Chrysler Corporation has made a few changes to its product lineup since its well- publicized merger with Mercedes- Benz of Germany. It has updated some models and eliminated others in an effort to modernize and remain competitive. One line of cars that has changed a little bit on some models but not others is Dodge. And one of the cars offered in the Dodge lineup is Dodge Stratus, a mid- sized sedan designed for those who want a certain degree of sportiness combined with a certain amount of conservatism in a two- door or four- door family vehicle.
Features/Options:
The 2004 Stratus is offered in 2- door and 4- door models, with trim levels that include the SE, SXT, RT, and ES. These trim levels are in order of base price, from lowest to highest. The 4- door version is offered in all four trim levels. The 2- door is available only with the SXT and R/T trim levels.
Engine sizes offered range from 2.4 liter, 150 horsepower on the SE model to the 3.0 liter, 200 horsepower engine offered on the 2- door R/T. The other trim levels offer 2.7 liters or 2.4 liters, depending on the package you buy.
All trim levels come with power windows, power locks, AM/FM stereo with cassette, cruise control, tilt steering wheel, air conditioning, etc. Upgrades are available on all trim levels, with added options like CD player, moon roof, remote keyless entry, and other options.
Statistics/Measurements:
Dodge Stratus is a medium- sized vehicle with a length of approx. 15 feet, 11 inches; width of 5 feet, 11 inches; height of 4 feet, 7 inches; interior passenger space of about 96 cubic feet; trunk capacity of about 16 cubic feet; and a weight of about 3,200 pounds (Note: These measurements are for the 4- door model. The 2- door will vary slightly and there are small differences among the different trim levels for the 4- door).
All styles and trim levels of Dodge Stratus come with the standard three- year, 36,000 mile bumper to bumper warranty; five- year, 100,000 mile warranty on rust; seven- year, 70,000 mile warranty on major components; and three- year, 36,000 mile roadside assistance.
Pricing:
Stratus is a little less expensive than most other vehicles of similar style and size. The basic SE is the least expensive, with an MSRP that starts at only about $18,000. The SXT is only a few hundred dollars more expensive. Upgrade to an R/T or ES, and your MSRP will increase to about $21,500 and $22,300 respectively.
Final Thoughts:
Dodge Stratus is a good vehicle for those who are concerned with fuel efficiency, but not too much; for those who want sportiness, but not too much; and for those who want a family sedan, but not too much. This vehicle combines attributes of many different types of vehicles into one- a fact that can be both appealing and unappealing at the same time.
I drove a 4- door, dark red SXT model for a few days and I was only semi- impressed. I like the look of Dodge Stratus, but no matter how hard I try to accept it, I keep thinking about other vehicles that are better and more appealing overall. However, this vehicle does have a certain amount of appeal. It offers good fuel economy and it seems like a reliable car. But it doesn’t have the flashy appeal or the more sophisticated refinement of some of its competition.
When I first started to drive this car, one of the things I noticed right away (and has bothered me in other late model cars) is the seat belt beeper. The seat belt beeper continues to beep at you if your seat belt (driver’s) is not fastened and it continues like this for about two minutes, although it seems like much longer than that. The beeping is quite annoying and there is no way (as far as I know) to deactivate it. You either have to put up with it for two minutes, or give in and fasten your belt.
The doors to this car auto- lock after you have shifted to drive and started to move, which is a good feature. The cup holders include two, but I think they are placed too far forward. They are in front of the gear shift (located between the driver and passenger seats) and they require the driver to lean forward to grab his/her drink. This seems like a safety flaw, in my opinion. It would be better if the cup holders were closer to your hands so there was no leaning involved.
The dials include one for speed, fuel level, RPM, and temperature. Like other Chrysler vehicles, the dials are white with black numbers (gear shift and odometer are both digital). At night, the white areas appear dark and the once black numbers light up in a bluish- green color. These color combinations make both daytime and nighttime viewing easy on the eyes. I’m surprised that more automakers haven’t switched over to the white dial concept. It makes for much more comfortable viewing.
As for the steering, Dodge Stratus is ok, but it doesn’t offer the tight, road- hugging feel that I prefer. Part of the reason is the smaller tires on the SXT model that I drove. The more upscale R/T model comes with larger tires and probably grips the roadway more snugly. Acceleration in my SXT was not very good either. I could really feel the tension when trying to merge into highway traffic. I was pressing the gas pedal, but the vehicle response was rather lethargic.
Comfort in the Dodge Stratus sedan is average. The driver and passenger in the front seats can ride with little complaining, but irritation can quickly build if you try to cram three adults in the back seat. Dodge claims that the Stratus can handle three people in the rear seat, but I wouldn’t take this very seriously. If I had to sit in the tight back quarters for very long, I would have stiff, aching muscles and be complaining to the driver to pull over so I could get out and stretch. As long as there are no more than two people in the back, though, you should be fine.
There is one other major drawback to the Dodge Stratus: its resale value. To put it plainly, Dodge Stratus loses value fast, making your trade- in value plummet dramatically after only a few years. In fact, one of the main disadvantages of purchasing one of these vehicles new is the knowledge that, in a year or two, a large proportion of the original value will be depreciated. Don’t believe me? Check your local newspaper or other used car retail source. Look for a late model Dodge Stratus for sale. Notice how much less expensive they are when compared to the new models? Even when the vehicle in question is only a couple years old and has low mileage, it still costs several thousand less than a new model. For this reason, I would be very hesitant to purchase a Dodge Stratus brand new. In just one year, it is common for this vehicle to depreciate by one- quarter to one- third.
In many ways, Dodge Stratus is like a poor man’s version of the Dodge Intrepid. It carries the same Dodge name, and it has a certain sporty look about it. But in almost all measures, the Intrepid beats it, hands down. Still, for its price, Stratus is an ok vehicle. I’m going to go ahead and give it a rating of three stars because I think my impression was tarnished by the fact that I was driving and SXT that was stripped- down with few options or luxuries (it was a rental car). I’m fairly certain that the more expensive trim levels (R/T and ES) are probably much nicer and more appealing.
Dodge Stratus seems to be an agreeable, everyday car that is good for small families and others who want some good fuel economy and decent looks without paying an arm and a leg. It has its flaws, yes. But it does earn a passing grade overall for vehicles in its class.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 19,000
Condition: New Model Year: 2004 Model and Options: SXT
Epinions.com periodically updates pricing and product information from third-party sources, so some information may be slightly out-of-date. You should confirm all information before relying on it.
- Add to My Yahoo!: 
- Add to Google Homepage: 
© 1999-2009 Shopping.com, Inc.