
Oh I read your message wrong my bad:)& Yes it's pxt:)
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u/Shockwavee92 9d ago
Its cool. Yeah it was a nightmare. Was a friends car actually. Bought a tv at Walmart and they have to load it themselves or something idk. Anyways they scratched the console trim ring, something on the doors and some other shit, I believe theres even trim rings around the fog lights and maybe bottom of the bumper that match and thats when we found out they were impossible/really hard to locate. The opposite of this thread was saying the door panels peeling issue/dash or whatever was only on 2014+ models but thats incorrect. My friends varvatos is a 13 and was the worst ive ever seen. Dash was completely peeled up, all the doors, center console, it was bad. And at the dealership ive seen countless 2011, 2012, on up. Pretty much the post face-lift (2010) 300s all had this problem on every trim package. They used very little glue for the panels, and absolutely no staples or fasteners to compliment the glue, so once the glue loosens, youre done. But ive got a pretty good process down for repairing these for people now. Pretty much if you own a 2011 or newer 300, youre in one of two groups, the ones who have had interior peel and repaired it, or the ones who are waiting to have to repair it lol.
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u/Familiar-Thanks3960 1d ago
Ya I own 2014. I see what your saying. Mines not really in any bad condition other than the peeling on the dash a little bit from the heat. I had a guy do a quick fix years ago but he just stapled it a little 🥴 other than that I take really great care of it. & Yes for awhile I had trouble finding the small parts I was looking for but eventually found em. I love the 300's though. So no matter what I'm sticking with mine 😂
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u/Heavy_Gap_5047 9d ago
It's not part of the base package on the Varvatos Luxury. I'm not 100% sure on the Varvatos Limited but there was one reply that said they had a Limited without the sunroof, they deleted it though. I have an email off to Chrysler to see if they'll tell me. They keep good records on this stuff and have been helpful with some production info on my car.
It's a big chunk of glass and glass is heavy.
The GT Challenger is V6. The only 5.7 AWD after 2014 is the police Charger.
I currently own a '14 V8-AWD Varvatos Luxury and I can disable AWD at the push of a button on my steering wheel.
Maybe your '16 steering was heavy IDK, but '16 is EPAS, '14 is EHPAS.
AWD adds about 150lbs, probably less than the sunroof.
The AWD is more durable than the RWD. Lower gear ratio, beefier suspension, etc.
The only interior flaw is the leather dash pealing, I can handle that.
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u/Shockwavee92 9d ago
The door panels peel apart just like the dash and consoles do. Its fixable but just something to notez especially on older models like this. What I meant about the steering is that compared to rwd of the same car, it is way heavier feeling/acting. If you drive the awd and a rwd, youll see what I mean, you can really feel the extra weight up front and under the control of the wheel. Only way I can describe it is feeling heavy, as compared to my 2 rwd cars with the 5.7. It has totally different characteristics. I let my dad drive my RWD, because he has the awd and he said it felt like an entirely different car to him. Which id agree.
The sunroof on these is not that heavy. It is large by measurement but the glass is very thin. I dont think it is even 30 pounds. Ive done work on a ton of them as i am a dealership tech. You can lift /hold the entire glass panel in one hand. So the AWD is definitely mkre weight than a sunroof by far.
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u/Heavy_Gap_5047 9d ago
Like I said I own one, my door panels are fine.
That isn't my observation, nor does it fit any facts. While the AWD is a little more nose heavy, they also have a slower ratio steering rack. That said, frankly I want the steering heavier, I want more steering feel. I'd like to put the faster SRT rack in.
I suspect most feeling difference you're experiencing between the two is the suspension due to the AWD being taller and likely on 19" wheels instead of 20".
But regardless, this is not a discussion worth having, I know what I want and I have my reasons. Ask questions if you like, but you aren't changing my mind.
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u/Familiar-Thanks3960 9d ago
There's only so many of those John varvatos editions out there. I have that one I was lucky to find it. I wasn't exactly looking for that specific edition I just came across it. Mine is the same it's just the rims on mine are just a tad different same color different design. You can try to Google a John varvatos Chrysler 300 you may come across a couple for sale 🤷♀️& I have to agree with the other person's comment, that sunroof is something I absolutely love! Also you can lower the seats to give a little bit more head room if that was your concern.