The Perfect First Car Is A Dodge Stratus

"M-Powwerr Drives a Ford" (straight6fun)
07/02/2014 at 21:26 • Filed to: None

My dad is a counselor at a high school I take a class at (I go to a much smaller high school (selective) a few blocks away but it's a long story, PLTW engineering classes are offered there but I like the small family environment of the smaller school). So anyway, I was talking to the sub-school principal and somehow we got into a conversation about cars and she talked about her mechanic friend who will buy people cars from auctions. I mentioned that I was looking at older BMW's and she said (and I can't make this up!)

He doesn't like the foreign cars because even though they last longer and break less often, American cars are cheaper to fix. (OK..so I should buy a car that will die sooner and break more often but it's cheaper to fix??) He likes the Dodge Stratus because it's big and cheap. The pinnacle of early '00's American cars. I'll keep looking at 90's BMW's thank-you-very-much.

DISCUSSION (35)

Vince-The Roadside Mechanic > M-Powwerr Drives a Ford
07/02/2014 at 21:28

Your title is missing question marks.

dogisbadob > M-Powwerr Drives a Ford
07/02/2014 at 21:30

And now thanks to the Fiat takeover, it has some street cred!

I'd love to change the U to an O and put Lancia badges on it! hahahahaaa

Dodge Stratus, Lancia Stratos

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > M-Powwerr Drives a Ford
07/02/2014 at 21:30

I'd think an Impala of equal vintage would be better for one reason: 3800 Series II, a motor which even an idiot teenager couldn't kill.

Plus, police used them for cop cars, so they must be decently durable.

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
07/02/2014 at 21:32

Too fast

M-Powwerr Drives a Ford > Vince-The Roadside Mechanic
07/02/2014 at 21:33

Sorry, I forgot that the internet lacks my sarcastic tone...unfortunately I'm too lazy to fix it.

RotaryLover > M-Powwerr Drives a Ford
07/02/2014 at 21:34

Oh hell no! I had a Chrysler Sebring 2004 with the infamous 2.7L v6. Let me tell you this. The diff fucked up at 81000km after I changed the transmission fluid 10k earlier. Then transmission had hard shifts. Other issues occured like the oil sensor going crazy. NEVER AGAIN. POS CAR.

Vince-The Roadside Mechanic > dogisbadob
07/02/2014 at 21:35

BRB going to do that.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
07/02/2014 at 21:35

Only if you buy a Supercharged SS!

Actually, the normal Impala with the standard 3800 made 200 horsepower, or 43 more than a Taurus of equal vintage.

M-Powwerr Drives a Ford > RotaryLover
07/02/2014 at 21:35

Oh I know 2000's Chrysler was crap

M-Powwerr Drives a Ford > dogisbadob
07/02/2014 at 21:35

that I would do!

DylanToback > M-Powwerr Drives a Ford
07/02/2014 at 21:37

M-Powwerr Drives a Ford > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
07/02/2014 at 21:38

Now all those Impalas are rusting...though the 3800 was an awesome motor. One of the best engines of our time.

M-Powwerr Drives a Ford > DylanToback
07/02/2014 at 21:39

This is what I thought of as soon as she said that.!

Whenever I see a Stratus I also think of this.

DylanToback > M-Powwerr Drives a Ford
07/02/2014 at 21:42

As do I. There is really not much else to think of, they are very unremarkable cars.

M-Powwerr Drives a Ford > DylanToback
07/02/2014 at 21:45

I would rather have a Camry because at least it would last.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > M-Powwerr Drives a Ford
07/02/2014 at 21:46

My local Craigslist overflowing with rust-free W-bodies has something to say about that statement. And I live in a region where things can easily rust.

LookingAtCars.com > RotaryLover
07/02/2014 at 21:47

My mom had a 98 Stratus. The cab-forward design was awesome in terms of interior space. Didn't have any huge issues with it. Still on the road today.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > M-Powwerr Drives a Ford
07/02/2014 at 21:54

PLTW brofist!

RotaryLover > LookingAtCars.com
07/02/2014 at 22:00

That's not the same. These where much better than the 2001+ models.

NotACactus > M-Powwerr Drives a Ford
07/02/2014 at 22:03

Still less uncool than a Stratus.

DylanToback > M-Powwerr Drives a Ford
07/02/2014 at 22:20

Eh, if I have to go beige I am going with an Accord. I have driven a new Camry, it was not an experience I would like to repeat.

M-Powwerr Drives a Ford > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
07/02/2014 at 22:50

Brofist

M-Powwerr Drives a Ford > DylanToback
07/02/2014 at 22:52

but the Accord can be un beige if properly equipped, (the 7th with the v6 and 6mt was a sports sedan) and I wouldn't mind a v6/6mt accord.

M-Powwerr Drives a Ford > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
07/02/2014 at 22:53

But I think where I live is more rust prone then St. Louis though...people around here also just don't take care of their cars

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > M-Powwerr Drives a Ford
07/02/2014 at 23:14

Even an four banger Accord can be great. My 97 was a blast. It was actually decently quick, and with the 5mt it was fun to drive too. I'd suggest it as a frist car for sure. That a Volvo 850 if you can't drive stick.

DylanToback > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles
07/02/2014 at 23:17

I drove a 96 5-speed accord all through undergrad. Great cars. Sold it with close to 250k on the clock.

DylanToback > M-Powwerr Drives a Ford
07/02/2014 at 23:19

Nor would I. That being said, while the new v6 accords are quite quick, they are far from cheap. The coupe starts at just over $30 grand. If it were my money, I don't think I could justify that purchase in light of all the other cars out there for similar money.

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > DylanToback
07/02/2014 at 23:20

I bought mine with 207, got bored and sold it with 212, but I literally only had to change the oil, and fliters.

DylanToback > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles
07/02/2014 at 23:22

Not bad. Sadly, mine was a bit more problematic. I did not have a single engine problem though, and I ran it to the red virtually every chance I got.

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > DylanToback
07/02/2014 at 23:23

It was a fun car to redline. That F22 is a great engine.

M-Powwerr Drives a Ford > DylanToback
07/02/2014 at 23:25

agreed

DylanToback > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles
07/02/2014 at 23:27

For sure. I learned a lot from driving that car hard. I made it through 3 winters with summer tires. Not my wisest decision, though the only damage resulting from it was a slightly bent wheel.

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > DylanToback
07/02/2014 at 23:35

I also sold my Accord for what I paid for it. :)

Have car, will drive (now has a motorcycle too) > M-Powwerr Drives a Ford
07/03/2014 at 05:51

I'm glad I read the whole post and found out the title was sarcastic, otherwise I might been willing to suggest your love of blandboxes belonged elsewhere....

Keep looking at those BMWs. There will no doubt be some expensive repairs in your future, but it'll be worth it to own something with at least a little character.

Frosted > M-Powwerr Drives a Ford
07/16/2014 at 21:11

I like my cars to be from Japan because they usually break less often AND they're cheaper to fix. I'd probably drive a Stratus though.....

....Off a bridge.