Dodge Stratus car: owner reviews, specifications, features
When trying to find a used mid-size sedan at a low price, many run into problems. This is too early a year of manufacture or inadequate technical condition. But there are several models that can be found in good condition for a small price. An example of this is the Dodge Stratus. Owner reviews, features and characteristics of the car – later in our article.
Description
Dodge Stratus is an American mid-range four-door sedan. Serial production of the machine was carried out in the period from 1995 to 2000. The machine was supplied both to the domestic and European markets. In the latter case, the model was sold under the Chrysler brand.
Design
The car has a brutal male look. In front – a massive bumper, a wide grille and squinted headlights.
The car has a very original design. By the way, Chrysler specialist Michael Santoro participated in the appearance. It was he who proposed the idea of creating a car according to the “front cab” scheme. Thus, the windshield ends almost in the area of u200bu200bthe wheels. This allowed to significantly expand the interior space, as well as give the car aerodynamics. With the same body configuration, the Dodge Stratus coupe was produced. Owner reviews say that even now the car attracts attention (especially if expensive wheels are installed).
disadvantages
If we talk about the cons, then first of all it is worth noting the optics. Very narrow headlights were installed on the Dodge Stratus, due to which the light beam could not propagate normally along the road. Many owners complained about weak optics.
Does the Dodge Stratus rust? Owner reviews say that there is no absolute rot on the “American”, but there are pockets of corrosion. This is mainly the area of u200bu200bwheel arches, wings and the bottom of the doors. Wiring is also susceptible to corrosion: the starter and alternator can rust. The pipes of radiators and air conditioners are unsatisfactorily resistant to our reagents. Therefore, after buying this car, you will need to pay attention to these points.
Dimensions, ground clearance
According to reviews, Dodge Stratus does not like narrow streets. The car has impressive dimensions. So, the length of the sedan is 4.74 meters (the coupe is only 2 centimeters shorter), the width is 1.82, the height is 1.38 meters. As the owners state in their reviews, the Dodge Stratus is a big, low car. Free space – only 14 centimeters. If we recall the long wheelbase, then there is no need to talk about the characteristics of cross-country ability. At the first opportunity, this machine lies upside down.
Dodge Stratus: Salon
Inside, it's a typical American sedan from the late '90s, with velvet seats and modest panel designs.
The seats are comfortable, there is enough space both in front and behind. Are there any defects in the cabin? According to reviews, the Dodge Stratus has an uninformative instrument panel. The size of the arrows is small – at night you need to look at the speedometer. In the same way, owners show dissatisfaction with the information content of mirrors. They are very small considering the size of the machine.
Specifications
The car has several petrol engines. Among them is the base two-liter unit with a capacity of 132 horsepower. Engine torque – 174 Nm. With him, the car accelerated to hundreds in 10.1 seconds. The maximum speed is 180 kilometers per hour.
In more expensive versions, a 2.4-liter engine with 152 horsepower is available. This engine already has 226 Nm and accelerates the sedan to hundreds in 9.5 seconds. Also for the US domestic market, a 2.7-liter engine with 200 horsepower was offered. With it, the car accelerates to hundreds in 9 seconds. And the maximum speed is limited to 210 kilometers per hour.
Among the positive aspects of engines, reviews note inexpensive maintenance. So the cost of oil and filter is $35. The price of candles and high voltage cables is $15 each. It is also worth mentioning that these engines were also found on other American cars (for example, on the same Dodge Neon and Chrysler Cruiser), so there are no problems finding spare parts and components.
What are the disadvantages of the Dodge Stratus 2.0 car? Reviews say that American engines are quite voracious. So, the weakest engine consumes 12-15 liters of gasoline, depending on operating conditions. Among the pitfalls, it is worth noting the tendency of the internal combustion engine to overheat and the rear crankshaft oil seal to leak. The oil seal fails no earlier than after 200 thousand kilometers. Well, there are no serious problems with an engine up to 400 thousand.
transmissions
The car could be equipped with both manual and automatic transmission. The mechanics are pretty solid. After 200 thousand kilometers, only fogging of the body is possible. Transmissions change clearly and effortlessly. What do reviews say about the Dodge Stratus 2.4 on the machine? The automatic transmission here has a simple design. This is a four channel torque converter. It has no major flaws, the owners say. The resource of an automatic transmission is comparable to an engine.
Dodge Stratus – Chassis
The front of the car has a double-lever suspension, the rear – multi-link. After 70 thousand kilometers, it is necessary to replace the ball joints and front stabilizer struts. There is no rear stabilizer. The rear suspension will require attention after at least 120 thousand kilometers. Therefore, shock absorbers, wheel bearings and silent blocks of levers can wear out on this move. Steering tips serve about 100 thousand kilometers. But in the event of a breakdown of the steering rods, finding a worthy replacement is quite difficult.
How does this car behave on the go? As noted by the reviews, the characteristics of the suspension are tuned for comfort. The car rides smoothly, swallowing all the bumps and junctions of the road. With this car, you can easily go on a long trip. The driver and passengers will not be very tired. But in terms of maneuverability, this car has drawbacks. The suspension is heavily wound, and the car's own weight does not contribute to aggressive driving.
Conclusion
So, we found out what features and reviews Dodge Stratus has. This is a good American sedan with a reliable engine and a comfortable suspension. Of the significant disadvantages, only high fuel consumption and large body dimensions can be noted.
