Am I missing anything here?
The Base Coupe does NOT have the following, which is standard on the Limited:

1. No cargo netting on the center tunnel
2. No cargo netting behind the seats
3. No rear speakers (2 mid range, & 2 tweeters only)
4. Woven cloth instead of leather seating surfaces
5. Manual instead of power adjustments for the seats
6. No silver finish cigar lighter (black plastic in base coupe. Doesn't matter, I don't smoke!)
7. No silver trim around door speakers (black plastic in base coupe)
8. No silver finish on the engine cover (molded in black)
9. No exterior color choices except for black on the base car
10. Black painted side strakes instead of silver
11. Black painted exterior windshield surround (instead of silver)
12. No automatic transmission option (manual only in the base coupe)
13. Black painted exterior door handles (instead of silver)
14. No foglights on the base coupe
15. Plain, black plastic door jamb guards in the base coupe

Of course, the Base Coupe gets the same 3.2L V6 and engine calibration, same suspension bits and tuning, same six speed, same great wheels and tires, same ESP and ABS system(s), etc. It's basically a no-frills version of the same great performance car. If I missed anything, please post!

 

Yes, you forgot that most useless cupholder.

 

I was under the impression my 2004 is base, but I have all silver colored everything. Nothing black. Is the word "limited" on the car somewhere? I seem to have "limited" features.

 

Word Limited doesn't appear anywhere. If yours has a silver windshield surround its a Limited. Are the seats all leather?

 

Yes, seats are all leather. Wow, I like being "limited".

 

Base coupe doesn't have heated seats.

 

There was no limited or base distinction in 2004. All 2004's have the same specs as the 2005 "limited".

 

Doesn't the Limited also have heated seats and heated mirrors? I read that somewhere. Ours has heated seats.

 

The "Base" model was created as a deconted version of the car for 2005, in response to slow sales. Chrysler did a similar thing with the Pacifica, when it was realized that mid to high $30K vehicles were a little out of step with the realities of the Chrysler brand at the time. To this day, it remains debatable if Chrysler is an upscale brand, a midrange brand, or a value brand. Still, it blows my mind that loaded 4x4 trucks sell like hotcakes for well over $30K, but the excellent Pacifica would not move until the price dropped deep into the 20K range.

 

the base coupe doesn't have the following:

-No Cupholder
-No Homelink
-No "Crossfire" nameplated stainless steel door sill plates
-No storage net between both front seats
-No storage nets behind both front seats mounted on the bulkhead at the bottom
-No silver cigarette lighter
-No Tire Pressure Monitor
-No Aluminum rubber studded pedals
-No Power Seats
-Different seats altogether with adjustable headrests
-No Leather Seats
-No Heated Seats
-No 6 speaker 240 watt Infinity Modulus radio (Base just has a 4 speaker stereo with black ***** and NO AMPLIFIER)
-No Fog Lights
-No Silver trimmed speaker grilles
-No Satin Silver Finish exterior windshield frame, side fender vents and door handles (all black on Base)
-No Chrome finish on exhaust pipe tips
-No Automatic Transmission Option
-No Color Option other than BLACK CLEARCOAT
-No Interior Color Option other than BLACK CLOTH
-No Gas Strut on Glovebox door (This Strut Available on the Limited creates a slow opening door rather than just dropping open)
-No Heated Exterior Mirrors
-No Cabin Air Filtration System (Base just has a simple recirculation feature)
-And usually comes standard with the All Season Performance Conti's
-No Floormats
-No Touring Gear

However, the Base coupe does have a silver engine cover at least mine did.

 

I also think the limited added the heated windshield washer nozzles.

 

I beg to differ. Mine has a black plastic engine cover. Maybe a running change to the car?

 

My base roadster has the black engine cover, as well.

 

My base had the silver engine cover. I got that base coupe back in July of '04. It might have been a change they made later but mine did have it in silver just like my limited.

 

Auto companies (particularly the big 3) are always on the lookout for ways to cut costs (and cut corners). I don't doubt that it was once silver and it's now black. They probably thought that no one would notice, so they could save a nickel.

I want to know, why did DC decide to paint all the base cars black? Does black happen to be the cheapest color to paint a car, because its a common color on the market and can be bought in volume (thus cheaper), impossible to mismatch (there is only one shade of black), or what? You figure, the finish has to be superb with black, because it's pure contrast and reflection. The tiniest bit of orange peel would show, so finish quality had to remain superb (and it is).

 

I guess the Base Coupe reminded them of the original Ford Model T "you could have one in any color as long as it's black".

 

Don't forget that useless cupholder...

 

yes mine is base - black engine cover as well... i will post pics of mine soon but i have added nice leather sport seats and foglights and the crossfire door sills along with one hell of an infinity/mtx sound system - i added the infinity subs plus two mtx thunder 7500's (12's) with the 7500 amp in a custom enclosure... so i'm not really concerned anymore... oh by the way while installing it we found yes the base models system IS amplified unlike previously stated in this thread - just like the limited... personally i like the fact that mine does not have the silver around the windshield and on the vents... i like it on other colors but not on black so i decided to do an all around black theme and do 5% tint with blacked out headlights and foglights (that look bad as hell) and will soon get black inset rims with a silver lip... i spray painted the engine cover silver looks fine.

 

What is this glove box strut? I have an '04 and don't know what you are talking about...

 

Mine is black too - it doesn't bother me, I never open the hood.

Did you install the factory leather seats? I did this, but when I hooked up all of the wiring, the airbag light was tripped. Did you have the same problem?