A whole car ruined by a transmission

"BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather" (bugeyedacura)
03/08/2015 at 20:22 • Filed to: None

My wife has a new 200 as a rental car. The interior is amazing (save the iPhone 4-sized "infotainment" screen swallowed up by the dash). The standard 4-cylinder is even barable when in rental car trim. But the transmission is ABSOLUTE SHIT. It shifts when you want it to, but doesn't when you do. This means that at low speeds it lurches about and at normal speed it whirrs. All other things being equal, if the transmssion paired up to the V6 functions better, I wouldn't mind having one.

DISCUSSION (16)

Conan > BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather
03/08/2015 at 20:26

Remind me to let you know how glad I am to have a Mercedes V6 rather than a Chrysler V6 in my Crossfire.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather
03/08/2015 at 20:33

This all could come down to that there's been transmission calibration updates and the rental agency hasn't taken the car to a dealer to have them installed or however rental companies get stuff like that done.

BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather > Conan
03/08/2015 at 20:34

Well the Pentastar is pretty strong. Definitely a big step up over the old 3.5.

BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
03/08/2015 at 20:36

Very true. If it can be fixed and the new flash improves that one aspect, I couldn't not recommend this car for someone looking for an upscale mid-sizer.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather
03/08/2015 at 20:39

The 200 is the car I wanted my mom to buy. But her family scared her away with their Chrysler horror stories. I still regret not making them at least go and look at it.

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather
03/08/2015 at 20:42

It's the transmission/engine combo. It's the same terror in the Cherokee, my Dad hated it. The V6 is supposed to better suit the transmission.

BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
03/08/2015 at 20:45

I was raised on Chrysler horror stories too. Chrysler is the poster boy for love it or hate it brands.

BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies
03/08/2015 at 20:46

If that's the case, I could be enticed...

ranwhenparked > BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather
03/08/2015 at 21:27

Might as well, really. The V6 version is still only like $25k, and that's before discounts and incentives.

hike > BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather
03/08/2015 at 21:29

Did the car still roll when you first go into reverse? That was an issue with early 200's that was fixed by a flash, so it's possible this car hasn't been updated. Also, the interior is even better with uConnect 8.4 replacing the little screen. And I've driven a 200s AWD with the V6 and thought the transmission was actually pretty decent. Not perfect, but pretty fun. It's on a shortlist of cars I'd consider in that segment, especially if I really needed AWD.

BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather > ranwhenparked
03/08/2015 at 21:29

I built one on their site. A 200S with all options I'd want is like 34k. Similarly equipped ones on AT are marked down to like 26...

Boss2452stolemylunchmoney > BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather
03/08/2015 at 22:04

The crossfire had the 3.2. The 3.5 is a pretty awesome, but the Penestar is better.

Boss2452stolemylunchmoney > BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather
03/08/2015 at 22:07

Rental cars seem to always have bad transmissions. I think it has something to do with the fact that they change their own calibrations based on how they are driven. This may have changed, with this latest generation of vehicles. But it could explain why they never seem to know what's going on.

RacinBob > BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather
03/09/2015 at 07:59

I''ve rented them twice, and for a rental they are pretty nice. Quiet, handle decent good mpg and infotainment. If you program the display, you can see which of 8 gears it picks. I thought the gearbox was different, it would take its time to find reverse some times, but not bad.

My impression was it was a lot of car for the money. Not that I would want to own one, but I could see why others would like it. Now, do I trust a chrysler 8 speed to last 100,000 miles, nope not taking that bet.

BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather > RacinBob
03/09/2015 at 10:40

That's the confusing part though, it's a ZF transmission. They're supposed to be the golden standard. I trust the longevity for that reason alone, but the programming is completely clusterfucked.

RacinBob > BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather
03/09/2015 at 18:22

yep, thought about that, but as the ex owner of a '84 Omni GLH, I just can't trust chrysler with anything new........