1997 Dodge Stratus 2.4L 4 Cylinder from North America
Summary:
The Best Car I've had!
Faults:
This car is a delight to own. So far the only problem I had was at 50,000km, and it was a fault with the Car's Computer, something with shifting make the check engine light come on, but they did all the diagnostics and it was just a glitch with the computer, they updated the computer's firmware and it has run like a charm ever since.
General Comments:
I like this car, and would consider buying a new 2002 Stratus. The engine itself is nice, I've replaced a few stock parts and put in better performance parts, their intake is really small, that I must say is a downside, and changed a few other things.
I have had no problems with this car, and it gets serviced >5000KM. I keep it in tip top shape, huge supreme gasoline, and don't bag on it.
Nice interior, A/C and cruise are nice. Seats are comfortable for me, I'm 5'11, fit nicely. I drive 11-12 hours at one sitting, and don't have any problems with back or neck pain.
The car can haul it when it needs to, I have a 4 speed automatic, and keeping it in 3rd gear instead of D really makes a big difference when accelerating or going down hills, you don't have to ride the brakes like a usual automatic.
I can honestly say I haven't been more satisfied with a car, it looks sharp with the exterior addons, and it handles well. It tops out at 195km/h due to the governor, so speed isn't an issue.
The only thing I would have changed if I bought the car new would be the biggest engine, the V6 model.
Now I must add that a church owned this car before me, it was mainly driven by a priest... so perhaps my car has a little extra added "luck" so to speak...hehe.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 1st October, 2002
1st May 2003, 23:12
Well my car now has 85,600km on it, and a few things have gone wrong. The tensioner pulley has gone and I had to get it replaced ($190 CDN) including a new timing belt (which it needed).
Now my engine is leaking oil from the side of the block, just the odd drop here and there, the head gasket is the problem, needless to say this isn't an uncommon problem with DODGE vehicles, and of course they told me to go blow it out my *** when I asked them to replace it.
$485 for a gasket kit and another 4+ hours of labor doesn't suit me, so I'll just let my car pollute the driveway and environment until I sell it, oil is cheap.
I know of another person who had the same gasket problem and Dodge was being total jerks about replacing it, but luckily they did it on her car ($1200 CDN) job to do it.
I am not sure if I'd buy another Dodge vehicle, not after this, it's just cheap construction on their part.