1998 Chrysler Cirrus LXi review from North America

1. Front/Left wheel bearing (replaced by dealer prior to pick up)

2. I noticed a "whining" noise coming from the engine upon picking the car up... the dealer said it was because the car had been sitting for so long and would go away within a few days. A week later it was still very noticeable so I took it to my mechanic who said the alternator was bad... I called the dealer back since the car was still under the 1 month/1,000 mile warranty... they said to bring the car in and they would try to rebuild it. As it turns out, they discovered that one of the tensioners (or something to that regard) needed replacing, which solved the problem. The alternator was fine after all.

3. 89,000 Miles - Replaced windshield washer pump - $107

4. 91,000 Miles - Replaced rear tires, also had snow tires mounted on the front which I had laying around my house from a previous vehicle

5. 93,908 Miles - I blew the front/left snow tire while driving home from work on the highway (during a snow storm, I might add)...I called AAA and they put the spare on and towed me home (the driver didn't feel comfortable with me driving on the spare in the bad weather)...the next day I took the car back to Dunn Tire and had them put on two new front tires to match the rear ones - $190

6. 96,043 Miles - Replaced the Front/Right wheel bearing - $168

7. 96,902 - Replaced the entire rear brake system (which included drums and shoes) - $294.

I went to a small repair shop that this man managed to look at a car he was selling (a 1999 Chevy Malibu). I was not fond of the car, so he pointed me towards a few used cars that they were selling on their lot. The one car that stuck out was a black 1998 Chrysler Cirrus. It had a few dings, and needed a good wax job, but was overall in pretty good shape. Upon test driving it, I fell in love.

The 2.5 V6 is actually very powerful, considering it's size. The car handles well, and is extremely quiet on the highway. The leather seats are extremely comfortable, especially on long trips. Also, the trunk is huge and there is plenty of leg room in the back seat.

The car has been extremely reliable in the 8 months I've owned it. I have had to repair a few things, but they are all wear and tear items so far. It has been much more trustworthy than my previous car (a 1997 Saturn SL1), which was pretty much in the shop every other week! I have driven the Chrysler up to my camp and back (200 miles round trip) seven times in the past 3 weeks, and it has performed flawlessly. I would definitely not hesitate to take it on a long trip, if the opportunity arises.

My only complaints about the car is that the leather is starting to wear (especially on the driver's side)...the leather wrapped steering wheel is completely worn (or really dirty) and I have not had any luck getting it clean... the driver's door doesn't lock with the others when the power lock button is pushed (I don't know if it is broken or if it's a security feature...).

I intend to keep the car for at least a few years, assuming it continues to be reliable. According to other surveys I have read, the 2.5 V6 is a decent engine and should last. I did notice multiple people mention problems with misfiring and stalling, but mine has been running completely smooth so far. I change the oil every 3-4K and stay on top of the maintenance as best I can. My only real concern is the fact that Chrysler had transmission issues in almost all of their cars back in the 90's. The transmission shifts smooth at the moment, let's hope it stays that way!