Will you guys buy a 2004 Dodge ?

[sirgerman]

Originally Posted By: Jimzz
The best bang for the buck of those 3 is the Sentra. 2006 was the last year of that body style and does NOT use a CVT. So all the bugs were worked out by then and it has the older, but more reliable, 4 speed auto trans.

The Corolla is ok, reliable and decent. But cost the most and you said you want to save money. Still a good car.

The Dodge I would not touch. About the same price as the Sentra but less reliable and also has a timing belt. I bet its never been changed as many go by miles not miles and/or age. People forget the age part.


well i dont buy cars with a timing belt, is it a "Interference Engines" and "Non-interference Engines" thanks you for letting me know

 

[john6974332]

Originally Posted By: LoneRanger
Get the Dodge, had a '94 Dodge Dakota short bed sport std cab with 5.2L V8, 3:55:1 axle ratio and limited slip differential that thing was bullet proof!!... when it was already 12 yrs old it then began it's next journey as the first car for 16 yr old son who then flogged the dog snot out of it for four years wrecking it twice by losing control after doing burnouts to show off -- the limited slip got away from him both times. Still ran solid and strong blew no oil smoke or anything when we sold it to a buddy of his. Always ran Pennzoil Yellow Bottle 10W30 in it, religiously....


Lol, apples to oranges...

I love my 2016 Mustang! You should totally buy a Pinto.

 

[oil_film_movies]

Originally Posted By: sirgerman
Originally Posted By: oil_film_movies

I owned a 2004 Stratus SE 2.7L V6 as well, for a couple of years. I'd pay up to $3,000 for that one, if its in great shape. Low miles are nice.


did you have any problems with the car ?


Not too much wrong. Probably spent $300 fixing transmission leaks and serpentine belt, routine for a 120,000 mile 10 year old car at the time.
That 2.7L V6 is much maligned, yet its 200 hp output was very nice in that size car, and I thought it ran smooth enough.
Funny thing: I put the Dodge SRT oil in it because I thought it would be cool, and its not a bad oil at all (Pennzoil 0w-40 SRT). Going thicker on a slightly old car is a good idea.

 

[SwampSurvivor]

I don't know if I'd go for that one. I always thought the stratus had Mitsubishi engine and trans but apparently that's not the case. That 2.4L engine will need a head gasket soon (they always seem to blow the head gasket here in NY), it will probably need a timing belt and it has a 41TE which is nearing the end of it's life.

I'd probably walk from this one.

 

[oil_film_movies]

Originally Posted By: Miller88
I don't know if I'd go for that one. I always thought the stratus had Mitsubishi engine and trans but apparently that's not the case. That 2.4L engine will need a head gasket soon (they always seem to blow the head gasket here in NY), it will probably need a timing belt and it has a 41TE which is nearing the end of it's life.

I'd probably walk from this one.


But for $3,000, which is $16,000 less than a new car, you could afford to put a few parts on. That Transmission is still OK at 55,000 miles probably.

 

[gregk24]

I would avoid the Dodge. Your better off going with the Sentra or the Corolla, although I wouldn't pay that much for the Corolla.

 

[sirgerman]

what is a fair price for the corolla ?

 

[Wampahoofus]

The value of the Dodge is dependent more on how it was taken care of and less on 'it's a Dodge'. People claiming that the head gasket is nearly gone and the trans is ready to pack up are spouting nothing but nonsense and hearsay.

The iron 2.4 does have a timing belt. If the belt snaps at very high engine speeds then they can eat valves, but for most failures they do not. Timing belt failure is rare, and I'd expect this one to go for awhile yet even if it's original. If you're worried, change it. Belts for these are cheap.

Head gaskets: They like to leak oil from the backside of the head where the main oil feed passes through. It's annoying, but nothing worth getting excited about. This engine will have a newer multi-layered steel gasket that should get you to at least 125,000 before it blows between water jackets and combustion chambers (if the car was abused, your results will vary). The older gaskets (used through 97 or 98) had a habit of going at about this mileage, which is where the doomsday stories come from.

Again, depending on how it was taken care of, the water pump gasket may or may not be nearing the end of it's life. It's driven by the timing belt so, like similar setups from all makes, it's advised to change it with the belt.

The trans in this car was factory filled with ATF+4, which cured the lions share of the ills of earlier 41TEs. Unless it was beaten on, you won't have any worries of burnt up clutches or worn out parts or seals. Severe service fluid change interval is 60,000 so this car is about due.


TLDR: the Stratus is a fine car dogged by a reputation that, by the 2004 model year, was totally undeserved. If you asked me about a 1995 model that was otherwise the same as this one, I'd say differently. Inspect it thoroughly and judge it based on usage, condition, and maintenance. With that said, I think the price is a bit high unless it's a real cream puff.

 

[barkingspider]

Pass on the dodge. The others are a little high on price. Keep looking, good deals are always out there. Be patient.

 

[901Memphis]

Looks clean take the gamble

 

[daves87rs]

Just not the first one...more based on the fact I think it was used by the kids first....

 

[Silverado12]

FWIW I have had the best service from Chrysler products.

 

[sirgerman]

Originally Posted By: Wampahoofus
The value of the Dodge is dependent more on how it was taken care of and less on 'it's a Dodge'. People claiming that the head gasket is nearly gone and the trans is ready to pack up are spouting nothing but nonsense and hearsay.

The iron 2.4 does have a timing belt. If the belt snaps at very high engine speeds then they can eat valves, but for most failures they do not. Timing belt failure is rare, and I'd expect this one to go for awhile yet even if it's original. If you're worried, change it. Belts for these are cheap.

Head gaskets: They like to leak oil from the backside of the head where the main oil feed passes through. It's annoying, but nothing worth getting excited about. This engine will have a newer multi-layered steel gasket that should get you to at least 125,000 before it blows between water jackets and combustion chambers (if the car was abused, your results will vary). The older gaskets (used through 97 or 98) had a habit of going at about this mileage, which is where the doomsday stories come from.

Again, depending on how it was taken care of, the water pump gasket may or may not be nearing the end of it's life. It's driven by the timing belt so, like similar setups from all makes, it's advised to change it with the belt.

The trans in this car was factory filled with ATF+4, which cured the lions share of the ills of earlier 41TEs. Unless it was beaten on, you won't have any worries of burnt up clutches or worn out parts or seals. Severe service fluid change interval is 60,000 so this car is about due.


TLDR: the Stratus is a fine car dogged by a reputation that, by the 2004 model year, was totally undeserved. If you asked me about a 1995 model that was otherwise the same as this one, I'd say differently. Inspect it thoroughly and judge it based on usage, condition, and maintenance. With that said, I think the price is a bit high unless it's a real cream puff.


that helps a lot, I am going to see the car and offer just $3500 cash

 

[pandus13]

Originally Posted By: sirgerman
that helps a lot, I am going to see the car and offer just $3500 cash

may i suggest you check the local offerings in that price range also? maybe there are other cream-puffs in the area...

and one point: while "it's a Dodge", and you can see from my signature i don't really go domestic, here we are 12 years after it was produced, and it's still chugging along.....

my only 2 experiences with stratus are:
-i rented one for a weekend 10 years ago and it did 700 miles with 3 adults and luggage on the highway + Chicago traffic with no problem.
-co-worker had one 8 years ago. no problem for the 1 year i worked there. she was always way ahead of me at any traffic light/quicker starting....


good luck with your decision

 

[marine65]

Originally Posted By: sirgerman
What about the 2006 sentra ?


I bought my 2006 Sentra with 97K miles on it.
It now has 174K miles on it.
Averages 35 MPG mostly freeway driving.
Maintenance so far
New spark plugs
struts
tranny flush
regular oil changes
tires
battery
air filters
The windshield washer pump went bad. $20 and 20 minutes to fix.
Everything still works on it including the A/C.
The only slight negative is that it has some clunks and rattles over rough roads.
Its been a solid car so far.

 

[sirgerman]

Originally Posted By: marine65
Originally Posted By: sirgerman
What about the 2006 sentra ?


I bought my 2006 Sentra with 97K miles on it.
It now has 174K miles on it.
Averages 35 MPG mostly freeway driving.
Maintenance so far
New spark plugs
struts
tranny flush
regular oil changes
tires
battery
air filters
The windshield washer pump went bad. $20 and 20 minutes to fix.
Everything still works on it including the A/C.
The only slight negative is that it has some clunks and rattles over rough roads.
Its been a solid car so far.


that sentra sold, what do you make about this sentra http://www.ksl.com/auto/listing/3434887?ad_cid=5
the dealer wont budge on the price, pretty much $6500