Considering a 97 cloud car any issues?

[Turbulence]

I am considering purchasing a 97 Stratus, 2.0 liter 5 speed as a daily driver. I'm not looking for something that has gobs of power (obviously) but decent mileage (gas just hit $1.13 Canadian a liter here ~3.857 US gallon).

Any known issues with these cars? It has ~118,000 miles on it. Two previous owners.

Thanks,

Martin
89 Horizon

[RattFink]

I have a 1999 dodge stratus with 124,000 miles on it. It's been a really good car. I have the 2.4 auto, but never any problems with the powertrain. Seems like i'm always having suspension issues with it. Sway bar links are a common fix, and I just had to put a lower control arm on it due to the lower ball joint falling out trashing it. Iv'e put 24,000 miles on it in the last 9 months and the control arm issue was the only major problem. I regulary get 300 miles to a tank of gas driving around in Atlanta.

[Turbodave]

I've worked on a few of those for friends. The 2.0 is no powerhouse by any means, but it is easy on gas.

As far as the engine goes, I would look into whether or not the timing belt and water pump have been replaced. These are an interference motor, so if the belt breaks the valves will most likely get bent. Also, the water pump is driven off the timing belt, if it goes out it can take the belt out with it, which takes out the valves etc. If they haven't been replaced I would recommend doing them.

As far as the rest of the car goes, suspension problems are the only issues I've had to fix for people. The ball joints get sloppy and come apart, you have to replace the whole lower A-arm when they do. Otherlinks and bushings also tend to wear out and get noisy as well, there are a lot of moving parts under those cars.

[Turbulence]

Thanks for the info

Martin
89 Horizon

[SebringLX]

I had a 1996 Dodge Stratus with the 2.4L Auto in it, loved that car. Didn't have any problems with it until after I got well over 100,000 miles on it. The vent control broke, it would only blow air out of the floor and defrost, no matter what position the knob was at. Then it started seeping oil onto the exhaust manifold. It was such a slow leak that nobody I took it too could find it, but eventually enough would collect on it to make it smell like it was burning oil.

Oh I did have a tie rod go out on it, now that I think of it... it went out when I was driving 55, luckily I was able to bring the car to a stop without any problems (after hearing it snap). When I pulled over, one front tire was facing one direction, the other was facing the opposite direction.

[Vigo]

do they suffer the seeping headgaskets? possibly caused that.

i like them a lot, and imo a 2.0/5speed is the best one you can get. post pics!

[Turbulence]

If I end up picking it up I will post picks. I haven't actually even seen the car. It is 3 hours away in a small town. It's one of those things that if it is meant to be, I'll get it. If not no big deal.

I like the idea of a 2.0/5 speed too. What 5 speed did they come with?

Martin
89 Horizon



do they suffer the seeping headgaskets? possibly caused that.

i like them a lot, and imo a 2.0/5speed is the best one you can get. post pics!

[Vigo]

same as neon i believe, t350.

[22mopar]

I just bought a 2000 stratus 2.4 automatic for $300. 105,000 miles only thing I can find wrong is a rusty hood.

[Turbodave]

I just bought a 2000 stratus 2.4 automatic for $300. 105,000 miles only thing I can find wrong is a rusty hood.

Good deal you got there, I'll give you $400 for it.

[Juggy]

I just bought a 2000 stratus 2.4 automatic for $300. 105,000 miles only thing I can find wrong is a rusty hood.


thats cheap!!

i just got my friends 97 Stratus 2.4L DOHC auto for $1000 CDN, and I thought that was a decent deal! it needs some wheel bearings and it suffers the dreaded rusty hood as well. but I can get a replacement hood from cross canada for $200 CDN + paint, which is cheap.

I cant wait to drive it, im sick of a daily driver TD...especially when its 3 bar cal'd